You know that I'm always talking about the importance of making memories and planning them out and being consistent. I want to share one that is coming to an end but one last big hooray before that time.
Our SIL was working on Cruise ships and his schedule was during the summer for a large chunk so that made it possible for our daughter, and her twins, to come home summers. Her husband would still be home for a portion of time while they were here but he supported them staying.
Daughters are usually pulled home and I only have one and that is the case and I'm thankful for that fact!
She never intended on living on the East Coast for very long but careers many times dictate where a person will land. East Coast it is! She made the West Coast a part of their summer!
The first time she brought the girls home...I flew to Florida and then we all flew back. Back and forth and forth and back! The next year a friend flew from Florida to Washington with her. The next year, when they were a couple of months from being 3 years old, she flew on her own! And has done so ever since.
We have savored every moment. All of the getting ready and then enjoying all the things here and also going to McCall for a family reunion. Being with Aunts and Uncles and especially cousins.
Identical twins are just magical. well, ours were! they still are!
So for 22 years we have seen them every summer of their lives! Now it's the big change. Both girls are college graduates now. Tori is in graduate school at Quinipiac for the next 2 years. Cassie just got accepted, today, to earn her Masters over the next two years. Tori is now living in Connecticut for two years and Cassie has a full time job and will live at home while earning her Masters over the same two years.
So the party is over! Wait a minute...is it really over? Terry and I are reminiscing and enjoying all those marvelous memories. Surprise!...one more time with Cassie!!! Yes! Her Sissy can't come home to FL much less here. She just has a couple of breaks. But Cassie?....she made arrangements early on to come see us for a few days!!
Are we happy and excited??? Beyond belief! She will be here a very short time so today we planned what we want to do. I asked her if she wanted to take a day-trip to Leavenworth and go see The Sound of Music and stay at a hotel and just check out the stores and the park and etc. (something that we've done since she was 5). That was exactly what she had hoped we could do!
Other days of excitement for us...old familiar annual things...lunch at the White House Cafe...doing art with Uncle Kipper...watching Sharknado with Poppa and her wearing her shark shirt...going to visit Cousin Kipper and his family and having a party...endless chatter and porch visits.
Then she will fly home and we will have that indelible bonus memory!! Sweet bliss for sure!
It is worth every bit of effort and expense and exhaustion to do as much as you can to make memories with your family in that brief time that is available. While they are all at home and then annually after that. Just do what you can with your available time and resources.
If I could have a do-over...I'd do a Family Reunion every year, even while all the kiddos are home and in school. That is what I'd call it and I'd have t-shirts and establish a couple of traditions. Maybe at end of school or just before school or around a holiday but something!! I'd tell them when they leave home that we will still hold our Annual Family Reunion and they can bring their own families. Leave your house and go camp for two days or something fun!!
You only have a limited time to brainwash them so get started! when they do get their own families then it will become every other year for the Family Reunion and the off year is just a Reunion for those that can make it. when your children marry then they have another family that lays claim also.
We have memories to last for the rest of our lives at this point. Cassie and I started laughing over things at our past reunions.
I do not have one regret as to how we did the best we could in uniting our family through Family Reunions!! Not one!!
Our daughter posted this on FB today and it just prompted me to share my thoughts.
Our SIL was working on Cruise ships and his schedule was during the summer for a large chunk so that made it possible for our daughter, and her twins, to come home summers. Her husband would still be home for a portion of time while they were here but he supported them staying.
Daughters are usually pulled home and I only have one and that is the case and I'm thankful for that fact!
She never intended on living on the East Coast for very long but careers many times dictate where a person will land. East Coast it is! She made the West Coast a part of their summer!
The first time she brought the girls home...I flew to Florida and then we all flew back. Back and forth and forth and back! The next year a friend flew from Florida to Washington with her. The next year, when they were a couple of months from being 3 years old, she flew on her own! And has done so ever since.
We have savored every moment. All of the getting ready and then enjoying all the things here and also going to McCall for a family reunion. Being with Aunts and Uncles and especially cousins.
Identical twins are just magical. well, ours were! they still are!
So for 22 years we have seen them every summer of their lives! Now it's the big change. Both girls are college graduates now. Tori is in graduate school at Quinipiac for the next 2 years. Cassie just got accepted, today, to earn her Masters over the next two years. Tori is now living in Connecticut for two years and Cassie has a full time job and will live at home while earning her Masters over the same two years.
So the party is over! Wait a minute...is it really over? Terry and I are reminiscing and enjoying all those marvelous memories. Surprise!...one more time with Cassie!!! Yes! Her Sissy can't come home to FL much less here. She just has a couple of breaks. But Cassie?....she made arrangements early on to come see us for a few days!!
Are we happy and excited??? Beyond belief! She will be here a very short time so today we planned what we want to do. I asked her if she wanted to take a day-trip to Leavenworth and go see The Sound of Music and stay at a hotel and just check out the stores and the park and etc. (something that we've done since she was 5). That was exactly what she had hoped we could do!
Other days of excitement for us...old familiar annual things...lunch at the White House Cafe...doing art with Uncle Kipper...watching Sharknado with Poppa and her wearing her shark shirt...going to visit Cousin Kipper and his family and having a party...endless chatter and porch visits.
Then she will fly home and we will have that indelible bonus memory!! Sweet bliss for sure!
It is worth every bit of effort and expense and exhaustion to do as much as you can to make memories with your family in that brief time that is available. While they are all at home and then annually after that. Just do what you can with your available time and resources.
If I could have a do-over...I'd do a Family Reunion every year, even while all the kiddos are home and in school. That is what I'd call it and I'd have t-shirts and establish a couple of traditions. Maybe at end of school or just before school or around a holiday but something!! I'd tell them when they leave home that we will still hold our Annual Family Reunion and they can bring their own families. Leave your house and go camp for two days or something fun!!
You only have a limited time to brainwash them so get started! when they do get their own families then it will become every other year for the Family Reunion and the off year is just a Reunion for those that can make it. when your children marry then they have another family that lays claim also.
We have memories to last for the rest of our lives at this point. Cassie and I started laughing over things at our past reunions.
I do not have one regret as to how we did the best we could in uniting our family through Family Reunions!! Not one!!
***************************
Our daughter posted this on FB today and it just prompted me to share my thoughts.
 |
| years ago! |
I never imagined raising my children away from my parents, but life situations, jobs and school prevented that.
I was able to take the girls out every summer to spend time with my parents. Very aware that these were life long memories being made.
We knew that it was a window in time, that it was fleeting and short. We squeezed all we could out of every day.
Today the girls are going to grad school and working, those days of summer visits are gone for now.
I've realized that life is just a series of chapters that open and then close, nothing stays the same. It's our job to make each page count and give it depth and meaning. To live with intention.
Cheers to grandparents and memories. One of the greatest and most tender loves on earth.
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