Family Dinner

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! - CANADIAN STYLE!!

Because I was born in Canada and lived there my entire childhood we celebrate Thanksgiving twice each year at our house.  Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October.  That always coincides with the U.S. holiday of Columbus Day, but we seem to always make a bigger fuss over the Thanksgiving part at our house. Canada is further north than the United States and has an earlier harvest time and an earlier onset of winter, so it makes sense that the holiday is celebrated earlier.   We always roast a turkey or at least a big chicken.  We make pies and stuffing and often try to include what is left from the garden harvest in our feast.  This year we shared the meal with some good friends and gave them a "lesson" about Canada after dinner. 

As we prepared the tables, one in the kitchen and one in the family room, Jacob (14) said, "We really should have "fancy" meals like this more often."  He's right.  We really don't get out the tablecloths and the crystal glasses near as often as we should.  He and Nathan (11) did a wonderful job setting the table complete with napkins carefully wrapped around the silverware. 

Dallin H. Oakes in the October 2007 General Conference said this:

"The number of those who report that their "whole family usually eats dinner together" has declined 33 percent.  This is most concerning because the time a family spends together "eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment."  Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs.  There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents; what your children really want for dinner is you."

Dinnertime is a special time at our house, not because we always get out the fancy dishes (of which we really don't own very many) or because we eat fancy food.  It is special because we make a priority of eating together every single night, excluding date night.  All day long we are busy studying, working, running, swimming, singing, practicing piano, reading, drawing and writing.  I love that we have at least that dinner hour each day to come together and eat and talk and hear about the events of the day.  We all do dishes together after the meal and that extends our together time just a little bit more.  Our oldest at home right now, Benjamin, now has a job that means he misses dinner with the family twice a week.  That has been less than optimal, but knowing that he is working hard to earn the money he will need to pay for his mission helps us accept the fact. 

We don't always eat at the same time every night, due to schedules that are different from day to day, but what is important is that we eat together.  Brandon is now away at university, Kyle is on a mission and Benjamin will be on his mission in another year.  I now have the perspective I used to see in more experienced mothers when I had only young children.  This time when our children are here with us living in our home is so short.  Before you know it there are empty places at your "earthly dinner table."  But when you take the time to strengthen family relationships and make your home alive with gospel learning and testimony, you can have peace in knowing that there will be no empty chairs at your family table in heaven. 

President Ezra Taft Benson said in April 1984 General Conference:

"As parents and grandparents in Zion, it has been the shared hope of my wife and me that all of us will be together in the eternities- that all will be worthy, without a single empty chair.  That is my fervent hope and prayer for each family in the Church."