Picture if you will all the noise and people during rush hour in Grand Central Station, the commotion and energy of a busy dog park, the love and joy of a raucous religious revival, the laughter and entertainment of a circus, and a meal fit for a king but large enough to feed an army, and you begin to have some idea as to what it is like to be at our house on most Sunday nights.

That’s because we celebrate Family Night on Sundays, and all of the above is usually generated by just my immediate family. And our dogs. Six dogs.

It’s also a bit like a mini United Nations (without all the rancor, bickering, and squabbling) as my immediate family represents races from three continents–four if you count my nephew and his family who often join us.

If I ever needed a reminder as to how much abundance and love is in my life, Family Night would serve that purpose.

Family Nights now include 3 and sometimes 4 generations, as our first grandchild has arrived, and my in-laws are also sometimes able to join us.

Speaking of our grandson, he has of course become the star of the show. Even our wonderfully entertaining dogs all enthusiastically playing together can’t compete with this latest attraction.

We also often have a conference call with Younger Son who is in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Coco Beach, Florida (in the same building where TV’s Major Nelson character from “I Dream Of Jeannie” worked by the way). And Younger Son’s wonderful wife who lives and works in Ohio (but that’s a story for another day) also often joins us on the calls.

I’m an introvert and large crowds and loud environments tend to build up like a toxin until they kind of overwhelm me. (I call my reaction stimulation overload, and if ever there was a place to experience stimulation overload Family Night is it.) But despite all that, Family Nights are one of my favorite experiences of the week.

In the midst of all the noise and activity, I often sit back and soak it all in, savoring every second of our time together, feeling incredibly grateful to be blessed with having so many wonderful people in my life who know all my faults and love me anyway.