Doin' what ya gotta do

Dear Family,

Now that it is in the recent past, I think that I can actually tell you all what it meant to me not to be with you, but to be included as much as possible.

In my infinite wisdom, I have realized that people who have not shared the Oregon experience with one of us, do not know what it really means to us. Those that have, share the same sheer love of it.

I wonder if each of you knows exactly what it meant to me not to be with my family this past week. EVERYONE was there. It was a very strange and not very good feeling not to be with you when you were all together. Especially, when you were all together sharing Grandma’s birthday with her and the beautiful Oregon Coast.

I would have loved to share one of Jenalyn’s and Corbin’s nighttime rituals with them. I just can see the look on Leslye’s face the first time she saw the Oregon ocean. It would have been so amazing to see my boys running alongside Colton, Mason, Easton, Alex, Lexie and Braydon up the trail at Haceta Head together to that special place where Grandpa still is. I would have loved to browse the shops with Rachelle and my sisters and sisters-in-law, laughing until 2:00 in the morning with Rendy and Jerald about random stuff that no one would think of but them. The best thing in the world is being with my family and seeing the incredibly wise, proud faces of our parents as they smile at us having such a goofy time.

Yes, I truly missed every minute you were together, and I felt it every minute also, but I am so GRATEFUL to have a family like ours and the wonderful moments we share together and will share for years to come.

So I guess, if you have to do what you gotta do, it is better to do it with my family than anyone else’s.

I love you all very much, and hopefully we will do it again soon, with me there of course.