George and Ina's 60th Wedding Anniuversary Celebration. . . .

You don't chose your family, they are God's gift to you, as
you are to them. - Desmond Tutu -

Several of the last stories I wrote were about George and my
wedding and reception. It was a joyous day filled with love
and laughter. We were excited and filled with enthusiasm as
we looked forward to our life together.

I have found that as we grow old, friends and family become
tolerant of the many eccentricities associated with the aging
process. Keep that in mind and travel with me as I leapfrog
ahead 60 years from that day to another wonderful day filled
with love and laughter.

George and I celebrated our 6oth Wedding Anniversary on
May 24, 2011. When Rhonda asked me what we wanted to do
for our anniversary, I told her the only thing we wanted was
for our family to be together and have family pictures taken.

She, Paul, and Craig, decided that the weekend of July 21st-24th
was when everyone could be together in Arizona. With Rhonda
as coordinator, they began to plan it. She researched different
sites and was impressed with the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
Resort in Phoenix. It is a Spanish style resort set on a mountain
side with panoramic views. It seemed to have everything we
needed for both young and old alike to have a great time.

The family gathered together, coming from Arizona, Arkansas,
California, and Utah. Craig's very special lady, Tracy, her son
Cameron and daughter Chasity, came. Miranda's boyfriend,
Ryan also came. We were very happy to have them.

We booked six casitas in Casita Village and were fortunate to
have them close together. They are charming, designed with a
distinct "south of the border" flair. There is a central area with
a fountain. Three private swimming pools with jacuzzi, lounges
with umbrellas and shelves with towels are situated among the
casitas for the exclusive use of casita residents. Near the pools
are laundry facilities, vending machine and ice.

The casitas are spacious and comfortable, two stories with living
room, large screen TV, dining room, nice furniture, kitchenette
with bar, fridge, microwave, hot beverage brewer, and half bath
on the ground floor. A small entry room with a wet bar and sink,
opens into a car port with a private parking space.

The bedroom/bedrooms, are upstairs; great beds. large bath,
another large TV, and ammenities including an ironing board and
iron, hair dryer, and lots of towels which are huge and plush. A
balcony with table, chairs and umbrella, opens off the bedroom.

There are many things to enjoy, exercise room, children's play
area, spa, golf, miniature golf, and many more. The main reason
we thought the family would enjoy this resort was for The-Hole-
In-The-Wall River Ranch, a four acre water park with a huge
pool, waterfalls, water slide, and encircling it, the Lazy River
where you can lazily float in big tubes around the entire park.

The pool area was where we spent most of our time. Passes are
issued to each casita for admission to the park and towels are
furnished. There are plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Some
lounges are under overhangs for extra shade. Slim Picken's Grill
offers poolside grub and coolers with ice water and glasses are
always available. All of us loved the pool. The Lazy River tubing
was very popular with the entire family. One end of the pool was
set up for water volley ball. All ages of the family played and their
games were intense and competitive with lots of laughter. There
are two other on site restaurants available; The Hole-In-The-Wall
and Rico's American Grill.

There are several areas available for special events. For our picture
taking session Saturday morning, we chose two patio garden areas.
They are beautifully landscaped with trees, shrubs, and flowers,
arched entryways, benches, and a beautiful fountain. The family
had been concerned about the choice of brown, orange, and rust to
wear with our denim for the pictures. It turned out to be a lovely
choice. We had a beautiful mix of shades that blended perfectly
with the Spanish architecture which was painted in rich rusty
brown with rust brown tile. It was fun to see how each individual's
personality was reflected in their choice of apparel. Amanda, our
photographer, was very nice, professional, and helpful. She and
Rhonda came up with some special groupings for pictures which
everyone seemed to approve. We can't wait to see the pictures.

This reunion was all I wanted it to be, and more. It was balm for
my soul. In a world fraught with so much uncertainty and danger,
I find peace in the companionship, support, and love of my family.
Let's not take the value of family bonds for granted. We can build
a beautiful creation for today and the generations that follow.

Sights and sounds from this reunion that are irrevocably woven
into my memory and nestled lovingly in my heart and soul:

Our dinner of delicious Mexican food Friday evening. Casitas
filled with love and laughter as family visits one to another. Me
and my kids, Paul, Rhonda, and Craig playing UpWords, a Scrabble
tradition, now third generation as I play with Joshua and Chasity,
and more amazing, a fourth generation as I play with Ethan. From
watching the adults play, he knew exactly how to set the board up
and how to count his tiles and moves. Joanne saying to him early
in the morning, "So this is why you insisted we come down here?"
(to play) Cameron playing his first UpWords game. Miranda
sorting the salt water taffy into piles by flavor and being so proud
and happy to introduce Ryan to her extended family. Hannah and
Charlotte laughing as they discover my chocolate stash (oh no!)
Justin teasing me as he eats all of the cashews from the mixed
nuts (another oh no!). Cote landing perfect ollies on his skate
board in the casita courtyard. Spur laying by Montana as she
sleeps and taking the squeaker out of Muggles' toy. Muggles
laying on her pillow in front of the window happily watching the
"world go by", and biting my toes when it is time to eat. Rhonda
bringing Nixin to our casita to "pick out her treat". Our three
sassy little princesses, Nixin, Ryann, and Montana, in their
"teensy weensy little bikinis". Ryann and Montana tuckered out
from all of the excitement, sleeping in their strollers under the
overhang with Jeni and Jenna running back and forth to check on
them. George and I lounging in the shade of the overhang with
the sleeping babies and laughing at our family as they play in the
pool. Fun! Joshua, Cote, and Brexton having a good time as they
lazily drift in tubes on The Lazy River. Rhonda and Steve tubing.
Craig and Tracy and Paul and Joanne's families in their tubes.
Shouts and laughter from the volley ball teams. Paul, Chris, and
Justin tossing Ethan into the air over and over again. Ethan
making sure his hat was on each time they tossed him and Chris
making sure he had it. Trey tossing Hannah for a high dive into
the pool and he and Jenna so proud as Montana was dunked for
the first time. Jeni in the pool with Ryann. Brinton, Steve, Rhonda
playing in the pool with Cote, Brexton and Nixon, and Rhonda
laughing as she cuddles and plays with her little Princess, Montana.
Tracy and Chasity playing together. Brinton walking across the bridge
with his kids for a ride down the slippery rock slide. Brexton
curling up on a lounge by me and saying, "I'm tired and bored
with swimming now, can we go to your casita?" Me, "What
would we do at the casita?" Him, "Well you've got snacks and we
can watch TV." George deciding to go into the pool the second day
and telling me, "That was very refreshing." Cameras snapping.
Thank you Rhonda for taking most of my pictures. Two leisurely
breakfasts at Rico's American Grill with Steve and Rhonda with
Hannah joining us for one. The best Eggs Benedict I have had for
a very long time. Watching the whirl of activity at the picture
taking session. Steve (Papa) gently coaxing a reluctant Nixin
through the session. Our grandkids laughing and teasing us as
they say I "looked shocked" when Amanda told George to give
me a kiss for one of the pictures. Ryann running everywhere as
fast as her chubby little legs could take her with Jeni and Joanne
in hot pursuit. Great exercise girls! Brinton and Trey's goofy kiss
for the photographer! Pei Wei with Craig and Tracy and their kids.
Celebrating Trey's birthday at The-Hole-In-The-Wall restaurant
Saturday evening and watching Jenna laugh as he and Ethan blow
out the candle and devour his ice cream brownie birthday sundae.
Hugs, kisses, and back slaps as we checked out of our casitsas.

Thank you Paul, Rhonda, and Craig for giving us this wonderful
gift. We will never forget it. And a huge thank you to each of
our wonderful family for being there to celebrate with us. If
even one of you had been missing, it would not have been so
perfect.

I have to mention our Scattagories games the last day Craig
and Tracy were here. Ten of us; George and I, Tracy and Craig,
Cameron, Chasity, Miranda, Ryan, Hannah, and Joshua, sitting
around our dining room table playing and laughing hilariously at
some of the answers given. It was a blast! I wish everyone could
have played.

Thank you to Miranda, Hannah, and Joshua for coming early
and spending time with us and the rest of your Mesa family.
It was fun to have you.