Family gatherings

I am so glad our family and extended family remain close, even though we aren't all always able to make it to family gatherings. Still, several times a year my Sis holds family gatherings to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Sometimes they are at her house. Sometimes they are closer to us down here.

Coming up next is a gathering to celebrate all the February birthdays, and there are a lot of them. Danny's birthday was in February. The first year after his passing, we didn't gather. It would have been too hard on us to gather without him in attendance, and it would have been a very painful reminder that he was missing.

Since then, though, we have come together for the birthdays and those times have been full of laughter and love. Usually, we meet up at a local fast food place that has a play area for the little ones. This year, though, we'll meet at the new home of one of my nephews. It will be a combination birthdays and housewarming gathering! I'm so proud of my nephew and his wife, getting this new place to live that will one day be all theirs.