July 2024, I went to my family reunion with my children. It had been a year since I separated from the father of my kids. I was going to do the things that I wanted to do and no one was going to stop me. I borrowed a truck and packed it full with camping supplies, clothes and more. The family reunion is held on a trust of land that we call the ranch.

I came early to the reunion and set up my tent. I was so proud! I remembered the days that my dad set up camp for our family when I was a child. I was fulfilling my childhood dreams and I was so happy to pass along the new adventures to my children. Some things we enjoyed were: camping with fairy lights, eating snacks all day, rinsing off in a kiddie pool, fishing, late nights, looking at the fireflies, and listening to the bugs chirp through the night. The child inside my soul was happy.

I saw many family members that I have known my whole childhood. I saw some new faces that I have never met before. It had been 20 years since the last reunion I was at. My cousin has a beautiful home on the ranch that she grew up in. Her parents passed the home to her. She is a successful business women. She is wise, loving, caring, and a women of God. My cousin could not believe that I was there! It was just me, a single Mom with two young girls (3 and 4). She could not believe that we traveled 10 hours to visit and we were camping. I was just happy to be there. This was the beginning of our relationship! Although, I have warm memories of baking brownies in her kitchen, swimming in the same pool in the back yard, fishing in the ponds, visiting Grandma’s house, shooting fireworks with my cousins, and cleaning out the old cabin. Those memories are a story in itself.

My cousin kept me close during the reunion. I met her son and daughter along with their children. My kids played with her grandkids. We swam in the same pool, baked in the same kitchen, we prayed, we had late night chats on the porch. She motivated me in ways I didn’t know I needed. She told me that I was a child of God! That I was smart, beautiful, kind, loving. I held onto every word she spoke and I fell in love with her spirit. I wanted to be more like her. She gave me a bracelet watch that she bought at an auction and it was made by Montana Silver. I felt more special than I have ever felt in a long time.

It felt like home. I wished to be part of that life.