We all gathered at Jeff and Lynda Ann's home for the final day of our 2010 Maxfield Reunion. It was a day of playing on the huge water slide, taking pictures, eating, playing basket ball and visiting. I don't think there was one moment that someone wasn't on the slide, including the adults. Of course we had some competition with the boys seeing who could out do and perform the wildest flip!
Lyndsy was in charge of the dinner and it was absolutely delicious. She fixed pulled pork with all the trimmings. One would have thought they were at Cafe Rjo!
As the evening wore down and family members began saying their 'goodbyes', there were many tears knowing that it would be another year or two before we would all be together again. Derek will be flying back to China, Justin and CJ back to Washington and Tucker and Jamie back to California.
As I watched our children and grandchildren participate this whole week I'm amazed at the love that exists between them. It isn't easy being a combined family. Neal and I chose each other but the seven children didn't have that option, they were just brought together. But the love and friendship that exists between them and has continued to develop over the past 20 years is genuine. The grandchildren are the new generation of family with no 'combined' history.
Maren did an incredible job of planning activities for each day, planning all the food and coordinating a fun and memory filled week. THANK YOU MAREN! And thanks to all our children and grandchildren who participated in this wonderful event. A total of 31 family! It will be Lyndsy and James turn to plan our next family reunion which will be in 2012.
