It’s Christmas day,
Our family is large, 13 children, Keith and I and 26 Grandchildren.
I birthed 3 children and other mothers from impoverished situations gave us the joy of giving a future to their children.
Some of children had been abandoned at birth, others were in dangerous situations, and some that I can’t even explain.
When you have a large family, your social live revolves around other people with families the same as yours. It sure wasn’t easy, and yet we had the most amazing experiences.
For the past 40 years there has been a camp at a lake some 4 hours from home. It was hot, we ate communally, and we had a wonderful time. The only way to keep cool was to sit in the lake which afforded some wonderful images.
Keith and I are now 70 and our children have their own families. 2017 is the last year of the camp and as we remember the wonderful times we remember the friends in our group who are no longer with us… but they are still our heroes.
Merry Christmas, Pam.
Cheers,
Frank
Merry Christmas to you and your special people Frank.
Thanks for your wonderful poems.
You’re welcome Pam. Have a goodun.
Frank it was a super day. I found the missing photo.
Excellent.
Cheers,
Frank
I’m full of admiration for all you have done and still do. I myself come out of a family with 8 childrens and i know how busy a household it was for my parents
Also loved the music you played with the video, can you supply me with the name of the song and singer. Much appreciated.
I will look for the music, thanks.
Oh gosh your story warmed my heart! God bless you this holiday season and New Year!
Thank you. I am full of admiration for our peers who were always there for us in those days. We all fought the Dept of Community Welfare to bring our children to Australia. It wasn’t made easy for us, but as a group we did it.
Merry Christmas to a most remarkable woman & family. I had the honor of taking a class from you about 10 years ago. My style of quilting has been forever changed. You & your family set a high standard for the rest of us to give, believe, honor & learn about others. Thank you seems so simple & not enough. I thank you.
Kaaren, thank you so much. Its a team effort, not just Keith and I but its the Bambinos as well.
There are some things that can not be replaced or replicated. You are one of them Pammie.
Merry Xmas and lots of love.
Carolyn, you’re my special person too. I love your interest, your talent and you’re just a nice person, our friendship has been a blessing.
I read Callie’s story again and, once again, it brought me to tears. Her beginning sad but her ending is the happiness that every child deserves. You and you husband have raised the most beautiful and interesting children. the next generation shows the promise of being just as successful. Merry Christmas to all of your family from Canada
Audrey.We have a super bunch, but its not sugar coated, there have been really hard times as well.
You and Keith amaze me. I loved seeing photos of your precious family. May God bless them all. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Judy, thank you. You know, we were young and ready to save the world. As many of us were in the 60’s. Hope you’re feeling much better. I had one day of being unwell with tummy flu and I thought goodness Judy goes through this so often, so you are my hero.
Merry Christmas! We built our lovely family like you and my children are THE best experience of my life!
Just found your blog and am amazed of your accomplishment and dont feel like an odd man out — you see I also had a large family, 5 children, 9 grandchildren (plus the dog and grandpa living with us) but people made me feel like a freak because most people only have one or two children. But I would not change a day in my life (hubby and I also are in our 70s) because I loved every minute – the good, the bad and the crazy….and still have more to look forward to…..taking it one day at a time.
Fantastic, yes, we too were looked at strangely, but it sure made me strong and I wouldn’t swap it for the world.