In my life it is all about family. I can not begin to imagine my life without my family -immediate and extended. It is really what keeps me going some days.
This past weekend was dedicated to family. Chris had business in Ohio so I took a quick flight to Atlanta to meet him and then we flew together to Ohio. Never mind that he flew in first class and I didn’t. It doesn’t bother me. Much. 
We spent some time in Ada at our alma mater Ohio Northern University. When Chris and I visit his sister and family we usually stay at The Inn that they built on campus and it has been a great home away from home when we travel there. The rooms are large, beds comfy and I can’t resist the turndown service complete with chocolates. What’s not to love? 
We spent some time with Chris’s sister and husband, our niece and our sweet Carlton. We even saw Chris’s Great Aunt Mary when we stopped to visit our brother in law’s mom. It was an unexpected surprise.
Thank you to all who sent cards to Carlton. He is collecting quite a pile and loves each and every one of them. I was going to try to have him write some thank you notes but he was pretty tired (we found out later he was getting bronchitis) so I didn’t push. But thank you to each of you who sent a special card. It makes his day when he gets mail.
On Saturday morning we watched the parade that was part of the Farmers and Merchants weekend held every year. Our niece marched with the Ada High School Band and we had fun watching her.
Then it was on to the Rasey family reunion where the relatives of Chris’s maternal grandmother get together yearly. I loved seeing some of these people that I usually only see at funerals or weddings. They are great people with huge hearts, good values and are some of the best cooks around. Peach pie = yum. What a great time catching up with family before the storms rolled in.
On to Sebring, Ohio where we spent the night with my mom. Her apartment is getting settled a little bit more and she is getting her bearings after her move a couple of weeks ago. It is still difficult to find some items but that is understandable since everyone else packed her belongings and put them away. I tried to help label a few things but it was a drop in the bucket. Someday we will get her all settled.
Then it was on to Columbus to spend an hour with our niece and her husband and our great niece. A lovely ending to a lovely weekend. There is nothing more fun that watching a dance recital video of our sweet niece being a duck. Oh– well maybe taking selfies with her would be right up there.
Family is important. My family gives me roots. Each member plays an important part in my life and I am blessed by these relationships. Not everyone has these strong ties and I am so grateful that I do.
