Penning Photography Daily

Granddaughter Ellie being held by Grandfather Larry. A labor of love as we celebrated the Labor Day holiday at Chris & Katherine’s home.

Larry is the first of my siblings, I am the baby of 8 brothers and sisters. As Larry said yesterday, “In college, the other kids went home on break to see the new car, I want home to see the new baby!” I am twenty years his junior, but we get along, well, like brothers. We admire each others talents and call on the other when our own knowledge needs to be filled by something that the other knows better. We celebrate our family ties together and often enough that every visit is a pleasure to look forward to. He and Bev have become the head of the family since Mom & Dad passed on. Of late, their youngest, Katherine and her Chris have opened their home to family gatherings, as the grandchildren became numerous and boisterous, as they should.

This Labor Day, we gathered to celebrate our family once more, and in a special way with the addition of the latest grandchild, as I call her: Miss Ellie. There was football in the backyard by the grandkids, and a pinata to whack at, in celebration of Charly, another granddaughter’s birthday.

We shared our lives and a great meal, but more important, we spent time together being a family. That time works its way into the cracks and crevices that might otherwise separate us, and uses the love shared as a cement, keeping us closer. The knowledge that each of us cares and gives as we can, runs deep through our family.

The tradition carries on, seen here as the touch of love exchanged with ease. I witnessed that family bond growing in the cousins playing so well together, the interplay between sisters, and how the spouses and close friends showed active kindness with each other.

It really doesn’t take much, but a little love goes a very long way.