Finally, for the first time in four years, my children have been able to visit their mother's homeland and see their American relatives.  Well, only some of my children.  The oldest three have been granted passage to the New World - the youngest three were deemed too expensive and too young.  However, I will count my blessings and be grateful at least some of us could come home this summer.
     It has been a whirlwind trip so far, as it always is when we come home.  When we arrived we went straight to a Hamilton family reunion up near Sugar City, Idaho, which is where both of my father's parents were raised.  It was the usual wonderful mix of catching up, hugs, words of encouragement, and conversation with aunts, uncles, and cousins.  We had the traditional 'Beat the Sheep' run, as well as our age-old family program/talent show/auction.  Mandy and Dave gave the best performance of the night, I think, with a song about 'Mother Earth', and a verse that went something like 'The buffaloes are our second counsins, on our mother's side.'

     On Sunday morning we had a very touching devotional at my grandparent's graveside, again in Sugar City.  My aunt talked about how my grandmother always encouraged her children to reflect the light of Christ by reminding them to 'make the world a brighter place.'  It was moved to be reminded of the tremendous heritage that I have. Both my grandparents and my great-grandparents are buried in this cemetary.

Here is my extended family singing 'Love at Home' and 'God Be with You Till We Meet Again'

Abigail and Imogen at the grave of my grandparents, Lloyd and Nina Hamilton

Samuel at the grave of my great-grandparents, Charles Orson and Pearl Hamilton