Family Times

When we read the account of the death of Lazarus in John 11, we are forced to acknowledge that Jesus was greatly impacted by what took place in the life of his close friends. We are told that Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. He wept when he was shown the grave of Lazarus.

This reality makes me appreciate the times when I can be with my family and close friends. I cannot help but wonder what it will be like when I have to go to the grave of a close family member (I did face that with the death of my father-in-law over 20 years ago) at some point in the future.

But I am so thankful that right now God has allowed me to spend time making memories with my family. Just recently I was able to visit with a couple of my brothers and members of their families outside Chicago. My brother David, and his wife Melody, had us to their house for a cookout. We were joined by other members of the Dean family. Here are David and Melody.

Their daughter Rebekah was able to join us.

My brother Paul, and his servant wife Linda, were there, as well as a friend of David's family - all shown below. (That's the servant wife Linda who just took a swig of grape juice straight out of the bottle.)

Paul and Linda's daughter Jennifer, and her husband Jonathan, were able to join us for the meal as well. They are shown below. (Jonathan is so happy because he got his glass of grape juice before Linda drank out of the bottle.)

Our special guest was Ava, Jonathan and Jennifer's precious daughter (here she is faking being asleep so she will not need to have a drink of grape juice after Linda drank out of the bottle).

This is Thomas and Amanda Dean who were married just this past December. Thomas is the son of David and Melody and shortly after this picture was taken they announced they are expecting a new addition to their family next March, Congratulations to them!

Having the chance to be together with members of the Dean family just wets my appetite to take part in the 15th Bi-ennial Shaw Family Reunion that will be held in British Columbia later this month. We anticipate, the Lord willing, that all of our children will be there, along with our granddaughter EB. We look forward to making some wonderful memories in a most beautiful part of God's creation. I wonder what we will look back on and remember as a highlight of this years reunion?