Anticipation

Is there anything quite as lovely as "anticipation"? Sometimes it's almost more wonderful that the actual event! How we hope the reality next week will be all we have anticipated. For 2 years now we have had a major reunion scheduled for our whole family. There are 55 of us gathering ...everyone except one missionary grandson. We've had other reunions. In fact we gather every 2 or 3 years for sure. We've even had reunions at this same special facility. The last one was 10 years ago. Needless to say, our family has grown in numbers and size in those 10 years. We'll all be together on one floor of a marvelous lodge...14 rooms and luckily, 14 bathrooms.

Meals and activities are provided for everyone and the area is so beautiful. For several hours most days, children share adventures in age-groups lead by counselors, while parents are free to interact with their brothers and sisters. Tennis, golf, swimming, lectures, evening programs, table games...all provided. Can it possibly be as wonderful as we all hope? What will it be like with that many people? Will the weather be decent? Will everyone be well? Will all travel safely? Whatever the weather, health, numbers or events, we will be together and we are grateful.

Our greatest joy is that our family WANTS to be together. Each committed 2 years ago and were thrilled to have the opportunity. Great sacrifice has gone into making it happen by each...summer plans changed, commitments rescheduled and airline tickets or gas purchased to make, in most cases, a long trip in a car packed with kids and belongings.

We've had 2 years of that glorious anticipation and next week it will be time for the reality. It's not that we never see each other. We gather as much as possible. Sunday evenings is a favorite gathering time. Cousins beg their parents to have the cousins over and they gather at one of the houses. Five of our nine children live in the same area, so whenever one of the families from other states comes for a vacation, everyone gathers. Sometimes, like Christmas and other holidays, the knowledge that one family is coming, entreats the others to come at the same time. Luckily, we have kept our family home and it is truly a place of gathering.

The days are passing quickly and there is much I'd like to do before we leave, but whether it gets done or not, next week we get to spend the whole week with all the people we hold most dear, our family!