Family Reunion 2015

Country Roads...
Take me home..
To the place, I belong...
West Virginia.......

We traveled this past weekend to the beautiful state of West Virginia. The destination was Charleston, W.Va., for the (2nd!) Armstrong Family Reunion (Organized by Jill!!!). To have my cousins in my life again, not to mention my Aunt Esther, is amazing in so many ways. Family bonds can be bruised, shaken, or abandoned for a time. But the roots of the Family Tree run deep, especially in the West Virginia soil. We came together this past Labor Day weekend, and two words sum it up...FUN...and... LOVE.


We started by paying homage to those who have gone before us.

My brother John and husband Bill walking through the graveyard of beloved family....

The Grandparents...

Gertrude Armstrong

Paul Armstong

Their final resting place...

Next, we stopped at the old homestead....which is no more. The tidy little homes of yesterday are all gone.


My Grandparents home used to stand on this empty land...





The homes are gone, but that doesn't stop the memories. We played kickball in the front yard with our cousins. We ran down the path to our Betty-by's house. We visited with our Uncle Richard and Aunt Virginia. We watched the creek rise, and the coal trains go by while sucking on drippy popsicles. So many memories of days gone past.


We all took a dip in here (sometimes with a bar of soap!) during the dog days of August...

This was the view from my Grandparent's kitchen window. I remember my Papaw having his morning coffee and gazing out the window at this view.

A group photo taken on Crawford Bottom Road...

But being a part of the present was what the trip was really about. Connecting with our family. My people...

My cousins Jennifer and Jill and her husband Mike. I love them so much!

Jennifer and her lovely family...

My sister Kim with our cousin Rita. I also met Rita's beautiful daughters and adorable grandsons.

My cousin Kevin and his lovely wife Shelly and daughter Jamie,(and beautiful Kadie who turned away at the last minute!).

My cousin Ricky and his wife Rhonda. I haven't seen them since I was 15 years old. I also met his daughter and granddaughter. They are gorgeous!

Cousin Leasa McNeely with Rhonda, Amanada, and her daughter.

My Aunt Esther, Joey and Leann, and my cousin Jennifer's son, Ben.

It was so wonderful to spend time with my brother Johnny and his wife Georgia.

My cousin Kevin, mugging while hugging...

My Aunt Judy and Aunt Esther....

My sister Kelley and her husband Randy....

There was peanut butter fudge and zucchini cakes, banana nut bread, and blueberry cakes. The were all baked by Esther with the help of her wonderful husband, John. Not only was it the best fudge ever made, it brought back memories of holidays at the grandparents house. .

A group photo was taken after dinner. I just love each one of these people so much. There is shared history, family ties. It was sad when the trip was over, but I know we will be together again. There was so much love and joy in the room. That was real. This family will survive and thrive.

A strong, loving family is a legacy worth nurturing. We will carry on. We will live, love, and remember the loved ones who have passed on. I believe in some way, they are still walking among us, supporting us on our journey as we live our lives, and raise the next generation in our family values....Live with respect for others, love with all your heart, work hard, and have fun!

On the way home, Bill and I stopped in Charlottesville, Va., for a glass of wine at my favorite winery, Pollack. Anything to delay the inevitable that the reunion weekend was over.

I am already looking forward to the next reunion....did I hear Cleveland mentioned????