I have been blessed. From my earliest recollection, I have had a wonderfully supportive family — even when I didn’t fully realize it at the time. As I grew, married, settled down {relatively speaking}, and raised children with my wife, that family connection was the glue that kept us together and got us through some rough times. Now that I am in the winter season of life and watching how my urchins turned out, I am continually blessed with how close they are with each other and with their respective families. It makes me think Karen and I did something right — with the help of God.

During my latest adventure visiting the kids/grandkids/great-grandkids, I have discovered first hand how they are carrying out the familial tradition. Some are throwbacks to their growing up years. Some are hybrids with new traditions. Some are completely different. All use the family as the nucleus.

I was privileged to join in the Kohlhofer monthly dinner this week. The Kohlhofers — my older daughter — try to plan a family dinner at least once a month. Start a conversation and then sit back and watch what happens. The three boys and their families congregate to break bread, tease each other, and just enjoy each other’s company with loads of laughter. Plans were made for February and March. It was a special blessing because I WAS HERE TO WITNESS IT!

From a mom’s perspective, I encourage  you to read Dee’s account of the night — and, more important, the thoughts it inspired — at Scruffy Hospitality.

My younger daughter also plans fairly regular dinner and board game nights; my youngest son plans regular beach outings in South Carolina; although living alone, my oldest son’s door is always open for visitors; and my middle son has a built in hospitality plan with a wife, four children and a dog.

It actually warms my heart. My parents were always opening their home for scruffy hospitality. Thanksgiving was a three day party with aunts, uncles, cousins, and  friends bopping in and out. Karen was always opening our home for scruffy hospitality. She never knew how many extras would show up for dinner and then some. It was little wonder she ended up in the formal hospitality field as an innkeeper, although she always kept a pot of coffee on the stove for pop ins.

Family. It’s all about family. It’s about the memories we have. It’s about the memories we make.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. — Aristotle Onassis