It's All About Family!

Us and our seven:  Paula, Margie, Sarah, Scott, Mary Anne, Tony, Allison, Brigham, Bonnie

I don't know why it's been so long since I last blogged, but today's the day I finally post this entry that I started some months ago.  In light of recent events in our family, it seems especially appropriate to share these thoughts and photos now.  All our children were gathered together in Iowa last week from all over the world, really, following the unexpected death of a nearly-3-year-old grandson.  We are in the Philippines still, and couldn't join the others in body, though we've been very much together in spirit and have been able to enjoy each others' company by Skype.  But it seems a good time for us to reminisce a bit about our reunion last summer . . .

Most Mormon missionaries don't get a trip home in the middle of their missions, but senior missionaries can make one trip under certain circumstances, and the wedding of a daughter definitely qualifies.  We were able to take a two-week break from our service here in the Philippines in July, so that we could attend Allison's wedding, which brought about the first reunion of our entire family in eight years.  We were very grateful, before I go on, to the Scott Shamrells, the Flynns, the Gubelins, the Lovetts, the Blanchards, and the Dick Shamrells, for opening their homes to our visiting hoards.

This is how we looked last time we were all together, in 2006.

This is how we look now . . . pretty much.  This is almost everyone, but not quite!

Of course, much of the time at home was spent in wedding preparations and events, but lots of other fun times were planned by the kids.  It was great to see the grandkids getting reacquainted with their cousins, since so many live so very far away.  We have family in the Portland area, in Utah, Iowa, Ohio, Germany, and now in Scotland.

Hiking at Wahclella Falls . . .

 

 Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery . . .

 

Camping and playing at Cape Lookout State Park . . .

 

 Visiting with Great-grandma Shamrell and Great-aunt Katheryn

 Lots of playing . . .

Lots of eating!

The centerpiece of our reunion, of course, was Allison's wedding to Jan Peder Hegdal.  This joyous event was well worth the long trip home for us, and for everyone else.  Allie met Jan a year before at a church Young Adult conference in Stockholm while living in Germany.  He's Norwegian.  They decided to travel to Portland to be married in the Portland Temple.

 

In the temple, we are married for eternity, not just for life.  We make sacred covenants there, which are eternally binding, as long as we keep our part of those covenants.  So we work hard to keep our marriages and families intact and happy.  It makes for a rich and satisfying family life while we're here, and we have the promise of an eternity with our families, in the presence of God.  So, the death of a family member can be seen as just a temporary separation, not the end of a relationship.  Very sad, yes . . . but temporary.  We know we'll be together again.

We were delighted to meet Jan's parents, uncle, sister, niece, and nephew, who made the trip from Norway.

Little girl cousins

Big girl cousins

We had a lovely, simple reception for Allie and Jan under the tall fir trees at Columbia Park in North Portland.  Previous days had been very hot, but by that evening, it was perfect.

Our daughter-in-law, Jenelle, arranged the flowers.

Allie and Jan arrived fashionably late.  Jan wore a traditional Norwegian bunad - - all wool - - though it was still a warm day!  He soon gave up the jacket, though.

Margie, just a few weeks from delivering her baby boy, created two beautiful cakes.

A Norwegian Kransekake, stacked rings of heavenly almond meringue cookie.

A Margie Original, elegant and delicious!

A very happy day, indeed, and a perfect climax to our reunion!  After the wedding day, family members began to depart to their various homes across the country and the oceans, basking in the glow of having spent several days together.  Well, that's how it felt to us, anyway!  We know we're not perfect and our family's not perfect and, with so many relatives - - and so many children - -  together for so many days, there were rough spots here and there.  That's family.  But our goals remain the same and our love is intact. 

We're so happy for the technology which allows us to stay in close touch, though so very far apart.  Still, when there's a time of deep need, it's very gratifying to see all our children travel those great distances again - - in winter, with Christmas fast approaching - - to give support to a brother whose family is sorrowing.  And remember the part about eternal families?  This is when it really matters.

- Always in our hearts -

 Caleb Richard Shamrell

December 18,2011 - December 17,2014