Building Blocks for a Family

 Susie sent out an alert to the family asking if, "we are still on for lunch tomorrow about Noon at my place for all who want to come. Laura is bringing Chicken noodle soup."  Immediately replies came back asking what they could bring. I recognized a trait I had just read about.

I have been reading articles about Family History and the need for family stories, myths, and legends to knit family units together.  This does not have to be a DNA family, it can be those we choose to be our family. In the Lore's case it is our family stories growing up and then the stories of those who join us as spouses, children, friends and sometimes neighbors. There is a saying in the family that has stuck, "There is always room for one more." 

Being the oldest of the twelve kids, my stories are different than my younger siblings. One day when I happen to be in Utah at mom and dad's house, the kids (big as well as small) decided to make a snowman. When I went out to look they said, "Hey Linda, we made a pregnant snowman to look like you." Ah, thanks very much. But of course if the men and boys are involved it always grows bigger and better. The snowman was rolled around the yard until it was big enough to cover a door...to the top - the neighbors door! The Lore's were friends with the Nybos, such that their family laughed when they got home. I personally had never met them but my younger siblings have all kinds of stories with their family.

Getting together and spending moments create the stories, memories, and love that are shared.  Building Blocks for our unit. Trips to Yellowstone brings stories, tea parties as Susie's house have stories attached. 

Laura and I were talking today and she told me about giving each of her children a once use camera for their trip to Disneyland. After getting home, they developed the pictures and each of them had an entirely different story to tell about the same trip. Each focused on something like food, animals, rides, or people. That sounds like a really terrific idea! I'm going to have to do that for a trip of mine. Especially with the grandchildren. How fun would that be?!!

This is Jayson at Disneyland, not Laura's family, but I couldn't get a download of Disneyland without a lot of hassle. So please enjoy our picture.