Why do some seasons remind us of stories about the people in our lives? On Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think of my mother.

Not many holidays go by without fond memories of my mother. Sometimes those thoughts come like a gentle wind, and other times they still surprise me like a Texas thunderstorm.

Very few holidays passed in my life without mother being involved in some way. And even though we lived hundreds of miles away from her for over two decades, she was always intimately involved in my family’s life until her untimely death a few years ago.

Connection. Mother kept our extended family connected when we moved away from our hometown. Even when we were annoyed by her pressure to share holidays, she remained a unifying force in our family. She kept us up-to-date with family news, and I miss that connection now.

Since Mother’s death, I do not take the time to regularly visit my extended family. But we still stay in touch by phone, e-mail, and Internet social networks now. I think Mother would be pleased with our “Facebooks”!

Roots. Memories of Mother continue to connect us all to our Texas roots and family.

After Thanksgiving, I’m traveling back to my hometown. I’ve been invited to speak at an event for the women of the church that I attended as a child. I hope to visit some old friends and family there.

And I’m sure we’ll tell some of the stories that matter most.

Who tells the stories in your family? Will you see your family storyteller during the holidays?