I'm grateful that I was able to make this trip. A couple of months ago it wouldn't have been possible, but thanks to the Lord for His healing, and to the medical profession for what they can do with some of the physical things we have to deal with, we were able to go.
For the first time we were able to see the youngest of our great grandsons, James Nicholas, 10 months old. He's the son of our oldest granddaughter, Carol's oldest, Anna. This is the first time we have had the privilege of being with him and his family. James is a very friendly little guy and it was a pleasure to learn to know and be with him for a couple of days.
We also were able to see our oldest great grandson, Jackson Andrew, who was born a week before Christmas a year ago. Jackson is the son of Carol's second daughter, Sarah. We got there in time to go to Jackson's first birthday
party where we were reacquainted a bit with the other side of Jackson's family. When all of the gifts from the birthday party and the Christmas presents were opened, these two guys didn't seem to care about all the to-do that was being done. Jackson mostly strutted around acting silly, and James picked out one or two and just turned the wheels, or hit them aside with his hands.Our son, Ron, came from Ohio and was there to enjoy most of the festivities. He also spent some time at his hobby, collecting "vinyl." If you don't know what that is, he has a collection of over 1000 old lp records, most of which are in A1 condition. He bought several while there to add to his collection.
Time with family is precious to me. I enjoyed this experience very much, and only wished that all the rest of our "clan" could have been there. Getting everyone together these days is a very difficult thing to accomplish, but a couple of our children keep working on that and it may happen again sometime. Everyone was present at our 50th anniversary 3 years ago in Illinois, even if it was only for a few hours.
Reflecting on Christmas celebrations for me is all about family. Oh yes, we do read and share about the birth of our Savior each time, and often some new thing pops up that makes this part of the time important and meaningful as well. But being with family for me is what makes it all a very precious time.
I want to do another blog soon about the Christmas season - the birth of Jesus, the 12 days of Christmas, and the epiphany, but that will need to wait a day or two. For now, my pilgrimage has taken me on a 400 mile trip and back, and now it remains to be seen what the next page in my life will bring. Until then, I'm still -
Pilgrim on the way
2 comments:
Yes, it is hard to get all the family together. We try every year by scheduling a reunion for all the Plank siblings and their families. All who can come do, but there is always someone who can't, it seems.
Still, it is good to get together...second week in July each year. Next year (2008) in Michigan.
dad, how fun to have boys around for a change in our family...they certainly look like silly ones - so glad you could be together.
you know, the planks might be on to something there. i said to Brad this morning, that we kids seem to arrange all of our trips around you parents, which is nice for now - but i wonder sometimes if we will have what it takes to get together on our own after you and mom are in glory land. for now, it does seem fragmented at best, and we take what we can get.
still freezing cold here in AZ. hoping for 70 again next week. i know we live and die by the sunshine here, but that's just the way it works.
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