Cherished Memories..

.....as I've been going through pictures lately, it makes me think back to all those who have passed before us. Those who will be there with us in spirit at the reunion, but would love to be there in person. They are the reason we are all coming together, to reunite our family- and share in the love with one another and create new memories to be passed on from generation to generation. One day my Generations' children will be sitting around talking about how we all had this reunion way back many years ago and they wonder what some of our family members were like. And they will never know except to relive in our memories through the pictures that we have left behind. I can't think of a better time to begin creating new memories then at 26 years old. To many that doesn't seem "old" but I am definitely not getting younger and feel that making new memories is something that needs to happen. It was such a nice feeling when I found out that I have cousins from my generation, my same age, most that I've never met. I made it to 26 years old with never having met these people, yet we're family. I know families grow older, they move away from home, they go their separate ways. But we have to remember that it shouldn't always take time like these to bring a family close together. We shouldn't have to live life by only getting everyone together for a wedding or a funeral. We shouldn't have to wait to pick up the phone and call one another until there is a big event someone has planned and is requesting our presence at it.

....My family always says that I am the one who is going to follow in my Great Aunt Onnie's footsteps and be the glue who holds this family together. Surely I cannot do such a job on my own, but family is SO important, and we have such a huge family. As Jared told me earlier "We're kinda a big deal." We are.. we totally are.. we ARE a big deal, a big huge Serbian Family who has waited years and decades to come together and enjoy each others company. To me this is rather sad. Sad to know that there hasn't been a family reunion since the 70s, my dad was just a preschooler back then my Gram said when they had the last one... to know we have waited this long to bring us all together, is rather sad. My goal, infact my mission, is to not just walk out of that reunion and go back to my normal every day life, forgetting those cherished memories we've all made.. but to pick them up and carry them with me so that we all can continue to create new memories down the road. We dont need a yearly reunion to make this happen... I started making it happen just by planning a Saturday night with some "new" cousins to head out for drinks, so we can mingle and catch up on the years of our lives that we've missed out on oppourtunities to get to know one another sooner. I plan on making that a plan to see them when I am "home" in Pittsburgh and we are all available and free to see one another.

Let this be your mission too.. pick up the phone and call someone, make a lunch date, or just a simple call to see how they are doing.. it would probably bring a huge smile to their face. Lets create memories together that the future generations will live through with a smile when they look back on our pictures one day.

- Alyssa

Updates

Good evening family,
Hope you are all doing well tonight.

Over the past few days I have been getting many photos sent to me from both the past and present. I'd like to thank the Cheripka & Medvis family and the Gossic family for the pictures! Keep them coming. I'm going to be working on uploading some tonight for you all. I love looking back on all of them at all the memories we've made.

I'm going to be working on starting to create some photo books in the upcoming weeks as well. Id like to have one photo book per family.

As always if you'd like to join our group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Drakulicreunion/
Feel free to join and I will be sure to add you!

It seems I made some mistakes on the dish to pass list somehow, if you happen to not see your name on this list please email me at: drakulic_reunion@aol.com

Have a wonderful night everyone.

If I could turn back time.....

A look back at the family some past and some present. Keep them coming!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This & That

Good Morning family,

Hope this Sunday morning finds you all in good health and happiness. I have been so busy keeping my Drakulic Family group on Facebook updated, I haven't put some of those updates here, so I need to do that today. As well as adding some pictures that some family members have shared with me.

A few things I wanted to share with you all....

First off, the venue we are having the reunion at, has a huge field, swing set, and horse shoe pit. I personally don't have any horse shoes, but if any of you do, you are more than welcome to bring them. Also if you have a volley ball net, or any outside type activites, you are more than welcome to bring them. Just make sure you remember to take them home with you. :) Anything you'd like to bring for kids to do, by all means feel free. There are a bunch of little ones that will be there.

If anyone would still like to join the Facebook group, you are more than welcome: Drakulic Reunion. Just ask to join, and I will add you in with the rest of us. It has grown to 60 family members. We would love to find more.

I created a Shutterfly photo sharing site, for everyone to upload their pictures to after the reunion. Then anyone who is a member on the sharing site can order prints of any of the pictures on there. This easier than getting a photographer I feel . The address to see the photo sharing site is: Drakulicreunion.shutterfly.com nothing has been done with the site yet, but you do have to sign up for a membership I believe in order to view the site. Now, shutterfly is FREE and when you create an account you get 50 FREE 4x6 photo prints so be sure and sign up, you wont regret it. That means you can get 50 of your favorite reunion pictures printed for FREE!!!!!! And, all you pay is shipping, which is about $2-$3 ! Can't beat that!

Lastly, I'm thinking of doing a contest, for a small prize. My guest list is 233 people, I want everyone to make a guess at how many people total will be there-- the closest person will get a prize. :) I just thought this could be something fun we can do.

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

Hotel Accommodations

I put together a list of all the hotels in the area so you can check them out and decide where you'd like to stay if you're coming in from out of town. Please note that this does fall on Serbian 3 Day weekend and hotels fill up FAST. Our friend last year couldn't find a room in any of the local hotels for that weekend due to everyone coming in for Serbian Day so please make sure you get a head start on that maybe a bit before hand. I'm so excited to see you all. Feel free to email with questions. If you're a member of the facebook Drakulic group Ive already posted this info there. I have directions from all the hotels to the reunion venue which I will be getting to you with your invitations.

Xoxoxo
Alyssa

Oops!

Hope all of you had a great day today. I meant to post this last night but I didn't get a chance. I made an error on the dish to pass list and somehow left off the Drakulic's. (don't ask me how I managed to do that). But if you have the last name of Drakulic you are to bring a side dish to the reunion. Thank you :)

Have a great night everyone
-Alyssa

Dish to pass updated

Did you Know?

"Speaking Words of Wisdom, Let it Be.."

...I'm currently listening to the Beatles as I write this blog today. And the song Let it Be is stuck in my head, hence the title of this blog today.

I sat down to write this blog today with much excitement because of some family members I have had the luck of finding on Facebook to add to our group. Again, if you have a Facebook account and you'd like to be a part of my group to get all the updates and chat with us: just search Drakulic Family Reunion and you just have to request "join group" and I will approve you. We have went from 42 family members to 55 over night. It's quite amazing honestly. I love "meeting" new people even if it electronically until we all meet in person this summer. Please spread the word to family and friends. My goal is to get as many people as possible into my group or at least by email. It's so much easier to get the updates to you this way.

You can email me at anytime: drakulic_reunion@aol.com

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. And looking forward to seeing you all this summer :)

***stay tuned for upcoming hotel reservation information so you guys can get that taken care of. They fill up fast that weekend due to it being Serbian 3 Day weekend***

Looking for Email Contacts

Hey family! So these are people listed below that I haven't been able to find email information for and/or a facebook account, if you have any information on them please comment below and let me know, I'm finding that contacting everyone electroncially is so much easier than having to send everything in the mail for the Save the Dates!! Thank you!!!!

Butch Vracar
Bobby Vracar
Helen Blazevich
Dorothy Bielich
Linda Begandy
Eddie Cheripka
Jennifer Ewart
Jaclyn Cheripka
Jared Cheripka
Jimmy Cheripka
Chuck and Kristen Macchione
Lisa Whitmoyer
Kent Bucholz
Wayne Bucholz
Sandra Davic
or George Davic
Martha Janic
Ronnie Cheripka
Kim Pandolph
or Tuddy Pandolph
Debbie Medvis
or Bob Medvis
Rick or Mindy Medvis
Steven or Beth Medvis
Michael or Kathy Klebes
Brian or Amy medvis
Jimmy Cheripka
Jason Cheripka
Shannnon (not sure of last name) has a kid ozzie and a kid will
David Nuckels
Mark Nuckels
Laura Drakulic
Roberto Flores or Jennifer

**any information on the above would help!!! you may also tell them they can friend request me!!** Thank you. If you dont want to post here you can email me : drakulic_reunion@aol.com ~xoxo Alyssa

SAVE THE DATE!!