Debbie and I look forward to July because our grandkids, Rylie and Coltin, come to join us for Family Camp in East Liverpool, Ohio every summer. For ten days we live together in the cabin that I built (with the enormous help of my good friend, David Rose) eight years ago (mostly paid for by Travis). It's rustic. We eat our meals in the dining hall (except Coltin, whose allergies demand that he eat most of his meals at the cabin). They participate in the children's programming and we all go to church together each evening. In the afternoons, they play with their many cousins and we often go swimming at Uncle Jeff and Aunt Cathy's! It's an amazing time - and we LOVE it!
This year, I persuaded Tracie to stay for a few add-on days at our home in Enon Valley. Allison, our adopted daughter (and good friend to all three T's) came in for those add-on days, too. Troy and Missy joined us for as much as their schedules would allow.
But yesterday...wow, yesterday was awesome!
- the weather was GREAT!
- we were all together for most of the day.
- we ate good food (steak and peppers-filled-with-cheese-and-wrapped-in-bacon) Mmmmm...
- we played games (including cornhole)
- we prayed together several times
- we talked
- we rode a quad and a golf cart
- we played with Shadow and Gabe
- we went shopping at Gabe's for new school shoes (and other things)
Yesterday was the best day of my year so far! I loved every minute of it! It was the kind of day I often dream of, with all our family gathered around us - enjoying each other!
Most of the time now, it's just Debbie and me - and that's okay, it's the way of life. We enjoy being together! My love for her grows with every day! She's a great wife and has been a wonderful, loving Mom. Her grandkids absolutely love her! Me too! When she announces that she's going to sit with her Mom for a day, it makes me sad. I miss her.
For years, our kids have lived at a distance. Tracie and Jon have lived in Hawaii and Connecticut. Troy has lived in Akron, Savannah and now New Middletown. :-) Travis lived in more places than I can remember: Great Lakes, Orlando, Annapolis, Sarasota Springs, Savannah, Fernandina Beach, FL, Bremerton, WA, San Diego, Honolulu...
Having our whole family home at the same time has been rare. I often envy families that are able to do so frequently! So, when they come, we try to pack as much in as we possibly can! Debbie makes their favorite foods. We focus on them and enjoy them as much as possible. I try to make sure all the 'toys' are up-and-running. We want everything to be as perfect as we can make it.
Yesterday, we hit the mark! What an amazing, wonderful, special, thoroughly enjoyable day! Thank You, Lord, for our family! We love them so!
We missed our two sons-in-law: Jon and Josh, who couldn't be with us this time. We also, of course, missed Travis, but his portrait watched over all our fun throughout our time together.
Debbie and I are...well...BLESSED! All these precious gifts of God have added so much meaning to our lives. We take immense joy and pride from watching them each live their lives. Their accomplishments bring us joy. That's the way family should be, right?
But now,
- Allison left late last night
- Tracie and the kids pulled out this morning
- Troy and Missy went back to work
- Deb left to sit with her Mom for two days
- and I --------- I'm here with Gabe and Shadow, feeling the loneliness.
But, I get to see Troy and Missy pretty frequently. :-) And we'll see Tracie, Jon and the kids again in August. And then, they're coming home again in October for a family wedding! 👏👏👏👏 So, I'm happy about that.
All-in-all, I guess you could say (in spite of my temporary loneliness) that I'm feeling very, very, very GRATEFUL!!!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him, all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
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