Super-Sized Summer 2016

Thus begins chronicling my summer travels. We drove over 3000 miles in our Toyota Highlander, with only a few chips in the windshield, countless car washes, and probably 25 tanksfull of gas to speak of the trip :-). So, I need to get this stuff written down or it will continue to seem as though it were a dream.

First on the agenda: get to Idaho ASAP for Mom and Dad's pseudo 50th wedding anniversary (actual date would be September 12th). After learning results from Mom's most recent scan (more cancer in more places), we (sisters and family) put the anniversary celebration into high gear, moving the date up 3 months.

I say, "ASAP" because my children were still in school up until the 15th of June, the celebration was to be the 18th of June. It takes a day of travel to get there. Needless to say, going through all the end-of-year hoopla in addition to planning a 50th wedding anniversary, AND preparing my family for a six-week long stay was pretty stressful.

Wow though, just WOW! The 50th was sure an amazing, miraculous event. I can't describe the level of joy and satisfaction that drifted throughout the room. My mom, the rock star, was able to make it through the entire reception, and then some! She joined the family that evening for dinner at Curt's house!

The decorations looked simply amazing.

 The entertainment (grandkids playing flute, piano, violin) was just perfect and the guests -- oh the wonderful guests (seems like we served 300 pieces of cake)! It was such a happy occasion and everyone was smiling and sharing his or her happiness of being a part of Mom and Dad's life. For days and weeks after, any one of us family members could be found saying, "I can't believe ______ made it to the celebration". Friends and family traveled from far and wide.

We couldn't have asked for a better occasion. This event is one of those that will linger in our hearts and make us smile forever.