So this past weekend I spent it alone with my entire Morton side of the family. My dad was entered into the Reedley College Hall of Fame for Football. This was the start of his football career. I definitely was not alone. I drove down to Reedley 20 miles South of Fresno with my dad, mom, baby brother and baby sister. Aram and the kids stayed home. We were all crammed into a 5 seater car and I sat dead center in the middle the whole time. I don't even remember the last time I spent this amount of time with them, and I felt like a little kids again. We talked, teased and even fought. Normal stuff for the Morton family. We also brought up very hard times from the past and it was amazing to me to see the healing that has occurred. It was a confirmation this weekend that God has answered my prayer. The prayer I wrote down on a index paper 6 years ago! The one that said God, I beg that you will heal my family each and every one of them especially my parents. I see that He has answered that prayer with my parents. They lost everything, their home, belongings, life as they always knew it and it was in those deep dark moments of letting go they fell in love with each other and my entire childhood I never saw them love each other. My dad has been sober for almost 7years and it was like a celebration of life, sobriety and I was overwhelmed of Gods peace reminding me I am exactly where He wants me to be.
So we drove down together and I kept quite most of the time looking at all of them thinking about our childhood and thinking of the reality that they are my blood, my family and how much I truly love them. I see myself in each and every one of them. My baby brother who has always been so little to me is now 15 and 2 inches taller than me. I also realized that Aram and I impacted my little sister during the short time she lived with us.
We had a great time seeing cousins, 2nd & 3rd cousins, aunts & uncles and a great uncle & aunt. What I took from this weekend was Joy! Sweet Joy & Peace! I found myself stuck in the present and taking in all the love, peace and joy being in the present brings. I looked at my dad and saw my hero, the hero I saw in him when I was young. A strong man full of love, peace and security. He gets all that from God. I am so struck by Gods love this weekend and I got a reminder that Miracles do happen, prayers are heard and it just may not turn out the way you think it should.
And we are so grateful for uncle Bill for being so generous!!
Here are some pics I took:
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| All suited up |
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| This is the miracle & see the love |
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| I met my cousins son for the first time he is now 10!! Pure Joy! |
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| My dads notes! I think that is 45 font? |
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| History where it all began |
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| Wonderful speech made most people cry. |
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| My dad with his old coaches, they believed in him and encouraged him. |
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| My dad with his sisters and brother |
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| Our family... see my baby brother is right next to me and taller than me and I am 5'10" |
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| My dad and his best man & old college roommate |
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| My cousin Brett & dad, Brett was a football player as well. |
