There’s always room at the family table… a celebration

As I join fellow bloggers to Celebrate this Week, I want to celebrate the table where our family has shared not only meals but our hopes and dreams for the past forty years.

When the time came to empty our childhood home, my brothers, sister, and I each chose something special to keep. The only thing I really wanted was the family table which was the centerpiece of my childhood memories.

I’m not exactly sure where my parents found this heavy oak trestle table which includes 2 benches and 2 captain’s chairs but I do know that their kitchen was designed to fit this table. Years of meals have been shared as we gathered together around it. Friends were always welcome and we managed to squeeze in additional guests. My father sat at the far end, manning the toaster and reading the Los Angeles Times sport section aloud each morning. Dinner was always good, but it was the lively discussions that made meals special.  My mother was a stickler for proper manners. Food was to be passed to the right and short stopping was not permitted. We all thought this was hilarious and we took turns asking the person to the right to pass something and it had to travel all the way around the table before the originator could serve him or herself. The table also served as a homework center, craft table, and place to play card and board games.

When my husband and I remodeled our home, the kitchen was designed to fit this table. We gather around it daily and friends are always welcome. Often we actually can’t squeeze in another person so we add an extra table to the end. Sundays are special and we hold dear the tradition to gather together for dinner. When our fourth child was born, we started family meetings to share what happened during the previous week and plan for the week ahead. This was the only way I could keep life organized with my teaching schedule, my husband’s long work hours, and the children’s many sports, school, and 4H activities. The table has been the gathering spot for most of our family celebrations. Our family continues to grow and we continue to gather around this table, hold meetings, and make more memories.

Lauren used the table to make seating charts for her wedding to Jared.

Most of the family home for dinner.

 

Good news – my nephew Alex, his wife Lokilani, and Amos!!!

 

More good news – my daughter Mee Mee and Paul made an announcement:

I want to thank Ruth Ayers at Ruth Ayers Writes for creating the weekly celebration blog links. Please visit her blog to see what she and others are celebrating.