Family

Judy. We’re coming to the close of our Georgia stay, which has probably been the most active and, in some ways, stressful, of our previous stays. But between annual doctor visits, attempts to catch up with friends we’ve not seen in many months, and further downsizing the storage unit (we’ve gotten rid of all the furniture and moved from a 10‘x10’ to a 5’x5’, with mostly clothes and “when we’re in town” needs), we’ve had some precious family time.

When we left Toronto, we flew to Denver to celebrate Ted’s dad’s 88^th birthday. Andy and his special companion Barbara have birthdays close to each other, so they threw themselves a big dinner and invited as many of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as could attend. It was held in the private dining room of their independent living facility, and about twenty of us gathered to get to know each other and to honor Andy and Barbara.  

Celebrating with Andy and Barbara

A few days later, we were in Athens, Georgia, celebrating my birthday with our kids and grandkids. Leslie, Parker, and I went thrifting in the morning, and Stefan, Sarah, and Oliver surprised me by driving the two or so hours to spend the afternoon. A couple of days after that, Ted and I spent Leslie’s birthday with her family.

Birthday dessert with grandson Parker

And the following weekend found us driving to Memphis to surprise my older brother Billy on his eightieth birthday. His children had arranged a family dinner and a memory book for him.  My younger brother, I, and our spouses came in to be a part of it. We played a trivia game of Billy’s life, sang to him in sign language (Billy has been deaf since birth), and reveled in being with family from Maryland to Georgia to Tennessee.

Judy's family

With my brothers Billy and Chuck

Precious moments in a hectic visit, they remind us of the importance of family and the love we have for each other. While Ted sees his dad several times a year and we see our kids each time we head to Georgia, my brothers and I seldom get together. Chuck travels with his business, Billy is a minister to a deaf congregation (and sometimes travels on missions), and, obviously, Ted and I are out of the country most of the time. There are vast age differences among us, and we all have different interests. Still, I adore my brothers, and cherish time we spend together.

Last Friday, in honor of Grandparents’ Day, Caedmon invited us to attend his school’s “Coffee with Grandparents”. We had breakfast, took pictures, read books together, talked about the history of our names, and worked on crafts together. Since we’re usually gone on his birthday, it was great to spend time with him alone.  

Grandparents' Day with Caed

We’ve had the two older grandsons over to spend the weekend, spent afternoons and nights getting to know the youngest, and gathered with the family as much as possible.  

Ted with Caed, Stefan, Parker, and Ollie

Thanks to Becky and Marty for setting up Billy’s birthday party.  And thanks to Andy and Barbara for your family gathering, and to Leslie, Daniel, Parker, Caed; and to Stefan, Sarah, and Ollie for finding time to be together with us.  How wonderful to celebrate life and family. These memories carry us while we’re away from you.