Family Reunion

I apologize for not writing in here this last month or so. My whole life has been wrapped up in the family reunion I did for my dad's side of the family. Now if you know me you know I can't stand things not done the way I want it done in my head. But with my health I had to put a couple of projects on the back burner and that ate away at me. No one else knew I was working on them outside of Keith and Lareta but in my head I knew it and it was bugging the heck out of me.

We headed off a week before the reunion helping us to break the 19 hour trip into 3 sections. We spent some time with Keith's dad and his brother/sister in law in Saskatoon before we headed off to my hometown. It was a wonderful reunion!! Everyone kept talking about it and how great it was. But I pushed myself... 18 hour days for 5 days straight while I was there, on my feet the whole time.. but I didn't care.. that is what medication is for :)

Once there my brothers pitched in to help and my mom kept right by my side at 79 years of age. I was so proud of my family.. you know I never let go of my emotions.. I have such an ugly cry.. all red faced and splotchy and can't catch my breath so you get these big old gasps.. terrible.. so my cries come in the shower where no one can hear me.. but it was difficult this past weekend. I felt my grandparents around me most of the weekend especially my grandmother. I felt her hand on my shoulder several times and I know they were both pleased I had kept my word to them that I would do every thing I could do bring the family together.

Sunday night my mom, brothers, sister in laws and nieces/nephews took me aside and gave me some beautiful candles! Lareta had told me a few weeks ago that I really needed to get rid of the ones on my coffee table!! And now there they sit in honour. And tonight my oldest brother sent me a beautiful poem written in both English and French that I will treasure forever.

To me there is nothing more important then my family. Nothing. No one. And this weekend for the first time in the 20 years we have lived in BC, I have not only felt homesick (which I do all the time) but I felt like I was leaving a part of my soul behind. For the first time in all those years I have questioned my sanity in moving here. It was a completely different life there, main street consists of 2 blocks, I could walk the whole town in 30 minutes, the kids just would take off to play and there was nothing to worry about. I truly felt like I was missing a big part of my life not being there.

But then my children would not have met their spouses nor had the children that they have gotten. I would not know the joy I have felt. I love my life here, but I love my family there.. this past 2 weeks has put the question in my heart.... which do I love more.

Here are some pictures. The first is of my grandparents with their first child, followed by a picture of all 13 of their children ( a 14th child died shortly after birth). The next picture is of my mom, my brothers, their wives, all our children and grandchildren for some of us. The last one is of my family.