I’m calling January 13-16, 2017, Nicole’s weekend because our family was celebrating her 18th birthday and her mid-year graduation from high school. But it was more than that.

Nicole is not fond of the limelight. So, even though she was the reason family traveled to Phoenix, we tried to treat her the way she wanted to be treated—to be loved, but not constantly the center of attention.

Nicole Bunyard

Nicole is my granddaughter—the daughter of my daughter, Heidi. Friends and family totaling seventeen people got together one evening to celebrate her birthday and the next to celebrate graduation.

Abbie’s wedding more than five years ago was the last time all my living children were together. We do have a family photo taken since then, but Abbie and Andrew were photoshopped. It was more than “Nicole’s weekend” because it was a family weekend with even Trina being present in memories and reflections that made me fumble for words and get choked up (I wasn’t the only one).

Five McCracken siblings celebrating Nicole’s graduation: Mel McCracken, Ethan McCracken, Juli Pearson, Heidi Bunyard, and Abbie Walters

Heidi with her sister, Trina, nearly twenty-nine years ago when Trina graduated from high school

Heidi with her daughter, Nicole, Saturday night (January 14, 2017)