The Kitchen Table

This past weekend all our kids were down, it was nice to have them all together even if only for a day.  Three of them are out on their own and the thing I miss most is having family breakfasts and dinners together.  So I was blessed to have everyone around our table for Sunday breakfast and dinner.  For me there is something special about eating together, chatting and just enjoying a good meal and fellowship.

Oh I know, the family meal around the table wasn't always all cheery and wonderful.  I can remember the fights, the arguing, the complaints, the tears, the grumpy me but there was lots of goodness and laughter too.  It's the place where family devotions were read and sometimes reread because some of us just couldn't listen and pay attention.

Our kitchen table is battered and worn, it's got nail polish smears and nail remover/stain remover spots, a thrown steak knife gouge, scratches, water marks, paint smears, etc.  But it's the table where a lot of living has taken place.

It's the place where this family and the friends of this family have come together.

This weekend there were eight chairs around this table of ours, we have been blessed with a daughter-in-law and our PEI daughter's boyfriend and so this family has grown and will continue to grow and this kitchen table will continue to be a place where life happens.

Things to be thankful for...

734. A walk with my husband on a beautiful day

735. Tea with Sarah

736. Robin Mark worship concert

737. Country drive with Charissa

738. Lots of butterflies fluttering about in the Frink Centre

739. Beautiful evening light

740. The variety of birds this morning, bluejays, cardinals, robins, chick-a-dees, nuthatches and mourning doves

741. Phone call from Jocelyne, Lauren and Kierra

742. Grocery shopping with Charissa

743. Marriage

744. Sharing hearts

745. Second chances

746. Finished Jocelyne's sweater

Sarah modelled it for me.

747. Matt got a job

748. Being a light in a broken world

749. Pancakes for breakfast made by my husband

750. Spring rains

751. A nice day spent with Charissa

752. Stormy clouds with a tinge of pink

753. Good memories

754. Courage of my husband to step out and do something new

755. Beautiful clouds in the evening sky

756. A new day

757. Reading old letters written to me by my kids ~ I am blessed

758. Grocery shopping with Charissa

759. Sunshine streaming through my window

760. Good conversation with fellow believers

761. Matt has a job ~ I must be really excited for him because I've written this twice ;-)

762. Blessed in small group

763. The fellowship of believers

764. My mom ~ celebrating her 70th birthday

765. Kind words from a client

766. Beautiful morning doing chores

767. My kids are all home and their significant others

768. Walk on the boardwalk with our whole family

Some tricky walking to get over the flooded boardwalk.

769. Gorgeous night sky

770. Family breakfast with everyone

771. Encouraging words at church

772. Evening walk at Vanderwater

773. Card game with Jocelyne and Dan

774. My husband's love for our children

775. Sadie Jo and her mom & grandma over to visit the chickens and horses

776. Movie night

777. Beautiful morning sky

778. Road trip to Niagara Falls

Goofing around.

Jocelyne's classic angle shot.

 

The kids all went on the big ferris wheel.

This man was amazing at doing this sand art.

779. The majesty of the Falls

780. Fun in the Escape Room

781. My bed

782. Good conversation

783. Beautiful cloud filled sky

784. Seeing my girls together again hanging out for a few days

785. Great visit with Jocelyne and Dan, it was good to get to know him some more

786. Sarah always willing to do pictures with me

Yes some snow mid April, but it was kinda pretty.