We just returned from our Andersen family reunion. We do this every 3 years. My parents have planned and executed the last 2 reunions and at the conclusion of our event in 2014 they asked me to plan the next one. After much planning & preparation we were able to spend a memorable 3 days near Zion National Park.
This reunion has been in the works for the past year. It has been on my mind as I've made lists, mental notes, browsed everything reunion-related on Pinterest, and decided on a theme. The fall came and it was time to book a home for our group of 25 (12 adults, 13 grandchildren).
In October 2016 our lives turned upside down. My sweet mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer. I'm realizing now that I haven't said a single thing about her cancer on this blog. Let's just say that it has been an emotional and intense 8 months around here. I do have much to say & share, but that will be another time when it feels right.
The reunion was still sitting in the back of my mind. I could see the summer rental calendars filling up for the houses I was interested in. But mom had just received a cancer diagnosis. For a moment I hesitated . . . . with so much unknown should we really go ahead with this?
It was my dad, with faith & certainty, who said "yes, we need to do this." To exercise our faith in her healing we needed to move forward with life as it was planned. And, more than anything, mom needed something to look forward to. We have since learned that this is key in supporting her overall health and positive mental outlook. Continually having something on the horizon to look forward to (each month) has helped her so much.
In November we booked a home in southern Utah for June 18-22 and laid it out there. Heavenly Father, help this work for us.
Since making our deposit on the reunion house, there have been a lot of ups and downs. Cancer is a roller coaster and I'll tell you those downs are something intense. The month of May was especially challenging for her health. Things were really hard. I think we were all holding our breath. Praying. Hoping.
I felt helpless being so far away from mom during those really hard weeks, so I buried myself in reunion plans. Posting daily to our reunion Facebook Page. Printing massive welcome/info packets. Giving assignments. Creating video projects. Anything to keep myself busy, moving the reunion train forward, again in an attempt to exercise my faith that it will all work out.
On June 2nd - my mom's 59th birthday - we got a miracle. The cancer in her brain & spinal cord were in remission! We're calling it her birthday miracle. Such an incredible relief and the timing of hearing that news will always be a special blessing & memory in my life.
Now, she's not out of the woods. There is still cancer in her body that has to be dealt with. But we are thrilled with any and all progress. Adjusting to a new chemo this month has been hard on her. But they worked out the timing of her doses so that she would be off chemo for the family reunion week.
My dad is so attentive and cares for her needs so well. He reached out to a friend and borrowed their RV for this trip so that she could travel in comfort. They showed up with a brand new walker on wheels to give her some mobility around the house. (The kids sure thought that was fun to play with). And a lightweight portable wheelchair made it possible for her to join us on two of the paved trails in Zion National Park.
I started writing this post to express one thought . . . I'm just so grateful my parents, my mom were able to participate in this reunion. It really did all work out.
(thanks to Becca for capturing the image above)
On our last night, after the hoopla & excitement of the family talent show and devouring Utah scones for dessert, my dad shared some parting words. In his message, as patriarch of our family, he emphasized that family is all that matters. When you get rid of the fluff, the distractions, the things that lead to short-term joys & successes you will learn over and over again that family is really all that matters in this life. We need to treat each other well. We need to carry the Andersen family name and do good things with it.
It reminded me of something that L. Tom Perry said in General Conference once: "Let me [bear my] witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness."
I'm glad that we have these reunions every few years to bring us together and help us strengthen family bonds. I think most people will agree that family reunions can be tricky sometimes - so many personalities in a small space can be a challenge! And I will admit that we are not perfect. No family is! No matter how pretty the pictures on Instagram look. BUT we treat each other well, we are patient with one another, and we pitch in and work.
At these reunions we gather to make great memories, help our kids form relationships, and have some fun! Most importantly, though, this is about mom & dad. It gives them so much JOY to see us together, raising our families, and it gives them pride (although they would never say that) in their posterity. We come together to honor mom & dad, show appreciation for the family they have created, and do our job of practicing the kindness, generosity, and service-mindedness that they have always taught us.
Love. Work. Serve. Faith. Family.
