Ties that Bind

The last few days have been a wonderful reminder to me about what is truly important in life.  Besides our walk with God, our friendships and our family are truly vital in our life. 

We have been blessed with some amazing friends that enrich our lives.  Friday we met up at the Bristol mall on a rainy day to eat lunch and bounce on the inflatbles. It was wonderful to let our kids play while we moms sat and laughed and caught up.  We believe in laughter being the best medicine for anything and I always come away with sore ab muscles from laughing!

 My grandfather (who passed away almost four years ago) had eleven siblings.  Eleven!!!  There are only three remaining of the original Wright family and last night in Radford we had a family reunion because my grandfather's brother, George, "BB" was in town from Texas.  He had a rough winter with his health and he really wanted to come home to Virginia this summer for perhaps his last visit on this side of heaven.  When he walked in my heart jumped because he looks identical to my Pawpaw who died.  Here he is addressing the crowd of about 31 at yummy Sal's restaurant. 

 

David sang the blessing for the crowd to begin eating. 

Here is Aunt Louise who is in her nineties!  She was so tickled at how cheeesy her dinner was! 

"BB" and his wife Shirley came from Texas which their two girls-Julie and Cathy.  Here is Julie sharing some of her memories from traveling from Texas to Virginia in their station wagon as a child. 

When it was time for the family pictures, David escorted Louise to her seat for the pictures.  He is almost as tall as Louise is.  She is in wonderful health for her age and lives very independently and is an awesome driver!  She is my hero!

Of the original eleven Wright children, there are three remaining.  Louise (on the left) lives in Radford,"BB" lives in New Braunfels, Texas, and Dollie recently moved to Gloucester with her husband to an assisted living facility near her daughter.  They have not seen each other in four years. 

Here is a picture of the children of the original eleven Wright children.  We are missing many in this picture, but it was great to see everyone. 

The whole crowd of us totalling 31!!

 My crazy kiddos with GG! 

 

 

This picture makes me kind of sad to look at, but here is the last time this crew got together four years ago when" BB" made his last trip to Radford from Texas.   This picture was taken exactly one month before my PawPaw (in the white shirt) passed away due to COPD. 

 

Whenever siblings that are in their eighties and nineties get together you often wonder if this will be the last time that they will see each other on this side of heaven.  Dollie and BB have both had health scares over the past year and we are blessed that they were able to make the trip from Gloucester and Texas to be together for another visit.  I know my Pawpaw would have loved every moment of last night's get together and seeing his siblings, but thanks to Jesus and his promise of Heaven goodbyes are never permanent. 

 

Leaving the restaurant last night, we held hands and sang Blest be the Ties that Bind as a family.  It was precious witnessing the reunion of three remaining siblings that are up there in years.  It touches my heart that "BB" wanted to come home one last time to see his siblings and that most took the time to travel short and long ways to have a family reunion.  Blest be the Ties that do bind.