Family is an amazing thing. It can bring you joy, it can bring you pain, it can bring you happiness and adventure, or it can bring you times of solitude and loss. Family can be those born of the same blood of you, or adopted, or related to you by a common activity or group of like minded individuals.
Our Portuguese side of our family tries to get together every 2 years in Redmond, OR. It is a resort that is big enough for our whole group. You see we have 10 kids on that side, each of our spouses and children and now their kids. This picture is the first great grandchild on the 2nd to youngest sibling side. Little Leo was so fun to get to enjoy.
It is always fun to see how our young ones transition into parenthood. You see us older ones know the struggles we went through and hope they don’t have near the struggles, but unfortunately they are too much like us and refuse to seek wisdom, so they will have to learn for themselves. So is human nature. My Aunty is sitting next to the proud papa, my nephew and his girlfriend, and my nephew’s brother.
Although we had to alter some of this year’s games, as now we have to keep in mind bedtimes and noise levels, it is always great fun and a wonderful opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives. We are all so busy and it is easy to forget to take the time, but we feel it is important to make the time. My one brother even flies out from the East Coast when he can to be there.
Raiding each other’s kitchens for whatever meal and whooping each other in mini golf or frisbee golf is always a highlight. Past years we have gone white water rafting, planet watching at the observatories, cave hunting, rock collecting, and even sumo wrestling. There was no mercy. My 80 year old Aunty bounced me right out of the ring without even a second look. While my brother joined the turtle club and rolled through all of his opponents.
I look forward to the event every time and hope you do something similar to stay connected to your family. Just like ours, I’m sure your’s is growing as well.
Until the next adventure….
