Family Reunion Day 6

Last year was the first time we rented this huge waterslide on the 24th of July (Pioneer Day, a holiday, in Utah).  And we loved it!  It was such a blast.  So we decided to do it again.

We all gathered out at the Gertson’s house in Stansbury Park in swimsuits and ready for some crazy dives off the big blow-up slide – adults and kids alike.

 

We were also priviledged to have Derek join us all the way from China for this final day of the reunion.  He was able to take a 2 week job in the USA that allowed him to stop off for a few days in Utah.

 

Lyndsy was in charge of dinner and made her yummy “Cafe Rio Pork” dinner.  It was so good!  We had a fun day in the sun…but quite a few adults injured themselves by trying to show each other up on the slide!  Then there were a few, like Jeff H and Justin, who didn’t even chance it.  Were they wimpy or smart?  Hmmmm

 

This day concluded our last day of the reunion.  The consensus all the way around was that the reunion was a total hit.  As we said our goodbyes, there was a sadness that it was over.  I love to reflect on how all of us came to be together.  There was lots of heartache and tragedy that led up to this combined family.  And since then (20 years) it’s taken a LOT of work and effort on each family member’s part.  But as I watched everyone this week, I realized that – over time – hard work and patience can bring sweet rewards.  The precious relationships that have formed between the grandchildren – and seeing that the children know no bounds or division between families.  They don’t care about blood relation…or whose parents grew up with whose.  The effort to bond and make memories was apparent as I watched the family come together all week long.

 

And a huge thank you goes out to Maren for coordinating such a huge event.  She did an amazing job.  And I know it wasn’t easy since she was nursing a 2 month old the entire time!

 

 

This pic of Mindy and Jeff is one of my favorites.  Just before this picture, they had run into WalMart together.  The cashier said “I can tell you two go together”!  LOL

 

 

This is my Axl Rose or Brett Michaels look, using my tie-died bandana.