Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Family Time



This past weekend, my husband and I packed up our daughters and drove four hours through Illinois corn and soybean fields to Otter Lake.  Meeting us there were my dad and stepmom, my sister Lindsey, my brother Brandon and his son, and my brother Kyle, his wife and two sons.  It was the first time our whole family had been together since my other brother Brent's funeral in December.

This was a weekend long in the making.  No family is without drama, even mine, but after Brent's sudden death just before Christmas, we all decided it was time to put differences in the past and bring our families together.  I'm so glad  we decided to do this.

My girls were loving being on the boats and in the water.  They got to fish with their Uncle Kyle and Grandpa Lou, and boy were the fish biting!  One after another, the bluegill popped out of the air, only to be removed from the hooks and (most of the time) released back into the water.  The fun was in the catching!

I reveled in the fact that we were all getting along, that laughter was ringing through the air, and that all of our kids were healthy and thriving.

Brent's absence was obvious, though as I thought about it, I realized that he was there in the smiles and laughter of his nieces and nephews.


5 comments:

  1. It sounds like it was a great time for all. I hope there are many more happy occasions for your family.

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  2. It seems that all of you gave each other a gift this summer. Nice to hear a story that is so content. I liked your connection of your brother to the nieces & nephews-a sweet remembrance.

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  3. It is so wonderful that you were able to put aside differences to enjoy some time together this summer. My sister passed away this winter too, and our family came together despite our differences too. It feels good to let go. I'm sure you've given your daughters a memory they will savour for a long time.

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  4. Thanks for the comments. This was one of my more difficult postings to write.

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  5. Being surrounded by family, even when there are difficulties, can be rewarding. It sounds like a day full of fun and love. I'm sure your brother was enjoying watching you all come together too. Thank you for sharing.

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