The brisk sunny afternoon was the perfect welcome for the annual Christmas party that was about to begin. Relatives near and far converged upon this particular home which enjoyed the perfect backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Oakland hills greeted this extended family to a party expected to be filled with laughter, stories, and love that transcends four generations!
This much-anticipated family party was about to begin!
A week has gone by since my son’s wedding day and it has taken me about that long to get back in balance with my life. The emotions of that wedding allowed me to reflect upon the great blessing that the Lord had given me in the year 2011. Continue reading
Well, reality is about to set in for me.
I have been busy helping my son and future daughter-in-law with their banquet guest list and table placements. So much to do and so little time left!! The busyness of the event can create stress for all parties involved and one does not realize the myriad of activities involved to plan a wedding.
Friday night arrives and the rehearsal was scheduled for 7:00 pm. The evening was pleasant as the sun was setting. Just a week before, Continue reading
The other day, I helped my older son move his worldly possessions into his first dwelling place as he prepares for the next stage of his life – marriage. I am not discounting his move to the college dorm seven years ago or his move into a one-bedroom rental in a friend’s house – those are important acts of relocation. No, I am talking about a place he can finally call “his own” where the realities of paying his bills, protecting his home, and maintaining his yard gives him that pride of ownership – that type of place!
Fortunately, the furniture was easily detachable thus making the packing of the parts easier to load into a crossover vehicle. The largest solid piece of furniture was the headboard of the queen size bed frame. This was not the first time I have helped him move his furniture so experience played a major role in this activity. They wanted to move into a one-bedroom cottage in a rural area that was just far enough to escape the daily rat race while enjoying nature at its best. I have never been to their new place so I was excited to see it. With the first load ready to go, we embarked on our new adventure. Continue reading
The other night, I was sifting through the myriad of photos in my collection to find specific pictures for my son’s upcoming wedding (as per his request). I am not as organized with pictures as I am with the rest of my life and thought to myself, why not apply those same skills to these boxes of photos?
We were not big on photography but managed to have a decent amount of photos documenting our lives and our children’s growth throughout the years. I discovered several empty photo albums which will be a great incentive to organize them by child and the family in general.
My face was constantly smiling as I was reminded of the events of years gone by. Thank goodness for technology as I was able to scan many pictures and crop out photo-bombing strangers throughout the years. Suddenly, in a large cardboard folder, I pulled out a picture that took my breath away…. Continue reading
The setting was perfect on Saturday evening.
Although I am new to my wife’s side of the family, everyone welcomed me with a hug. It was a time of family reunions, rebuilding of old bonds, and creating new memories. No matter the circumstances, this wedding brought together a group of people – friends, family, and acquaintances – to celebrate the union of my step-son and his new bride.
Sitting at the outdoor patio overlooking the 18th green and the nearby driving range, the sun was a welcomed factor for keeping the ceremony concise. The wedding party consisted of Continue reading
The strength of a sturdy tree is found in the roots that establishes its foundation. These roots must push through the impacted soil around it to ensure that the longevity of the tree remains for generations to come.
On the top-side, however, the magnificence of this same tree is admired by its many branches that display new and constant growth. Each branch depicts a different story of this same tree which, in itself, holds new adventures and purpose.
As I reflect upon the parallelism of this natural wonder with that of the “family tree”, I find it amazing that many analogies can be developed from such a simple concept. This weekend, I saw the next branch of life extending from our family tree and Continue reading
