...on a personal note

This weekend is the annual family reunion on my husband's side with 120 or so of our closest relatives!  The picture above is a few years old when a large group came from Italy for a wedding and then joined the crowd for a fun filled day with family!  I am sharing this with you just because I care very deeply for everyone in the photo, this is one very loud, very loving, very large family that I have had the pleasure of marrying into, of course at that time there were not as many of us as in the picture, but God did say to go forth and multiply.... 

All of these people are children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and in some instances great-great grandchildren of two sisters and one brother, some immigrated as children some as adults and most were born here, all proud Italian-Canadians.  There are many more relatives in Italy who knows one day we can make the trek overseas to have a family reunion will ALL  the family!

This is a shining example of co-operation, family unity and hard work on the part of the picnic committee, yes there is a committee that convenes several times a year in preparation for this day, there may be food and wine involved but the work gets done just the same :) games organized, venue chosen, dates, letters etc all are attended to by the committee.  I always marvel at the dedication, unwavering support and all the work involved and yet year after year they get it done.  Kudos to them with many thanks in advance, I know it will be another banner year once again!

We all look forward to this day full of activities, games, food, lots of food, even a food competition!  This year it's banana bread we take it very seriously you know, some even practice different recipes to see which is the preferred one to enter into the competition!  The best part is the connection that is forged not only between the cousins but between the different generations who are present.  In the end family is what counts, they are the ones who will be there for you when the chips are down to help you pick up the pieces, some people say you can choose your friends but are stuck with your family.... well I think I'll keep them, they are stuck with me!!!