06/08/2026
This week is our annual family reunion... Since 1969 my mom's side of the family has camped together for a week... The second week of June. This is our 58th year. Somewhere along the way, someone had the idea to number each family member according to when they entered the family (whether by birth, marriage, or adoption). Numbers began with Mom and her seven siblings and have continued down through generations. Mom was #2...Dad, the first in-law, was #9. I'm #31... You get the idea.
It took from 1932 until 2001 to grow to 100 members... And #100 is one of our girls! Imagine how fun it was for our daughter, #100 to welcome their daughter, #200 to the family in April! (And we've added four more members since then!)
Maybe it's a little weird to number your family members...but we're a little weird. Possibly even weirder is that we LOVE getting together for this week. We count down the days...we take vacation days or personal days and we come to Camp. We eat, we laugh, we play games, we worship together, we sing, we reminisce, we tell and retell stories, we laugh more, eat more, and cry when it's over! We know each other and we're friends.
There aren't a lot of families like ours... And that's too bad... It's special.
Some have passed on... But their memories and examples remain. Present in our hearts and our traditions...and part of our heritage.
This is our branch of the family tree as represented this year... the Stinnett branch. (Only 11 of our 47 got to be at Camp this year... Plus a cousin from Dad's side who join us when they can!)
I'll be soaking up the week of family this week. (Scott and Savannah are graciously covering a couple of days in the shop so that Lili and I get to stay)
I won't see y'all for a few days and may not respond as quickly as usual. Sorry, not sorry.
Happy Monday, Newfound Friends! I'll see y'all when I'm back!
💚
