There are so many stories and pictures of our recent family reunion. I am trying to pare down several hundred pictures so I don’t overwhelm you with them all.
Speaking of pictures, we wanted to be sure to get a family photo while the whole family was together. We contacted a few photographers who were too pricey for our budget and finally just decided to do it ourselves with a remote and a tripod and a daughter-in-law who is good at posing people.
There’s so much to recap from our time together. I’ll start with our time in Charlotte and work backward in future posts. (Which I guess means I’ll be going back to the future. Or something like that.)
The original plan was for Nathan, Steve, Noah, and Madison to leave Manteo for a ski trip on Wednesday and then meet the rest of us in Charlotte on Friday. Unfortunately, the weather was calling for temps in the 60’s and rain which is not exactly an idyllic day on the slopes. The long-anticipated trip had to be canceled.
So on Friday morning, The Six Floridians and Steve and I all piled into two cars for the trip to Charlotte. (Gage and Sarah had left Manteo a couple of days earlier to spend time with his family before coming to Charlotte.)
Steve and I got to hang out with these two for the 7-hour trip. They were very good travel companions. As we traveled I thought of the song, “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go.” We had an hour of woods coming out of Manteo and a few bridges over rivers so it seemed appropriate. When I wasn’t singing to myself, Noah and Madi did their own back seat singing. What a precious sound.
Grayson very self-sufficiently strapped himself in for the journey.
At one point in the visit, I took a photo of both couples.
Meagan laughed and said this is the difference between newlyweds . . .
and ten years of marriage. (Not quite sure why Nathan was holding a lighter.)
The reason they are dressed a little differently is that Sarah and Gage had just returned from church with us. Nathan and Meagan (for good reason) decided to stay behind with the two toddlers.
It was special to see the generational table-setting tradition continue.
Sarah and Nathan have set this table since they were wee ones.
And now Noah and Madi are carrying on the tradition.
I wanted to be sure to include a photo of us on our anniversary with Vernie in it. Without her and Ken, and my mom and dad (Ed and Jo Ann Campbell), none of today’s photos would exist. Grateful for our parents!
Steve spent over an hour with Noah, showing him all the planes his dad had flown and explaining a bunch of aeronautical terms like ailerons, lift, roll, etc.
Noah has always been an airplane buff and paid rapt attention. When it was over he said to Steve, “I loved learning about airplanes, but I especially loved that I got to learn it from you.”
There are so many more Charlotte photos to share.
I’ll put them in an album to make them a little easier to scroll through. (Don’t miss the added news after the photos.)
I know that you may be interested in knowing what is next on Sarah’s medical journey. On January 26, she’ll go back to Duke for a follow-up CT scan. There will be three results: the tumor will have shrunk, stayed the same, or grown. Whatever that result is will dictate what happens next.
She is feeling well, eating well, and has gained back the weight she lost during her illness in the spring of last year. We are thankful.
As for me, I will go Thursday for pulmonary function tests, and on the 24th, will head back to Chapel Hill for another PH impedance test–that wonderful test where I get to display a tube in my nose for twenty-four hours. Good times!
Thanks for your continued concern and prayers for these health situations.
What about you?
What do these first weeks of the new year hold for you?
Do you remember trips to grandma’s house? (or another favorite relative?) What were your favorite memories?
On the new year, we are traveling – many places warmer than where we live, and some places much warmer than what we have during the winter.
I remember when our kids were little and we had put a small mattress in the back seat for them to sit and sleep on – not any more folks can’t. It never even crossed our minds about flying kids in case of an accident but am sure we were not the only ones who did that. Also, “Mom, Todd’s touching my seat – “MOM tell her to . . . Ah, memories! We spent wonderful Christmases at my dad’s mom’s house and went there many times when they lived closer to us. She was a great cook and grandpa and my dad would talk Norwegian so we couldn’t understand what was being said. As kids we didn’t think that was fair!
What great pictures. In looking at the family one it is so hard to believe the grandkids are getting so big – probably have said that more times than not – but it is truly amazing to me how fast time has gone once Meagan and Nathan got married. So glad for the update on Sarah and yourself. We continue to pray for both of you.
Sharyn,
Oh yes, those olden days of putting kids on a mattress in the back seat. How times have changed! And what is it about traveling that makes kids so protective of their space? The “Mom, he’s touching me,” line has been heard a million times. 🙂
It’s funny that your dad and grandparents would talk Norwegian. I’m sure they enjoyed doing it as much as the kids disliked them doing it! My maternal grandpa was full Norwegian so that story warms my heart.
I just love seeing the pictures of your family gatherings. It always looks like everyone is having such a good time. I’m so glad you all got to spend so much quality time together over the holidays.
I remember so many trips to my grandparents’ house. We used to go for Thanksgiving every year, as well as some in the spring and summer breaks. I remember my grandpa always playing silly games with us…he’d pretty much do whatever we asked him to do. He used to take us on trips to the park, with stops for ice cream on the way home (even if it was close to dinner time). Sometimes we even got to go to work with him! He worked in a very small town in eastern Washington that was sort of like Mayberry with the town pharmacy/soda fountain, general store, etc., all on the main street. So many great memories.
I’m so happy that you made some great family memories over the Christmas holidays. I pray for great results for your upcoming medical tests!
Gayle,
I love your description of Mayberry in another state. Sounds like the perfect place to hang out with grandparents; especially with a grandpa who gives you ice cream before dinner. The best kind!
Sounds like he enjoyed the kids’ company more than even you all enjoyed his!
Oh gosh….such great photos!! Vernie looks wonderful! What a special family gathering!
I remember LOTS of trips to grandmother’s house. We lived in Denver and both sets of grandparents lived in Nebraska. So we would always drive to one or the other for Thanksgiving or Christmas. In dad’s Volkswagen. On state highways through lots and lots of small towns. Because there was no interstate yet. The 500 mile trip to Lincoln took a long time! My brother always got to lay in the back seat to sleep. I had to get into the cubby hole behind the back seat since I was younger and smaller. And it was always so scratchy. lol However, I would lay in there and stare out the window at all of the stars. It was so awesome! When we would arrive at grandma’s in Lincoln, no matter what time it was, great-grandma and grandma would prepare a huge spread of food on the kitchen table and we were expected to eat! Germans love their food, even at midnight! My other grandma would make the most amazing homemade rolls and desserts. Actually, everything she made was awesome. She was a fantastic cook! And grandpa always called me his favorite granddaughter. ( I was the ONLY granddaughter) They lived in a very small town so the 4 boys and I would get on the bikes and ride all over the town. My brother and I were city kids with much different rules at home so that was such a huge freedom. We would ride to all of the aunt’s and uncle’s houses and visit everyone. 🙂
This year is bringing big changes for us. Hubby retired on December 31st and I am set to retire at the end of February! I will be 63 March 1st so am ‘young’ on the retirement scale, so to speak. I am so fortunate and blessed that I CAN retire and we are so looking forward to a new, relaxed, stress-free lifestyle. We have a few things that we are planning to do in the near future and there will be plenty of time for working on our golf games too.
Sarah looks really good. I hope that means that the tumor has shrunk! Wishing you both the very best outcomes at your upcoming appointments!!
Lee Anne,
Five hundred miles through small towns? THAT is my happy place. Sounds like you made the best of the cubby hole, making friends with the stars!
I can’t quite imagine eating a huge spread at midnight when I am dead tired, but it sounds like your grandmothers just couldn’t help themselves. I love that kind of happy hospitality.
Congrats on you and your husband’s double retirements within a couple of months of each other. I’m sure by the end of 2022, you’ll have many memories to add to your Adventure Book.
Thanks for the prayers for Sarah and me. We’ll be glad to get these next tests oer with. Blessings!
What wonderful, wonderful pictures of your family reunion. I can’t wait to see more. My favorite part of the entire post was Noah’s quote about how he loved learning about airplanes, especially from Steve. Prayers for you and Sarah and your upcoming medical “adventures”. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Sue Ellen,
Yes, I loved that quote by Noah, too. I heard him a few minutes later, go over and hug Meagan and tell her the same thing. He felt those words very deeply.
Medical adventures–here we come! Disney World sounds more fun but you can take what you can get, right? 🙂
I agree – Disney would be a lot more fun – and probably cost about the same!
Thank you for sharing with us Becky. I especially love the photos of Vernie & Madi, Vernie & Meagan and the sweet photo of Sarah, Gage & Madi.
Trips to my grandmother’s house, approximately five miles from my family’s home, were the highlight of my childhood! We called her Mammie and she was precious beyond words.
Praying for excellent health reports for you and Sarah.
Gloria
Gloria,
Mammie is a great name for a grandmother. So nice that you lived so close to her and that she got to be a part of your growing-up years. Precious beyond words is definitely a good description.
Thank you so much for the prayers!
Great photos, I love the family photo. Noah is growing so fast right now.
My Grammy and her home in Provincetown, MA was always a big deal to me. It was a long 13 hour drive every summer to get there and I lived for the moment our car rounded the final turn. We would spot the familiar curve of the coast, the sparkling bay and I swore it was heaven. We spent our summers there. As I grew up, whenever I was sick, sad or anxious I would close my eyes and imagine I was in her kitchen and would feel better. My heart has always been there, even to this day. She thought I hung the moon and I knew it. We just fit together. She was smart, funny and entirely herself. What a gift she was. Her husband had died of a heart attack at a very young age so she lived alone for over 50 years but was well known in her small community of Provincetown. She had a Siamese cat named Choco-Si who was a year older than me, which I found fascinating as a child LOL. Choco lived to be 26 and I still have his cat tag that hung on his collar. Grammy lived to be 95. She is missed more and more as I get older, for some reason.
Lesley,
Oh, I loved your story of traveling to Provincetown. To know that your journey ended up near water made me happy. Nothing is better.
And your description of your grammy. Written straight from the heart about a wise and whimsical woman whom you were blessed to spend a part of your life with. How lovely that you could return in your memory to her kitchen you were sad or anxious. I know that it must have given her the greatest joy to provide that refuge for you.
And a cat tag from a beloved 26-year old cat? What a treasure!
I always enjoy your posts, but rarely comment. I just had to say that Noah is turning into a handsome young man! I love his interest in planes…I think you might have an engineer on your hands.
Sarah B,
Thank you for leaving a comment. Love hearing from infrequent commenters.
I have to agree about Noah. I was just telling Steve that he would cut quite a striking figure in a military uniform when he becomes a man. Or I could certainly see him becoming an engineer. It’s amazing to see grandchildren slowly grow up and find who they are.
I just love your pictures and your posts, and your children and your grandchildren, and….well, I just love getting to keep up with your exciting adventures. I have been along with you on this journey since Sara was maybe around 7 or 8. I will be praying for good results on her tests coming up and yours too. I love the family photo. It is amazing to watch your family grow over the years. I have one daughter, one son in law and one grandson, who will be 21 in March. I don’t get to see them very often and they live next door! Everyone is so busy. My grandson just got his Associates degree in Arts.. and loves english. He had talked about being a librarian and work in one of the bigger libraries in the USA, wherever that would be. Your post today made me miss my precious Grandmother. She was my heart. So precious and loving and a good Christian lady. I will see her again one day. Quarantined for another week due to my hubby being sick and still have not heard from his test results for covid. He has been really sick and so far I have been fine. I am soooooooooo tired of this virus and pray the Lord will take it away soon. Have a blessed week my friend.
Kaye,
I love that your grandson wants to work in a big library. What a cool job. There are so many gorgeous libraries all across the country; it would be fun to get to go to work in one of those every day.
I’m sorry to hear you are still homebound for another few days but glad you have been feeling fine. I’m with you; I will be GLAD to have this over.
Your Grandmother was your heart. No better way to say that.
First of all, Meagan did an excellent job with her tripod, camera and timer. She managed to catch everyone looking in the same direction which isn’t always that easy with that many people. You will cherish that picture a long time.
All of your pictures are great but I especially love the picture of Gage hugging Madison at what I’m assuming is Steve’s dad’s gravesite. He is doing a great job at his new gig as Uncle Gage!
My grandmother on my mother’s side passed away when I was only 4 years old, so I don’t remember a lot about going to her house. However, it was over the river and through the woods to get to their house. The main thing I remember about my grandmother on my dad’s side was that I always had to wear a dress when we went to see them. She didn’t believe in women wearing slacks or shorts and this tomboy didn’t necessarily like wearing dresses. When my cousin came along when I was 16, my uncle decided he wasn’t making her wear dresses, so I went along with that.
We closed on my parents’ house on Friday so today I am making phone calls to make sure utilities have been transferred and canceling insurance and the security system. Wednesday I am going to Union Station in KC MO to see the Holocaust Exhibit. Thursday is a trip to the eye doctor for my dad. I’m hoping to go to Daytona in March. My friend’s husband is turning 60 and she’s planning a surprise party for him. I had thought about going Presidents Day weekend but that’s not a holiday for Florida state employees.
Phyllis,
What an interesting memory to remember having to wear dresses every time you visited your grandmother. I’m sure for a tomboy that really was a trial of your patience. Nice of your uncle to finally be the one to make a change and you could get back to your comfy clothes.
Woo hoo on closing on your parent’s house! Hopefully in the next few days all of the details will be tied up and you can take a big breath and celebrate a job well done.
Enjoy your upcoming travels.
I love all of these photos. What a fun time you all must of had! you have such a lovely family.
We lived in Pittsburg and Boston while I was growing up and my Dad’s parents lived in Baltimore, MD. We had many car trips to see them. My Mom always made them so fun for us. We (my sister and I) each would get a bag packed for the car that she put together for us and we didn’t get to see inside until we were in the car. New books, crayons, coloring books, car games, dolls, etc. She also had a special treat bag up front with fun treat for us all- cookies, chips, crackers… I do this for my son now. Great memories in those trips.
Prayers for successful appointments.
Krista,
Sounds like you had a very wise, fun, and organized mom. I love that she didn’t let you see in the bags till you were in the car. That would be a good way to encourage any laggers to get right in their seats. I’m sure your son is thrilled you do the same thing!
How fun to get to travel back and forth to Baltimore growing up. So many sights to be seen. I’m sure you still have a lot of memories of the things you saw.
What a great family picture! Definitely frame worthy!
Last week was busy for me – I am trying to soak up the time with my younger son as this is his last semester of college and he will likely be moving far away for his job (he finds out where in March). We went hiking, 4-wheeling at a new awesome ATV park, and snow skiing for the day. We also had a baby shower for my older son and his wife – new baby boy coming SOON! Crazy to think about being a grandma!
I remember singing that song as we traveled to my grandparents every Christmas when I was younger. It was always a LONG (13+ hour) drive but I had so much fun once we got there. I was an only child (and only grandchild on one side for a long time) so I had 6 aunts that played games with me and tons of cousins (on the other side) to play with when we were there. Fun times.
I hope you have a blessed week!
Suzanne,
Wow. Sounds like you were happily spoiled when you were younger; the apple of everyone’s eye. What a wonderful way to grow up.
I’m glad you are getting some soaking up time with your son; when you’re not sure how far he will have to move, those times become all the more important and precious.
Hiking, 4-wheeling, and skiing sound like a busy day. You must be in GREAT shape!
Oh, goodness, I did those things on 3 different days! I couldn’t have done all that on a single day – whew!
Suzanne,
Well, that’s good to know! 🙂