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 MONTREAT 1986 to 2006

Montreat is a small community, of about 600 people, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Ashville, North Carolina. A Christian Liberal Arts College affiliated with the Presbyterian Church makes up the center of town. Each summer thousands of teens and their leaders come here for youth conferences. Here in Montreat, on the side of a mountain, Paul and Lucy own a big home with several bedrooms and beds for about 30 people. Most of the time their house is rented out to some of these youth groups. However, one week each summer is reserved for "THE ALEXANDER FAMILY REUNION" consisting of Carl and Mabel, their six children and spouses and all of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have been enjoying this week long get-together since 1986.

2001 Paul and Lucy's beautiful house. Built in 1912. Lots of rockers for sitting on the big porch.

1995 Our parents Mabel & Carl Alexander have six kids.

1987 All six of us were here this year with our parents and some of our kids. I think there were 34 total.

Since there are six siblings and we are here for six days, the plan is for each of us and our kids to be responsible for planning, buying, and cooking dinner for everyone just one night and cleaning up afterwards. The rest of the week we are free from kitchen work except everyone is responsible for their own lunches and breakfasts. Each person contributes $5 and Don takes care of buying supplies when we run out. It's a true vacation with lots of free time to play games and visit with each other.

1987 Sunday church right here on the porch.

1987 Grandmas rock their grandbabies.

1995 These same grandmas rock the same grandkids 8 years later.

These are such wonderful reunions and we are grateful to Paul and Lucy for letting us come here. Dottie and her family live in Florida so it's the only time some of us get to see each other and watch all of these little ones grow into beautiful and handsome teenagers one year at a time.

1988 The Kendalls.

1988 The Wades.

1991 Family Portrait.

1995 Sisters love each other.

1995 Cousins love each other.

1995 Wade sisters.

1995 Alexander sisters.

1995 Roy J and family.

1995 Paul Kendall family.

1995 Vickie's family.

1995 Family portait.

2004 Coffee is always ready.

2003 The First Alexander sisters.

2001 Some of our grandaughters.

2003 Some of the parents of our grandchildren..

Sometimes we go shopping in the antique and craft stores in Black Mountain and sometimes take a day to check out a nearby attraction. The Montreat park is within walking distace for the young people to play softball, volleyball, tennis or to go swimming. When the youth groups are in Montreat there are lessons in crafts and pottery making available, also.

2003 Gordon working with pottery.

2000 A day trip to the Smoky Mountains.

2000 Fun swimming hole in the Smoky Mts.

1987 Sliding Rock is popular.

2001 Rock hopping in the local creek.

2003 Hillside miniature golf. Don won.

2001 The winners in a scavenger hunt.

2001 All tuckered out.

2003 There were 38 here.

The kids also look forward to hiking up Lookout Mountain after dark even though there are bears in the area. Of course, that only makes it more exciting. They say that at the top it's a beautiful view of the stars and the lights of Asheville off in the distance. Most of the parents go on to bed while the kids are gone on this adventure but the grandmothers tend to wait until they are safely back.

2003 These 13 survived a late night hike up lookout Mtn.

2000 Sara and Kim got lost for a short time on this hike.

2000 A hike up Lookout Mountain to see the sunset.

Brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, parents, children, aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, cousins.....a mixture of all ages with a lot of love for each and every person. It's a fun and inexpensive vacation with plenty of good food to eat and someplace to sleep even if it is on a couch or on the floor. The cost per person has gone up from $5 to $15, still very affordable.

2000 The Wyants day to cook.

2004 Line up for dinner.

2004 Grandma and Grandson.

2004 Youngest one here.

2004 He outgrew his bed.