Normal?

I am a very observant person - always have been. My parents swore they thought I would end up a detective because I would notice anything that was changed & little things that were out of the ordinary. I'm fairly good at reading people as well - when we were in Gatlinburg with Julie & gang, we were waiting for a table - I leaned over & told her - the couple next to us are on their honeymoon. How did I know? She had freshly done nails AND pedicure - there was something all over her face - her husband went to go get her a soft drink while waiting - he was attending to her every need while they were waiting & then it was funny because after I said that - she picked up her cell phone & was calling someone & talking about the wedding - Yep - called that!

So Ricky & I were out at Logan's Steakhouse Saturday for dinner. In the middle of the room - there is a little area with just four tables. I looked over & told Ricky to look - it was like the stages of family set right together.

The first table had 2 young couples - you could tell they were married & one of the couples had a baby, probably a year old - they were all cooing around him - enjoying that baby face, gabbing up with each other - young married couples hanging out.

The second table had a married couple - probably in their early 30's with a son with them - probably about 10 years old. He looked completely bored - the parents looked stressed.

The third table had an older couple - probably in their 50's -& they sat alone. I told Ricky, I bet their kids are all grown & have families of their own. They looked happy & chatted the night away.

At the last table was a older gentleman - probably in his 70's - he was all alone. All he ordered was a tea & a sweet potato. He never looked up - never looked around - ate his sweet potato & left.

I told Ricky - look - isn't that a perfect example of a normal family cycle right there - it was just funny to notice.

And then I started looking around the four tables - the tables that circled around it....

There was a table full of young girls going out for a girls night - laughing & giggling & enjoying themselves.

A table with an older couple taking a friend out for dinner - I knew this because I sat next to them in the waiting area - I talk to anyone.... their friend was blind & had a hard time getting out so they liked to take her out for dinner when they could

A table with a mother & daughter only - I wondered where the dad was? Gone? working? in the military? or just a mother/daughter day out?

A table with parents that was FULL of kids.... wondered if some were from previous marriages as some of the ages looked the same

Then I thought - what is the NORMAL family cycle? Anymore - its anything & everything - isn't it? I thought about Ricky & I sitting there - with his daughters all grown up, all scattered over the US, with our grandbaby being in Texas (sniff..... missing him so much during Christmas!) & what people thought when they saw us out together. And I thought about how when I go out with my church family & friends - how they feel just like my own family as well.... It just really hit me how there is not "normal" or "Ordinary" - God brings families together in different ways & what a blessing it is that there is no NORMAL!

Enjoy any & all the family in your lives!