My husband experienced a renewal of friendship in late May last year. He went to Canada with our younger son and his two boys for a fishing trip. Along with them, three other families with fathers, sons, and grandsons (and one granddaughter) shared the same cabin. They held community meals, juggled partners in boats for fishing, and reminisced about times past, and events presently in their lives.  My husband still talks to everyone he sees about the fun time he had with all of them. His fish stories about how long and big they caught aren’t fibs, either. He has the photos to back up his tales! I am grateful to my son for including Owen in this new “memory making” adventure!

Three grandsons on vacation with me in the Ozarks

Several years ago, my oldest son returned from Iraq. We thanked God for his safe return, and decided from that year on, we would spend summer vacations, holidays, or any times we could with our sons and their families. No one knows but the Lord how many days we have on this earth in this life with each other. My husband and I wanted to buy up any opportunity we could get together and renew and deepen our relationships with those we love.

Grandkids on a canon found at the lighthouse in New Jersey

These past two summers, we could not keep that commitment. Our eldest son went to War College. The first summer, his family spent packing, moving, unpacking, and adjusting to new routines and surroundings.

Owen’s three living aunts at the Pickard reunion

Owen and I visited him and his family a couple of times that year, but our “family reunion” that included my other son and his family didn’t take place until Christmas that year.

A year later, the same schedule problem for our family summer reunion arose. This time Brad’s family packed, moved, unpacked, and adjusted to new routines. Thankfully, the surroundings remained the same before they left Virginia since they

Grandchildren gathering shells on the Atlantic coastline near Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey

moved back into their same home they rented out during their absence.

Late last summer we  stayed together in the Ozarks. I tell my grandchildren when we get together that “We’re making memories together, times we’ll never forget when you grow older. These memories will make you warm inside when loneliness or tough days make you sad.”

Grandson Zachary catching his first fish!

How blessed we are to have family and friends in this world. People with whom we make memories that make us warm inside when we have bad days and situations where we struggle to see the positive side of life.

The Lord is always there to help with those times, but He knows we are but dust, and weak, so He encourages us to embrace these visible, tangible friendships He gives us while we are separated from His glory that someday we’ll experience. How great a God we have!

Our grandson Heath catching his first fish!

Are you embracing the opportunities you have to spend time with those the Lord placed in your life? These people affected your life in ways you may not even realize. Yet, when you hear their names, or read something about them, your memories make you warm inside, and ease the loneliness you sometimes feel, or make the bad days more bearable.

Zach’s second catch of the day with Grandpa!

Thanks for stopping by my website and reading my post this week. You, my readers, are also “family and friends” that encourage me with your comments and sharing of your time. Please share with me your thoughts on this post. Thank you.

Grandson Hayden catching his first fish!