Moslander Reunion ’09

They began arriving at about 3 pm on Friday, by plane and by car.  6 o’clock there were more.  8:30 pm we increased.  Then more and by 10:30 pm, as Dave and I stood outside in the backyard and looked back at our house, fully lit up and fairly burgeoning with the exuberant noise of love and hugs and kisses and “Oh, you’ve gotten taller,” and “This is Averi!?” and “I am so glad you could come,” we smiled.  It was loud and it was sweet and we were so thankful to have everyone together for a few days.

pictured below: an impromtu baseball game in Nederland; horseback riding at the farm; my little sister talked me into some weird face; the nieces with Aunt Tami ~ Stephanie, Elise, Auntie, Tredessa, Jovan, Stormie, Tara

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The family

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I am the oldest of 5 children born to Ross and Norma Moslander.  We are blessed to still have our parents with us.  They came from Springfield, MO, where, for the second time, they are trying to ditch retirement and are looking for a pastorate.  Anyone want a roomy house in Springfield?  pictured: my dad with the 4 originals who were here at church on Sunday morning ~ Dan, Joe, me and Tami; both my parents with their grandchildren and great-grand-children in Nederland

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My brother Joe and his wife, Robin, came, bringing Corbin-their-youngest with them, joining niece-Elise, who has resided with us here in Colorado for the past year and a half.  Two of their kids couldn’t make it, but we were glad they came all the way from Aberdeen, SD, where their church just held a dedication for their new facilities.  pictured: Robin talking to dad during the bonfire; Robin and Joe dancing in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the rest of us dancing, too; the fam ~ Joe and Robin with Corbin and Elise

Tim and his family from Butte didn’t make it this year and we were very sad about that, but we plan to make him really sorry by super-imposing him into photos from some old 1970s pics we have of him.  That’ll teach him.  Hehehehe…evil laughing

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My sister, Tami, so energetic and lively, and her husband came from Corbin, Kentucky (youth pastors by day).  Gerron-the-husband fancies himself “the great one.”  They are adored by the nieces and nephews and are both natural born animal-whisperers. pictured: T & G at the Mile High Flea Market; later that day at the farm, charming the animals

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My youngest brother, Dan and his wife Dawn (we have known her since she was 14 years old!) got to come from Hobart, IN (very near Chicago) and brought 2 of their 3 handsome sons, a beautiful family.  pictured: Dawn and Dan on the patio one fine summer evening; Dan and Dawn’s youngest son, Austin, Joe and Robin’s son, Corbin, and Dan and Dawn’s firstborn, Jordan (a semi-pro football player) at the flea market.

How we spent the time…

We gathered, we ate, we Mile-Hi flea marketed, we cooked out at the farm (Stef and Wrex?  Thank-you so much for an unforgettable evening) and roped “cattle” and rode horses and played horseshoes.  We bonfired and sang, we talked and talked and took pictures.  We worshiped at church together and on the patio as a family.  Dad told how we got our spiritual start, about his salvation and baptism of the Holy Spirit.  He preached it up.  We prayed for each other, we cried sometimes and laughed a lot.  We ate some more.  Robin cookie-ed us silly!  She brought vats of her unbelievably-delicious cookies (peanut butter, chocolate chip, monster, and oatmeal raisin) omygosh – truly, Mrs, Fields – watch out!   We celebrated Father’s Day late and floated down the Platte River (how are there no pictures of this??!?…especially of Corbin trying to float on a shark and it nearly taking him under as he tried to swim to shore!?  Hahaha!).  We splashed in the pool and sunned a little.  We shot off fireworks (which may or may not have been illegal from over the Wyoming state line) and BBs and air-soft pellets.  We ate some more.  We golfed.  Some of us (*ahem) did all-night video game parties at Rocky and Jovan’s.  We took a picture on what is affectionately known to us as “Moslander Mountain” up Boulder Canyon (since we photographed ourselves there on our very first reunion in 1995).  We picnicked in Nederland and played wiffle ball.  Did I mention there was food?  We came back down the mountain and celebrated Joe and Robin’s 25th anniversary with a dance (how did Dan get so good at that Cha Cha Slide number?…Is it because he is a high school teacher??).  There was coffee in the shade on delectibly cool mornings and rhubarb dessert everyone wants the recipe for (Stormie!).  In short, we just hung out together.

Could it be any sweeter?

The weather was positively perfect: sunny all day, but  not unbearably hot.  Sweet summer evenings outside.  God even held the mosquitos at bay for us.  It was seriously perfect.  All the time.  And romantic lights twinkling around the yard.  It was like, for these precious few days, we were all there, together, safe and secure and all was right with the world.

My kiddos

I am so thankful that my children not only choose to participate in the Moslander-Family-Reunions, but they are catalysts for them.  They want them to keep happening.  They plan for them.  They help me with them.  They love to spend time with their grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins.  They participate in every way (even though it can be hard with young ‘uns), and help with the food and just generally make me so very proud to call them my kids.  

The party is over

Wednesday afternoon at about 3:00, 5 days after it all began, mom and dad, who’d been the first to arrive, were the last to leave.  And my heart is full of together memories, for the moments we shared.  We’ll do it again in 2010 and much will have changed, but the love in my heart for these people will remain…pictured: mom and dad with Elise and with Tara and Hunter on the “good-bye” porch; and below in the yard with the sign and appropriately sad faces

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I miss them already…Jeanie

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NOTE TO SELF:  Am I blessed with a godly heritage, or what??

5 thoughts on “Moslander Reunion ’09

  1. It was one of the best times I have ever had. I think I forgot to thank Dave for all his hospitality. You both were awesome hosts and you’re right, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Thanks for all the fun and food. It was all great!

  2. My favorite things from our 2009 reunion (in no particular order):

    cookies
    horseback riding (and almost falling off!)
    Flea Market shopping EARLY with Stormie
    Talking to Corbin – I love that kid!
    Getting prayer for my voice from the whole family
    Flea Market funnel cakes
    Reliving past reunions in the mountains
    Talking about sunblock and vitamin D with all of my aunts
    Seeing pictures of Aunt Robin’s gorgeous porch!
    Scaring Corbin with a weird voice when he called our house late one night
    Seeing my kids spend time with their great-grandparents
    Root beer floats
    Dancing with my husband
    Spending time at Stef and Wrex’s home
    Giving Dad his new event grill (thanks Dave and Kyle!)
    Worshiping at church with my whole family there
    Still having time to nap
    Hearing Grandpa give his testimony (breathtaking!)
    Getting in weird poses for Grandma’s pictures

    I could go on and on – I loved it all! So looking forward to next reunion in Hobart!

  3. Yes-yes-yes! It was full, and rich, and free. Now my mind keeps racing through moments and memories that I just want to be able to grab out of the air and experience again this minute. What a treasure it is to come together from miles apart and just be in each other’s presence once again – looking into the most familiar of faces, hearing familiar voices and laughs, linking up in our thoughts, private jokes, & memories from the past, praying together, singing as a choir to the Lord, watching our younger generation take hold, and seeing our youngest walk & talk & wow us with their perspective. I hope I can trust my memory to keep it fresh!!!!

    THANK YOU, DAVE & JEANIE, AND THE WHOLE RHOADES TRIBE for hosting to the max, all the awesome food and the sacrifices you made! I know it was an emmense amount of planning and work (right in the middle of HeavenFest stuff) and we REALLY appreciate all that you did to make it special for us!

    MANY THANK YOUs TO STEF & WREX also for all they did to make our day at the farm so fun & memorable!!! You were gracious & we were thankful for your hearts of servanthood!

    And to my family, I LOVED being with all of you! I only regret that I was not able to slow it down and have you for longer! Will it really be two years??? I hope not!

  4. We were so honored to have you guys at our humble abode! We had a BLAST and have been blessed bunches by the whole Moslander/Rhoades clan. We, too, are ready to do it again! We might just follow you to the next locale…. ;)

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