Tuesday, July 5, 2011

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?

5 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh I can hear your son, as I hear from my boys so many times! Funny how they pass through those phases with the same thoughts and comments!

    I really enjoyed browsing your blog!

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  2. Oh, how I love this post, my dear friend! And how happy I am that you were able to go and enjoy your loved ones! You look so happy in these pictures - I love the family pic of the 4 of you. How wonderful!!

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  3. Great, great photos! Love those matching t-shirts! And your reunion photos are priceless, too!

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  4. Thank you for sharing! Beautiful pic of the lake and great family pics. I liked the Flag t-shirts! :-)

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  5. Heehee, what a darling post! Love the flag t-shirt photos! You and your family are adorable. The sunset over the river looks beautiful! I grew up in the city as an only child, so I can't even imagine the freedom of that kind of childhood... what a joy!

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I appreciate your thoughts and ideas...they inspire me!! I will be visiting you soon. Have a CREATIVE day!!