Our generation of the Bolin tribe is comprised of eight cousins; Four in each of the two half-tribes.  In 1881, Grandpa Bolin (Swan) emigrated from Sweden as a baby.  He and Hattie had two sons, Clarence (known to all as Ceeb) and my dad, Warren.  Clarence and Maryhelen had four children, Gail, Carol, Nancy and David.  Warren and Jean had Barbara, Jim, me and Paul.  I’m sixth of the eight. 

Weddings and funerals are about the only times I see my cousins and I’m glad this time it was a wedding.  Gail, ten years my senior and the oldest cousin of the Bolin clan, lost her husband a few years ago after a long, difficult illness.  Bill entered her life and the rest is history.  On a sunny, Saturday afternoon in mid-July; in a park setting in Woodland, Washington, Steven Fawver (son of Christian camping legends Gary and Susan) pronounced them husband and wife.  They were giddy teenagers trapped in late-middle-age bodies. 

About 30 family and friends stood in the garden glade and formed a circle to pray God’s blessing on the newlyweds.   Prayers were spoken to God but they were also heard by those of us in the circle.  Gail’s brother, David had the winner.  He simply said, “Dear God, thank you for putting smiles on their faces.”  

So glad we took time out of the woods to attend Gail and Bill’s wedding.  So glad we could reconnect with the cousin’s.  And so glad God put smiles on their faces – and mine.