We gather together

Many families eat dinner together, all around the table, every day. We don't. We eat at the dinner table about twice a year, on Easter and Thanksgiving. What can I say?  We're just really informal about food, and we also eat many meals in restaurants.

So it's particularly joyous when we have a meal together, gathered around the table. Here is a picture of all of us on Tuesday, when we celebrated Thanksgiving two days early because my mom was in town to see Seth perform in Les Mis. Included here are four of our five beautiful children, along with Shulamith's husband and Eli's wife.

It's been a whirlwind of crazy! Grandma flew in from Portland Monday afternoon, and after grabbing some pizza, we all headed to Hillcrest High School to see Seth's performance. I had already seen it three times; yep, I'm that mom, the one who bought a ticket for every night. Nevertheless, closing night Monday was incredible! I was worried I might not be able to point Seth out to my mom in all eight musical numbers because he was positioned in different places throughout the auditorium, but  I think I succeeded.

Seth was in Carousel his sophomore year and Mary Poppins last year, but nothing compares to Les Mis. What a perfect way to end his high school musical tenure! It doesn't matter where I see this play; whether on Broadway or at Hale Center Theatre or even at a high school in Midvale, Utah, the story always touches my heart. The tale of redemption and courage in the face of oppression challenges us to look more closely at our lives. Indeed, it challenged Joshua Long, the director of Seth's show, to do just that. May I share a snippet of his notes from the program:

"The stories and experiences of Fantine, Eponine and Jean Valjean are still echoed in many people we see every day. We haven't figured it out as a society. Are we even trying anymore? I am so incredibly inspired by Enjolras and his army of young students who realized what was happening to the less fortunate around them, realized their privilege, and then dedicated their lives to doing something about changing things. Am I that brave? Well, I'm obviously not. I have not built a barricade and stood up on top it it to fight for those less fortunate than me. Could I be like that? Who needs me to do that for them?"

I echo his words.

This Thanksgiving, may we be grateful for all we have.