Bridal Shower Memories

It seems like this week I've written about everything about the trip and various odds and ends since then except for the POINT of the trip. Between cold/flu recovery and second dental surgery that is still uncomfortable three days later, I just haven't been able to focus on the reason for it all.

I went to Oregon with high expectations and very much was looking forward to meeting Erin's family. I knew I couldn't possibly be disappointed. After all, we love Erin. Quanah thinks the world of her family. What could go wrong? Well, in fact, absolutely NOTHING. We had a terrific time. Erin's family was warm and welcoming.

This was all a bit unusual for me. When you consider the fact that my immediate family is composed of eight people (Don, Krista, Quanah, David - my brother and his wife Yolanda, and my sister Marcia and her son Zach) and that Susan and Mark (Erin's parents) have seven children, several themselves married with children, you see that this might be a little intimidating for me. Oh, and let's also consider this; Don has no living family except for one very removed cousin he has not seen in a few years. So big family gatherings and all the family dynamics that come into play is very unfamiliar territory for me. But Susan was a dear and seemed to understand that it could all be very overwhelming and she took very good care of me while I caught my balance.

Kris, on the other hand, dove right in. Later in the party a picture of the sisters included Kris, Erin, Colleen, Erin's two sisters-in-law, plus one niece. Sweet Mary, who would have completed the picture, was elsewhere.

Sweet Mary attached and detached herself to Kris through the party.

Sisters and daughters and grandmothers and GREAT-great-grandmothers each visited a bit with me. I was stunned to see so many women, so many generations. It was truly amazing. All in one room we had granddaughters through great-great-grandmothers. I think I got that count right. Five generations of women, all together, all laughing and sharing, all handing off babies from one to another.

I'm still a little stunned as I think back on this joyful moment in time. I'm already imagining the wedding where there will be more family and FRIENDS, even a few from the groom's side. LOL I think we will have to share the groom's side of the church though at the wedding. But, No problemo. The more the merrier.