Tubac, Arizona With Our People

We're spending the weekend in Tubac, Arizona 

(45 minutes south of Tucson and 15 minutes north of Nogales),

celebrating Gram's 88th birthday with all the Shaeffers,

three Toronto cousins and Austin and Bo Irwin.

Gram planned the whole event and paid for everyone's airfare,

hotels and meals! The best part is when we told our kids,

every single one of them said they wouldn't miss it for the world!

We had everyone except James and Melissa and family who couldn't make it

and Michael who is interviewing for summer internships.

Even though we knew we were on the flight from SLC to TUC with other Shaeffers

it was still so exciting to arrive at the terminal and see familiar faces--

Jo and Kelly (poor Jo in a boot after foot surgery); Kory, Amy chasing Xochitl,

Claire & Colin playing Nintendo Switch together while they waited,

 and Ryan and Molly--so, so happy they have each other.

You see your family and want to give everyone hugs. Suddenly the excitement of being together for a couple of days ramps up because these are your people. 

The ones that have known you for over 30 years--way back when you thought you were grown up at 25. And you've loved the kids since they were small children and through ups and downs you've cared about them, and now they're grown up--practically our same age in a sense--with beautiful children of their own

and you get to see them parenting and loving and just amazing, gentle, fun, thoughtful humans.

***

In our own immediate family, Dan, Nick and I arrived first and had lunch at a BBQ place near the airport.

The restaurant had this giant airplane clock and I was able to catch 

Dan's special talent for recognizing every plane in the sky:

We picked up Courtney an hour later and had 2nd lunch at a Mexican diner.

When we finished eating, it was time to get Marty, Lizzie and Emi.

(Chris arrives tomorrow because Noah B. is getting married tonight.)

Tubac is a cute Spanish casita hotel on a golf course.

Reminded Dan a lot of Colonial Park, where he grew up.

After getting settled in our rooms, Dan, Marty and Nick went golfing,

Courtney had a nap,

and Lizzie, Emi and I met Kory, Amy and their family at the pool.

Afterward we went to their rooms and hung out.

Colin taught me how to play Mario Kart and Emi and Xochitl sort of played together.

The whole Shaeffer family gathered for a Mexican buffet dinner in a private space and the weather was even nice enough to sit outside.

It was so fun catching up with everyone--all our siblings and kids and their kids.

(EC has 23 grandkids, including spouses and 10 great-grand kids!)

It was especially wonderful to see Kay and baby Sunshine and the rest of her family who travelled all the way from Puerto Rico. Sunshine had quite a few birth complications and has some ongoing challenges.

To see Kay holding her baby with a big smile on her face

was the most beautiful blessing--a happy culmination of daily prayers for months--for proper diagnosis, 

answers, healing and especially strength for Kay and Chuck and their family

throughout such a traumatic time. Prayers will continue on their behalf,

but to see Kay, who has suffered so much, be able to smile and 

joyfully join us at this reunion brought me to tears.

After dinner, Courtney, Nick and Dan and I went to the grocery store for a few breakfast things for tomorrow and on the way out the door, bought a scratcher for each of us.

I've never done a scratcher so it was very exciting.

We all lost, which of course we expected, but still disappointing,

because we imagined... what if?!

As we pulled into the parking lot, Courtney pointed and shouted to look!

A javelina (like a pig) crossed the road!