Family Reunion in South Texas

     And the party began with a prayer.  Well not really began, just for us.  We were late getting there< as usual, some would say>.  I don't apologize as we were very tired.  I had been up well over 24 hours when I went to bed and we had all 4 worked very hard in the days leading up to us going south for the weekend.  When my alarm went off, I turned it off and honestly was JUST going to close my eyes for a few more minutes before I had to wake everyone.  That few more minutes turned in to an hour and a half before the big guy in the red shirt woke up.  I still had to go and bake my cobblers that were my contribution to a wonderful spread of food. And so, we were late. 
      But, as I say, our part began with a prayer.  The big blue-Hair by the pillar was asked by his Aunt to offer the blessing over the food.  Usually Uncle Sonny does it but this time, they decided that it was time to start passing some of the traditions on to other generations and since Blue Boy, is a locally liscensed minister in spite of his young 17 years, it was time to ask him to do it.  "Mom, What do I do?"  I gave him the best piece of advice I knew.. Pray, son, just pray over the food and bless us all.

After the dinner bell was rung, we all filled our plates and found a place to sit and eat and swap tall tales. This is Texas after all.  The food was wonderful and very filling.  I think we could have fed another army besides.  It was good to catch up on each others lives as well.Deep conversations of the oil and gas industry from several different points of view.  Amazing how corners are turned to take us places we had no idea we were going.  And some of them full circle back to where we started.

Discussions of continuation of college, and moving to other places.  Spending time with cousins, and friends.  Laughter is a great sound. 

Sharing experiences of recent retirements and new days to come over a juicy slice of cold water melon,  Does it get better than this?

Can you imagine this being the window to your world every summer?  I would never cook in the house all summer if this were my house.  Just the serenity of that space would move me to tears every day.  Even though the kids said NO!  Aunt Linda, Would you adopt me? 

Then, Uncle Harold took all the kids to see the cows.  What a treat for the kids who don't get to see those things very often.  And the cows LOVE cow candy!!!  And kids love cows.  And, getting to meet REAL COWBOYS!!!

I brought the scrapbook that I started from the very first year I attended  2004.  I would love it if someone would add the 9 years in between to it or send me pictures from those years. 
I really did have a grand plan for that scrap book but as we all know, sometimes time slips away from us, no matter what our intentions.

 

 

Maybe a joke or two was told, or maybe just a "do you remember the time when?" That brought about the bright smiles.

 

While the laughter and frolicking continued in groups around the house,  others were more content with more intimate conversations away from the fun. 

Each was able to enjoy the day in his or her own way. 

  

 And THEN,   

                                                        

 Sigh, we were done.

Linda, and Harold, I want to tell you, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you put in to doing this,  Thank you for all the hugs for me and mine and the wonderful support for our endeavors in this life,  and thank you for sharing your world with us.  As for me, and mine, we love you more than you will probably ever know. 

 

Days of Gratitude catch up:

After the first of November, when I was so positive I was off and running on this gratitude band wagon, I got derailed.  Yes, thats me,  SHINY!!!!!! and I am off.  Some how, fighting with my kids over the computer in our computer challenged home was not worth the effort by the time I got home from work, finished any left over "homeschooling" cooked and cleaned up from dinner.. did some laundry, and maybe just maybe took a shower.  So, Today as the cosmos has lined up so that I am sitting at a computer with thoughts in my head and a moment to spare, I plan to catch up. 

Day 2:  I am thankful for the family of my origin. Isnt that a great way to say "the people who brung me up?"   The thing is, that family of origin doesnt simply mean the man and woman who brought me in to this world and raised me.  We use this term because too many of our children, in this age, are not in the original family.  They are in split homes, in blended and then reblended and maybe even REblended homes, they are with grandparents, or aunts and uncles or even foster or adoptive homes.  So, we use the term to indicate children who do not live with the single mother and father who are their genetic origin. 
     To me, MY family of origin does not just mean my biological mom and dad, who incidentally are the only mom and dad I have.  Wierd, I know.  But, I consider my family of origin to be those people who brought each of my parents in to this world and made them the people whom THEY became.  Those people, my grandparents, each had parents as well.  Not only that but each of the afore mentioned people had aunts, uncles, cousins who were around to help shape them as I have had as well. And we go back generation after generation.  THIS is MY family of origin.  All those people who brought the world to where I am now. 
     I am thankful for each of those people who "brought something to my table". They all came from hearty, founding fathers kind of stock.    I recieved quite an education from those ancestors of mine.  I hope that I can pass half of what I was taught on to my children. 

One of these days, I will go in to the things I believe I recieved from my heritage, but today, I am just thankful for all I was given.