Another Kniffin family ritual: this year marked the 10th Selin Weekend in Leavenworth (although we haven’t documented as much as we should have; it appears the last time we wrote a post about it was in 2012).
Each summer, we come to Mountain Springs Lodge in Plain, WA (outside Leavenworth) to be with Cynthia’s extended family, on her Mom’s side. ~90 people attend. o mark how much of a tradition it’s become, here’s me & Cyn, attending our first weekend… in 2007, 11 years ago, before we were married…
As you might be able to imagine, 10 years of getting together creates quite a tradition. It feels as though each time-section of the weekend has something to expect: when meals are, when singing is, breaking up into small groups to share how life is and pray for each other, the ‘Selin Family Olympics’, all-group games,… you get the idea. There’s even expectations of when certain Uncles/Aunts are going to say ___________, or when another person is going to do something crazy (people are predictable… are they not? :)).
So, I suppose the lesson of it all is about ritual: the familiar patterns of activity and association that tell you, ‘you belong’… such familiarity tells you that the world is a predictable place that has meaning, and that you have carved out a place within it.
That’s a great gift to give your kids: stability and love from a community that loves them. But, (and maybe this is obvious), it’s also a great gift to give yourself, as an adult… for the same reasons!
explaining the rules for the relay in the “Selin Family Olympics”, which always occurs on Saturday after lunch
a typical meal- we really fill up the main lodge
this year, Cyn’s uncle John is getting married to Heather (in the pink). Abbey & Evie were asked to be flower girls, and are here helping Heather make the bouquets
Great Grandma Barbara & her sister deciding on which team in the Olympics made the best team banner
celebrating Abbey’s birthday as a family
Uncle Mike did this really cool thing where he made a version of the family feud as a spreadsheet on Google Sheets
Family Worship Service, with Uncle Matt giving a testimony
