After the Reunion

After the reunion was over, we said our good-bys to the Rocky Mountains, and headed east to spend several days visiting family and friends in the Billings area.

Being the farm girl that I am, I insisted that we stop for a photo of this wheat field. 

I will always love the smell of a freshly combined grain field, an Alfalfa field of hay, a newly plowed field, the sight of the straight rows of a cornfield...

...and don't forget the cattle and the farmland.

We were treated like royalty by our good friends Jan and Dave. We shared so many good memories and also great food! Thanks so much for your hospitality, dear friends.

We also were able to spend a morning with Jim's cousin Bruce. He set aside time to visit with us and also give us a tour of his place of work.

So many trucks and engines...I kept thinking about how much fun my grandson would have had if he had been along with us- he loves trucks and fire engines (yes, we saw one of those also!)

We stayed a night with my cousin Ruth. Such a great time of fellowship we had together. We are so thankful for the heritage that we share, both as sisters in Christ, and also as cousins. 

M&B were housed with another cousin...so many family members! We are very blessed!

We were so happy to spend some time visiting with Jim's aunts. For all of our lives, this woman and her two sisters have been such a support to us in our ministry. We are so grateful for the many prayers and other ways that they have helped us. I remember the time that we visited them in their home and our son was the age that his daughter is now...what a fun time we had introducing them to the next generation. (and K loved the fascinating wheelchair--what a great place to sit and play with her Great, great Aunt!)

Airports are always interesting places. This one had a great place for the kids to play (also parents).

In this age of cell phones, I wondered, "How do you explain the concept of a pay phone?"

It's a bit out of focus, but this little one was so proud of the fact that she was sitting in the place that her big sister had been sitting only a couple of minutes before. The rivalry has begun!

It was a great trip, and the kids were real troopers the whole time. But they did get tired...

...and so did Daddy.

 We treasure the memories of our trip, but we were all very happy to be able to sleep once again in our own beds! 

Memories from the Family Reunion

We were so happy to be with so many of the Erickson family members at our recent reunion. It was a great time to catch up on each others' lives and also renew relationships.

Also a time to update the family tree...

...to remember the past

to work on puzzles...

to share spiritual insights...

...to play games, both indoor

...and outside.

A time to visit with a cousin whom you haven't seen in twenty years...

...to meet cousins that you may not have seen for a long time!

Lots of kids and adults enjoyed the new rock climbing room that was recently built. 

Lance braved the roads and traveled alone by motorcycle several hundred miles, just to be together with family.

Author cousin Al shared about the writing of his books and even held a book signing one afternoon.

Family ties...

camp fires at night...

listening to stories from the past...

leisurely or invigorating walks...

...and plenty of photo opps. We have so many great memories of the family reunion. And let's not forget the Saturday morning picture-taking time!

One family....

after another, group by group...

(the fourth generation of cousins)

The hour was very long for so many of the little ones, but they survived. After all, picture taking of large groups is just part of being an Erickson!

 We thank God for the heritage that is ours and pray that all who come behind us will also be faithful to the Lord and to His Holy Word. May God continue to bless our family.

Family Time @ the Reunion

We were blessed with beautiful weather and a great view while at our family reunion (seems hard to believe that it is over a week ago now!)

Since our last reunion, this new gymnasium and Rec center has been built.

Our family stayed in the lower quarters of the cabin on the right. 

A view of the swimming pool, just down the hill from our cabin

A group of horseback riders passing by one afternoon

Our location was a photographer's paradise!

E thought she was pretty cool when she got to wear her Auntie's clip-on shades!

The little girls loved to go down to the river early in the morning and throw stones in the water.

There were always plenty of rocks to climb on also!

Curious George came along to Montana and even learned how to climb on the "climbing walls."

And he loved the view!

E enjoyed getting acquainted with Uncle Brent.

Who could ever resist that sweet smile?

Mom played "water balloons" with the little girls before all the big kids took over the field.

K bonded well with her new cousin

M&B were able to even get a hike in while at camp.

One afternoon we had a little picnic in our room before the girls had their naps. (they were both teething and not feeling the best, but they were such good troopers and still managed to spread their cheer around to all.)

K's new pastime...

And a gorgeous sunset in the mountains.