Our family tries to get together several times during the year other than the holidays and one recent weekend we had an impromptu, spur-of the-moment hamburger supper “just because.”
I love getting together with all my people whether it be for a celebration or nothing at all. This time we used the excuse of our oldest triplet being home from Brandon and we had a hamburger supper with all the trimmings and garnishing. And, what made it even better for me, my daughter hosted at her new house across the road from our log house. I just made a dessert and went over and filled my tummy.
As we gathered in her dining room, I sat at a place where I could see all the gathered and assembled Sims family as they reminisced and talked about days gone by. And as I sat and pondered the circumstances, my mind wandered back to the days of yesteryears and such sweet memories of bygone days.
It seems as if no time at all has passed from the times when we all collected together at my Mama’s house “just because.” Then there was my brother and his wife and their one little boy, my sister and her husband and her two little boys, and then Roy and me and our three littles. A total of 14. Now we have 14 grandchildren plus our children making us a total of 22. But it’s so effortless to remember our children and how small they were as we gathered around that little square table with only six chairs. Of course, my mama was of the “old school” and she thought the men and children should be fed first then the women would eat the “leftovers.” Such a quaint idea, but that is how it always was done at my grandmother’s table. Now when we get together, I set numerous tables and chairs so that all my people eat at the same time.
As I gazed at my close-knit family Sunday before last, I was still somewhat bewildered by the fact that we were missing two of our special family. We have had two of our “love children” go home way too early, one with cancer and one because of a car accident, and we will always miss them at our gatherings.
There was so much talking and chattering going on Sunday, and I was feeling so blessed and fortunate to be listening as my two oldest boys, my triplet boys, my two youngest boys, and two of my little girls ate and talked about nothing and everything.
Yes, it takes some cooking, cleaning up after, and being able to enjoy all the commotion, the clatter and hullabaloo from all 20-something talking at the same time, but it’s a memory and a moment that we as grandparents should never take for granted because they grow from 1 to 21 in a matter of flashes.
So, buy you some paper plates, plastic cups and throw-away forks and spoons and make the memories I am making.
Pork Chop and Potato Casserole
1 T. vegetable oil
6 boneless pork chops
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
4 thinly sliced potatoes
½ cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400o. Heat oil in large skillet and brown chops on each side. In a bowl, combine soup and milk. Place potato slices and onions in the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Place browned chops on top and then pour soup mix on top and over all. Bake 30 minutes in 400o oven. Top with cheese and bake 30 minutes more.
