From Steve Steinhoff

Hi to All, I received this clip from my Sister Maureen who writes a column for some Iowa Newspapers called "HOME FIRES" I was going to send it to those with bigger families, but decided that our 68 reunion was just like one very big family. Hope you enjoy and thanks to all who have taken the time to share their thoughts. S Oneil, I am relieved you do have something to do up there in Wis. I am headed to OshKosh soon and will drop in to your neighborhood bar to visit and watch you at work. Steve Steinhoff
ps I am really enjoying reunions

Home Fires‏
From:MAUREEN SHEEDER (maureensheeder1@msn.com)
Sent:Wed 6/18/08 5:01 PM

If I sound dazed and draggy today, forgive me. I've been to the mountain top and reentry to every day zone is only now happening. Specifically, I attended a reunion in the Rocky Mountains which thirteen living siblings held for Mother's 83rd.
It was a glorious event, complete with a family talent show, a cribbage tournament, an oak car derby and the traditional sixty kazoo parade in which each attendee marched single file and tooted "When the Saints Go Marching In". Our 83 year old matriarch participated in every piece of this fun and if she could remember better would still be fuming that she didn't win the cribbage tournament.
Getting there was half the fun, of course, and I traveled with four of our children and grandson Bubba, who shared his electric guitar wizardry and dazzled all of us in the talent contest.
Sometimes, we forget, I think, that there's magic in a family that comes together to laugh and remember and appreciate where we came from. It's special to see each other's children and to recognize the connection that bonds us even when our homes are so far apart.
So we made lots of noise, and took a million pictures that captured how beautiful Mother still is and how beautiful our children and our spouses are, and how beautiful our brothers are with little hair and how beautiful our sisters are with the warmth of life challenges reflected in our faces.
So while we basked in all this blessing, the thirteen sibs retreated alone for a while to a cabin. And sat together to put it all into words and to figure out how to love Mother the very best way as she lives with the Alzheimer's that distances her todays and places her back in her yesterdays that only we remember.
And as we talked in love and caring, we noted once again that the biggest gift our parents ever gave us was each other.
So high up in the Rockies, all thirteen of us reunited in a circle of hugs and created our own mountain peak of joy as we prayed in thanksgiving for our mother and in appreciation for each other. There are holy moments of life where we know for sure it just can't get any better and this is the one we all carried home till next time. M. Sheeder