Our Family Reunion At Virginia Beach

Since 1995 we have planned and financed, to include travel expenses, a one-week reunion with our family every five years. During the ensuing period, we have grown from 12 to a circle that now includes 12 adults and eight grandchildren, ages 15 years to 20 months. The 1995 event occurred near Moab, UT where Jerry’s parents had lived prior to his birth. Baby Jack at that gathering has now magically stretched to over six feet tall. We reunited near Boston in 2000. In 2005 we met at Fort Knox, Kentucky—our first home after marriage. We felt that a beach outing (August 7-14) would be ideal in 2010.

On July 26 we pulled our Airstream from Fredericksburg, VA to the Sea Mist Campground, Dam Neck Annex, Oceana Naval Air Station (NAS), located near the City of Virginia Beach. That gave us 11 days to prepare for the arrival of our five children and their families. Planning began for this week-long union six months ago when we reserved two cottages (maximum allowable) on the beach and four suites at the inn. We quickly decided, after registering at Sea Mist, to cancel our suite. Our campsite was shady and a pathway away from the Dam Neck Beach, open only to military families. We would be less than a mile from the cottages, whereas the suites were four miles away on the main base. Besides, it’s more convenient to sleep where our clothing and supplies are rather than lug our stuff to a hotel room. Our preparation included checking out the Navy golf course, clubs, swimming pool, bowling alley, nearby restaurants, attractions, and security requirements. Time flew and the kids began arriving on Saturday after struggling through miles of beach traffic. That evening we treated everyone to all the pizza they could eat at the golf club restaurant. From then on each family would have responsibility for planning, shopping for the food with their $100 allowance, and cooking the family evening meal.

Robin, Alejandro, and Samuel, age 11, drove from Fairfax Virginia. Alejandro put his Colombian touch on the Sunday night event and to all the supper meals thereafter. Robin handles the day to day operations of our training company and has a busy full-time schedule as international project auditor with Conservation International. She won the outstanding employee award last year. Both she and Alejandro hold master’s degrees. Alejandro does most of the cooking, household duties, and provides care for Samuel when he is not in school. The English language is a challenge for Alejandro, so these contributions are more vital than any job he might secure. His coffee business ran out of caffeine during the recession. Samuel, achieving Boy Scout and talented techie, will travel with us for a couple of weeks after the reunion to work on his photography merit badge. He provided some of the evening family entertainment with his violin.

Andrea, David, 14-year old Holden, and service dog, Robie, drove 600 miles from Salem, MA, stopping for two nights at Robin’s house. They traveled in tandem from Northern VA with Robin to our location. Holden is our special needs boy, as he has suffered multiple seizures since infancy. The careful preparation of his ketogenic diet meals is a time-consuming ordeal but a work of love nevertheless. He requires 24/7 close supervision, but he could not have better parents. David is a caring, patient PhD Psychologist; Andrea is a fine musician who has mastered several instruments. When she is free to do so, she plays her bass in various bands and combos. During this week at the beach she helped the grandchildren with their string instruments. Holden attends a special school but does not adjust well to crowds, nor does he care to be photographed. Making such a long trip and responding to the challenges presented by Holden was a huge task for this couple, but they did it without complaint. Robie, bred and trained as a seizure response dog, is a great source of comfort. Holden had only one major seizure during the entire week and got along well.

With three children, Jack 15, Lucie 13, and Lincoln 11, Stephanie drove 1570 miles from Wimberley, TX, and was the first to arrive at the beach. She is a home school teacher and “taxi” driver to ball games, golf tournaments, church activities, and music lessons. Husband and father, Steven, is an independent construction contractor. This couple met at Baylor University as students and built their own home near Wimberley. Steve could not make the trip with the family due to a project, but he paid for his own flight to be with us for the last few days of the reunion. All three kids are tournament golfers like their dad. We see them fairly often in Texas, as they are about three hours away. We are glad that they love being with their grandparents. They relish table games and participate with senior adults in our Airstream community. Needless to say, they hold their own in the various competitions and buffet dinners.

Mark, our only son, his wife, Christal, and son, Ethan, age 7, drove to the reunion from their home in Kingsport, TN located near Bristol, VA. Mark, with his MBA, is a manager with CenturyLink, a large telecommunications company, where he has been employed for 16 years. Christal, an avid reader, is a home school teacher and vocal soloist at church. Everyone there raves to us about her beautiful voice. Ethan is a typical boy, except that he loves to read. He participates in several sports, loves to fish, and amazes adults with his witty, philosophical statements. He is a unique, highly animated blend of Will Rogers and Huck Finn.

Courtney is mother to two: Althea, age 8, is a big help with little sis, Mirabai, 21 months. Courtney and her husband own and operate a private elementary school and kindergarten in San Marcos LaLaguna, Guatemala. Josh is administrator, Courtney, who has a masters degree, teaches; spunky, bilingual Althea attends. Escuela Caracol subscribes to the Waldorf educational model, which originated in Germany. Fundraising consumes much of their time, as the local children are poor and must be sponsored by caring people in the U.S. In addition to the indigenous students, the others come from gringo families who reside for awhile in quaint little San Marcos on scenic Lake Atitlan. Local public schools are nothing to brag about, and the average attendee drops out after the third grade. Josh and Courtney are making a difference in the lives of 25 children, three to eight years old. This family flew to Northern Virginia from Guatemala and visited with Josh’s family in McLean before driving to the beach. We have visited them three times in Guatemala since 2008 and sponsor two little girls at the school.

What a remarkable week to remember! Each evening meal was unique, well-prepared, and tasty and was followed by various games like Bridge, Rook, Joker, Mafia, and others. We celebrated Courtney’s 32nd birthday with cake and ice cream. Her birthday had occurred the day prior to everyone’s arrival. In addition to honoring Courtney, Robin’s and Jerry’s belated July birthdays were honored. We did little touring, as everyone was content to hang out in the cottages and be on the lovely beach. Boogie boards and skim boards were most popular, as the children and some adults rode the great ocean waves in abundant sunshine. The beach umbrellas we provided were appreciated by everyone. There were no arguments or complaints. Some family members had seen Ethan just once, and only a few had met Mirabai, the object of everyone’s affection. The big final event was a buffet lunch we provided on Friday at the Shifting Sands Club near the cottages. The club was the location for the family photo-shoot. In the end, it was sad to say goodbye on Saturday, but we feel closer as a family as the result of this grand celebration. As a special gift, we gave each of our children a surprise DVD which included converted 8mm movie content covering 33 years from 1957 to 1985. The good Lord has truly blessed us with a rare, fantastic Christian family.