We Can Be...

We Can Be…

As our family grows, it’s important to make time to be together. Given geographic distance and time restraint, planning ahead for family reunions is crucial. Judy and I just returned from Sandpoint, Idaho where we spent a week with our four adult children and five grandchildren (actually six because there is one in the oven).

We discovered a get together plan that works for us. First, we set an agreed date one year in advance so everyone can get vacation time. Second, an intense search on the internet for a rental house with enough bedrooms, bathrooms and living space to accommodate nine adults and five (next year six) children that is within a day’s driving. Third, we pay for the house rental and our kids pay for the food.

Last year, we met for a week at a lake cabin in northern Minnesota. This year we rented a very nice home at the Idaho Club near Sandpoint, Idaho. And what fun we had. Lots of noise and conversation around the dining room table. Splashes and squeals at the outdoor hot tub. One day on a rented pontoon boat and another day at the beach. In between some golf and just enjoying family life together.

 As we gather, we experience how fast life is changing. Our kids are not only taking care of their own children but they are also taking care of Judy and me. They do the cooking, cleaning and organizing while we watch with awe at their proficiency. I guess that’s enjoying the fruit of our labor.

The best part is we all get along. The days of adolescent competition and complaining are gone. Enjoying each other’s company and mutual respect have somehow found their place in our family. No, we aren’t the perfect family but we are a happy family.

When are kids were young, we taught them a song that has found a place in their hearts. It goes like this: “We can be a family of friends, a family of friends. Oh! We can be a family of friend. We can be a family.”

Yep!