Family Ties

This past week we traveled up to Pennsylvania to celebate Shane's grandmothers 80th birthday. What a wonderful sight to see 100's of family members gather to honor this great woman. As she was driven to the top of the driveway about 30 of her great grandchildren held up letters that read
H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y. As she got out of the car you could see the tears welling up in her eyes. It was such a special moment. As the day progressed they played games of guess the grandchild, feed the baby(sons and daughters of Grace fed eachother baby food while sitting in a adult diaper and wrapped in a bib)blindfolded. The grandkids also presented her with a beautiful scrapbook. Inside you would find a picture of each grandchild with a note to her about how special she has been to them. What a gift!
As I looked around and saw the hundreds of cousins, aunts, uncles playing horseshoes, catching up while reclining in a chair under a beautiful tree, or the little kids playing on the swingset I was reminded of how important family is. From this one couple came hundreds of family members and legacy. Grace and Richard had 12children. They have formed this unique bond that you really do not see in today's culture and can't even begin descibe unless you are in the midst of it. I am so thankful that I was able to be there for that special day. Grace was honored and put up on the pedestul that she deserved to be on.
It also made me realize that even though I am apart of this earthly family I am apart of a greater and bigger family. One that will never end and one that I can pass on to my children and to their children. A legacy that is eternal. God is a God of family. He is my abba...my daddy. He has a love for me that exceeds any earthly love that I can think of or imagine. Praise God for family!