Collins' Chronicles: Home for the 4th

For the last few years, we have tried to go visit my family in WV for the 4th of July. This year we started out visiting Scott's aunt and uncle in Hickory, NC. It was his uncle's birthday, and we all went out for seafood that night. Then Saturday, it was on to Pineville, WV to visit sister #3. On Sunday, we visited Twin Falls State Park and R.D. Bailey Lake (pictures posted). Monday we went to Beckley, WV to visit sister #4 and help with her VBS. She decorates a 45 foot platform and is the puppeteer every year. I missed a few good photo opportunities because we were working, but we had a lot of fun. Tuesday evening we went to Quinwood, WV to visit sister #2. My youngest nephew graduated from high school this year and plans to join the Navy this fall. Another nephew was home from college with one more year to go. My eldest niece is leaving this fall to further her education in Psychology. On Thursday it was on to Montgomery, WV to visit sister #1. My youngest niece came in from Kentucky and brought S (one of the great nephews). The other great-nephew (B) was there also, along with my eldest great nephew (10) and niece (8). We had a fun time visiting with everyone. On the fourth, all the sister's and their families gathered for a cookout and fireworks. One nephew was not able to make it in from SC. On Saturday, my cousin's had a reunion up in the "Holler" in Renick, WV. I was able to see 4 cousins, their children and an aunt. We walked in (the hike seems a lot longer and steeper at 40 than it did at 14) and rode out in the back of my brother-in-law's truck in the rain. Scott and I and the boys rode in the bed of the truck with umbrella's. I wish we had taken a picture - but didn't because of the rain. That's the stuff memories are made of. Our trip was over before we knew it and we headed back home to SC on Sunday.