Ever since I can remember, my mom's side of the family has been spread all over the country and has determined to gather for family reunions every 3ish years. While I was growing up, these 3-day reunions became our family vacations as we would travel to Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, or stay in Utah based on which of the 6 siblings was in charge that year. I am the 3rd oldest grandchild in the family and because of these reunions, I grew up feeling a close bond to my aunts, uncles and cousins regardless of the miles that separated us. Over the last few years, our family numbers have multiplied
significantly and my grandparents' steadily growing 105-member posterity literally dots the nation. We've realized that reunions as we knew them simply aren't realistic to hold anymore with second generation families needing to start their own reunions and the sheer enormity & coordination of it. Yet somehow, we still make effort to gather as many as can possibly gather. This 4th of July weekend we enjoyed another 3-day reunion here in Utah. We were missing only a few families in the family--and they were sincerely missed! How great is that? We had such a great weekend! It was warm and fun-filled, there were lots of new in-laws and great-grandkids to meet, we ate, we laughed, watched fireworks, had family home evening, enjoyed homemade rootbeer & homemade icecream, played "You Know You're a Lowe if...", we reminisced and sang around the campfire and bore testimony... Mostly we honored the tradition of the two who started it all, my grandparents Julian & Nola Lowe. It is amazing to see what these two good people established and the noble & silly traditions that have come from them! We loved it and came away uplifted and thankful to be part of such a strong clan, determined to carry on the same strength in our family. I've heard the phrase "I miss the reunion!" more than once from my kids since then--a positive sign, for sure! With relationships rekindled, we look forward to the next time we can see this amazing group again. How wonderful that as huge as our family is getting, those bonds of care & concern and friendship continue. We love you, Lowe Family!
Lowe Reunion 2009
5 comments:
first of all, i was really hoping that picture would expand when i clicked on it, but NO! is there any way you can fix that? i want to be able to see each person that i missed seeing there!
secondly, i'm so glad everyone had such a great time, but reading this post made me even MORE sad that i was one of the FEW family members who missed out on this reunion! if only we didn't live so far away (and had THREE weddings to travel to this summer)! if i can't make the next one, i will be VERY upset!
What a wonderful thing to be able to do. Family is wonderful!!!
Uh, how did you get a group picture so fast?
Exactly, Tracy! COuldn't day it better myself. We had so much FUn with you guys! Xadner has also expereinced a let down from the nonstop party the reunion was!
What a great photo, and summary of what Lowe reunions symbolize. We are so lucky to b a part of it all!
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