Tradition..

Every Fall - for over 35 years - our family has gone apple picking. It started with Peggy and I and two daughters. In a few years two more daughters joined with us. The picking tradition has continued - without a miss - and now includes three sons-in-laws and seven grandchildren.

Sometimes the geographic distance is too great and we can't all gather to pick in the same orchard - but we all still pick.

This Saturday our Northern contingent gathered for our Fall tradition. Grandson James made his first trip to Chudley's Apple Orchard. Sampled his first fresh apple. Loved it!!!

I took a few memory snaps. They basically look like the same photos I took last year - plus James. If you went back 20 years or more, all the photos look a bit similar - but different...

Curiously, our daughter in New York just called and told us our three grandchildren, her husband and she also picked apples - on Saturday. Go figure...

Our traditions enable us to

experience the Sacred...

In the lives of

Family and Community

Faith.

They give us opportunities to

gather and celebrate

and remember and share our stories

and be enveloped in love.

It seems to be how we are wired.

A mystery.

Traditions are a gift.

God is always there...

Oh - by the way:

Another favorite family tradition is making our own applesauce.

The family gathers tight around the table and the stove.

We all work together - peeling, slicing, dicing, cooking and caning - over 30 quarts -which are divvied-up.

Our Applesauce ROCKS!!!