Life at Willis Creek Ranch: Who we are

Monday, January 6, 2014

Who we are

A friend asked in a comment for clarification on 'who we all are'. I smiled at that request and realized it was a really good one. We are quite a conglomeration of folks out here and I am sure it is hard (or almost impossible!) to keep it all straight. So, here is a very quick rundown on how we all fit together. The main thing is that we are all tied together by bonds of love. Often, they are blood ties, but not always! :)

This is where everything began. Daddy and Mama on August 4, 1954. Almost 60 wonderful years ago! They are the absolute heart and soul and center of everything that has come since - and for that, we are all so grateful.

Along the way… this happened. :) Kerry, Julie, Daddy, Mama, Laura

Faster than any of us could imagine… this happened.
Laura, Julie, Kerry, Mama and Daddy

Julie with her two 'kids', Anna and James

James, Anna and Anna's husband, Matthew

Kerry's family - Rachel, Stephen, Susanna, Hannah, Kerry and Candace

Rachel (Kerry's oldest daughter) and her husband, Stephen

my family - Jonathan, Laura, Marvin and Jackson

Here is a link to give you a little more background on my dear husband, Marvin - https://lifeatwilliscreekrancharchive.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-favorite-veteran.html

Jackson with his girlfriend, Brianna

perspective… here are the cousins a few years ago…
Jackson, Rachel, Susanna, Hannah in back as R2D2,
James holding newborn Jonathan and Anna.

and again a few years later…. Susanna, James, Jackson, Rachel,
Anna, Hannah and Jonathan

You can see a recreation of the above photo at this link...

And those same cousins (plus Matthew) a few MORE years later...

the family camaraderie goes back generations… this is a photo of my
Daddy's aunts and uncles (those alive at that time…)

I love this photo!

Here is Daddy with his siblings mid-1970's
Mitch, Carolyn, Daddy, Marjorie and Charles
(Mitch, Daddy and Charles do the Guys Weekends, etc. -
we have lost Carolyn, Marjorie and Charles.)

Daddy with my cousin Charlie and his colt (Charlie is one of
Marjorie's sons)

Jonathan with his beloved Jennifer - Jennifer is Charlie's daughter
(from the above photo with colt)

Jonathan with his beloved Jennifer! :)

Matthew's family on his Dad's side - Aug. 3, 2013

Laura and Julie with Pierce and Betty (Matthew's paternal grandparents)

a few years back…. Matt, Melina, Brenda, Megan and Matthew

Anna with Matthew's family May 2013 -
Matthew, Brenda, Melina, Megan and Matt

Matthew's family - Megan, Matt, Anna, Matthew
Brenda and Melina

Megan with her boyfriend, Jeff

And here are a few photos to 'explain' who some of the others you see on the blog are...

'the girls' - Jennifer, Susanna, Hannah, Anna, Rachel, Arayna and Alyssa
(Arayna and Alyssa are good friends of Anna)

Our dear Rev. Jim and his beloved Linda with our boys.

day of the boys baptism - Jim, Linda, Laura, Marvin, Jennifer, Anna,
Julie, Mama, Daddy with Jonathan & Jackson in front

Jonathan with Jim Christmas Day 2013

And here is Brianna (Jackson's girlfriend)
with her family (back before she cut her hair)
Jeremy, Alaina, Brianna, Shonda and Cody

Dear Rojina is our wonderful friend from Nepal.
She lives at Julie's house and has
become a member of our family. :)

Rojina, Julie, Anna

**UPDATES BELOW**

As of July 18, 2015, that lovely girl who was 'Jackson's girlfriend' is now Jackson's wife! We are so incredibly blessed to have Brianna officially part of the family - along with her precious family of Jeremy, Shonda, Alaina, Cody and the rest! So thankful!