Making Dinner a Special Occasion

Although we are simple, laid-back folks, we sometimes enjoy setting a fancy table for dinner. Fancy for us means covering our table with a tablecloth and cloth napkins, getting out the "Wal-Mart special" gold-rimmed glass dinnerware with matching gold flatware, and lighting candles. We do this for holidays and other special occasions, and it gives the children a sense of excitement. We use our best table manners. We practice good dinner conversation skills. We enjoy being together as a family.

Yesterday, my stepmom showed me some glassware she had picked up at a yard sale. And being a really nice stepmom, she passed it on to me! :-) I googled the pieces and discovered that they are a vintage diamond point pattern manufactured by the Indiana Glass Company. This particular pattern was introduced in 1965 and discontinued in the 1980s. The price she paid for them was a real steal!


What you see in this picture is the glass pitcher, water goblets (there are six of them), butter dish, and gravy bowl. There are also 6 wine goblets, 7 mugs, 6 tumblers, 6 juice glasses, cream and sugar bowls, a mayonnaise bowl, a candy dish, and 4 small teacups.
Our family dinner on this Lord’s day was a special occasion indeed! Meatloaf, mashed taters and gravy, and iced tea tasted especially fine on our pretty dishes. In addition, we lit pure beeswax candles which were used on our Church’s altar during Mass.

We also have started a new tradition on Sunday evenings after dinner—“Sunday Night Apologetics”. We are teaching our children to answer common questions that people have about our faith. Right now while they are young, we are using Friendly Defender flashcards. Of course, as their understanding grows, the questions and answers will become more in-depth. Our memory verse this past week was 1 Peter 3:15 “…Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence…”