I have a friend that says you should leave the party while you are still having fun. That may be true, but how do you pinpoint that exact time? For example, when one’s sisters are visiting from out of town is it three days? Four? A week?  I’m not sure, but today after a four day visit I dropped my sisters off at the airport and I couldn’t help but feel that there were still a few more days of fun to be had.

My sisters and I are all six years apart, and like most siblings our personalities are all over the spectrum! Prior to JD and me moving to Texas, my sisters and I saw each other at family functions, the occasional lunch out together, a dinner here and there. With families of our own, jobs, work, and the fact that we all live in different cities, time just goes by and before you know it, months went by with only an occasional phone call or text.

In recent years, our getting together revolved around the care of our mom. Where will she live, who will take care of her. etc. We’d meet over lunch to discuss, but it was not fun. Somehow we managed to get through the process of moving mom, selling her house and getting her settled into new living quarters. Our mom was like most – she wanted her kids to all get along (all the time!), and she worried that after she was gone (which she’s not!), that us girls would not stay close. Our family had always been close and we would get together all the time. Every birthday, every holiday, we celebrated together. But after we lost our dad and mom started to require more care, those family gatherings began to dwindle. We all have our own families and responsibilities, so that’s normal, right?

On one of my recent trips to CA I met my sisters for lunch. I had been thinking it would be fun to have them come and visit us in Texas so I mentioned it to them and they were both all for it! I didn’t want it to be something that we just talked about, so WE DID IT! Airline reservations were made and before I knew it, JD and I were headed to the airport to pick them up.

We spent the first night looking at old pictures, which was a lot of fun! The next days flew by. We wanted to make sure they soaked up as much Texas culture as possible! We laughed, took pictures, told old family stories. I’m still not sure how three people raised under the same roof by the same parents can turn out so different and have different recollections of the same events!

It was truly what one can call “quality” time. Each day was fun but gosh it went by so fast. After all, time flies when you’re having fun, right? The ironic thing is that it took a move to Texas and a distance of 1300+ miles to bring us closer together. Would we have spent four days together if we hadn’t moved? Not likely. We might have talked about it but we wouldn’t have actually done it.

In our case, distance makes our sibling hearts grow fonder and I’m quite sure that would make mom very happy.

Now, go pick up the phone and call your siblings!

It’s been almost two weeks now and I’ve finally reached the point where I can talk about this without crying (a happy cry). It was a typical Thursday afternoon and I came into the house quite pleased with myself because I’d had a really good riding lesson. As I came in the house, I passed the family room and there they were. All of my kids, grand kids, their boyfriends, girlfriends, they were all there. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I truly thought I must be dreaming (in fact, I even think I said that out loud). I’d fantasized this so many times and here they were right here in my own house – my wildest dream come true!

My mind was racing. As any mother would do, I did a swift assessment and quickly took a mental roll call. “Oh my gosh, you’re all here!” Even the fearful flyer was here! I screamed, I cried, I wanted hugs! I had to ask. “How long can you stay?” They were mine to enjoy for three days. I was in heaven.

Can you imagine seeing this party of 16 traveling together? I can just hear the groans of all the other passengers when they announce that all families and passengers traveling with kids can board first! I would have loved to be there just to say, “Yep, those are all mine!”

In my head I was thinking, I need to get to the grocery store – STAT! I need to prepare beds, These kids have been traveling all day, I know they must be hungry. I don’t know why, but it gives this mom great joy to feed my kiddos. I’ve missed that since moving here. JD is a good eater, he seems to like my cooking and always eats whatever I put in front of him, so I guess it’s okay. But the kids are so appreciative, and it gives me such satisfaction!

Spontaneity and chaos were king! I loved the fact that we made plans on the fly and I loved having stuff everywhere! Toys, clothes, cans, bottles, babies laughing, babies crying I soaked every bit of it in. Horseback riding, skeet shooting, the Alamo, we crammed a whole lot of fun into four days, but as Saturday drew to a close, the sadness that they would be leaving the next day became a reality. I knew they all had their own lives and routines to get back to, but I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. Sunday came and I fought back tears all day. It was so hard to say goodbye, not knowing when the next time they would all be here together would be. And although I had already planned a trip to CA for work and would be seeing them the next day, it wasn’t going to be at my house and it wasn’t going to be quite the same.

After a tearful goodbye, I came back in the house and started putting things away. I wanted to keep the memories fresh in my mind. I think after about 3 hours the tears finally dried up and I went about the house collecting memories. Like the little red cups Ciara played with all weekend. She left one behind and I have it put away so I can take if out every once in a while and remember that special weekend. The fingerprints the babies left on the mirror in the media room. I just cant bring myself to wipe those away. And the last day when we all went down to the river we all piled in and left muddy, dusty prints on the floor of my car. Nope, cant clean or vacuum those either because when I look t them I can see and hear us all there, the kids skipping rocks and climbing trees.

I’ve been surprised in my life. Like, “I’m surprised it’s still snowing back east”, or “Wow, it’s surprising that our new puppy has bitten holes in all my pajama pant legs”. But I’ve never had a surprise party, or anything like that. The fact that they all got together and planned this together, took time off of work and school, that they did this for me… well. it’s almost more than my heart can bear. They have no idea of the gift they have given me – I will remember this and treasure it forever. I love you kids with all my heart. Ugh! I thought I was done with the tears!!!