Tonight we had dinner, “all family of us” as Lydia used to say. We have had a lot of company, David and Paul have been gone and then our dining room is dark so we tend to eat outside which means at several tables. Tonight it was all of us. It was rainy and several of us had been sick. Torey had the strength to shop. I had the strength to cook and she mustered some more to set the table.

We had spaghetti with garlic bread and salad. Right before we ate Torey asked, “Should I make some garlic bread?”

“It’s in the oven.” I said. She gasped with pleasure.

At the table, Christopher was quiet and serene. This is one of his favorite meals so he was busy eating. The Legumes were both quite talkative, their constant chatter weaving over and through the conversations.

David mentioned it first, “It’s been a really long time since we were all together.”

We discussed all the reasons and agreed it was good to be around one table. Looking around at my brother-in-law, my sister, my neice, my daughter, my little girl, my husband and my son – the beauty of them – my heart filled with joy.

It was good to be in the blessing and for all of us to know it.

And then the men cleaned up.