If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are. -Madeleine Engle
How will our children know who they are if they do not know where they came from. unknown
I wish I could relate to the people I’m related to. -Jeff Foxworthy
These great quotes and more on family and reunions can be found on the Family Reunion Blog.
Last weekend, the Aalgaard's had a family reunion. It's Thursday afternoon, and I'm just now finding the mental space to reflect and write about it. Relatives arrived on the family farm from various places in Minnesota, Oregon, Wyoming, Canada, and Norway. All winter, we sounded the call "The Norwegians are coming!"
In the year 1921, my grandpa Arne Aalgaard got on a ship and sailed to the New World. His siblings scattered far and wide. A few remained in Norway. One went to Canada, and a couple more ended up in other parts of the U.S.A. One brother died in China when he was there as a missionary. They stayed connected through letters and other correspondence and visits to each other if they could. I know that my grandpa traveled back to the homeland whenever he could. My brother wrote about this on his blog, Wandering Norwegian, a couple years ago as he was renewing connections.
Three generations of cousins
Not everyone could make it to this reunion.
We represent the various generations.
Reunions may not be the most exciting things for kids. They played some games, ate tons of food, got a glimpse of where they came from, and if they were listening at all, heard a few family stories.
No matter how far and wide you roam, you are still part of a family whose stories are your stories, whose blood runs through your veins along with their hopes, dreams, desires, and hardships.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: Ask a living relative to tell you his or her story and write it down.
No comments:
Post a Comment