30 Days of Thankfulness - #6 - family ties

My family. 

It's one of few things in life that I never have and never will take for granted. Even from very early in life, I knew that my family was special.

You see, for as long as I can remember, we have spent every Sunday at my Mammaw's house for a homecooked spread - a traditional southern meal of meat and three (or four), cornbread or biscuits, and a fruit pie. We eat off Mammaw's "good" Thanksgiving china and drink out of old fashioned pedestal glasses. If fruit is out of season, then somebody picks up an ice cream cake on their way back from church... doesn't everybody like a good ice cream cake?


Nobody eats and runs. We sit in the sunny living room and watch Sunday football or watch the little kids put on a show. 

In the mild months, we sit in the old wooden swing (whoever gets there first!) and everybody pulls up a chair to sit under the enormous oak trees.

We sit and talk and play with the little ones. We throw a football and work off those extra biscuits we shouldn't have eaten. The fellowship, the ice cream cake, the pseudo-Thanksgiving meal... each Sunday is treated as a celebration. We don't work to come up with a reason to get together, like birthday or holiday or special occasion.


Although I've always appreciated my family's Sunday tradition, moving to Nashville has opened my eyes even more. This is special. I know it doesn't happen this way for every family, whether due to distance or differences. Now that I can't be there every week, the time with my family around my grandmother's table, eating her good cooking, and laughing outside on the old swing... it does my soul and my spirit good. It rejuvenates me and reminds me how fortunate I am to be a part of this family. 


I am counting down the days till Sunday lunch on our next visit to Georgia. The table is always a little crowded, but I like it that way.

Thankful, 

Lauren