I believe in family. I believe in family! I believe in family!!!
Last week we orchestrated a reunion. My Great Grandpa Carl and Great Grandma Anna Bertha had eleven children. Each of those branches take a turn hosting the reunion and we were on deck. This is the kind of stuff you don't do alone. And here is the drum roll... My husband and eight children willingly came to the planning meetings, took assignments, and followed through! Oh happy day! The dream has been since the beginning that we could make plans and follow through on big and little things in a happy and cooperative way. WE DID IT! One daughter hosted the art activity, helped put up posters, and another daughter hosted the family history mystery. My sons greeted, made some wonderful homemade games, brought tables and chairs, covered picnic tables, and lead the games. My husband set up the speaker system, helped with games, and my brothers brought drinks and dessert and hosted as MC. I believe in family!
Why is this a victory dance? Because it is possible to practice for years with some wonderful, some marginal, and some disastrous results, and keep moving towards joy! All the times it failed miserably, we were actually learning what works and what doesn't. Amidst the daily difficulty and daily delight, we are getting somewhere! And when it gets hard, I will remember these moments! I believe in family!
Years ago I was watching a children's show. They sang as they held up each finger of each hand, "Where is mother? Where is mother? Here I am! Here I am!" Each finger bows to the other and then says "Run Away. Run away." I remember each finger on the hand corresponded to a member of the family and had a verse. "Where is father? Where is father? Where is brother? Where is brother? Where is sister? Where is sister? Where is the baby? Where is the baby? and then "Where is the family? Where is the family?
I remember being overwhelmed that moment with the thought, "Where is the family? Where are they?" because the family institution was diminishing then. Today the family is disappearing from the horizon even more rapidly. Where is each one? I can only answer for my family. Here I am! And here we are!
I believe in family!!!
