Once year, on Halloween, the world's most sincere pumpkin patch magically gives birth to the 'Great Pumpkin.' Great Pumpkin travels all over the world to people who celebrate Halloween and gives them small toys and candy; however, unlike Santa Clause, Great Pumpkin never rewards those who ask for gifts. The only other way you can be passed over by Great Pumpkin is to express unbelief in him or his abilities.
All information taken from Linus- the Halloween expert.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Election Standard
As a teacher you constantly ask your students to live up to a certain standard. Sometimes it is rather funny how that same standard is not practiced in the real world. I thought of this often this week as our Student Council held their elections.
Since I am the Student Council sponsor, it was up to me to coordinate the election and lay down the ground rules. I have a coworker that I grew up with whom helps me with student council- Miss. Godby- and also came up with some rules for the election. We used real life as our ‘don’t do this’ list.
Our candidates could not engage in any name calling, backbiting, poor sportsmanship, bribery, or ‘dirty’ campaigning. It was all very humorous to me because all of these qualities that were unacceptable in our school election are the norm in American politics. It is amazing how ‘un’ issues oriented our political spectrum really is. It seems like this is the standard more in this coming election than ever before.
At our ‘debate’, which was little more than a candidate giving a speech, students were only allowed to talk about themselves: what they would like to see happen and what they would like to do. All candidates who were running, because they were on stage with everyone else, were required to show good sportsmanship by clapping for each candidate, even if they were the opponent.
It really was amazing how un-real the whole process was.
The saddest part about all of this is that Americans seem to be getting more and more complacent as time goes on. When you look at the field of candidates running in the coming election you get really disheartened. Never in my political life have I been as clueless as to who I will vote for. I am one of those neo, ultraconservative, religious, right-winged republicans and I think all of the candidates who are running this time are an absolute joke. It is sad that in a country of 300 MILLION we cannot find anyone better suited to run our country than the few we have to choose from.
America is at a dangerous time. It is a time where, after generations of liberalism, she has lost her purpose-her vision. America doesn’t really know who she is anymore and too many are unwilling to stand up and remind her.
Our election went off without a hitch. As soon as the results were tallied, all the candidates met in the library to hear the news first. They patted each other on the back and clapped for the winners. It was anything but realistic. America could have learned a lot from our Student Council election.
Since I am the Student Council sponsor, it was up to me to coordinate the election and lay down the ground rules. I have a coworker that I grew up with whom helps me with student council- Miss. Godby- and also came up with some rules for the election. We used real life as our ‘don’t do this’ list.
Our candidates could not engage in any name calling, backbiting, poor sportsmanship, bribery, or ‘dirty’ campaigning. It was all very humorous to me because all of these qualities that were unacceptable in our school election are the norm in American politics. It is amazing how ‘un’ issues oriented our political spectrum really is. It seems like this is the standard more in this coming election than ever before.
At our ‘debate’, which was little more than a candidate giving a speech, students were only allowed to talk about themselves: what they would like to see happen and what they would like to do. All candidates who were running, because they were on stage with everyone else, were required to show good sportsmanship by clapping for each candidate, even if they were the opponent.
It really was amazing how un-real the whole process was.
The saddest part about all of this is that Americans seem to be getting more and more complacent as time goes on. When you look at the field of candidates running in the coming election you get really disheartened. Never in my political life have I been as clueless as to who I will vote for. I am one of those neo, ultraconservative, religious, right-winged republicans and I think all of the candidates who are running this time are an absolute joke. It is sad that in a country of 300 MILLION we cannot find anyone better suited to run our country than the few we have to choose from.
America is at a dangerous time. It is a time where, after generations of liberalism, she has lost her purpose-her vision. America doesn’t really know who she is anymore and too many are unwilling to stand up and remind her.
Our election went off without a hitch. As soon as the results were tallied, all the candidates met in the library to hear the news first. They patted each other on the back and clapped for the winners. It was anything but realistic. America could have learned a lot from our Student Council election.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
"The Baby"
Sidewalk ArtThursday, October 18, 2007
Dialogue Coleman Poll Results
The Dialogue is proud to bring you the first ever Dialogue Poll Analysis by our newest, and only other employee, Miss. Aprelle Coleman. Enjoy.
========================================
Official Analysis
Dialogue Poll #0024
========================================
Question:
How do you feel about hiring someone whose soul
purpose is to write and analyze polls?
Responses:
It is a bad idea............... 38%
It is a good idea.............. 30%
I don't know what I think 24%
about it.
I have no opinion........... 8%
Break Down of Data Concerning Gender
43% of voters were males
57% of voters were females
Break Down of Data Concerning Ethnicity
64% of voters were the Plain Americans
26% of voters were Hispanic Americans
8% of voters were African Americans
2% of voters were Other Americans
.5% of voters were Illegal Americans
Break Down of Data Concerning
Various Points of Interest
100% of voters were online
33% of voters voted from a work station
14% of voters voted in their under garments
Poll Closed at 9:00 pm Central Standard Time October 18, 2007
===================================
Author: Aprelle Coleman
Aprelle's Comments
I am so pleased to be working here at
The Dialogue. I feel that the first poll
was a success. This was not only a very strong poll,
but also one of our biggest. We had
more people vote in this poll than any so far.
I worked with a lot of hard data
to give you the best results possible.
Thanks to all of you who voted in
our poll. See you next time!
==================================
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A Refreshing Word
I know that our greatest gift is our salvation, but what a GREAT gift it is to be apart of the body of Christ.
This evening as I was walked to the car I walked over several fallen leaves. In my spirit I felt like fall myself. I don’t know if you have ever ‘felt’ like a season but I have. My life has been filled with a great deal of ‘stuff’ and many big choices. At times I find myself exhausted, feeling like I could sleep for a week.
I have felt like I am in a barren season- like I am in a winter/fall. There are times; however, when you feel as if you are continuously on the mountain- everything is going your way and life is wonderful. Many times I have stopped in the middle of my day and longed for the mountain top! Although I know I will be there again, I know all too well that I am not there now- and it hurts.
Bro. Elms has decided on Wednesday nights to start teaching, ‘In My Father’s House,’ a new convert Bible Study that basically covers the new life in living for God. His goal is so that all of our church will be on the ‘same page’, which I think is a great idea.
I took this class kind of as a ‘just because’ when I was in High School. Sis. Karla Holley and I were the only two in the class who were not new converts. I know she would agree with me that although we both had been raised in church, and heard it all our lives, it was not a waist of time.
Tonight the lesson was on the Word of God. All I can say is that as he preached/taught, my heart was filled. There is something so powerful about the Word of God. At several points I could literally feel my cup filling- I knew it was the Word.
It was also, fittingly so, one of those messages that might seem to the casual observer to be light hearted. You know what I mean- one of those messages where there just seems to be a lot of things to giggle or laugh at; the scripture slide messing up, mumbled words, church ‘family’ jokes. As he was finishing I thought about how it was such an important topic, yet it had all seemed so ‘fun.’
Why not?
After all, it is the Word of God. Isn’t God the one who put ‘laughter’ in our souls? Shouldn’t any discussion about His word be victorious, vibrant, and joyful? I think so- I think it only fitting. His Word is so wonderful! I thought of so many memories as he preached. One that came to mind instantly happened about three months before my mother died.
My mother seemed to be getting a little down, and whenever I would see her down it would tear me apart. One of the hardest things to be is when your parent- the one who is your hero, your strength- needs you to be strong and encouraging. Most of our life it is the other way around and it is so ‘unnatural’ and hard to find yourself at the other end of the table. Then again- maybe it is natural?
Nevertheless, my mother seemed like she was down, and it hurt me deeply. So in my prayer time one night, I took out my sword- I took out my Bible.
It seemed as if the Holy Ghost brought to my mind the story of Jesus, and how the angel was sent to minister to Him. I found it in my Bible and in the middle of my praying, I prayed that story. I warred with Heaven. I demanded that God give me and my family the same thing He had given Himself when He was on Earth- the ministry of an angel in the middle of the trial.
Boldness came over me and the power of God rushed into my den. I found myself weeping into the carpet, not being able to stand.
The next day I told my Mom about what I had prayed and how she needed to be expecting an ‘angel of ministry’ no matter what form it came in.
About a week later she told me that she believed God had sent her an angel. She said it was in the form of a sister in the church who was going through a struggle and needed some encouragement. My mother told me about how that sister had ‘cried’ on her shoulder and how my mother had encouraged her.
She said that in the process of encouraging this sister her own faith and spirit had been renewed and strengthened. God had sent an angel in what might seem like a very un-likely way for someone who themselves needed encouragement. He is God, and He alone knows what is best.
This is not the only time I have prayed the Word of God but it was certainly on my mind tonight and I wanted to share it. The Word is so powerful.
As I got out of the car and walked to the front door of the house after service I thought about this post. There were still leaves on the ground everywhere and I am still in a barren season- but even in barren places there are still pockets of life and rest.
Our planet is filled with plants and animals that thrive in such places and let’s not forget the amazing little wonder of the oasis. I think God allowed deserts to have them for multiple reasons- one being that even in the driest of times there are spots of refreshing and ‘laughter’ if we know where to find them.
Tonight I am thankful for the Word of God. God is good all the time…and all the time God is good!
This evening as I was walked to the car I walked over several fallen leaves. In my spirit I felt like fall myself. I don’t know if you have ever ‘felt’ like a season but I have. My life has been filled with a great deal of ‘stuff’ and many big choices. At times I find myself exhausted, feeling like I could sleep for a week.
I have felt like I am in a barren season- like I am in a winter/fall. There are times; however, when you feel as if you are continuously on the mountain- everything is going your way and life is wonderful. Many times I have stopped in the middle of my day and longed for the mountain top! Although I know I will be there again, I know all too well that I am not there now- and it hurts.
Bro. Elms has decided on Wednesday nights to start teaching, ‘In My Father’s House,’ a new convert Bible Study that basically covers the new life in living for God. His goal is so that all of our church will be on the ‘same page’, which I think is a great idea.
I took this class kind of as a ‘just because’ when I was in High School. Sis. Karla Holley and I were the only two in the class who were not new converts. I know she would agree with me that although we both had been raised in church, and heard it all our lives, it was not a waist of time.
Tonight the lesson was on the Word of God. All I can say is that as he preached/taught, my heart was filled. There is something so powerful about the Word of God. At several points I could literally feel my cup filling- I knew it was the Word.
It was also, fittingly so, one of those messages that might seem to the casual observer to be light hearted. You know what I mean- one of those messages where there just seems to be a lot of things to giggle or laugh at; the scripture slide messing up, mumbled words, church ‘family’ jokes. As he was finishing I thought about how it was such an important topic, yet it had all seemed so ‘fun.’
Why not?
After all, it is the Word of God. Isn’t God the one who put ‘laughter’ in our souls? Shouldn’t any discussion about His word be victorious, vibrant, and joyful? I think so- I think it only fitting. His Word is so wonderful! I thought of so many memories as he preached. One that came to mind instantly happened about three months before my mother died.
My mother seemed to be getting a little down, and whenever I would see her down it would tear me apart. One of the hardest things to be is when your parent- the one who is your hero, your strength- needs you to be strong and encouraging. Most of our life it is the other way around and it is so ‘unnatural’ and hard to find yourself at the other end of the table. Then again- maybe it is natural?
Nevertheless, my mother seemed like she was down, and it hurt me deeply. So in my prayer time one night, I took out my sword- I took out my Bible.
It seemed as if the Holy Ghost brought to my mind the story of Jesus, and how the angel was sent to minister to Him. I found it in my Bible and in the middle of my praying, I prayed that story. I warred with Heaven. I demanded that God give me and my family the same thing He had given Himself when He was on Earth- the ministry of an angel in the middle of the trial.
Boldness came over me and the power of God rushed into my den. I found myself weeping into the carpet, not being able to stand.
The next day I told my Mom about what I had prayed and how she needed to be expecting an ‘angel of ministry’ no matter what form it came in.
About a week later she told me that she believed God had sent her an angel. She said it was in the form of a sister in the church who was going through a struggle and needed some encouragement. My mother told me about how that sister had ‘cried’ on her shoulder and how my mother had encouraged her.
She said that in the process of encouraging this sister her own faith and spirit had been renewed and strengthened. God had sent an angel in what might seem like a very un-likely way for someone who themselves needed encouragement. He is God, and He alone knows what is best.
This is not the only time I have prayed the Word of God but it was certainly on my mind tonight and I wanted to share it. The Word is so powerful.
As I got out of the car and walked to the front door of the house after service I thought about this post. There were still leaves on the ground everywhere and I am still in a barren season- but even in barren places there are still pockets of life and rest.
Our planet is filled with plants and animals that thrive in such places and let’s not forget the amazing little wonder of the oasis. I think God allowed deserts to have them for multiple reasons- one being that even in the driest of times there are spots of refreshing and ‘laughter’ if we know where to find them.
Tonight I am thankful for the Word of God. God is good all the time…and all the time God is good!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A Stunning Success
After two days The Dialogue has to declare Miss Aprelle Coleman’s employment 'a smashing success.' As of today 43 people have voted in our new ‘Dialogue-Coleman’ Poll. Not only is this number a record for our polling- and only after two days- but our hits have also jumped to over ten thousand. (Our analyst, Miss Coleman, predicted in a communication received today that this is due directly to her employment...WOW!)
As stated in a previous post Miss Coleman will also be providing our readers with detailed analysis of our polls. Who knows what that will entail? All we can say right now is how impressed we are.
Miss Coleman, who works from her office in Houston, will be making a few trips up to this part of the state to discuss other important issues here at The Dialogue. We hope you are enjoying her work, and can’t wait for Friday’s debriefing!
As stated in a previous post Miss Coleman will also be providing our readers with detailed analysis of our polls. Who knows what that will entail? All we can say right now is how impressed we are.
Miss Coleman, who works from her office in Houston, will be making a few trips up to this part of the state to discuss other important issues here at The Dialogue. We hope you are enjoying her work, and can’t wait for Friday’s debriefing!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Who He Is
I think a lot of times we really have no idea what we are saying when we say things like, ‘God is a healer’, ‘God can meet your need’, etc. Many times we make these blanket statements as if the things we claim God can do, He does as part of His list of job requirements for being God. When in reality it is more about Him than it is what He can do.
God can provide for your need; however, He IS God and therefore He IS a need provider. It is not so much that He meets needs as much as it is a part of His nature. He is God and one of His ‘characteristics’ are that He is a provider of needs. It is part of who He is.
God can heal; however, He IS God and therefore He IS a healer. Again, it is not so much that one of His jobs is healing people as much as it is a part of His nature. He is a healer. It is who He is.
You might think that this is a somewhat mute point- I disagree wholeheartedly.
When we lower God’s traits, His healing, providing, peace, holiness, to merely things He can do we bring the focus on the action and not the one who causes the action. God can heal, but what if he doesn’t? He can provide, but what if He doesn’t?
If the focus is on the action of healing, providing, and delivering, what happens when those things do not happen? The natural thing is to question why He didn’t. If He can do them, and if He is God, why didn’t He? We question God, and at times can become shaken. If all these things are simply things He CAN do- why not?
Let’s change the focus.
If the focus is on who God is, that He IS a healer, provider, and deliverer, everything changes. What happens when there is no healing, providing, delivering, or peace in the storm? Now our situations have no bearing on our view of God. Any questions we have are all answered by our knowledge in the fact that He IS.
Just because a need you had may not have been met does not make Him any less of a provider. Any question you have as to why it might not have been met is now answered in the knowledge that He IS a provider, and in some way, perhaps in a way you may not even comprehend, He IS providing because that is who He IS.
It is amazing that God referred to Himself as, ‘I AM.’ WOW! That one statement really says it all in more ways that I can even began to comprehend. He IS.
God can provide for your need; however, He IS God and therefore He IS a need provider. It is not so much that He meets needs as much as it is a part of His nature. He is God and one of His ‘characteristics’ are that He is a provider of needs. It is part of who He is.
God can heal; however, He IS God and therefore He IS a healer. Again, it is not so much that one of His jobs is healing people as much as it is a part of His nature. He is a healer. It is who He is.
You might think that this is a somewhat mute point- I disagree wholeheartedly.
When we lower God’s traits, His healing, providing, peace, holiness, to merely things He can do we bring the focus on the action and not the one who causes the action. God can heal, but what if he doesn’t? He can provide, but what if He doesn’t?
If the focus is on the action of healing, providing, and delivering, what happens when those things do not happen? The natural thing is to question why He didn’t. If He can do them, and if He is God, why didn’t He? We question God, and at times can become shaken. If all these things are simply things He CAN do- why not?
Let’s change the focus.
If the focus is on who God is, that He IS a healer, provider, and deliverer, everything changes. What happens when there is no healing, providing, delivering, or peace in the storm? Now our situations have no bearing on our view of God. Any questions we have are all answered by our knowledge in the fact that He IS.
Just because a need you had may not have been met does not make Him any less of a provider. Any question you have as to why it might not have been met is now answered in the knowledge that He IS a provider, and in some way, perhaps in a way you may not even comprehend, He IS providing because that is who He IS.
It is amazing that God referred to Himself as, ‘I AM.’ WOW! That one statement really says it all in more ways that I can even began to comprehend. He IS.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Miss. Aprelle Coleman
From the very beginning of The Dialogue our poll has always been an exciting feature of the site. Many of our readers look forward to viewing and being a part of our poll. From readers response, it has come to our attention that our Dialogue Poll has been weak and in need of a pick-me up.
Over the course of this past summer some of our polls have become stagnant and irrelevant or lacking the punch to engage our readers. In response to this need, on October 15, 2007, The Dialogue will welcome, via the internet, our new Poll Analyst- Miss. Aprelle (APE – RELL) Coleman (COLE – MAN).
Having graduated in the top five percent of her class from the University of Houston, with a Bachelor in Applied Business, Miss Coleman comes highly recommended to The Dialogue. Miss Coleman’s emphasis while seeking her degree was in Competent Poll Analysis and Public Communication Models.
Miss. Coleman, being of Pacific-Islander descent, also brings a vibrant new spirit of ‘global community’ to The Dialogue. Although she resides in Houston, her family currently resides in El Paso, Texas where her father retired from the United States Air Force after being stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Miss. Coleman chose the University of Houston for its business program.
Miss. Coleman proclaims herself to be an avid fan of soccer and enjoys white water rafting on vacations. She is looking forward to reinvigorating our poll and generating excitement among our readers.
It is with great pride that The Dialogue welcome Miss. Coleman, and we look forward to a great working relationship between her and our readers.
Over the course of this past summer some of our polls have become stagnant and irrelevant or lacking the punch to engage our readers. In response to this need, on October 15, 2007, The Dialogue will welcome, via the internet, our new Poll Analyst- Miss. Aprelle (APE – RELL) Coleman (COLE – MAN).
Having graduated in the top five percent of her class from the University of Houston, with a Bachelor in Applied Business, Miss Coleman comes highly recommended to The Dialogue. Miss Coleman’s emphasis while seeking her degree was in Competent Poll Analysis and Public Communication Models.
Miss. Coleman, being of Pacific-Islander descent, also brings a vibrant new spirit of ‘global community’ to The Dialogue. Although she resides in Houston, her family currently resides in El Paso, Texas where her father retired from the United States Air Force after being stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Miss. Coleman chose the University of Houston for its business program.
Miss. Coleman proclaims herself to be an avid fan of soccer and enjoys white water rafting on vacations. She is looking forward to reinvigorating our poll and generating excitement among our readers.
It is with great pride that The Dialogue welcome Miss. Coleman, and we look forward to a great working relationship between her and our readers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A Good Scary Story
Although Halloween is not my favorite time of year- it is certainly one that I enjoy. The whole idea of dressing up in costumes, passing out candy, and scary stories makes the kid in me smile.
I love a good scary story. Not a horror story- but a good freaky mind job. Something that makes you ‘jump’ at the end and gives you goose bumps. One of my 'freaky' authors is Edgar Allen Poe. I love Poe. My favorite short story of his is The Cask of Amontillado.
In the story one man is buried alive by another and he doesn’t even know it is happening. The whole rhyme and tone of the story is freaky. It gives you chills. For all of its weirdness, it is not my favorite scary story. My favorite is entitled And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
I remember reading her book and literally jumping out of my chair at one point because of the suspense on the pages. I finished that book with my back up against the wall looking toward the door! Needless to say, I really get into books when I read them.
So, if you are looking for a good suspenseful book to read this October, I recommend And Then There Were None. You will be turning pages faster than you can read them and in the end you still wont have a clue as to ‘who did it’!
I love a good scary story. Not a horror story- but a good freaky mind job. Something that makes you ‘jump’ at the end and gives you goose bumps. One of my 'freaky' authors is Edgar Allen Poe. I love Poe. My favorite short story of his is The Cask of Amontillado.
In the story one man is buried alive by another and he doesn’t even know it is happening. The whole rhyme and tone of the story is freaky. It gives you chills. For all of its weirdness, it is not my favorite scary story. My favorite is entitled And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
I remember reading her book and literally jumping out of my chair at one point because of the suspense on the pages. I finished that book with my back up against the wall looking toward the door! Needless to say, I really get into books when I read them.
So, if you are looking for a good suspenseful book to read this October, I recommend And Then There Were None. You will be turning pages faster than you can read them and in the end you still wont have a clue as to ‘who did it’!
Monday, October 01, 2007
A Dinner Event
Although when I was young my immediate family was not large, both of my parents came from large families and thus had ‘large’ family mindsets. This was most evident at dinner. To the Ouellette’s and the Tiffany’s, dinner is an event.
I can remember being squished around the small kitchen table eating as a family, or all sitting at the dinning room table eating and talking. I never remember my brother and I being too young for us to eat ‘as a family.’
As I got older eating as a family became harder and harder. Work schedules, school, and activities all pushed for our time and our ‘as a family’ nights became less and less. Once David and Brandon arrived, my parent’s determination to eat as a family was renewed with great vigor.
Did we always eat as a family? No; however, the times we didn’t were far and few. I have tried very hard to have dinner ‘as a family’ just about every evening since my Mom has passed. It is a gift and a tradition that I cannot afford to let go. Too many families do not eat together, and if they do it is not ‘an event.’
Everyone in our family had a job. Everyone in our family participated in someway or another. Seldom was it just Mom in the kitchen making dinner for everyone. Setting the table, ‘icing the glasses’, or even helping with one of the sides were always jobs that were given out to each member of the family. Everyone participated- then everyone ate.
As we grew older, Jason and I took on more ‘important’ jobs with dinner. Monday’s were my Dad’s night to cook and I followed on Tuesday. Wednesday was a leftover night or a night for Mom. Thursday’s went to Jason and Friday through Sunday went to back to Mom. No matter whose job it was to cook- everyone still had things to do.
Tonight I am happy and sad. My emotions are truly mixed. I don’t know if I should cry, or if I should smile. I am choosing to smile- even if a small tear slides out!
Two of my Dad’s brother’s are visiting from New York. One of my Aunts had off from work today so we planned dinner this evening. It was like I remember. We had apricot chicken, fresh yellow squash, asparagus, homemade biscuits, pesto alfredo, tea- sweet and un, and chocolate cake for dissert. Everyone had a job- and we all ate!
The meal lasted almost two hours while we sat at the table talking and laughing not even concerned about the dishes. When we finally decided it was getting time to leave we all cleaned up and put things away. In all of my attempts to eat ‘as a family’, I have sure missed eating as a family.
At some point this week gather your family together and have a dinner event. Give everyone a job…don’t just leave the work up to one person. Get everyone involved. Then sit down and enjoy each other’s company with stories, memories, and laughter. Let the dishes sit for just a while. When it’s finally over, get everyone involved in cleaning. Make a memory.
I can remember being squished around the small kitchen table eating as a family, or all sitting at the dinning room table eating and talking. I never remember my brother and I being too young for us to eat ‘as a family.’
As I got older eating as a family became harder and harder. Work schedules, school, and activities all pushed for our time and our ‘as a family’ nights became less and less. Once David and Brandon arrived, my parent’s determination to eat as a family was renewed with great vigor.
Did we always eat as a family? No; however, the times we didn’t were far and few. I have tried very hard to have dinner ‘as a family’ just about every evening since my Mom has passed. It is a gift and a tradition that I cannot afford to let go. Too many families do not eat together, and if they do it is not ‘an event.’
Everyone in our family had a job. Everyone in our family participated in someway or another. Seldom was it just Mom in the kitchen making dinner for everyone. Setting the table, ‘icing the glasses’, or even helping with one of the sides were always jobs that were given out to each member of the family. Everyone participated- then everyone ate.
As we grew older, Jason and I took on more ‘important’ jobs with dinner. Monday’s were my Dad’s night to cook and I followed on Tuesday. Wednesday was a leftover night or a night for Mom. Thursday’s went to Jason and Friday through Sunday went to back to Mom. No matter whose job it was to cook- everyone still had things to do.
Tonight I am happy and sad. My emotions are truly mixed. I don’t know if I should cry, or if I should smile. I am choosing to smile- even if a small tear slides out!
Two of my Dad’s brother’s are visiting from New York. One of my Aunts had off from work today so we planned dinner this evening. It was like I remember. We had apricot chicken, fresh yellow squash, asparagus, homemade biscuits, pesto alfredo, tea- sweet and un, and chocolate cake for dissert. Everyone had a job- and we all ate!
The meal lasted almost two hours while we sat at the table talking and laughing not even concerned about the dishes. When we finally decided it was getting time to leave we all cleaned up and put things away. In all of my attempts to eat ‘as a family’, I have sure missed eating as a family.
At some point this week gather your family together and have a dinner event. Give everyone a job…don’t just leave the work up to one person. Get everyone involved. Then sit down and enjoy each other’s company with stories, memories, and laughter. Let the dishes sit for just a while. When it’s finally over, get everyone involved in cleaning. Make a memory.
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