The Givens Girls Get-Together

Double Cousins: Carolyn, Annette (my aunt), Lois, and Carmen (my mom).

Once upon a time there were these two brothers, Harold and Art Givens, who fell in love with sisters, Teresa and Alda Pongratz. They married their sweethearts and each had a family. Their families farmed together, played together, cared for each other, went to church together, worked together, and went to school together. My mom is the youngest daughter of Harold and Teresa. I've always loved her stories about growing up on the farm and the special connection that she had to her cousins. It was amazing to me that this group of cousins shared the same aunts and uncles and the same grandparents on both sides of their family. Growing up in a small farmining community in Nebraska, these four girls were referred to as "The Givens Girls". My mom thought it'd be fun to have them all out to Tucson this winter for a "Givens Girls Reunion". They did so earlier this month for a whole week. There are quite a few "Givens Boys" too, but this was a time for just the girls. I called my mom and asked if Meagan and I could jump in on the fun for a day of their time together. Meagan and I had such a great time jumping in with the Givens Girls. We looked at old photographs, listened to their stories, laughed, and caught up on their families with a warm and sunny Tucson as a lovely backdrop. It was such a wonderful little get-away for Meagan and me. While not full blooded "Givens Girls" like these four, being with them made me grateful that Meagan and I have some of this rich "Givens Girl" blood coursing through our own veins.