Monday Night Dinners

Taco Night.  Monday Night Dinners.  These terms mean a lot to our family and “family” who participated back when.  Recently we revived the practice and had some of our kids, theirs and their friends from junior high & beyond who were regulars.

Some things have changed.  The kids are in their twenties now; their friends have careers and college educations and fiancés or regular steadies.  Some have babies and children which only adds to the chaos and fun.  And Paul and I have classed up the menu a bit.  When Sydney arrived she said, “Walter said Taco Night so of course I couldn’t miss it.  Then he said steak and baked potatoes, and seemed surprised that I was confused!”  Who says Monday Taco Night can’t be on a Wednesday with prime beef steaks?  But the love, banter, all hands helping in the kitchen and the laughter haven’t changed.  Oh the laughter, music to my heart and balm for my soul. 

Laura was in town (oh happy day!) so she helped me prepare the dining room table.  A setting for everyone, this time totaling 12 since all the kids but baby Liam were old enough to sit at the big table.  Kaelyn and Liam were already with us, Kaelyn playing upstairs with Emily and Molly, Liam either in Aunt Lolly’s lap or Grandma’s arms.  Paul had the steaks marinating, potatoes in the oven and grill ready to fire up.  Amanda and Austin arrived first, and as she set about preparing her awesome spinach/walnut salad she and Laura caught up.  Austin, a “tree-man”, and Paul went immediately outside evaluating our tree situation. 

Pretty soon Walter and Eryn arrived, looking refreshed – amazing what a couple of kid-free hours can do.  Birthday-month boy was in full form, already asking about presents.  Another thing that doesn’t change :)  A knock at the door and Aunt Tracy was here.  She’s still and always the Cool Aunt – another thing that doesn’t change.  She and I were looking pretty festive in our Jamaica sundresses we’d worn out to dinner on our recent Sib Trip. 

I kept looking heavenward, my grateful heart overflowing as the volume inside my home rose to include kids laughing and squealing, dogs weaving in and out of people’s legs, girls exclaiming over the baby and taking turns holding that precious cuddle bug, and all in the male species busying themselves with platters of steaks and tending the grill.  Amanda joked, “How many guys does it take to grill steaks?  However many there are.”

At table, platters in place and glasses poured, Paul offered God a heartfelt prayer of gratitude in Jesus’ name for our blessings, abundance, means to have the meal and loved ones to share it with, and a request that our time together be special.  And it was.

Walt quickly started the witty repartee by asking about the oversized round saucer under his plate.  I said, “Those are chargers, of course.  You know, like we always had when you were growing up….”  Which made us all laugh because I wouldn’t have known a charger if it bit me back in the day.  He announced his ‘placemat’ would be the overflow for his food.  Sydney quietly asked if she might have a fork, setting off another round of jokes and laughter about my table setting attempt at elegance for this crew.  Conversation flowed as freely as the second servings; no silence at these meals and I loved it.  Liam at one end drooling as he worked in a tooth, Austin at the other beginning to clear the dishes that were officially empty, and Paul and I seated in-between, feeling as happy and contented as we looked.

During dessert I decided to give Walter his birthday present, the long awaited 6-string acoustic guitar he had hoped for. I loved seeing excitement and appreciation light up his face.  Amanda asked him to play something, so he entertained us with his Song in C, which was the only chord he knew at that moment.

You know it’s a good party when everyone shows up and stays later than they intended.  But even excellent evenings must end.  Hugs.  Collecting condiments and childrens’ items to be taken home.  Thank-yous and goodbyes and promises to do it again.  More hugs.  As I watched the last person drive away and returned to my already-cleaned kitchen, all I could think of was Psalm 16:6.  Whether we have tacos or tater-tots,

            “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.”

Journey through December - Overtime

The drive from Houston to Dallas was indeed interesting.  Fortunately the rain didn’t last long.  Although it came down boots and hats, almost everything in the truck bed was packed in plastic so nothing was damaged. The upside-down furniture was packed in so tight that the rain couldn’t even get to the table tops.  I looked on with relief as Paul unstrapped them when we got to Dallas and I saw the wood was fine.  After all the craigslist searching, it would have been quite the disappointment to arrive at the Ranch with damaged goods.

But it wasn’t time to go to the Ranch yet.  It was a different kind of Cowboy time.  Dallas Cowboys.  Football.  In Jerry’s House.  Sunday afternoon in a Suite with grand food, a fabulous view of the field and best of all our children and theirs with us.  ALL of our children, together under one roof, for the first time since our wedding day.  It was only December 16^th but Christmas had already come for me.  The older grandchildren were there too, as well as Sally and Jim, beloved sister and brother-in-law.  My heart was full and my eyes were brimming; what a grand day.

My biggest desire was to get a group picture of all of our children together.  As I watched everyone go in and out of the suite, going down to the field or out to explore the stadium, I began to think that would never happen.  How could I corral everyone one into one area at one time?  Fortunately, daughter-in-law Carri came to my rescue and managed to make it happen.  She’s a get-it-done kind of gal.  That photo still makes me smile today – Craig & Kerry, Chris & Dawn, Heather & Steve, Laura & Craig, Walter, John and Carri – and amazingly you can see all the faces and all of them are smiling.  Really. Big. Deal.

Another cool shot is the one of Grandpa with his kids and grands, down on the field.  His gorgeous red sweater stands out against the blue and white worn by the others, happiness written all over his face.  Not to mention the picture of the Robinson kids, in which Heather clearly stands out as the most beautiful :)

The fact that the game ended in an exciting overtime, Cowboys 27 – Steelers 24, was gravy.  I was raised on God, Dallas Cowboys and Dr. Pepper so it was truly a banner day for me.  It was after dark when the game ended, so we assembled in our various cars and threaded our way through the parking lot to the freeway.  By the time we got back to Sally & Jim’s where we had parked our Jed Clampitt truck, it was after 9:30.  We still had over an hour drive to the Ranch but neither of us wanted to wait.

This was the big week we had been waiting for, planning for over a year.  We gave our thanks and hugs to the Nations, then I hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.  Grandpa would get a short nap while I headed north east to Ben Wheeler.  No rain, no freeway, just open road on a clear night with stars in the sky and smiles in our hearts.  Soon we would be at the Ranch, and our children and grandchildren would see the results of months of effort, some of them for the first time.

The Happy Club

Just an afternoon at Emily’s & Molly’s house.  In town for work and staying the night with them,  I happily picked the girls up from school.  At home only to discover we have the wrong house key, an impromptu plan is born.

As they know, Grandma travels with snacks in the car.  Lots of snacks.  So we scrounge up some paper napkins, goldfish, sunflower seeds, rice cakes and bottled water and have ourselves a nice little Tea Party right there on the sidewalk with the ants and roly pollies – pinky up and everything. 

Pinky Up Tea Party is followed by a walk to the park.  Grandma also travels with a stroller so we put Molly in that.  She likes to be pushed fast.  Sister pushed and did a bit of careening around the corner. I wasn’t sure the umbrella stroller could go off-sidewalk but being a Jeep it held its own.

Molly loves dandelions so she selects one along the way and we pick it for her.  Emily says whoever gets to pick it gets to make the wishes.  I hold on to it so Molly can wish-blow the fluff into air when we get to the park. 

Swings are Molly’s first stop – anything with the capability to “go faster”.  She likes to swing really high, and she always says “go faster”, even if I’m already going faster than I want to.  Emily is more like me, she likes to swing lower but long and steady, and she’s got the nice long legs to kick out and giver her extra swinging power.

Emily leaves the swings to go make a club under the playscape. When I come up to join her, she introduces herself – “Hi, my name is Emily and this is a very happy Club.”  She created a general store where wood chips (conveniently used for playground cover) could be used to purchase pretend books.  I buy two and Molly buys one.

Mom and Dad call us on the cell phone, trying not to sound worried but wondering where we are.  We just needed an outing, I tell them, and assure them we’ll be back soon for supper.  A little more swinging, some sliding and playing chase and it’s time to head back.  Secured in her stroller, Molly immediately cries, “go faster” and Emily is only too happy to push her way faster than any Grandma probably should allow.  Besides, it’s good exercise for Grandma legs.

We make it home with no mishaps, arriving tired but with happy smiles and another happy memory.  Emily was right, it was a very happy Club.