Sunday of the family reunion - Family church

Family Church on Sunday morning is one of my favorite things about our reunion time.  To be able to gather together as family and worship is so meaningful and powerful and special to all of us.  We are thankful for the legacy of faith and love that has been passed down to us throughout many generations.  And we take seriously our role in making sure that continues to be the legacy of our family.

Joe later wrote that he and Sarah felt the house was so empty after we all left and that they were so thankful for the blessing of having had all of us there.  That they felt it truly blessed their home (they have lived there less than a year).  I completely understand that feeling from hosting reunions in years past.  I wrote Joe back and told him I truly felt that worship at their house was anointed.  And that I know what he means about the family presence sort of seeping into the floors and walls of a house.  It is a beautiful, lingering thing.

After church we went to lunch at Paolo and Charlie's.  Dear Liz paid for the entire crew!!  Goodness!  And it was delicious.  I had the best Eggs Benedict that I think I have ever had there.  They also had a pannacotta for dessert that would make you cry (in a good way!)  Yum!!  Our waiter was a great guy who joined right in with all of us.  We told him he was now an official member of the family.  :)

I have to share this excerpt of a column written by Sarah about the reunion.  I truly believe she summed it all up perfectly.  :D

"Joe’s family comes together annually to weave and tighten the love knots of one big, grateful heart that focuses on adoration and acceptance, whether there’s a common bloodline or not. Boyfriends, girlfriends, childhood friends, old classmates, college roommates—if someone shows up, related or not, they are treated like family. The more the merrier! Have another brownie and let’s sing a song together!"

https://www.facebook.com/TheThunker/posts/1933129350121412
(You should follow The Thunker on facebook - Sarah is extraordinary!)

One side of the duplex...Jonathan, Jackson, Brianna,
Anna, Matthew, Laura, Julie, Rojina, James

The other side (just missing Megan)
Stephen, Rachel, Kerry, Candace, Hannah, Susanna, Rebekah

family church at Joe and Sarah's house

Julie

Jackson and Brianna

Zac and Hannah

Sarah and Joe

Laura and Julie

Priscilla, Jane, and Candace

Matthew, Stephen, Rachel, James,
Anna, Rojina

James and Daddy 

Jonathan and Kerry 

Singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'

Brianna transcribed a song into another key...  :)

After church, Matthew sang 'They Call the Wind Mariah' for Mama...

Mama then told the story behind that song and why it is so important to her. 

lunch at Paolo and Charlies

Jackson, Brianna, and Jane

Kerry, Mama, Daddy, Anna, Matthew, Candace

Karen, Jonathan, Susanna, Hannah, Zac, Robin

Laura, Julie, David, Becky, Rojina, James

group with our wonderful waiter  :)

Rojina, Daddy, Jonathan, Jackson

Anna, Daddy, and Rojina

Jackson, Brianna, Laura, Jonathan 

Everyone who was at lunch that day!  :) 

You can see a huge album of photos from the entire reunion at this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157710458260922

And here is the video of our full church service.  I will work to get shorter videos of individual songs uploaded at some point.  But for now, the whole thing is here.

Saturday of the family reunion

Saturday morning dear James and Matthew cooked breakfast for all of us!  We picked up Mama and Daddy to bring them over to join in.  James made Marine pancakes which were super high protein and dense.  I loved them!  I have made them since here at home!  Matthew made gluten free pancakes for the Oklahoma crew, and Julie scrambled up a bunch of eggs.  Great breakfast together.

Then we hit the road to meet up with everyone else to divide up for the days activities.  Several went downtown to visit Union Station and then take the trolley to Steamboat Arabia.  (Jonathan even took photos for me!!)  Mama, Daddy, Frances, and I went to visit the Nelson Atkins Museum.  We enjoyed our time there and I especially loved the Impressionist exhibit.  Daddy spent quite a bit of time admiring Monet's Water Lilies.  Stunning!  We ate a late lunch in Rozelle Court at the museum.  An elegant setting with marble everywhere!  About the time we were finishing up Jane and Priscilla arrived.  It was great to get to see them and have a quick visit before we headed over to Dorothy's place to see Mitch and Jan.  While at Dorothy's a friend of hers came to visit.  She wanted to see Mama and Daddy.  Turns out she used to live here and was a teacher.  I remember her... Mrs. Moore.  She lives in the same place Dorothy does.  How fun!

For dinner Saturday evening Dorothy had reserved a private dining room and a catered meal for our whole family.  How wonderful and kind.  We ate dinner and then enjoyed some entertainment from Joe and Keith (Comfort Food).  Everyone sang along and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

As the evening was ending, poor Daddy had a pretty awful attack of his trigeminal neuralgia.  That had been acting up a lot this spring/summer and this attack was horrible.  The short version of a story is that for the two weeks following this evening, things were pretty tough for Daddy.  The great news is that he is in much better shape now and has not had a trigeminal attack for the entire month of August!  Hallelujah!!

For some in the family this was their last night at the reunion, so many goodbyes were said.  But what a joy it was to all be together.  We are so thankful and blessed.

Matthew and James - ready to make our breakfast!!  :)

meeting at the Drury to divide off for the day...

This carload went to Union Station and the Steamboat Arabia.  :)

This carload went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Union Station

so glad Jonathan took some photos at Steamboat Arabia for me!!

Daddy contemplating Monet's Water Lillies at the Nelson

Daddy and Mama with Caravaggio's John the Baptist

lunch at Rozelle Court

Daddy and Jane

ha!  This made us chuckle... someone censored the painting in
Joe & Sarah's bathroom for the family reunion.  :D  hahahaha!!!

Mrs. Moore, Daddy, and Mama

Daddy, Mitch, Ilene, and Joel

Daddy, Jackson, and Mitch

Keith and Joe performed for us.

Dorothy and Mitch

Rojina and Ilene

James, Rojina, Dorothy, Mitch, Jonathan, Daddy 

Jackson and Jane

Daddy and Mitch

the kids came back for a late night swim at Joe & Sarah's neighborhood

You can see a huge album of photos from the entire reunion at this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157710458260922

And here is video from Saturday night of the reunion.