I’ve been wanting to write about our weekend at the Allen Family Reunion, but was so concerned about Jared that I couldn’t get my thoughts together. Jared has had a much better day today, praise the Lord!

My mom and dad. 

                        

Dad (86) is the oldest Stump and Ila Allen descendant.  He and Mom celebrated 50 years of marriage this summer!

I have posted previously about our annual Allen Reunion, so I won’t do an in-depth study today. I just want to tell a bit about the WONDERFUL time we had, and show some pics of the weekend.

For the first time ever, we tent camped at the reunion. We have always had a camper of some sort, most recently Bill’s converted schoolbus. But, amazingly enough, they don’t let Pam go to college for free, as cute as she is; so we sold the bus 2 years ago after the reunion and Glen Rose. Although it was cold at night, it was great camping, and Bill makes sure we have most if not all the comforts of home, even in a tent.  For pics, see Bill’s site.

We had a horseshoe tournament…….

                         

Mikey and Michael were partners, but Michael had to leave before the tourney was over.

Miles Nathanael

Watching the competition                                   Measuring for the point

 trampoline fun for the kids……

 plenty of babies to hold…..

 

Baby Mikey, our miracle baby!          Emmie gets him to sleep Saturday eve……..

Adam snuggling with Em.

…..lots of visiting going on…..

 

 and for me, a BIG SURPRISE!!!!!

                       I CAN’T HELP MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Emily said “I lied!”

              Granddad was DELIGHTED!

 Bub and Emmie had told us they couldn’t come because they had to be in Laredo on business, but they got loose a day early and came out for Saturday and Sunday. What a blessing. Michael, Bub’s cousin and best friend, said “You’d have thought Jesus showed up the way everyone ran to him!” It was funny, but we were all so surprised. Well, all but Dannye. She was in cahoots with Emily the whole time!

Breakfast is the big meal of the day both Saturday and Sunday.

Bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy – what more could you want?

 

Saturday, we wore color coded t-shirts.  The Bill Allens wore red.

Blue for the Harold Allens. Uncle Harold passed away last year.            Great, great granddaughter, Cameron

On Friday evening, Tony prepares his famous squirrel stew……. beef stew is available for those of us who don’t eat rats with bushy tails!

    Bill enjoying the squirrel stew….EEWWWW!

The host family prepares the evening meal on Saturday. The food is incredible, and we have sweets to “graze” on all weekend.

Midday on Saturday, we take a HUGE family picture, which we didn’t get because Bill’s camera chose that moment to rebel.  But Bettye will have one, so you can check her site in a day or two. It’s a sight to behold, since there are around 100 Allens to photograph.

Dan got shots of portions of the large group. 

As previously stated, Bill Allens wore red, Harold Allens wore blue…..

Thomas Allens wore yellow                          Bob Allens wore green……….

                                                     The Kenneth Allens wore purple

Saturday evening, after the meal and clean up, there are some playing cards or other table games, but several of us sit around (hopefully a campfire, but this year there was a burn ban) and sing. 

                   Marty                                                                Colleen

Marty plays the guitar, as does Colleen, Linda, Donna, …..And Tommy, Dannye, and Bill play the violin/fiddle.

Tommy also plays the mandolin. 

Mark, Marty, and Matt have played in a band off and on for many years, so they sing lots of their favorites that have become our favorites as well. Tommy plays lots of hymns that we love, so we may have one “Pink Floyd” tune, then “There’s Power in the Blood” will be sung.

We so enjoy the singing and playing.

It’s a little different than most sing alongs, but so much fun! This year, Colleen sang for us, as a bartering tool to get Emily to sing for us. I knew Em would sing whether Colleen did or not, but that way we got two for the price of one!  It was great!

Emily singing “A Page is Turned”

Then, Sunday we have a time of worship.

In the past, we have just sang hymns a capella, but this year we had help from Alan Jackson’s Hymn CD.

Nathanael gave a short devotional,

then we had a memorial for those who have gone on to heaven before us. Big Daddy, Mamah, the Patriarch and Matriarch of this wild bunch, Uncle Ken, Uncle Harold, Uncle Bob, Uncle Tom, Aunt Dottie, Dean, Billy Michael, Danny Ray, Barry, and Josh, were all remembered. Different ones shared memories of our loved ones, and it was a sweet time.

Marty and Tommy played

 as we all joined hands and sang “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

 It was beautiful!         

After breakfast comes the dreaded chore of packing up. It is always hard to leave for home.

God has so blessed the descendants of Stump and Ila Allen!

Granddad and Jennifer                             Granddad and 2nd born, Martha

Beautiful Allison                                          Michael, close up and personal!

    

My sweet Adam                                                 Emily and Aunt Karla

                   Bill and I with our wild hair!                               Ahhh…Nothing like a great hair day!

       God bless your day!!