Fabulous Family

What a delightful experience! What a delightful place! What a fabulous family! The reunion will be the highlight of the year for me! My greatest enjoyment came from seeing you and talking to you. With some, getting acquainted for the first time. With others, getting reacquainted with persons we haven't seen in years. And the chance to see all but Mary of my own H Ray clan was truly special since I have been unable to travel the last several years.

Wasn't John's leadership great? Him having just gotten out of the hospital.

When I was a young boy I had a serious image problem. Parthly myth, partly real. I came from that "poor Walker family" and I was one of those "poor Walker kids." It's true that we were poor in some ways. We wore hand me downs, even shoes with holes in the soles handed down from Garfield. Frequently we received gifts of clothing from more prosperous friends, some of which fit and others that had to be "adjusted" by Mom's (Grace) great sewing skills. Does anyone else remember eating "chicken feet soup?" made from boiling cleaned chicken feet? We were poor in many ways which led to bad thoughts about ourselves.

But now these many years later at the reunion to hear about the professions, the businesses, the homes, the retirees travel and so much more demonstrates what a fabulous family we are! Grandma and Grandpa were truly special in many ways, some of which we learned about in later years. Just to see our cousins and their families and to learn more about their lives was extra special.

Having been one of those who "lived away" from our hometown area, I probably have had less chance to see and keep up with everyone. Some of you see each other almost every day or week., But for me it was "pick up time to get all those missing years in a couple days.

Sharon has already expressed thanks to everyone so well, we just affirm it. By now we have seen Tom's reply too.

And, finally, what a wonderful chance for Chris to see part of our family tree and to experience the warmth y'all showed to her.

It took a lot for us to get there. I had dialysis at six in the morning and we left immediately afterward. Longest trip since I have been on dialysis (six years) except for our trip to Syracuse to see Mom (Grace) the week before she died. I continue to have lots of health issues to work through but our intentions are to see you next year.

At the moment, I am a living miracle (healthwise) living on borrowed time. We have still more miracles to pray for but those blessings just keep coming and coming and coming! We will appreiate your continuing to pray for us and we will return the favor. Chris is a wonderful wife and caregiver and some of our miracles come through her. God chooses his own delivery method; our job is to be ready to receive them when they come. (Being a preacher, I just had to get at least one line in.)

So, to all of you, thanks from Chris and Howard for the pleasure of being at the fabulous family reunion!