Do you love your family? I do. I really do. Of course, I rarely get to see most of my sisters, and even less often, their kids and grandkids. When you come from a missionary family, that’s just part of the landscape.
This was our first family reunion at Christmas in 1985.
Our second ever reunion in June, 1991:
It was a pretty big deal getting together that year. My sister Barb’s family was on furlough from Senegal. My sister Diane’s family was on furlough from Papua New Guinea. And my sister Millie’s family made a special trip from Bolivia for the occasion.
We thought it was likely the last time, being as my eldest nephew was already in college then. But it was he, who, at my mom’s funeral in November 2010, announced to those that were present (all his aunts and a few of his cousins) that we definitely needed to give the wheel one more spin.
My three missionary sisters now live in North America–still widely spread, but at least on the continent. But now some of their kids are missionaries in Mozambique and Indonesia. Was there going to be a time when everyone could come?
Furloughs overlapped for precisely two weeks in June 2012, and we grabbed one of those weeks and held on tight! A lot of planning and excitement has gone into creating a reunion for 10 (my generation) plus 20 (my kids’ generation) and 21 or 22 in the grandkids’ generation. It’s not that I can’t count, it’s that as of the time of writing/scheduling, we’re awaiting the birth of our son and daughter-in-law’s firstborn!
We’ve rented a Bible camp in the BC Kootenays for the week, and when you’re reading this, we’re just getting into the swing of our first full day together. We’re so thankful for friends and (Comer) family who are watching the farm for us.
I thank God for my family and for the parents who raised us loving the Lord, even if it means getting together is a monumental task! What will this week hold?
Memories to last a lifetime.
When’s the last time YOU attended a family reunion like this? Share a memory!
Val, I was so touched by the reunion photos. Made me miss my mom and dad – they held us together. What a heritage to have a godly family that loves each other, shares common values and faith, and are selfless enough to make a reunion happen! I am happy for you!
Hugs, Donna. We missed my folks a lot this week, too. None of the littles ever knew my dad, while most of them met my mom (though many won’t remember it, there are photos to prove it!) But yes, with a few exceptions, all love and follow God.
I’m not sure anyone felt ‘selfless’ at making the reunion come together. More like ‘selfish,’ even though it cost some of them quite a lot of money to come. All those eleven cousins were a huge driving force behind their moms in making it happen. It was an honor and a privilege to spend time with everyone.