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The Fagan Family Farm Fun - a Thanksgiving tradition. When Jim and I first moved out of the Bay Area and to the California Wine Country north of San Francisco, it sounded so wonderful until I realized I would miss trips to down town San Francisco shopping, dinners at the latest restaurants, the museum and Golden Gate Park just minutes away. But once here, we found a beautiful culture of celebrating the land, good food and wine and people who were committed to enjoying life, celebrating each moment and being a strong community. After 20 years, we still feel the excitement of each new season and the time with friends talking about the harvest, or the wines being produced and of course enjoying all the great food to go with them.
When we moved, we had our two grandson then just 3 and 6 and many of Jim's brothers had started second families or were just beginning. After 3 years here, we looked at our 1880's barn one beautiful autumn day and decided it would be fun to host Thanksgiving in our barn with all of our family. That was the beginning of a now 17 year tradition. The kids, nieces and nephews are now 17 to 24, in college, out of college, married and some with babies. They arrive on Wednesday and depart full and ful filled on Saturday - and Jim and I collapse on Sunday.
I remember one year when my grown niece arrived with her 2 children - we had not had the opportunity to meet as she had been busy starting her family. As their car pulled up to the barn, out jumped a little girl about 4 with pigtails who introduced herself to us. "Aunt Barbara" she said, "when do we go on the Bear Hunt and when is the Fairy Walk!" I knew her mom had shared all of her stories and the magic of being at the Fagan Family Farm Fun each Thanksgiving. Not one to disappoint, I made sure they all lived out the memory their mom had shared.
Through the years, we have had many wonderful and exciting adventures. There was the year when several of the cousins were out hunting for the BEAR after a Thanksgiving dinner, stepped into a yellow jacket's nest buried underground and ended with a swarm crawling up their pant legs and shirts.
Family traditions are timeless and what I have come to learn is that kids never get too old to be kids -when they have a magical place to play. This year, they will all be arriving on Wednesday, not with their Moms and Dads but now from college or with husbands and new babies of their own.
I am grateful that Jim and I will be standing next to the barn to greet them as they role through the gates and once again celebrate family, with good food, good times and good cheer.
I hold each of you within our Source Point Training community as family. I wish you each good cheer and celebration with those you love and hold dear.
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moment to be grateful for all the friends and business associates we have had the honor to work with this last year. Barbara shares a favorite family story with you this week. We invite you to enjoy the season by perhaps starting a new tradition or going back to one you remember that makes you happy and connected with others. During these challenging times, that many of us never imagine would continue as long as it has, it is wonderful to know that there are so many things we can be thankful for and celebrate at this special time of year.
