This weekend, my brother and I drove to Waco and spent a few days with my parents---just like old times! It was hilarious for the 4 of us to be in our house, sleeping in our childhood rooms, without our spouses or kiddos (and very relaxing, might I add!)
Me and Daddy at lunch after church
Collin and Mom
Saturday, we traveled to Houston to celebrate the life of my Uncle Johnnie who had recently passed away.
Johnnie was my mom’s older brother (there were 9 children in all, one boy -Alan- died as an infant).
It was SO GREAT to be able to wrap our arms around our family. LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
Johnnie was an amazing Christian man who loved his Lord and his family more than life itself. Uncle Johnnie and his beautiful wife, Carol.
We have a HUUUUGE family and we are all very close. Christmastime will always be one of my absolute most fondest memories- we would all gather in my Aunt Bonne’s house and sing carols and enjoy mountains of food- while my cousins and I would be running in and out of the house, playing capture the flag and getting into good old fashioned trouble on the big ranch. Unfortunately, we do not get together near as often as we would like.
My family put together a wonderful slideshow for my Uncle and I was blown away at some of the old photos that I had never seen. I just think these are amazing.
Uncle Bobby and Uncle Johnnie (the 2 oldest boys)
LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE! Uncle David (front), Aunt Bonne (L to R), Uncle Bobby, Uncle Johnnie, Aunt Pasty, and Aunt Betty (front)…the crew, years before the surprise twins (my mom and Aunt Judy) arrive!
I guess LARGE families run in our family, eh? LOL. There are the twin girlies in front of my Granny Laman.
Bobby, Johnnie, Bonne, Patsy, David, Betty, Judy (left?), and Jany (mom)
David, Mom, Pasty, Judy, Johnnie, Betty, Bobby (my sweet Aunt Bonne had already lost her battle with breast cancer. She was like a never ending burst of sunshine- miss her so much).
Love this picture of Uncle Johnnie- he looks so much like my Paw-Paw. So handsome.
You will be forever missed, dear Uncle. We love you and look forward to the day that we shall all meet again.
22 comments:
I am so sorry for your loss. It's hard to say goodbye to loved ones. I have to say that in that one picture (6th one down) your Uncle Bobby really reminds me of Ethan and Andrew.
Cathy in Frisco
So sorry for your loss. The Church of Christ is such a small world. I read your blog and I also knew your Uncle from Camp Bandina! He was a very sweet man.
Kim
ok- I may be totally out in left field... but that last picture you posted of your uncle has a resemblence to Joe. Do you see it? So crazy! I'm sorry for your loss- and love that you got to spend time with your family during this time.
I have to say that you can see your kids sooooo much in your Aunts and Uncles pics from when they were little. In the one that is 5 from the bottom your Aunt Betty looks so much like Sav to me its absolutely crazy.
Anyways I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you were blessed with an amazing Uncle. I am sure he is watching over your family from up there with the big guy himself....
xoxoxox
Oh my goodness...that picture of all the kids before your mom and aunt were born...the one mischevious-looking kiddo in the profile (profile) looks just like your twins. So does one of your aunts there on the front row...it's the eyes.
And I agree with the previous commenter...the last picture bears a very strong resemblance to Joe!
I agree with this statement by Melissa (above) - "In the one that is 5 from the bottom your Aunt Betty looks so much like Sav to me its absolutely crazy."
Sorry for your loss.
so sorry to hear of your loss, suz. (((hugs)))
i'll chime in with the other commenters--in the picture of your aunts and uncles before the twins, the mischievous little guy in front looks just like ethan and andrew. :)
I have been a blog stalker reading your blog for quite some time, but when you posted about "Uncle Johnny" my jaw dropped. Johnny was a camp counselor at Camp Bandina when I was in jr high/ high school. We loved him so much. He was so sweet and such a comedian! It really is a small world after all.
So sorry for your loss! XOXO
I thought the same thing as Shannon about Joe resembling your uncle. :) So sorry for your loss~ I lost my favorite uncle eight (almost nine) years ago and it is still hard. I loved him~ it was my favorite. :)
I have to agree with Melly, Drew and Ethan look just like Uncle David in that fun picture, my first thought on seeing the picture. Sorry for your family's loss.
I have been reading your blog since before you had your children. I've never commented before but felt compelled to do so after reading your post. I come from a large family as well. My dad had 8 brothers and sisters. This year one of his brothers has begun a project. He is interviewing all of his siblings and video taping the interviews. In the interviews he is asking questions like How many houses did you grow up in, do you ever remember being sick or really really hrting your self, what did you learn from your parents and stuff like that. The videos are wonderful to watch. He is going to compile them into all into one DVD and give them to each sibling. This is going to be such a treasure! I can't wait to have a copy made for myself. If someone in your family could do something like this I know it would be a treasure to you as much as mine will be to me.
So sorry for your loss Suz.
My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
I love looking at old family photos! what a treasure.
Sorry for your family's loss.
So sorry about your loss, Suzanne! I'm w/ the other commenters...that last pic does look like Joe!
And I had to giggle at your typo. I'm betting your mom's sister isn't actually named PASTY. :)
I hope you and your whole family finds peace and happiness in your memories of Uncle Johnnie. So sorry.
And holy cow....Uncle David looks soooooo much like E and A! Wow.
Love love love love YOU!
Moni
Hello Suz! Longtime reader, first time poster. I am so sorry for your loss, but I'm sure you know that your uncle is in a MUCH better place now, rejoicing with the Lord!
*Carie* kw305@hotmail.com
-PS- Am I the only person that sees a similarity between your uncle and you husband Joe? They say you look for the same qualities in your spouse that you have in your father, but does this go for your uncle as well? LOL
So sorry to here about the passing of your Uncle Suz. It's never easy and I'm really sorry. I have to tell you girl....you are just stunning!!! I hope you know how beautiful you are. Your smile lights up any room :)....well lights up any picture in this case since we've never actually met :) And you have the most awesome jewelery! Can I ask you where you purchase most of it?? LOVE the necklace in the picture of you and your Dad.
Have a wonderful weekend with your darling family!
Blessings! :) Sharon
thank you guys for all of your sweet comments! you brighten my day!!!
and sharon, holy COW! thank you so much for the kind words! my necklace is from francescas collections. AWESOME! they have an online store as well. LOVE LOVE LOVE this store.
blessings!
suz
I'm not sure I've ever commented on here before but I just about could not believe it when I saw this. I knew Johnnie so well back in my Camp Bandina days. My mom and he were also very close. I have so many pictures of Johnnie and me from my Camp days and I will treasure them always. He was such a loving and wonderful man. I wasn't able to attend his funeral but my family all went and saved the program for me. He will be so so missed here but I know that he had his reward now!
Hey Suz, I'd like to present you with One Lovely Blog award.
The requirements of accepting this award are as follows:
1. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
2. You have to tell seven facts about yourself that others might not know.
3. Pass the awards along to as many as fifteen blogs you have found recently.
4. Notify the bloggers of their awards.
You can find the award on my blog.
Your Uncle Johnny was such a blessing to so many campers including myself. I am so sorry for your loss...he was a very special man and sweet servant of the Lord!
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