Chicago family Reunion

In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. --Eva Burrows

I’m back from Chicago and recharged! Can’t wait to share some memories! Family times are the best. It seems I was always eating a meal with someone and I gained four pounds.

My mother turned 96! We all gathered around her and celebrated with cake decorated in her favorite color, pink!

My sister and brothers occupy a close place in my heart. We enjoyed long talks together. The guys are funny so while they were cracking jokes and we laughed big, the camera snapped!

One night we all got together and read letters Mom wrote in the early 50’s to one of our second cousins, Richard, who was in the Army. Rich was kind enough to give them to us after all these years and we gleaned so much insight from our mother’s everyday life stories about raising us, volunteering in her church and neighborhood and maintaining our home. I will never forget these memories. Get a load of the postage: six cents to mail a letter priority air mail.

In one of her letters, my Mom mentioned how I always wanted to wear my big sister’s clothes!

It reminds me of the joke about the woman who came from a large family of five sisters and four brothers. One day she was looking through the family photo album when she noticed that in picture after picture, all of the children were dressed in matching outfits. Later, she asked her mother why everyone - even the baby - was dressed identically. Her mother replied: "When we had just four children, I dressed you alike so that we wouldn't lose any of you. Then when the other six came along, I started dressing you alike so that we wouldn't pick up any that didn't belong to us!"

I felt blessed to be with my family when we got the text from my nephew, Buddy, that he was coming home. A Marine, Buddy completed his work in Iraq and Afghanistan and the “welcoming home” committee had only one day to arrange festivities. About 35 Viet Nam Veterans on motorcycles met Buddy at the airport along with well wishers waving flags and transporting him and his parents, my younger brother and his wife, to their home via limousine.

I’m so glad to have these memories now that I’m back at home in Arizona with my husband. Like my mother, my simple everyday life is filled with work, my church, treasured friendships and precious children. And blogger friends! It’s good to be home!

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch. The local news anchor confirmed it. I’ve seen two already. While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor. He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room. I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name. I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat. Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy. Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand. Bob is my new best friend. ...

It's Not Always About the Tomatoes

I like to travel with buddies and rename them. I vacationed in Costa Rica with Lupe who loves margaritas and gets a little loopy. I don’t drink but I’m a fun gal. Just ask my co-worker, Frank. I nicknamed him Jellyfish. I packed my underwater camera. Jellyfish can hold his breath really long. He modeled for my underwater photo shoot in the colossal pool at the resort our company chose for us. I am fascinated with rain forests so my favorite thing to do in Costa Rica is to take walks in them. I signed up for the tour of an organic cacao working farm. Lupe chose it too. A group of us piled into tractors to view crops of watermelon, mango, rice and cattle while we chewed on natural sugar cane, their largest product. We observed monkeys, Toucans, and sloths. The best part of the tour for me taught about climate change and harvest time as we walked single file among papaya trees, cacao trees, as we...

Marriage Tip #44: Do What He Wants

I thought about our upcoming anniversary. I prayed one morning for the marriages in my family, and a sentence about my own dropped in my spirit: “ Do What He Wants .” I paused, “Really?” He’s his own man. What if I end up in the wilderness camping by night and target shooting by day? What if a coyote decides to have me as a late night snack? We celebrated our anniversary early this year, Before the kids come next week. And we did it his way . This is how it happened. I never asked him about a plan or even mentioned our day. I remember how it all unfolded at the roundabout just as we drove into Sedona. He asked me if I would like to go to a baseball game. I responded excitedly, “Yeah!” Before the day was over, he purchased tickets for a Diamondbacks home game. He printed them out. He booked a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to drive home from the city after the late evening game. ...

Joyful in His PresenceJuly 11, 2011 at 5:26 PM
Such a wonderful testament to the beauty of family, Mary. I enjoyed reading every.single.word.

Your mother is beautiful and certainly does not look her age!

Rejoicing with you that you had this beautiful time with your family.
Kim @ Homesteader's HeartJuly 11, 2011 at 5:54 PM
It's good to have you back too. It sounds like you had a wonderful family filled time. Those are the best. I'm sure you made plenty of memories to hold you over till next time.
Have a great night.
kim
Mevely317July 11, 2011 at 6:29 PM
What a sweet re-uniting you experienced!!!
Since I'm an "only" child, would you consider giving away a sibling or two? (LOL!)
Kathleen July 11, 2011 at 6:45 PM
It looks like a collection from my own family photos! I especially appreciate the food-related photos. What's a family gathering without it? What fun, but I know you're probably glad to be home again.
FliteraryJuly 12, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Loved getting to see your family photos. How precious!

Blessings to you,
Lisa
no spring chickenJuly 14, 2011 at 9:21 AM
And it's good to have you back! I loved seeing this beautiful, happy family! My favorite photo is you and your sister(?) in matching shirts!

What a beautiful legacy your mother left in hand written letters...

blessings, Debbie
Crown of BeautyJuly 17, 2011 at 2:13 AM
Thanks for sharing about your family reunion with you mom and sister and brothers. What lovely pictures you posted. So full of warmth and love!

Love
Lidj
AnonymousJuly 17, 2011 at 4:22 PM
Mary,
I've missed you! Glad you had such a wonderful trip. Priceless memories.
lioneagleJuly 24, 2011 at 5:16 AM
Hi Mary -

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and the photos. The one of you and your mother brought a huge grin! You both glow with JESUS!

The other family photos are such eye treasures, as well. In particular I like the one with wearing of identical clothing.

I enjoyed feasting on this delightful family "mealtime."

Thank you so much, Mary, for sharing.

Choose Joy in the Journey

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