Family Reunions

It seems that as I get older, family and family events become more sacred and treasured. Today, Mike and I will begin our journey to Fairfield Bay Resort, north of Little Rock, Arkansas to honor my grandparent's 64th wedding anniversary. Tonight we will drive to Dallas and spend the night with Mike's sweet grandparents, Dick and Dot. Grandma Dot will try to force food down our stomachs every 15 minutes and Grandpa Dick will retell the same stories we have heard every visit, but it will be cherished time together. Tomorrow at noon we will fly to Little Rock, rent-a-car, and drive to the resort to meet the Siner family. Approximately 31 people will be with us. Typically, Siner reunions are different than other family reunions. It is essentially a 4 day vacation with my grandparents, their three kids, and their kids, and now their kids (4 generations). Even though everyone is spread out amongst Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and the East Coast, we come together as if we see each other every day. All the great grandchildren will be spoiled (most under 8 years of age), adults will visit, play golf, and lay by the pool as well as spending the evenings reminiscing about past reunions and memories.

Some of the memories that I share are:

Spending the night with Grandma and Popi countless times and Popi scaring us as we went to bed. (we always begged him to do this)

Calling Popi during the summer and asking to go to the mall while he sat and talked to the old men.

Silver dollar pancake breakfasts with grandma.

Sunday lunch of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Playing in the cellar.

Brushing our cousins, Jennifer and Amber's, hair.

Short vacations to Oklahoma City with Grandma and Popi.

And countless more that would fill up volumes. Each family member that I will see is so special and dear to me regardless that I don't see them on a regular basis. My prayer for this weekend is that God will bless us with making more memories, that we will feel comfortable to share our victories and hurts with one another, and will leave with our tanks full until we are brought together again. Family is such a precious blessing that I want to take advantage of and learn as much as I can about. I am excited for Mike to get to learn more about my family and develop his own relationships with them and see why these gatherings are so special to me.