A Weekend I Will Never Forget...EVER

 This story begins in WI many years ago...maybe 15 years ago.  We had been providing foster care in OH for some years when we were transferred to WI.  We decided to continue opening our home to children/families in need.  We provided respite care for some families.  We provided a home for some children until a foster home could be found and we opened our home to foster children that would end up staying for a long time...some never leaving.  Michelle came to live with us when she was about 11 years old.  She and Sarah became fast friends.  The attended the same elementary school.  Then along came Michael, Michelle's biological brother, at five days old.  We have tried to stay in contact with Michelle all these years.  This weekend Michael finally got to meet Michelle face o face and one of his other sisters, Victoria, and Victoria's daughter.  I hope that she came to see the rest of us too.  This weekend was important on so many levels!

Their drive down from WI took a few hours longer than it should have been.  Something about someone hitting the curb and the result being a blow-out on the Interstate.  Then having to drive 50 mph on a donut the rest of the way.  But not to worry.  We sent them home with a brand new tire!  Couldn't have them stranded on the side of the road twice in as many days.

Sarah was excited to see Michelle.  Oh, the stories that were told and the memories that were shared.

The girls got to spend some quality time with Michael.  Come to find out that they are a lot alike...well, duh!  I don't think I have ever heard Michael laugh and talk so much.

And then there is the serious side.

This, hands down, is the best baby on the planet.  At 2/1/2 months she is a great traveler and will go to anyone and smile about it.

The only time she gets a little bit fussy is when she is hungry and then it isn't much.

Cutie-Pa-Tootie

I was cracking up.  The first ting that Michelle wanted to do was play Rat-A-Tat-Cat.  It is a game we played along with Slamwich...lots of playing these games when they were younger.

This is what happens when you leave you camera unattended.

Michael even played a game with us.  Only a single game...guess it wasn't fast enough or challenging enough for him.

Just a little recap of the rules.

And then there was the game of the century...The Settlers of Catan.  Epic game that Michelle and Victoria already knew how to play.  Sarah took one for the team.  I've tried to play it with him but I'm not at strategy thinker.  I wish I would have thought to video some of the interactions.  They were priceless!

We got to sleep in on Sunday morning because the church had only scheduled one service with a family picnic afterward.  I was so hot and so muggy.  Mark decided that there wasn't any shade for us outside that we should make our little 'campfire' inside the building.  So we did and it was a great choice!  Cool, calm, and close to all that good food!

Then came the front yard photo shoot.

Sarah had a little car trouble too.  She had to call in her brother, Josh, for a rescue.

Color coordination was not planned...it jsut happened!

I hadn't seen Victoria since she was about 5 or 6 when we did respite care one weekend.  And now she is a mom!

We had to get one more shot because someone (Sarah) didn't get her in the first shot.

Josh with his semi-serious pose.

We had a great weekend. No awkward moments.  Just seemed perfectly natural.  Lots of catching up, thunderous laughter, and a few tears.  And did we ever eat!  Out to breakfast one morning and then I cooked (I know you are surprised) what amounted to a Thanksgiving dinner minus the turkey...we had meatball with gravy instead.

Just a funny stat...Michael has 10 sisters and 7 brothers.  And he is an uncle 5 times already.