Family Reunion.

Well ladies and gentlemen, this was a very special weekend for me. I don't want to forget this either so I'm writing down what i recall so i can look at this down the road. I spent a wonderful 2 days with my moms side of the family. The Brackets and the Ramsay's. I don't see these guys half as often as i would like, but the Brackets do get together on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas tho. The Ramsay's however are a very rare occasion. I only see them once on the Memorial weekend. Every year me and my mom drive up around 3 hours to the tip of New Hampshire, basically Canada, to go to this annual family reunion. To some that seems like a long drive, but me and my mom have done so many road trips that our perspective on "a long drive" is very skewed.  Haha. It's time to see my extended family, but also the ride up is a time where me and my mom just kind of catch up on each other. We talk about all the struggles and questions we're going through (the majority of mine lately being about girls. Go figure. :P) and we talk about the stuff that we're learning and growing in. It's a wonderful time. This year we stopped at this legendary pancake place called "Polly's Pancake Parlor". This place is literally in the middle of nowhere. But it's been around since 1938 and people come from all around to eat there. I got whole wheat coconut pancakes and they were beyond tremendous! Then on our way up we stopped to see an amazing person that i wish i saw more of, Heather Patrick. She gave us a tour of her church and the teen center they were working on. There vision is amazing! Another hourish later we made it up to Colebrook. This town has a population of around 350. Such a random little spot, but a great place to collect your thoughts. First thing was first. There are these mud races that happen every year the Saturday that we come up. It's super redneck, but there literally is nothing else to do there at the time. Haha. Seeing the family again was so refreshing. I've missed all my uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins very much. A bunch of us all spent time together the day before the reunion. I got to talk with a bunch of uncles and great uncles that i haven't ever really gotten to sit down and talk to before. It's amazing how everyone has a story, and I've found that no matter how different you are from someone you can always find something you can both relate to and talk about. Before going to bed we took a drive to a place called "Moose Ally". At dusk a bunch of moose come out and you go looking for them on the side of the road. We only saw one this year, but at least we saw one. :) The next morning me and my mom performed our ritual of waking up early and walking to Dunkin Doughnuts with whoever else is up at the time. After that we all went and had some breakfast at a local diner. Now this year the reunion was a bit different. My third cousin had passed away and he grew up in that town so they held the service and buried him there. It was amazing how many people came out to the service in such a small town! He really made an impact in his circle. It made me think. How many people will come to my memorial service when it's all said and done? How many people will I have reached out to and left a legacy behind in the people I came in contact with? It really all depends on me. What i do with my time that i have been given and the way a treat the people around me will determine what is left of my story when it's all said and done. It's almost inspiring. The reunion was a great success as always. I cranked the hand crank for the home made ice cream (The rule is that you don't get any ice cream if you don't do your part in making it), I played a little frizbee and some ping pong, and I stretched out of my comfort zone and talked with some new people that i had never made the effort to go meet. It was a phenomenal time. Already looking forward to next year. :)

Quote of the day. "What we do in this life echoes through eternity". The Gladiator. (corny i know, but it fit and I'm kinda tired, so go easy on me. :P)

Scripture of the day. Matthew 5:16 (Pleeeease look it up! Thanks.)

Colebrook, seriously off the grid.