We are Family

This is where I was all week-end...

in Southeast Iowa/Illinois...right along the Mississippi River. 

It's where I grew up.

It's where I spent my summers running around 

with Jamie and Johnny and 

Rose and Renee and Bills playing Midnight Ghost and kick ball. 

It's where my Mom and Dad 

and I went fishing and boating

and swimming. It's where I learned that I loved

to act and speak and be in front of people.

It's where I fell in love for the first time.

It's where I met some of the dearest people 

I will ever know.

It's where I learned to rely on my My Father in Heaven

for love and support. It's where I learned about the power of prayer.

It's where my faith was born and nurtured.

It's where I grew up and

where I left when I came to 

Maryville for college.

It's where I married my Soul Mate.

Dave & I along the Mississippi Saturday night.

It's where my Dad died 15 years ago.

It's where a little piece of my heart still resides.

Much of my family is still in the area.

And this past weekend we celebrated one another with

our annual Kern Family Reunion.

There may not be many of us...but we sure do love 

one another. I am so grateful for families.

I am so grateful that I am a part of this one.

What a fun weekend spent catching up,

reminiscing, laughing and crying. 

It went too fast.

I miss them all so much already.

My family and I had fun with a photo shoot on Saturday.

We all had these matching Flag Shirts...

Jackson didn't want to wear them at all. He was like "Mom, REALLY??!"

I was like..."Yes, son. REALLY."

The best part was Saturday morning...Jacks had gone to breakfast and came back to the room.

He had this look on his face...

"Mom, guess what? Kristy and Andy and all their kids have the 

SAME EXACT shirts on as us!"

LOL!!

Turns out great family minds DO think alike...Most of 

us had on the same flag shirts. 

It was sweet!:)

To us,

family means putting your 

arms around each other

and being there.  

~Barbara Bush

What does family mean to you?