Dazzingly Delirious December~the Reunion

At the end of December, the 28th, we met together at the Hiatt cabin for a Biggs Bunch family reunion. We planned for Tuesday night, Wednesday, until Thursday at lunch time, at which time we planned to take sack lunches and go home so Karen and the Cutchen clan could move in for their reunion. We had a great time, with a few surprises. Daniel and his family, who had come for the reunion, in time for Christmas, decided, at the last minute to go home to Colorado because the weather forecast called for a major snow storm in the mountains. He and Connie decided that even if it weren't as bad as predicted in Arizona, they still had two mountain passes to cross so they had better try to beat the storm and get their family home while they still could. we were really disappointed that they weren't going to be with us for the reunion, but as it turned out it was the right decision.

The reunion started out on a cool, but sunny day.
We greeted loved ones

























































We played games





























We relaxed





















We prepared and ate delicious meals.

We visited.

We crocheted




















Do you remember a youth activity you attended or were in charge of where an unexpected hardship was introduced, such as following an iron rod blindfolded or scaling a mountainside, pulling a handcart? These were to teach important lessons about faith, working together toward a goal and gratitude for the Lord's loving hand in our lives. Our family reunion, experienced just such an unexpected hardship, probably designed by the Lord to teach us some much-needed lessons. On our 2nd day there, it began to snow. At first we were excited as desert dwellers, to see the magical white stuff covering the ground and trees. "Look! It's starting to stick!" the kids would call to each other. Their moms bundled them up for a glorious day of snow play.

















































































































That night, we had a party, with a talent show for the little kids, gift games for the kids and a white elephant game for the adults. The hit of the night was the Spiderman underwear Tyson got, and Shad stole...and modeled. Then the girls gave Dad and me a Christmas gift, a blog book. It contained the whole first year of the blog, from the time Erika set it up in July 2006, to Dad's birthday, July 2007. It is so beautiful and we love it.


We also showed the group a Temple board, with the marriages in the family and the various temples near each family. We also showed a missionary map. Every missionary will be displayed, with a string leading from him to the place he served. Then, to top off a wonderful, fun-filled evening, we had a special blessing from Dad, as the family's patriarch, continuing the tradition set by Grandpa Brinton and then, Grandpa Hiatt.













































After the party, Jeremy and Erika decided to take all their kids back with them to the cabin they were renting, a mile or two from Grandma's cabin...just in case. The night before, the kids had slept at our cabin with their cousins, but this time, Jer and Er decided they wanted their family all together. It was a good thing they did. As they were driving back to their cabin, they got stuck in the snow and had to call 911 for help to get out. An emergency vehicle came to rescue them, leaving their car stranded in the snow, but taking the family to their cabin. Fortunately, they had food. The cabin was stocked with soup and Bisquick, so they were okay.


The next day, when we had planned to go home, we found we were totally snowed in. Guys on their computers read that the roads were closed and that more snow was expected. Karen and her family were planning to come up that day, but we couldn't get out. Also, they were not letting people come up the mountain without 4x4s and chains. When Dad talked to the ADOT people, they said that we were in the worst possible spot in the whole storm...down in a big bowl. No matter how many times or what good ideas we tried, we couldn't get our cars even past the driveway. We tried to get out, anyway, shoveling a path to the end of the driveway, but even Joel's 4x4 couldn't get out. We called someone to come and dig us out, but he had several clients ahead of us, and he was very expensive. We booked him anyway, and he said he would come Friday morning. So, we accepted the inevitable and waited with as much patience and grace as possible. There were 45 people cooped up together and I was amazed at how graciously everyone behaved. Sisters and sisters-in-law helped with each other's children. Brothers and brothers-in-law worked together to try to get us out, and big cousins helped little cousins. Everyone pitched in to help with meals and cleaning and even though we were trapped together, we could see good attitudes and cheerfulness and everyone trying to make the best of the situation.






























We made snow cream













We decorated gingerbread cookies







































































The boys, drying their socks at the fire after vainly trying to push cars out of the driveway.








"What shall we try now?"










We came away from this unexpected hardship with strengthened love for each other and gratitude to the Lord for His hand in our lives. What could have been a tragedy was a learning experience and will be a good memory. It was truly a blessing because even though we were stranded, and inconvenienced, we had shelter from the storm...luxurious shelter at that...warmth, electricity and plenty of food. We also had each other.












The cars, buried in snow. We measured 18" on top of our car, and that was after brushing it off the day before. I don't know how much fell altogether, but it was a lot! We hired a guy to come and blade the road from the cabin, up the hill from the creek, to the stop sign. We finally had our turn on Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon it was clear enough that Joel could take his 4x4 and go to Payson for chains.

As we were trying to leave, on Friday afternoon, Mary and Tyson were just behind Joel and just in front of us. They made a run at the hill above the creek, but got stuck. Tom and Joel were trying to figure out how to get them unstuck and up the hill. They finally freed them enough that they could back down and get another run at it. After a couple more tries, they made it, and so did we. In fact, everyone got out.

This is the church parking lot where we had thought we could park our cars if a lot of snow came. The plan was to get our cars to the parking lot and have 4x4's shuttle us up to them when we needed to leave on Thursday. Thomas tried it, but it was already too deep to be a practical plan. This picture is on the way out of town Friday afternoon.

As we were driving home, we even saw Saguaro cactus with snow on the sides. I don't think I have ever seen that before.















This has truly been an adventurous, dazzingly delirious December! A wonderful year, too. 2011 has a lot to live up to.