Family Retreat Weekend/Day

Around this time every year my dad's family gets together for the Family Retreat Weekend. The whole family overtakes a B & B or hotel for a weekend. It is my grandparent's Christmas gift to us all. The last couple of years, the family has enjoyed That Pretty Place in Shipshewana. There's a pond for fishing, wooded trails, enough land for the kids to get tuckered out, and enough indoor space for all of us to hang out during inclement weather.

This year, things were a little bit different. Grandpa has spent some time in the hospital, and he is currently in a rehab facility. It was decided that the Family Retreat Weekend be cancelled.

But hard times can't keep us apart. So in lieu of a family weekend, we held a family day, and Grandpa was able to join us for part of the day. We began the day at my cousin's for brunch and indoor games and ended the day with a campfire dinner and outdoor games at my aunt and uncle's. In true family style, in addition to wonderful meals, we succeeded in grazing on fantastic food all day. Good thing there was plenty of activity to work off the excess calories. A family run/walk and some intense games of volleyball and bocche ball were enjoyed.

Most of all, it's so great to catch up with my cousins and aunts and uncles. We swap stories and laugh and cry together. This family is uniquely wonderful. Almost everyone lives around here, except a few who traveled from Kansas and Oklahoma. We all love Jesus. No one is divorced or estranged, and we genuinely care deeply for one another.

In an unfortunate twist of fate, this is the only picture that ended up on my camera.

Yep, poor lighting to boot.  I suppose it's proof that there was a little crazy mixed in.