Table Time

"The table looks so small," my daughter commented. Ya, true.

Tom and I had just removed the two leaves from the table. We were able to cozily (is that a word?)  seat twelve people around the table. Better to be squeezed together rather than use the extra card table.

Right?

Lots of laughing,eating, praying, game playing, teasing, reminiscing, and conversation took place around this table over the Christmas break.

Good memories. Good family time.

No wonder having table time together is an important family bonding time. 

New Years is a time for reflection and readjusting, I'm reminded of the importance of table time with my little (actually not so little anymore) gang, my extended family, and friends.

It always takes effort. But the the pay-off is...as you know...priceless!

I felt twinge of sadness while taking out the leaves as the number of people around the table began to decrease. (They were dropping like flies as my niece, Emma,  observed.)

But the thought of those precious moments warms my heart and makes me smile. And that sticks with me longer than the sweet sadness.

How do you carve out table time into your busy schedule? 

Practice hospitality. 

Romans 12:13

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A Full Sink, A Full Heart

My sink is full of dirty dishes. My dishwasher is full of clean ones. That's today. By the time this post goes live, my dishwasher won't need to run everyday and my sink will be empty.

I love having a houseful of kids and a kitchen that proves it.

I love seeing that pile of shoes by the door, discarded from the feet of my kids' friends.

I love hearing the showers run and the music blare.

I love taste tasting a new recipe with my daughters and determining what else we need to make it great.

I love saying, "What should we do today?"

I love listening to my son and husband talk about the latest Avalanche game.

I love watching my kids interact with each other. Laughing and teasing.

I love seeing the smile on my dog's face (yes, smile) when all his people are home.

I really love being a mom.

It has been a very warm Christmas.

With a heart that is bursting with gratefulness for family time together, Thank you, Jesus.

But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 

Luke 2:51b

 What memories do you hold in your heart? 

Readers,
This month has been dedicated to enlightenment. Forward thinking in a sense.How to handle possible conflicts with teachers, realizing kids (and parents) are not perfect, and hanging onto good memories while moving ahead in life. We understand kids aren't perfect- at home or in school. And life still goes on..perfectly imperfect.
Next month we will look at Spiritual Warfare and how that relates to parenting.
For today I'm sharing a short prayer written by my dad. His birthday is at the beginning of October and it seems fitting to close out September with some of his words.

Dear Jesus:

Thank you for giving us the gift of people who have...

...reflected your light,

...influenced our lives, and

... helped us in our journey.

Please grant us your grace so that we may walk in your way and be a witness for Thee.

Amen

******

......Rockman 

Miss you, Pops.

Have a Seat

This old couch has seen some good days. It was one of our first purchases after moving out of our newlywed town home and into our first single family house in Golden Valley, Minnesota. All four kids have been nursed and cuddled on this couch. It has endured spills and spit up. Its cushions have been used for sitting and for building forts.This sofa has moved with us from Minnesota to San Diego to Minnesota and finally to Colorado. 

Twenty-eight years of memories are wrapped up in this couch.

 But it is time. Today we are getting a new one! It feels like Christmas. I even sat on the stairs waiting for the delivery guys. The new couch has taken the old one's place. I have to say- I'm TOTALLY good with trading in the old with the new but I'll definitely hold on to the memories. Tom is having a little more trouble. I think it has more to do with, "Replacing a perfectly good piece of furniture" than sentiment. 

But of course we haven't completely let go. We are saving it- just in case one of our kids needs it. Who knows... maybe it will see another round of babies grow up. And why not..it is a perfectly good piece of furniture!

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast?" Isaiah 49:15a

What piece of furniture hold fond memories for you? Do you still have it?