An Earlier Heaven 20

 in family by

Pink Think: “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” – George Bernard Shaw

This past week, my sister and her husband flew in from Ireland to Utah; my brother, his wife and son flew in from the Philippines. My parents and I took turns hosting them at our houses.

It was the first time in 21 years that we were all together in the same room, let alone the same continent. There has been a sense of urgency, getting reunited, since my Dad has been diagnosed and has received treatment for cancer in the last year.

I was excited and nervous all at the same time.

***
We shopped. We ate out. We shopped. We laughed. We partied.

We attended each others’ churches.

The cousins trick-or-treated. They rode horses.

We sang karaoke and could have kept going all night. It was fun singing a duet with my sister.

Our wonderful friend Colleen took two rolls of photos. Having our photos taken at home was an event in itself. There were some serious (and semi-serious) poses

and many where we cracked up laughing, even my usually serious brother (he is in the Philippine Coast Guard).

***
Okay, so there were no deep conversations. No probing of past whatevers. We just lived for the moment. We enjoyed each others’ company. My face ached from smiling a lot. And when we saw them off at the airport, we parted not only as family, but as friends.

It was truly a great week.

Email, RSS Follow

20 thoughts on “An Earlier Heaven”

  • Marivic_Little GrumpyAngel

    You all look so happy! What sweet pictures. I think it was perfectly fine that you didn’t have deep conversations. Love is not always communicated verbally. Sometimes hearts converse and spirits are in tune and more is said among loved ones than words can say.

  • Lynette

    How wonderful. I am so glad that your family was able to visit. Your going to be smiling for some time on those memories!

    Beautiful family by the way. I think your dad is the cutest.

  • Lance

    Wonderful photos Jewel! And that these were happy times, and building of not only family, but of friendships – how awesome! You have a beautiful family! Enjoy them always…

  • Melanie Avila

    It looks like you had a wonderful time. So you didn’t have deep conversations, at least you talked and were in the same house. Even better, you have beautiful pictures to remember the visit with. 🙂

  • nikkicrumpet

    Utah…dang I wish I was invited….I miss my Utah mountains so very much! I love the pictures of your family…you can just see the love and happiness in everyone’s eyes. How great that you got to spend time with them. I loved that last line about parting as friends…how cool is that! We have to Love our families….but it’s such a bonus when we actually LIKE them too!!!!

  • Julie Wright

    What a gorgeous family. Your brother is tall! Mine is too! I introduce him to people as my baby brother still even if he is a foot and a half taller than I am 🙂

  • Pink Ink

    Thanks everyone! I’m trying to milk these good emotions for a little longer with your best wishes, or I’d be dwelling on the fact that they have left! 🙂

    My parents are thrilled with the photos (there were about 90 altogether).

    For the record, Julie, my brother is the mid-sibling, and I am the youngest. I look at that pic, and I am amazed at how tall he got to become.

  • Jannie

    It must’ve been so sad to see them off. I only see mine once a year and it is always hard to go.

    What song did you and your sister sing at Karaoke?

    God bless.

    (P.S. You are so cute-pretty.)

  • Deb Burton

    Jewel,
    I love reunions and reunion photos even better! Enjoy your time together. Time can be so fleeting and it’s important to love on the people who matter most to you, especially family.

    Thanks for stopping by TGMT and leaving a comment. Please come back anytime – I’d love to have you!
    ~Deb

Comments are closed.