Passionately Inspired: First BBQ of the Year

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Passionately Inspired: First BBQ of the Year | Family Economics

morning inspiration

During quiet time one morning after a run (yes, these are my green running shoes in the picture), I was passionately inspired. Even though I love coffee table books, and this particular book happened to be sitting right in front of me, on this occasion my inspiration did not come from this party-planning book (although I love the beautiful cover!)

My inspiration came from my daily reading, the tiny window of nice weather we’ve recently had, and the fact that my family was going to be together for dinner that night. I love family dinners! Early morning is when I often think about what I will serve my family for dinner. Spring has sprung – alfresco dining has been an aspect of our evening meals in the last couple of weeks and this night would be our first BBQ of the year!

salad from the garden

The aroma later that evening from the BBQ made us all giddy and happy. We were excited not only about the yummy steak dinner that we were about to consume, along with salad (from our garden) and BBQ’d veggies (herbs from our yard,) but there was also just something special about the smell of the first BBQ of the season.

a family meal

Having dinner with just our immediate family is becoming a priceless experience as of late, as my husband and I realize our years together as a young family unit are dwindling down. Recapping the weekend, sitting and listening to one another, watching facial expressions and passions rise about certain subjects – it’s what happens when we take the time to interact with and focus on each other.

We are firm believers that “children need to be heard and seen,” and these seem to be very important years as much nurturing takes place around our dinner table.

I’d love to hear about your first BBQ of the year? Was it with your immediate family, or did you include guests?

9 Comments so far

On Friday, April 16, 2010, Charity from Arkansas wrote

Thanks for this article. My girls are still young, but we have dinner each night as a family. What a priceless time to hear their "stories of the day".

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Janneh wrote

We've been grilling for a while now, so it's hard to remember the first one. But I always make sure my hubby (the master at the grill) throws on some extra drumsticks after the main meal is on the table. The drumsticks slowcook on the fading coals and make great cold chicken for lunch the next day. My favorite!!! Do you use a gas grill? Or Charcoal? We always use charcoal...better flavor. :)

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Amy from Girlfriends Get Real wrote

Our weather is just getting nice here so we haven't had our first bbq yet. I totally agree with you about the importance of eating as a family. They are some of our favorite moments!

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Sandy from RE wrote

Thank you Ladies, I'm sure there are many more BBQ's ahead for all! It's one of my favorite times of year ... Sandy

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Kirstin wrote

Your shoes match the book (C: This year, our first BBQ was spent with about 20 of our youth at our house. What fun. I was so excited to get the BBQ going! While we don't always sit around the table (I'm home with my girls all day, so we're always talking), we do sit wherever we sit and talk and visit. I love connecting with my family.

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Richella from North Carolina wrote

We use the term "BBQ" or "barbecue" only to refer to pork or beef cooked with barbecue sauce. . . we're from the South, so we take our barbecue seriously! But we do love to "grill" or to have a "cookout." My husband recently got a Big Green Egg grill, so it's very exciting for him to fire that baby up and do some serious grilling! And on these pretty Spring days, it's so nice to have a cookout and then eat on the screened-in porch. Somehow family dinners like this become dinner parties at which we're both the hosts and the honored guests!

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Jennifer K. wrote

We bbq'd for the first time this week...ooh I missed it this year. So fun to smell that yumminess in the neighborhood while my kids played with their friends! Here's to many nights this summer sitting around the dinner table enjoying our families! p.s. Love the green running shoes! :)

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Sheri from the simasek-kiblerproject.blogspot.com wrote

Family. We've both been traveling a lot lately, so our first BBQ was actually after church on Easter. My cousin and her family came over and we talked...and talked....and hunted Easter eggs....and ate...and ate...and talked. It was a beautiful day with family in the way, underfoot, and it wouldn't have had it any other way!

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Lori H wrote

Hi Sandy. We grill out all year long, unless there is a foot of snow outside, which happened several times here in Richmond, VA, this winter! So our first "real" BBQ will be when we have friends over for grilling out. Many of our teens' friends express surprise that our dinners are so talkative. Apparently there are a lot of families that eat in near silence! I can't imagine, as our dinner hour is one of the times we really connect as a family and catch up. Thanks for all your great advice on your blog!

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