Family Dinner-Time . . . Maybe Someday.

A few years ago, when Charles was in school, it was typical for me to have dinner alone, with the kids. Some nights he would be at school, studying, until 11:00 -- especially when he was working on his Math degree. This was normal, and I was fine with it. We were working for the day when things would be better -- a day when we would have time together, as a family.

Charles purposefully chose a career where he would not have to travel, or be away from the family. I like having him around, a lot. He is my best friend. I just love being WITH him. We love having time together as a family. It means everything to us. All the other stuff of life . . . just details. :-) We knew this and so we planned accordingly.

One thing I was looking forward to, after the school days, was family dinner-time. You know, when everyone gathers around the table, at the end of the day, laughs and talks, eats and spends TIME together. Sounds wonderful to me . . . just lovely.

Well, funny thing is . . . I cannot think of the last time we sat down together as a family for dinner (except for Sundays) and it is not Charles' work that keeps it from happening.

Charles is in the Young Men's program, and with that calling . . . comes great responsibility, and TIME. (If you have been part of the youth program, you know that very well.) This last weekend Charles had a Scout camp-out, he taught the YM on Sunday, Tuesday was Scouts for Daniel, Wednesday was Activity night for YM/YW, Thursday is Scout Round-table, Saturday is collecting food for the food drive in the morning, and then an all-day youth temple trip on Saturday in Twin Falls, meetings Sunday morning before church, and who knows what else will pop-up. TIME lots of TIME. (These were just his activities, I did not mention mine/children.)

Charles will run in the door after work, quickly change clothes, give me a smooch, and run back out the door. So nice to see you, honey. I have spent a lot of time, alone, with the kids lately. I enjoy being with the children, but Charles is my best friend -- I just love being with him. I miss having him around when he is not here. And being pregnant, having him around means that much more to me. I am not a wimpy-wife, but I know what I like. I like TIME with my honey.

Anyhow, I am not whining (well, maybe a little), but sometimes I think there is just TOO MUCH going on. And you know me, I do not even have my kids running to-and-fro for activities. This was the first year (for Sammi, my oldest) that she even got to participate in sports/music, etc. I try to keep those kinds of things limited and under control. Time together is more important to me than super-star athlete children. But that is just how I was raised, I suppose.

Having time together as a family was important to my parents, when I was growing-up. I can remember missing some activities because we all just needed to be together. Sometimes you just NEED to be together and re-group. I think I am about to that point!

During this holiday season, there are going to be a lot of activities going on. My e-mail has been bombared with things coming up. I think I am going to have to pick and choose between good, better, best. And hopefully I can pick FAMILY TIME. I mean the WHOLE family, not just me and the kids.

I love Charles for willingly giving his time. He loves it. He loves being with the Young Men. He never got to be a part of the program, since he joined the church at 17. It is great for him. I am grateful he gets to have this experience. I just finished spending 3 years with the Young Women, so I know how fantastic it is to be with the youth.

I am trying to learn how to bend my will, and not be selfish when he has to go out, again -- but it is not easy. Spending Saturday alone, is really no fun. Especially after not having anytime during the week. By the time Saturday rolls around I REALLY want to be together. And honestly, it is nice when he can help out with the kids, so I can relax, just a little. Pregnant. Need some back-up. Ya know what I mean?

But for now, we seem to have Fridays -- unless there is a camp-out -- we usually get our Friday nights. So Fridays are OUR nights, our time to be together. If anything falls on a Friday night, I usually kick it to the curb -- out of necessity. How I LOVE my Friday Family Nights! Seriously, if it is Friday than DO NOT DISTURB! :-)

So even though our time is limited right now . . . I still hope that maybe one day, someday, we can have family dinner together, daily. How glorious that would be!

And as far as stealing my family away (which I WILL do!) . . . we will be gone for about a week in Decemeber and we are not coming back until we all have Mickey-Ears! :-) Yippee!