Family Reunion 2018

Connections:

Well, we are a week past our family reunion. I have to say, when I held the family reunion in 2016, I had billed the reunion as a Jacques family reunion. However, I had four separate sections of my family show up to the reunion. I knew, this year, that we should bill it as a Jacques/Archuleta/Lujan/Herrera reunion. Boy, did people respond.

It is so easy to be divided. These times of divisiveness permeate everyone’s lives. But, when we connect, and celebrate, our ancestors, we enlarge our hearts toward each other, toward our family and toward being open to keeping our connections alive.

Let’s look at our connections.

 

This first photograph is Rose Marie Lujan, Richard Jacques and myself. Pictures like this make me think of the 1930’s, when our families lived in Jackson and must have reached out to keep their close knit New Mexican connections to each other.

My Mom, Jubie Jacques, Milton Archuleta, my Dad, Tim Jacques, Anna and Rose Lujan, Vi Archuleta, Donald Archuleta, Flora Lujan and Henrietta Hayes

This next picture is Fred Herrera and Lissi Figueroa. The descendant of Celia Jacques Herrera and Celestino Jacques. They were two siblings who would have been very touched to see that this connection continues.

The next picture is Henrietta Archuleta Hayes and myself. She is the very last of that generation, a double first cousin to my dad. She is just as much a Jacques as I am an Archuleta. That is fun to think about. We are so lucky to have one of our original family members with us, well enough to travel and generous enough with her time that she traveled out to California just to attend. Here is a picture of her as a young lady. So lovely.

Top row, Sonny, Anita, Flora, Celia, Sandi, Freddy, LeRoy, Bottom Row Terry, Ben Lujan, Edna Marie Lujan, Anna Marie Lujan

The number of parties our family has had in the past led to very fun pictures of different parts of our family, all of our connections.

Me and Steven Stewart

Polly, LeRoy, Effie, Fred, Celia, Freddy, Geri, Edna Marie

Our Herrera connection is strong. My dad always felt close to his Aunt Celia and I just love this picture of Aunt Celia’s wedding anniversary from the 1970’s.

Dorothy, Tim, Angie

Jeanie, Gary and I

Myself, Lea, Jimmy

Donald Archuleta’s picnic

We have connections everywhere. Each person who came to the picnic made a new connection. We have new connections and new family.

Diane Archuleta, Bob Archuleta, Shirley, Julia, David

Magali and Frank Lee

Pete, Archie, Elsie, Flora

Bob, myself, Diane, Monica

Chris, Me, Trisha

Joe, Terry

Jackie, Marisa

Richard, Henrietta, Freddy

Rose, Linda

Gary, Kit

Laurie, Lauren

Jordie, Rose, Kit

So many lovely pictures, time well spent. My cousin Rose said she’d spoken to me more over the last two months than she had over my entire life. I’m grateful for the time we’ve spent together and I have a feeling it will continue!