day 20 family dinner

Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, I've been linking up with my friend Dawn and being thankful.

Today I'm thankful that we have family dinner.

Each Sunday, our family gets together at my Mom and Dad's house (or Nana and Pop Pop, as they are now called) and we have Sunday dinner together. This is usually after church, about 11:30am.

I'm thankful for family dinner because for a long time we didn't have family dinner. I was living 2000 miles away, and my sister and brother-in-law were in lots of different places, due to his being employed by the Air Force.

I'm thankful for family dinner because we all get to talk and hang out together. Today we talked about what we are going to do for Christmas: who's house to be at; when to get together; who to invite, etc.

I'm thankful for family dinner because I get to play with the nephews. Today I went into the bedroom with the little nephew (3 1/2 years old) and played with some blocks. We built a tower together and then knocked it down.

I'm thankful for family dinner because it is a great time to be together as a family and work together. Today I set the table, Dad made the pancakes, Brother-in-law made the poached eggs as well as doing most of the dishes, Sister and I got all the syrup and butter out, and filled the water glasses.

I'm thankful for family dinner because Mom's dining room table is the "train station" for all things that get passed around out family - some things departing, and some things arriving back.
Today I got a staple gun that I'm borrowing from Dad, Sister got a bag from me, as well as a check from Mom for some vitamins she had gotten, and Brother-in-law got some CDs. I always know that if there is anything on the table, it is my job to go look and see if any of it is for me.
Sometimes there is clothing that Mom found on sale. Sometimes there are random garage-sale finds. Sometimes there are articles that I would fine interesting. Sometimes there are books that I would enjoy reading. Sometimes there are books that I've loaned, and are now coming back to me. Sometimes not - once I loaned Mom a book, and the next weekend she put it in her garage sale. No, she didn't return it to me, she just put it out in the garage sale. Now I have to be careful to say if I want stuff back or not...

I'm grateful for all the things that make up family dinner, and how it makes our family closer.
Mostly I'm grateful for the "family" part of the family dinner, and that we all do it together.
K