Cardboard sign my oldest daughter made for her sister today. This is the meaning of our Sunday night dinners.

So, I had another post ready to go, but after this evening, I needed to write something else. I really wanted to write about something I’m grateful for: Sunday night dinners.

Each Sunday we have family dinners. This includes my sister, brother-in-law and their three awesome kids. I know how lucky I am to have them so close and to be able to enjoy this time with them each week. I’m grateful that my girls have the chance to spend time with their cousins in this way.  Really, growing up like brother and sisters.

Tonight was a great dinner.  We had special guests: my dad and his wife as well as our neighbors and their two boys (who are like family to me, read the Twilight Zone). We made dinner for 8 adults and 7 kids. It was a full house…full of noise, laughter, screaming, playing, conversation and just pure fun. My dad brought crafts to make with the kids, my sister brought cookies the kids to decorate after dinner (and wine!) and my neighbors brought delicious salad (and more wine!).

There is a bit of chaos that always ensues…lots of noise, running around, and of course, we don’t have a table large enough for 15 people, so we all ate dinner around the house. Everybody made their own plate and ate on their own time.

This is the perfect day to me. Spending time with people I love, laughing with them, catching up and recounting our week. I cannot think of a better way to end my week and I’m grateful for it.

This is the stuff we need to find and make time for each week.  We’ve been committed and consistent with our Sunday night dinners for more than four years now. Each week, I’m amazed at how much our kids grow, how much we have supported each other and just simply spent time together. It means we’ve had more than 160 Sunday night dinners (taking into consideration days we’ve been sick or out-of-town). Wow. I’m really grateful for that.

You may be thinking to yourself that doing things like this takes work. Yes, to some extent it does. But, once you make a commitment, it eventually becomes a habit until finally it is a piece of the fabric of your life.

I know I’m lucky our family lives close, but there are other ways you can make special moments like this happen with friends and family.

My point is just making the time and the commitment to change…to do something that is really good for your soul and the foundation of your family. Only you can decide what that is, but it starts with being present.

So, to my sister, my brother-in-law, my dad, my stepmom, my neighbors, their boys, my nephews, my niece, my girls and my husband: I love you SO much. Love! Love! Love! Love!