Inspiration to plan a family reunion

Family reunion planning

Reunions provide space in life for families to enjoy each other’s company. Beneficial rejuvenation is achieved through vacation time-off from the everyday grind of careers. 

Location, meals, games and activities are a few of the reunion goodies to plan. Whether the gathering be immediate or extended family—or even a portion who want and are able to participate—it is well worth the effort to pencil-in a tentative block of time. Begin to organize a fun, relaxing time to bond together with loved ones!

• Consider what each guest of the party likes to do, from new baby, children, spouses, mother, father, grandparents to great grandparents. When possible, it is fun for sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws to be involved. 
• A reunion doesn’t need to be a huge event. Intimate gatherings are wonderful, too!

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
—Matthew 18:20

• Don’t try to do it all by yourself. Suggest or delegate different tasks to other family members.
• Communication is required to pull it off. Start small with a group email to your siblings.
• Add prayers and devotions to the planning and when the time comes, to the event activities. Beautiful things grow when the Seed is planted. The Spirit helps us to water and fertilize our lives through hearing and reading the Bible. The process brightens a gloomy day. Gifts of sunshine and optimism are from our Creator who will nurture all our plans when we are in the Word.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.—Psalm 33:11

• Don’t worry if every detail or wrinkle isn’t ironed out. Spontaneity and creativity will allow you to “go with the flow” while things fall into place.
• Tell your boss in advance so the workload can be paced before you leave for vacation and appointments can be scheduled around the time you are away.
• Start a list of things to pack such as camera, phone, chargers, sketch book, swim suit, gifts, snacks, magazines, book, Bible/devotional, craft materials, sports equipment, games, jacket, addresses, printed google maps and GPS device.
• Schedule mail to be held at the Post Office and tell a neighbor you’ll be gone.

I am pleased to announce

This Family Tree—count your blessings, respect your family history, enjoy your family present blog has been mentioned in Reunions Magazine, Vol. 23 No. 4, May/June/July 2013 on the topic of my family tree charts. Ancestry charts make a wonderful project for family gatherings. See page 13 of the electronic piece or in the printed magazine, page 10. Experiment with navigation by clicking to see the spread full screen and zoom areas to enlarge. This publication is packed with tips for planning a friends, class or family reunion. Enjoy!

Update: Reunion invitation art is now available!

Click here to visit FreshRetroGallery for more information!