Serve by Design

We are still replaying the highlights of our last Saturday evening gathering to watch our beloved Cardinals play the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium! It was an occasion full of various elements that included celebrating with Matt, our eldest son, on his fiftieth birthday! Twenty-one family members had come in from New Mexico, Texas, Saint Louis, and Illinois! "Want some Dippin' Dots, Honey?" The mid-afternoon celebration started at Ted Drews Frozen Custard with each of us ready to sample our favorites from their famous ice cream menu of shakes and concretes. As we approached the ordering windows, a light sprinkle or two of rain greeted us momentarily, but it only lasted a few minutes before the sun would shine brightly throughout the rest of the evening. Then, we made our way over to the stadium to check in at the gate, and receive the David Eckstein Bobblehead promotional giveaway. Those of us who were older were eager to get a hand on this commemorative memento that f...

Our family has been stressed coming and going these days since grandpa (my dad) has been in hospice at his nearby community hospital. His health has been failing since his 94 th birthday back in early December. It has become serious enough that our grown kids and their families decided to come in to see, be with, and encourage dad. They were determined to sit and share their affection with him while he was still aware and conversant. Klay, Eloise, Karter, and Danny Marc said, "I had to sit a different table. Too rough of a crowd for me!" 😏 The kids came from near and far. Our Texas son drove twelve straight hours and the New Mexico family purchased airfare that same day to fly in as well. Everyone gathered around dad on two occasions, and it was special to see the outpouring of their devotion. They had accumulated so many cherished memories over the years. Even though it was an exhausting trip for them, the kids and grands just couldn’t pass up what might be their last oppo...

The kitchen table was the center of conversation for our family during my growing up years. I have fond memories of my mother leading share times around that table at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This was also the setting where mom would engage neighbor friends with a good cup of coffee just before school each day. My after-school reporting came at the same place as mom wanted to know everything about my day. Customers, while waiting on their cars to be serviced at my dad's nearby shop, would also sit, sip their coffee, and visit around that same table. It became the center of our family’s “conversational universe!” Coffee and Conversation at Matt's! I know that many busy families have a hard time these days getting all their loved ones to sit down and eat a meal together. The pace of life and individual commitments seem to have encroached on these daily opportunities to be and do life together at a common table. It’s hard if not impossible to get everyone to take a few minute...