Purcell Family Reunion

The past couple of weeks have been a blast. Langi and I made our way to Hawaii last week Tuesday for our Purcell family reunion. It was an AMAZING reunion. I haven't been back to Hawaii since 2007. This family reunions was a pretty special one as the main event was the installation and unveiling of my grandparents headstone. Which, may i say, turned out to be such a beautiful headstone done by some of my awesome family members here in Hawaii. When my grandparents passed away, it was a very hard time in my life. I wasn't able to make it to either of their funerals and on the day of their funerals I can clearly remember being so depressed and heartbroken. Earlier this year, Peter and I discussed our finances and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to come to Hawaii. But when Peter told me that whatever happens I have to be at the reunion for this special event, I was so grateful for his support and understanding. My family held a few plate lunch fundraisers to raise money to get us to Laie. And, well, here I am! It's been so fun also because this is the first time most of my family members are meeting Langi and the first time I'm seeing a lot of the kids and babies that I haven't met yet. Langi is LOVING it here. We've been to the beach 3 times and we're always out doing something fun. She's getting a better tan than I am too! (and it makes me totally jealous) It was kind of unreal when we stepped off the plane here. But it's so great being here. I miss home a lot though. As much as I absolutely love being with my family here, it's the first time Langi and I have been away from Peter for any amount of time and it feels kind of weird. Langi misses him a lot too. Every time she sees his face on our video chats, she forgets I'm there and just talks and talks and they both forget I'm in the same room. It's cute, she is such a daddy's girl.

Anyways, back to the reunion. We had so many fun activities but, as I'm sure a lot of my other family members would agree, the program and the unveiling of the headstone was the best part of the whole reunion. And of course, there is always the part that we always try to put out of our minds until the very last minute, there was the goodbyes. It's always hard for us to say goodbye to each other. Up until the very last second one of our family members leaves, we are always all smiles and laughter. It's such a great feeling to know how close we all are. I've seen some families who are not close at all. I read about the families that have children who don't talk to their parents at all or the children don't get along with each other. And then they realize just how important family is when it's too late to do anything about it. My heart aches for the families like that and I wish that I could do something for them. Then I remember how close my family is and I smile again. I know that when my family is all together, there is nothing but happiness and love. The fact that we all have to depart and go our separate ways in the end is sad, but it helps us all grow so much more closer together. Especially when we know that we're just a phone call, facebook message or a text away.

There are already plans for the next family reunion and of course that helps everyone's "goodbyes" be a little less sad.

Well, pictures of the family reunion and other fun activities we did will come in the next post, but for now (since it's 11:01pm here in Hawaii) it's a goodnight to all! :)