Reuniting with Cousins

A really positive benefit have having my Dad live with us the last four years was igniting communication with my Ensign cousins.

My mom's youngest brother Gaylord and his wife LaVerne had nine children.

My memories of their family was spending Thanksgiving with them at their home in Fresno.

I am a year older than their oldest child Leandra and next in line was David.

David came to San Luis Obispo to work with my Dad in his garage door business.

These are the two cousins that I was most connected to.

I learned at this "reunion" that there is a 20 year span from Leandra to Amie the youngest.

I had no idea. I just remember that they had five children like us, and then the next four came along much later and I don't remember ever being with them.

Laura was the youngest of the first five children, Her son Ryan was recently married and she was having an open house in Lehi. I said to myself "well I'll betcha there will be a lot of the siblings who come to the open house" and I wanted to see them all before we move to Colorado.

So I invited ourselves. Corinne and Ben and Richard were going to be in Spanish Fork the same weekend so it worked out that Corinne and Richard also came with Fred and I.

This is Leandra the oldest and Amie the youngest. They are looking through the pictures I brought from my Dad's stuff. He asked me to take any Ensign memorabilia that I found in his stuff and give it to Curt. So I brought a box full to the open house.

At the end of the evening, we all were able to sit around the table and take pictures and go through the stuff I had brought to give to Curt.

In the forefront is Curt, Adam and David's wife Leah.

The woman in black with blonde hair is Jayson's wife Emily.

The man standing is Laura's husband Mason.

In front is Curt, me, Adam, David, Laura, Bryan, Jayson, Leandra and Amie. Darren and his wife Holly were in Paris. 

Best night ever. David and Leah drove through St. George the next day on their way to Las Vegas as they were headed home to Fresno. They called and we met at Applebees for dinner. Best Day ever. 

I marvel at how easy it is to be with each one of them. They didn't treat me as a stranger and they didn't feel like strangers. We are an eternal family. Pretty awesome. I hope in the coming years I do better at staying connected with them whether through letters, Facebook or an occasional in person meet up.