"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Today is my daddy's birthday.  And every year since his passing, I have thought about him on this day in a special way.  At first, April 19th brought sadness.  But as time has passed, that sorrow has changed to sweet memories, and overwhelming gratitude for that life that began on April 19, 1935 - a life that has been the greatest influence on my own, and one that overshadowed, loved, guided, and blessed my life for my first 37 years. 

As I think of my daddy today, the picture to the right is how I remember him.  This photo was the last one ever taken of him - a quick snapshot that seemingly caught him by surprise, from a family reunion just a few months before his death.  He was 68 years old when he passed suddenly and unexpectedly from this life, so he is forever 68 in my mind.  But today, he would be 80 years old.  As I think about that I wonder . . . what would he look like now?  How would his health be?  Would he still have that sharp, intelligent mind?  And would his fascination with nature, space, history and books still be as vibrant?  Would he still be gardening, woodworking, fishing, and hunting?

Forever 68.  And though in many ways, it seems like he hasn't been gone for that long, a lot has happened in the ensuing 12 years.  When that tragic accident occurred in 2003, our girls had just turned 13, and Caleb was 10.  Now, the girls are 24.  Both have graduated from college, Becca is working on her 2nd degree, and Sarah is married with a baby on the way.  Caleb is 22, and will graduate in a few weeks from Texas A&M, and is looking for his first "big boy" job.  That's a lot of time and living!

As anyone who has lost someone special knows, I think of my daddy most during those big moments of life.  I think of how proud he would be of his grandchildren, and all they've accomplished.  Mostly he would be proud of their faithfulness to God.  I thought of him when Sarah told us she was pregnant, and imagined how excited he would be to become a great-grandfather.  He would've been a great one indeed, because he was a wonderful Papa.  And I have no doubt he will be in my thoughts in a few weeks when our family gathers to watch Caleb walk the stage and receive his Bachelor's degree.

I also thought of him a lot last weekend.  Jeff and I went out to dinner Sunday evening after worship services with some life-long friends of mine - - friends who knew and loved my dad for almost as many years as I did.  While discussing some events of that day, these friends said, "Your dad would be really proud of y'all."  That meant a lot, because I always wanted to make him proud.  I still do.  And it touched me to know that Jon and Betty thought of him in that way.

So today, on what would've been his 80th birthday, I am thankful, and the memories make me smile. I'm thankful that on April 19, 1935 a baby boy was born in a little frame house in Kilgore, Texas to Clifford and Miriam Meadows. Thankful that I was blessed with the best I could've ever hoped for in a father - a man who loved God above all else, and led his family to do the same, and I am forever appreciative of all I learned from him.  Thankful that I had him for 37 years - I know many who have not enjoyed that much time with their parents.  Grateful that my children have their own cherished memories of their Papa, and thankful as well for sweet friends who remember him, and continue to share their memories and thoughts about him.  But I am most thankful to my Heavenly Father who provided a way of salvation, and that blessed hope of being reunited with all of the faithful one day in eternity.  We will have a lot of catching up to do.

May 1994
One of my favorite places to be - the backyard swing with my daddy

"Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes." ~Gloria Naylor

"It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother — that's why the world calls her grandmother." ~Author Unknown

January 31st was a special day.  Of course, any day that finds the five people I love most in this world in the same place is special, but on this particular day, we had all gathered to celebrate Caleb's birthday a few days early - a fun birthday celebration for an exceptional boy!  However, as we gathered that day from four different locations, I had no idea just how distinctly memorable that day was about to become!

We met up at Caleb's apartment, and from there we went to watch a young friend play in a high school soccer game.  After that, we went out to eat lunch.  As always, the conversation flowed, laughter and warmth were palpable, and it was so good to share this time and space with my precious family!

After lunch, we went to Caleb's apartment to share our gifts with him.  I sat next to Caleb on the couch as Sarah handed him a gift bag from her and Ryan, with the instruction to open it last.  So, when the time came, Caleb took that last gift, reached into the bag, and pulled out a mug.  As he silently read the words written on it, his mouth dropped open, and he began to scream (as only Caleb can).  Since I was sitting beside him, I saw it next - the words on the mug simply said, "UNCLE CALEB - <3 Baby Renz"  And instantly, I knew.  It didn't take long for everyone else to figure it out, and the next few minutes were a blur of screams and tears and hugs and more tears, (with Caleb's roommate, Cody, watching us all from the couch, thinking we were crazy!) as our family rejoiced over the news that in late September, a new little life will enter this world - Baby Renz.

Jeff and I got mugs, too - Sarah put "Grandpa" & "Grandma" on them, because she didn't know at that point what the baby will call us - we have since decided on "Pappy" and "Mimi."

Just two days after we received this joyous news, Sarah and Ryan visited her obstetrician, and I received this via text message . . . The first picture of my first grandchild . . . and my tears flowed again.  (With twins on both sides of the family, I think Sarah was crying tears of relief that there is only ONE baby in there!)

And now - FINALLY - after more than five LONG weeks of secrecy, we've been given permission to share the wonderful news that in late September, Ryan and Sarah are having a baby!  As I write this, Baby Renz is about the size of a fig, and almost fully formed.  According to babycenter.com, this little one's hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under the gums, and some of the bones are beginning to harden.  Baby Renz is already busy kicking and stretching. Truly, this child is "fearfully and wonderfully made."  And loved.  So very much loved...

I've written here before about the love of a mother for a child, and how every mother knows what an overwhelming and indescribable love that truly is.  And I've heard so many people say, "Wait until you have grandchildren!"  I'm just now beginning to grasp a small inkling of what they mean. 

My oldest baby is having a baby.  She now knows by experience exactly how I felt when I first saw the plus sign on that stick, and the unspeakable joy (and fear) the first time I saw her little heartbeat on an ultrasound image.  And soon she'll know - really know - how it feels to sense your baby move inside of you; how overwhelmingly indescribable it is to hold your baby for the first time; how you can love that little person so much that it literally hurts; and how it will change her life forever, as her heart will soon be walking around outside of her body in the form of this child.  I am so excited for her to have those ineffable realities, and to finally know by experience just how deeply and passionately I love her - - because she will have that same love for her child.  She already does.

So to this yet unnamed child, I will simply say you are so loved and blessed already!  You will be born into a home where God is honored first.  You have a daddy who loves and cherishes your mommy, and who will train, teach, and lead you to know your Heavenly Father.  You also have a mommy who loves your daddy, and who will be committed to doing the very best for you in every area of life - she's already given up coffee for you!  She will nurture, love, and teach you daily as you grow to love God, and to serve others, and I'm also quite sure that she will teach you two languages simultaneously.  I have no doubt that you will have the best parents ever.  And you are also already loved so much by your extended family on both sides - the "first" on our side!  The reaction of each of us to the news of a new baby in our family spoke volumes of the love of these people - my family - for each other, and for you!  And on the Renz side, you will be welcomed by loving and experienced grandparents, an aunt and uncle who know all about babies, and four fun cousins to play with.  How blessed you are!

I sustain many relationships in this life that I hold dear.  It is a blessing to be a child of God, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a niece, a cousin, and a friend - I treasure each and every one of those relationships more than words can say.  But now, . . . NOW - I get to be a Mimi.  Even typing that word makes me smile.  I better get busy on that blanket I am cross-stitching - September will be here before you know it - - and it can't come soon enough!

The circle of life . . .
Rocking and singing to Sarah - January 1991

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies". ~Rudy Giuliani

"Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." ~R.C. Sproul

I talked to Jeff this morning.  It was Friday at 10:00 a.m. here in little Whitehouse, Texas, and my day was just beginning.  But he's already lived most of his Friday - it was 9:30 pm where he is in India, and he was wrapping up his day, preparing for bed.  Thinking about that staggers my mind.  It gives a tangibility to the great size of this world we live in.  Jeff is on the other side of the world, and that seems very, VERY far away.

But as BIG as this earth feels to me right now, consider this . . . you can go to this website (disregarding the evolutionary commentary) and see visual comparisons of the relative smallness of this planet on which we live to the rest of the universe.  Seeing things like that makes me realize how small I am in the big scheme of things.

Not only does the relatively small size of the earth cause me to feel a bit insignificant, but think about the magnificent number of people on this planet.  By most estimates, I am one of over seven billion people in this world.  To help give some perspective on how BIG seven billion really is, if I decided to count aloud every number between six billion and seven billion, it would take me 30 years!  Also, if you have a thimble that holds two milliliters of water, seven billion of those would fill at least five Olympic size swimming pools.  That number is staggering, and it makes me feel small.  It also makes those people who glory in having thousands of Facebook friends seem not quite so popular after all!

But, guess what?  No matter how small I may feel in relation to the universe, the God who created and sustains it all knows my name!  When Moses interceded for the Israelites after they had fallen into idolatry, God told Moses in Exodus 33:17, "...for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name."  That concept continues throughout the Bible.  Nahum 1:7 says, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him."  Psalm 139 gives great assurance that God knows and sees everything about my life - He even "formed my inward parts" as He "knitted me together in my mother's womb."  As Jesus described His relationship with us as the good Shepherd in John 10, He said, "I know my own..."  What a marvelous thought!

Last night in our ladies' Bible study, we talked about the sin of pride, and how we need to reach a "spiritual equilibrium" as we consider ourselves in relation to God and this world.  As I look at the world - the expanse of the universe, and the billions of people who dwell here - I see myself as small, finite, dependent, limited in intelligence and ability, prone to sin, and soon to die and face God's judgment (Heb. 9:27).  However, I am also God's child - I was created by Him, am loved and redeemed by His grace, and I have been gifted by Him with certain unique abilities, resources, and advantages, which are to be used for His glory.

So when I am feeling far removed from the one I love most in this world, or those times I might be feeling small and insignificant, I will remember this - God is my Father.  I am His child.  He knows my name.

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." ~St. Augustine

“Don't gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.” ~Bob Marley

Recently while vacationing with my family in Colorado, I wore thick gloves, and kept my hands in my pockets a lot.  Such is necessary when the temperature is two degrees below zero!  On one particularly snowy, blustery, cold day, I pulled off my gloves in the car, and noticed something was missing.  While everyone else in my family proudly wears an Aggie ring on their right hand, my ring finger usually bears something equally special to me – my mother’s ring. 

About twelve years ago, my family decided to get a mother’s ring for me for Mother’s Day, and they included me in that endeavor.  I remember how all five of us went to the jewelry store, and how Jeff and the kids helped me pick out the perfect ring.  We decided to make it a family ring instead of just a mother’s ring by including all five of our birthstones.  They also helped me place the stones – three sapphires for Jeff and the girls’ September birthdays, an aquamarine for my March birthday, and a single amethyst for Caleb’s February date.  I love that ring.  Not for the gold or the precious stones, but for what it represents – five people, knit together through blood and a lot of love.  Those three sapphires and the amethyst represent the people I love most in this world.  Wearing it helps me remember how greatly blessed I am to be the wife and mother – the aquamarine stone – in this family. 

But that day in Colorado, as I pulled my hand out of my pocket, I noticed that the sapphire on one end of the ring – Jeff’s stone – was gone.  One of the prongs had broken off.  The stone itself was very small, and I figured it was gone forever, but I decided it would be worth the effort to explore my pocket thoroughly anyway – and to my great surprise and joy, there in the bottom corner of my pocket, I felt the small bump of that precious stone.

When we returned home, I took my ring and the misplaced stone to our local jeweler to have it repaired.  And in the course of my conversation with the jeweler, she strongly recommended that I also allow them to replace the prongs of my engagement ring which hold a solitary diamond.  I have worn that ring every single day for the last 28 years, and the prongs were becoming quite fatigued.  To me, it was worth the extra money to have that ring repaired as well.  Again, not so much because of the precious stone, but for what that stone represents – Jeff’s proposal, my acceptance, and the 28 ensuing years of life with that very special man.

As passionate as I am about those rings which symbolize priceless relationships, I am even more passionate about the people they represent.  And in considering those thoughts, I couldn't help but be reminded of Luke 15 - the "lost" chapter.  In those parables - from the lost sheep, to the lost coin, to the lost son - Jesus impresses upon His audience how precious those lost ones are to the Shepherd, the woman, and the Father.  They will stop at nothing to find that which is lost - - hence, our Father will stop at nothing to have us in a right relationship with Him.  What a beautiful thought.  And shouldn't I feel the same way about the people I encounter every single day who are lost in sin?  We talked about that in our Ladies' Bible class a few weeks ago, and I need to do better.

For the week that my rings were being repaired by the jeweler, my fingers felt naked, as I missed the familiarity of seeing those representations of love and commitment on my hands.  But I am thankful for the reminder that it isn't about the emblems, but about the actual people.  And I am thankful for the realization that I need to be more concerned about finding lost souls, than I was about finding a lost sapphire.  Luke 19:10 tells us that "the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost."  As a child of the King, may I be more zealous to help Him in that endeavor.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~William James

On Wednesday evenings, our Bible study at Rice Road always concludes with everyone meeting in the auditorium for a few songs, and a brief message.  A few weeks ago was no different.  But during the singing that particular night, I teared up a little bit.  It wasn't the songs that moved me, although they were good songs that praised our God.  It was the young man who stood before us - leading us in that singing for his first time.

This young man is very dear to our family - I tell him he is our "other son".  He came into our lives several years ago, when his girlfriend at the time - a young lady who had become quite close to my girls - had moved to Florida to go to college.  At that time, we were temporarily meeting for worship in the Holiday Inn on Sundays while our church building was being remodeled, and this young man would show up there to worship with us, and he would sit with our family.  He was always very engaged with the worship, and his attention to the sermon as he listened intently and looked up passages was obvious.  It was evident that he had a good heart - one that was searching for truth.

We continued to get to know him, and offered to study the Bible with him.  He said he had studied with his girlfriend's father, and he knew what we would have to offer - he said he just needed to study on his own and figure things out for himself.  He did that, and one Wednesday evening after a service on a hot July evening, he rendered obedience to the gospel, being baptized into Christ for the remission of his sins.  Most everyone had gone home already that evening, but we were there, and blessed to be able to witness that new birth.

This young man - who is now married to the girl I referenced earlier - has continued to grow in Christ.  That scrawny, uncertain young fella who made his way into our assembly five or so years ago has been changed by the gospel, as he strives to grow into the image of Christ.  He taught his first adult Bible class several months ago, and has brought several Wednesday night devotional talks - including one just last week.  And the week before, he led singing for the first time.  And I was moved, and encouraged, as I considered his growth in the Lord.

Encouragement.  The act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.  We all need that.  And I received that by the simple act of observing and considering a young man growing in his service to Christ.  I also receive that weekly as I observe the many other young folks we are blessed to have as a part of our church family - young couples, and singles, who are devoted in their service to God.  Young ladies, who come to my home on Thursday nights to study the Bible together - their zeal and passion, along with their hunger to grow, encourages me.  Young mothers who are diligently teaching their children.  And young men, who are stretching themselves to grow in their leadership.  Then there are the children - particularly those I am currently teaching in Bible class, who have a keen interest in learning about God.  There are also those who battle with temptations, and are willing to publicly share those struggles as they seek God's forgiveness.  Not to mention the older folks - those who live with disease and pain, who fight through that to encourage others, as well as those who are willing to share their wisdom to help the younger ones grow.  Each one has his or her own story.  And those life stories encourage me.

We often think of our service to God as something we do to honor God and to help ourselves.  We serve, and that helps us grow in our future service.  It also helps us grow closer to God, and makes us stronger in our faith.  And while all of that is true, our growth and service help others as well.  The Scriptures bear that out, as we are told in passages like Hebrews 10:23-25, "...And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

I am thankful that God in His wisdom provided us with a spiritual family to help us maneuver through this sin-sick world.  And I am blessed to be a part of one of the best.  It is Wednesday, and I am looking forward to gathering with that family this evening.  I know I will be encouraged.

"There is an endearing tenderness in the love of a mother to a son that transcends all other affections of the heart." ~Washington Irving

"They will teach you more than you will ever even hope to teach them."  Those are words my father shared with me in reference to children the first time I told him I was pregnant.  I have thought about that often over the past 24 years.  He was so right.

Each one of our children has brought a unique personality to our family, and all three of them have taught me so much in their own individual ways.  They continue to do so.  But today, I am thinking mostly about our son.  Our only boy.  Our "baby."  He turns 22 today, and he continues to teach his mama.

As our kids were growing up, I kept journals where I wrote letters to them.  And this week I took time to read back through Caleb's journal.  On May 10, 1994, when Caleb was about 15 months old, I noted, "You have started folding your hands and bowing your head when we pray – that is so sweet, and I know it must make God smile!"  At that early age, Caleb made Jesus' words in Matthew 19:14 come alive to me - "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  Caleb's simplicity of faith, innocence, and humility - like all children - set an example of what I should be, both then and now.

On August 7, 1995, when Caleb was two, I wrote, "You are no trouble at all, except when you aggravate Rebecca.  You really know how to push her  buttons, and I get weary of the battles between you two!"  This continued to be a recurring theme throughout the next several years.  It was always those two fighting, with Sarah being the little peacemaker.  I remember worrying about how they would interact when they were grown - would they hate each other?  If you know them, you know nothing could be further from the truth.  Our kids - yes, even Becca and Caleb - love each other deeply, and enjoy spending time together.  Those early battles, and the ability they had to work through them, taught me powerful lessons in love and forgiveness.  People and relationships are important, and we need to be forgiving as we grow past harboring childish grudges.

Caleb has always had a vivid imagination.  I wrote last year about his imaginary grandfather, uncles, and brothers, and his imaginary grandma who was eaten by a camel.  But there was also this, which I recorded on September 8, 1997 - "I found out that you cried at preschool today.  I asked you why, and you gave me a long, elaborate story about how a little boy hit you, knocked you down and had to go to the principal’s office.  I told you that you don’t have a principal’s office, and you laughed and said you were just kidding.  You said the real reason you cried was because you lined up to get on the school bus and . . . I interrupted – you don’t have a school bus, I said.  When I asked again what REALLY happened, you said you couldn't remember."  While this may seem humorous, it also shows a heart that was willing and able to look on the bright side, and let go of the bad stuff - a good lesson for all of us.

Then, there are these excerpts:  April 13, 1998 - "Today you told your preschool teacher, 'You look beautiful - where did you get that dress?'";  March 17, 1999 - "You endear yourself to young and old alike." and May 15, 2000, in reference to his first grade teacher - "Mrs. Kennedy’s husband died a few weeks ago.  You were very upset by that and would cry as you prayed for her."  Caleb's attention to people, his passion to brighten the lives of others, and his ability to truly feel others' pain have given me a heightened sense to pay more attention to those qualities in my own life.

Likewise, Caleb has taught me how to have a right heart.  On several occasions throughout his young life, we had the unpleasant task of confronting him with wrong choices he made.  Every single time we did that with Caleb, we were met with a tender heart - one who didn't make excuses or try to justify, readily admitted his error, and sought to make the necessary changes to overcome those things.  During his teenage years, I wrote, "You always take 'no' very graciously and respectfully, you never argue."  This is the kind of heart we all must have to be pleasing to God.

And then there is Caleb's passion for life.  As early as October 4, 1994, when Caleb was a mere 20 months old, I wrote, "You enjoy life so much!"  That was a continuing theme throughout all of my letters to him, with entries such as:  "Last week you took your first airplane ride, and loved it – you live life to the fullest and fully enjoy everything you do!" ; "You have such a unique passion and enthusiasm for life," ; "You got a puppy for your birthday – she makes you laugh – you are so good at enjoying every moment of life, living it to the fullest, and appreciating all of the little things."  Other entries noted things like, "You enjoy leading the band in the roller coaster";  "At Saturday's UIL event, you somehow got the master key to the school and took some classmates on the roof..."  I can't tell you how many times Caleb has said, "This was the BEST DAY EVER!"  And he always means it.  Caleb has taught me to live more in the moment, and to find real, deep, belly-laughter kind joy in everything.

 It has been a year of growth for our boy.  From spending his summer in Costa Rica, to enduring emergency surgery last fall, he has handled each challenge in a true "Caleb" way - finding the best in every situation, loving the people in his life, serving His God to the best of his ability, always ready to make necessary correction when he gets off course, and thoroughly enjoying every moment.  (When he had his surgery, his recovery nurse who called me to tell me they were taking him to his room couldn't stop laughing.  She said, "He sure is entertaining!"  That's our boy.)

So, Happy Birthday, Bud, and thanks for all you continue to teach me.  How overwhelmingly blessed I am to be called "Mom" by you - I will never fully be able to express exactly what that means to me.  I am a better person because of you.  And I definitely take things a little less seriously, and laugh a whole lot more.  The very first letter I wrote to you on February 8, 1993 included these words: "My prayer and greatest desire for you is that you will grow up to be a godly, sensitive, caring and honest man like your father."  You have, and you are.  I thank God for you!

"The traditional family table is round. No corners. No sides. No head. No tail. Everything is smooth. The food is in the center, and each family member reaches over the same distance. Someone you love is next to you on each side, and no one is last or at the end. The person farthest away from you is also the person facing you." ~Deng Ming-Dao

It's always the plates that remind me.  Sometimes it's the glasses, but usually the plates.  Last night, I took three out of the cupboard, and then had to put one back.  I only needed two.  Earlier this week I had a similar problem - I would take four out, before remembering, and then I would have to return one to its home.

I first noticed this dinner-time dilemma in August 2009.  Back then, I would take five plates out, because since 1993 that is what I had consistently done - -  and then I would have to put two back.  Gradually, I became accustomed to setting a table for three.  Occasionally, I would joyfully take out five plates again, and smile when I didn't have to re-shelve two - I could set all five places at the table.  But it was always short-lived - - my plate count would soon go back to three.

In August 2011, it happened again.  As I set the table for our evening meal, I would instinctively pull three plates out before realizing that I only needed two.  I adjusted, and two plates became the norm.  And once again, it would delight me when I could pull out all five plates and set them on the table . . . but without fail, it always went back to two.

Holidays and summer time brought all five plates back out, and then in June 2013, that number grew by one - now it is six plates around our table that give me the greatest joy.  And for a week over this past Christmas break, every morning and evening I set those six plates at a table in Colorado with a thankful heart.  But, the week ended, and my plate count went back to four . . . and then three.  I am actually accustomed to three.  Becca has been home since August, so three has become "normal."  But now we are back to two.

From the time our children were old enough to eat at the table, we determined that we would eat dinner each evening all together, and as much as possible, breakfast as well.  Breakfast was usually quiet, but not dinner.  Our evening meals quickly became the focal point of our days.  Our kitchen table was where we shared - not only a meal, but the events of our days, our thoughts, our plans, our struggles, as well as jokes and laughter.  Lots of laughter.  There was no TV, no cell phones, and we even had a rule that the home phone went unanswered if it rang during those evening meals.  Our focus was solely on each other.

Personalities emerged early on - a young Sarah would often appear as I prepared the meal to help and to learn.  As we sat down to eat, Becca would usually ask, "Is anyone else cold?," and Caleb... well, if you know Caleb, you know that he always kept everyone laughing.  He still does.

Occasionally, we would be missing one or two, but those meal gatherings were important enough that we didn't miss many all together.  Sometimes that meant eating at 5:00 before someone had to leave to catch the band bus, or other times it meant putting it off until much later as we waited for someone to return from work or a school event.  But it was worth it.

A 2011 study by Cornell University showed that your child may be 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating, 24% more likely to eat healthier foods and 12% less likely to be overweight if you share in family meals on a regular basis.  The Journal of Adolescent Health did a similar study in 2012, adding that, "More frequent family dinners are related to fewer emotional and behavioral problems, greater emotional well-being, more trusting and helpful behaviors towards others and higher life satisfaction."   Why?  It's not about the meal - it's about the relationships at the table.

Two plates.  As I set those this evening, I admittedly will feel a little wistful.  I will be thinking about the two plates being set at a dinner table in Houston, while one each is set in College Station and Nacogdoches.  I will look forward to having all six of those plates back at our table sometime soon.  But more than the wistfulness, I will be thankful for several things...  Thankful for the two plates I set here, and the sharing that will occur between my husband and me; and thankful for relationships we sustain with the four other "plates," and the love that will bring them back again.

"Eating is so intimate... When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you're inviting a person into your life."  ~Maya Angelou