YOU'VE GOT FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES !

W E   A R E    F A M I L Y   !!!

     As you all know, it's almost Family Reunion time!   I thought it might be fun to reflect back on some Family Reunion memories in hopes that it might help you recall some fond memories that you have of Reunions Past.
     The WADE FAMILY- has had some memorable reunions in the past. From the 1956

Bountiful, Utah reunion ( pictured above) to a sleepover reunion at a church in Bountiful with skits including J.C.Penny and the World's Greatest Spitter, to the Deer Creek reunion near Cedar City, Jacobs Lake Arizona, and St George in a motel.  I remember Gene's family puppets and Alan Wade's magic shows!
     The JOHNSTUN FAMILY reunions are among my earliest recollections.  The last of which was held in August of 1970 at a campground in Monte Cristo, when I was on my mission and just a few weeks before Grandma McAllister passed away.
     The Johnstun reunions were organized by Grandma McAllister when I was pretty young.  We gathered every 2 or 3 years and met most often at Como Springs Resort in Morgan, Utah.
Our family colors were some how, purple and gold.  We would wrap colored crepe paper around the car antennas and decorate the cars in purple and gold then head up the canyon proudly displaying our family colors. Our reunions were always fun filled with a family softball game, volleyball game, horseshoes, skits and roller skating in a big indoor rink.  They even had a 2 lane bowling alley with a pin setter.  The "Pin Setter" was usually a young person who sat on a perch above the pins. His job was to re-set the pins after they were bowled down. Often we would enjoy home made root beer made in a big milk pail, watermelon and home made pie.  The adults would sit around and visit or talk genealogy while we kids would run around or play sports.
THE AL AND DONNA WADE REUNIONS- got their start Mom believes at Bear Lake.  Dad and Mom bought into Bear Lake West to have a nice place to camp. Members of Bear Lake West had access to Blue Water Beach on the south shore where we could swim and play in the water.  We then started having reunions at Earl and Ireta Webb's house in St Charles, Idaho near the north shore of Bear lake. Here we had lots of room to pitch tents on the lawn, play volleyball or croquet.  We rode 4 wheelers and motor cycles around the alfalfa field , had campfires and played night games at dark.
A few years we had a video scavenger hunt and drove around making movies of us doing some pretty crazy stuff. ( Did Kevin really lick a cow pie?)  We made tie dye shirts, or stick ponies or other fun activities.  After Larry and Darla built their Bear Lake house, we were all invited there.  We had rodeo and carnival themes. We played on dirt bikes and shot potatoes from a potato cannon or water balloons from a big sling. We spent days at the beach (love Annette's garbage bag salad!) Family golf tournaments with Bear Lake milk shakes after.  Movies at night and all the snow cones we could eat by day were regulars.  Who can forget uncle Larry's Dutch oven meals or his famous turkeys cooked in his ceramic oven!  After a busy day we'd relax in a chair on their big long porch watching the lake and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. With Dad and Mom's move to Croydon , we've all enjoyed Croydon Park. We have the whole place to ourselves and line the park with trailers and tents.  Thanks to Brent and Annette we've always had crazy games to play and crafts to keep us busy. The photo booths have been a fun addition. The "Big Al's Jump House" is the highlight by day for the
kids.  At night we like the glow stick dances and lip sync craziness.  Movies, burning wieners or marshmallows on a stick by night and rides in Larry's big red fire truck by day, followed by of course, more snow cones!
     There have been movies and songs about family reunions.  In 1981 Betty Davis starred in a Columbia Pictures film for television titled " Family Reunion".
In 1995 a film was made by Neal Israel with the title Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare".
If you venture onto U tube you'll discover a song titled "Family Reunion" by the O'Jays.  There is a fun redneck family reunion song by Jimmy Dickens.  You'll find a song by Whitney and Cissy Houston and Dianne Warwick and family called "Family comes First", and who can forget "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge!
     In 1985 President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation #5351 in conjunction with House Resolution # 64, officially establishing Family Reunion Month.  From Mother's Day May 12th to Father's Day June 16th 1985 was the official Family Reunion Month.  Many families hold their reunions in May thru August, when kids are out of school and families can gather.
     Wikipedia explains,  "family reunions are held for the purpose of keeping extended families together."  As I reflect back on the many years of our Family Reunions, with all the fond memories we all have- I'm inclined to believe that for our family, our reunions have done just that, "kept our extended families together."
     Thanks to you Grandma McAllister, Al and Donna Wade, Earl and Ireta Webb, Byron and Carol, Darla and Larry, Brent and Annette, Bart and Jodi and all who have contributed to make so many wonderful memories.  We hope to make many wonderful memories in the future for us, our children and our grandchildren!
     Now, let's go enjoy another wonderful family reunion and make more fun memories that will help keep our family close, may we keep doing so for generation upon generation to come!
     WE ARE FAMILY!  and for that let us always be thankful!

Much Love-   The Grandparent Chronicles