It's Family Reunion Time!
Every three years, my mom's side of the family gets together for a huge family reunion - usually in Missouri where my mom is from. Four generations gather for this "Kiehl Klan" reunion - between 100-200 people attend. These family members live in all parts of the United States, and it's amazing to see how they sacrifice to be at this blessed event.
A wonderful time is had by all. We start each day with a family devotional, then spend the rest of the time on get-to-know-you games, family Olympics, service and craft projects and, of course, eating great food.
This year is going to be really special. We'll visit several sites important to the Kiehl family - Grandpa and Grandma's graves (we'll each let go of a balloon there to represent their great posterity), the church where they worshipped (we'll have a special service under the direction of my cousin, John, who's a minister at a Lutheran church), the house where my mom grew up, etc.
As we commemorate the Kiehls, my mother has spent hours compiling a beautiful heritage book containing photos and the history of the Otto and Adeline Kiehl family. She did this with the help of Heritage Makers (Heritagemakers.com), a digital scrapbooking company that makes putting together your scrapbooks, biographies and family history a breeze. My mom had a copy of the book printed for each family.
I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with the Kiehl family. Because of these reunions, I know each member of my family and feel a really strong bond with each person.
On the flip side, we've never had a reunion with my dad's side of the family. All of his siblings have passed away, and I don't even know some of my own first cousins. How sad!
Family reunions are a wonderful way to "turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to their children" (Malachi 4:6). Plan one today and witness firsthand the joy it'll bring into your life.
Lisa
A wonderful time is had by all. We start each day with a family devotional, then spend the rest of the time on get-to-know-you games, family Olympics, service and craft projects and, of course, eating great food.
This year is going to be really special. We'll visit several sites important to the Kiehl family - Grandpa and Grandma's graves (we'll each let go of a balloon there to represent their great posterity), the church where they worshipped (we'll have a special service under the direction of my cousin, John, who's a minister at a Lutheran church), the house where my mom grew up, etc.
As we commemorate the Kiehls, my mother has spent hours compiling a beautiful heritage book containing photos and the history of the Otto and Adeline Kiehl family. She did this with the help of Heritage Makers (Heritagemakers.com), a digital scrapbooking company that makes putting together your scrapbooks, biographies and family history a breeze. My mom had a copy of the book printed for each family.
I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with the Kiehl family. Because of these reunions, I know each member of my family and feel a really strong bond with each person.
On the flip side, we've never had a reunion with my dad's side of the family. All of his siblings have passed away, and I don't even know some of my own first cousins. How sad!
Family reunions are a wonderful way to "turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to their children" (Malachi 4:6). Plan one today and witness firsthand the joy it'll bring into your life.
Lisa