Several years ago our family had a series of misunderstandings, disagreements and hurt feelings. This led to a family falling out and loss of communication. We haven’t had much contact for over 5 years. This unfortunately happened just after my brother, Devan and his wife, Jenae, were married.

Devan had already been accepted back east to do his surgery residency and they moved within days of the falling out. They since have had two amazingly beautiful boys, Jamis (2) and Jaxon (6 months.)

A few weeks ago, we received an email from my brother mentioning that his wife was going to be in town with their two boys and asked if we would like to see them. Oh, we were over the moon excited. We had seen the boys in pictures, but hadn’t met them in person.

Jenae, bless her heart, was going to be here alone, without my brother, and our last time together was not the most amicable. However, she walked in without a single ounce of animosity, to a family that was overjoyed to see her. I admire her courage.

There have been a lot of broken hearts over the last five years. However, so much healing went on during this day. It truly was a divine day. My dad has this boyish, impish grin that we all adore that comes out when he is truly and utterly happy. It doesn’t happen every day, but that smile was present the entire day.

This is a moment that has been prayed for, for a very long time. I know that that feeling was a two way street with them as well. In the end, family is all that you have. That is our whole purpose on earth is to become families and to mend each other’s hearts. I know that in this day, may hearts were healed and that our family was put on track for being put back together the way that it should be.

This is our miraculous family reunion.

My family gazing at Jaxon for the first time. He is so stinking adorable and looks just like his dad!

Dad and his youngest little grandson.



My mom. She was absolutely full of bliss.



Derek showing off pictures of little baby Ellie. She was only three days old and wasn’t able to come. I love how genuinely thrilled Jenae is for him. I think that it was an absolute miracle that my parents were able to be with all of the their six grandchildren in one week.



Derek is the eternal toddler whisperer. He is a favorite uncle, that is for sure.

Having fun with the bubble guns.

Toad was in heaven that he finally had a cousin HIS OWN AGE!!! He asks for him on a daily basis now.





Have you ever seen such thrilled people in your entire life?

I think these two have it made out to be partners in crime someday!







Almost our entire family… we are missing my sis-in-law Jac, Devan, Dalton (mission) and little baby Ellie! We need to get together again soon and take a picture with all of us in it.



Related??? You be the judge.



So, in our house, we rarely eat treats. However, for such an occasion, I will absolutely break them out. Funny enough, I found out that Jamis hardly ever eats treats, so he was all for the spread. 🙂

Jamis getting Grandpa in on the action. (As a sidenote, out of complete vanity, could we all just pretend that I haven’t completely given up on my yard and that it is gorgeously landscaped instead of screaming white trash. Thank you. Your support is appreciated!)

What good is a tandem swing without an uncle to push you and your cousin higher and higher!

Love love love that look.

I still can’t get over how darling those boys are, how much that baby looks like my brother and how sweet my sister in law was. It could not have gone any smoother.



Downi squishing Jaxon. Don’t you just love squishable kiddos.



Dad soaking up every single second of his time with those boys.

Isn’t he the cutest darn thing that you have ever seen!



It is amazing how much stuff you can fit into an evening, when you never want that evening to end.



The only picture of me that I have. I was the one snapping the pictures. I am so glad that my dad got me spending a moment with my sweet little nephew.

This is what he was looking at. He went through each person and named their name. 🙂

Dad took advantage of every minute to show him every single thing that he possibly could.

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?- Henry David Thoreau

It is amazing that in one day, you think that something will never happen. You think that the obstacle is too great and it is completely insurmountable. You assume that the mountain is just too big and that there is no way to conquer it. So, all you are left with is hope and faith and prayer. That is when God steps in with his miracle and the mountain is gone in a matter of moments. I am so grateful for this miracle in my life.

Thank you Devan and Jenae for making this happen. Hearts have been healed and I can’t wait for us to all be together again.