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This past weekend my sister and her family made the trip from Ohio to spend a couple of days with my parents. In addition to that, we had part of my extended family, including my grandmother drive up from central Wisconsin to visit yesterday.
We had a great time together as a family. Kari and Jimmy came over early Saturday and we went with Micah to the “Y” to play basketball. Micah had the best time practicing with his coach-aunt-Rere, and he is really developing his skills for controlling the basketball and shooting even though he is only 7 years old. Kari said its a lot different coaching college vs. coaching a 7 year old!
Emily made us dinner when my parents came over later that night. My parents got a disability van that has a chair lift in the back and so my dad can make a trip anywhere a lot easier, however, we’re still working out the kinks for traveling.
Then on Sunday, Kari had planned for some family pictures after church, and since we had our camera it sounded like a good idea. It was fun to see dad around everyone, even though there are obvious moments of difference for his adjustments with his condition, there were many times where you couldn’t even tell that anything had changed. With everyone sitting down, you’d think that at any moment he could just stand up and go about his business like usual. It was a nice reflection from the familiarity that is found around “family.”
It was also fun to have grandma around. Sadie really took to her and I saw the biggest smile of the night from Sadie while GG was holding her. Micah had a ton of fun with his great cousins Luke and Kyle, and the rest of us really enjoyed some fun family time with version sausage and pizzas.
After the extended family had left, we put on some iTunes and had an impromptu dance party (basically just Micah and Sadie spinning with little Finley watching and trying her best). But it was cool to see that around family, you don’t need to impress anyone, you can simply just be yourself. Family provides a harbor of safety and connection where you are accepted and loved without reservation or condition. It is a blessing that can only be matched by the church.
Thanks to God for our family and the time we got to spend together, and thanks to our extended church family; may we all continue to express unconditional love to one another and easily offer to carry one another’s burdens.