What is Really Important

I’ve been a bit absent over the last week or two. Absent here and in social media.

I have been spending a lot of time with family. Not just my kids and husband, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.

We were delivered some tough news. The kind of news that makes you reflect and make time for what is important. For me that is family.

My grandparents are nearing their 61st wedding anniversary. They had 13 children, they lost one shortly after his birth. Those 12 children married and now they have 11 son/daughter in-laws. Then those kids had kids and now they have 38 grandchildren. Then those grandchildren got married, adding 12 more to the family. Then those grandchildren had kids, adding 20 great grandchildren to the family.

If you do the math 2+60= 96. That is right folks, two people got married and 60 years later there are 96 of us!!

And we are not the kind of family who up and moved away and hardly see each other. No, we are the kind of family that went to church together and gathered every Sunday at my grandma’s for brunch. We are the kind of family that camps together–reaching numbers in the 200’s. Yes, 200 family members gathered around a fire. We are the kind of family that spent every day of summer swimming at grandma and grandpa’s.

Because if there was anything my grandparents ever wanted anyone of us to know, it was family comes first. Always.

They were the grandparents that always had room for one more. One more in their house, in the chair, in the pool, in the car, in the camper, in their hearts. They have always had an open door and welcomed us into their home. They have been the foundation on which my life has been built on. They have been our biggest cheerleaders–making time for sporting events, graduations, plays, etc.

This Christmas we decided to put together an album. I gathered up some Project Life supplies and gave all of my family members a mission: gather photos and come to my house. Together we filled the pages with pictures and memories. Things my grandparents taught us, funny stories, fond memories.

While I have been absent this week, I have been doing two things. I have been working on this album. Pouring over pictures with my family, sharing memories, laughing and reflecting on all that is good. The second, spending time with family.

Last night we gave them that album. That album that documents all 96 of us. It felt amazing to hand them the story they had written.