The Thompson Family Reunion is fast approaching. It seems like only yesterday that I had months to prepare. Now its only days. Family still has time to get in their plans to attend. I find it easiest to base my planning on last year's attendance with a few added for other family members to attend.
Food is probably where I spent my most time thinking. What will be the meat choice this year? In the past years, my cousin and his wife have been our meat cooks. They do an excellent job! This year a little bundle of joy will keep them from being our cooks... and I wouldn't have it any other way! That leaves me to come up with a plan....and I have. It won't be as great as my cousin's cooking but then again the Thompson Family never really needs to worry about food. We always seem to have more than enough.
My grandmother, Bertha Thompson Johnson, was known to put out quite a spread in her day. Apparently it's a trait that has not only be handed down to me but quite a few of our other Thompson relatives. With that being said, I think I can cross food off my list of worries.
The site for our reunion is taken care of six months in advance. We enjoy the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area. We discussed the date for this year's reunion at last year's reunion. The State Park will only let you reserve a site 6 months in advance. So after last years reunion set the date, I marked my calendar for the 1st day that I would be able to reserve the park. When that date rolled around this year, I got on the internet and reserved the site. Usually before I send out invites, I confirm that the reservation are still showing on my account.
This year my biggest concern is the weather. While we are used to it being hot, we are not used to 100 degree hot. The past few weeks in Central Illinois have been extremely hot. So I've been doing a little....okay a lot of praying for cooler weather. 85-90 would be okay. Prehaps a call out to my Thompson ancestors for any assistance would not be unreasonable.
I usually bring a Thompson Genealogy Book, a current Descendancy Chart, and a Family History display. Those are in the works along with a few surprises. This area comes easy to me as it is my passion the family genealogy.
Well enough writing about getting ready.... time to start!
