Give Thanks...To Meet The Next Generation

 Today, the family gathered together and broke bread. Ever since our family has grown, it's one of the favorite things that my wife and I do. We are truly blessed.

Today, our grandson was entertaining us all and it reminded me of some photos we took almost thirty years ago when our first son was a baby. In the picture below, he's older than our grandson, but they do share at least one common trait...

They're both cute as the dickens.

I don't really know how cute "the dickens" is, but it must be awfully cute.

It made me think...not everyone is lucky enough to meet the next generation. 

I live in a culture where getting married and having kids used to be the goal. I know it was for me. My parents wanted kids so badly they adopted three, me being the middle child. It makes me sad that my father was unable to meet his grandkids. He passed away when the oldest of us was only ten years old. My mom met all of her grandchildren, but none of the great-grand children. Oh, my mom would have loved spending time with the amazing little personalities.

We never know how much time we have, which is one of the things that makes life both fascinating and at times, terrifying. I've been blessed to have seen all our children grow to adulthood and now watching them get married and have children of their own. I'm eternally thankful for that.

Hopefully, we'll gather soon for another weekend meal. We'll break bread, share stories, take pictures of the incredibly cute (the dickens-level cute...) grandson, and experience yet again the blessing of being able to meet the next generation.

Give Thanks...Family Meals

 Tonight we got together for a family meal, something I've been fortunate enough to do all my life. Currently, almost my entire immediate family lives under our roof. Our oldest is married and lives in the county over the hill. There are times when he and his wife visit us and often we get to sit down at the family table for a meal.

It's just the best.

Over the past half year I've had the opportunity, the privilege, of spending time with family...funerals have that effect. I'm thankful for my family.

Earlier in my career I worked with people who had lost their jobs. My job was to determine if the government would be able to offer financial assistance. Many times, we had to turn them down. I remember several conversations I had with people who had no one in their lives--no family they could turn to for help. That's one of the things those who believe government can help everyone fail to understand. It can't, not every time for every person. I remember those conversations and I put myself in their shoes. What would I do if I lost my job and had no income to care for my children?

I'd turn to family.

Over the years we've done exactly that. I'm glad they were there. And I suspect in the future my family will turn to us for help, be it financial or emotional. I hope we can help the way help was offered to us.

Grandma brought a cheesecake she made for tonight's family meal. It was delicious. I'm thankful she lives so close and we can help each other. I'm also glad we could get together on a Sunday evening, sit around a table, eat, and chat about life.

It's just the best.