What a blessing it was to have some of my friends over for Breakfast on Saturday! About a month ago, I sent out an evite to some of my IL friends to come to my place for a breakfast in their honor. These are friends that have supported our family so incredibly through the past year, since we moved to our new state. I wanted to celebrate God's goodness to us in providing such a warm, welcoming community to be a part of and the way they have ministered to us through prayer, and literally opening the doors of their houses to us in our time of greatest need! In this group are friends from our small group at church, a neighbor from down the street and one of the moms I meet at Cole's school since her son and Cole are in the same group for therapy. What precious friends these women have become to me :)
Here are my "birthday daises" from John along with our breakfast...an egg bake, hash brown casserole, grapes, carrot-raisin muffins (not pictured) and coffee cake with lemon cream-cheese spread and fresh berries :)
John helped me get everything ready...he had a different plans for celebrating my 29th birthday which was on Friday, but when Cole came down with a fever, we could no longer drop the kids off at our friend's house who also has 2 boys, while we went out to dinner. So being the adaptable husband that he is, he transitioned from dinner out with his wife, to bringing in Chinese (one of my favs) and helping her iron the table cloth and napkins, and set the table for a girl's breakfast! I'm thankful for his selfless and adaptable spirit that I strive to be more like daily...
We had a wonderful time eating and sharing funny stories of marriage proposals, labor, quotes from our kids and more for close to 3 hours! I guess that what happens when you get 10 moms around a table with food and coffee, without their kids for a bit! What a great time to be with fellow sisters-in-Christ. I counted, and at the table in my house sat 10 moms who together represented 26 children with 4 on the way! Whew! What a good work God is doing through the women who gathered in the lives of their husbands and children. The emerging theme that was present in all of our conversations was that "Life can be crazy at times, but God is good through it all." It's good to gather!
The above picture is of the "place card" I placed at the top of each plate...I wanted for all to feel welcome and to know there was a place for them at the table I had set. Throughout my life, the ups and downs, the highs the lows, the comforting moments and those more uncertain, it has always brought peace to me knowing that there is a place for me at the table the Lord sets for his beloved....a feast prepared for when we meet face to face someday in Heaven. Jesus said, in
John 14:1-3...
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
There is a place for us in God's house, in heaven for those who believe He is LORD and the only One who saves. One of the things that made our time around the table Saturday morning such a sweet one, was that we had stories to tell each other of His goodness and of reasons we needed to be saved! It made my heart smile to be in communion with others who didn't feel the need to fake perfection (because the truth is...no one is perfect!) but instead could laugh at the times even our best efforts fell short, and be thankful for God's grace, mercy and love for us through it all. When the enemy tries to isolate and make you believe you're the only one feeling the way you feel, it's good to gather and know...you're not alone. The amazing thing, is that something that started out as a blessing for you, will also end up being a blessing for the one(s) you gather with :)
Thank you, Lord for friends in new places and for the way you've prepared for a place for us in heaven someday...and in the mean time, thank you for meeting us in our unique places here on earth. May your created ones draw near to you today as you have just what they need, for right where they are...
So glad to hear this went well. So proud of you for going out of your comfort zone..but really. This is how you're gifted. Hospitality & welcoming people into your life. What fun. I'm sure it'll payoff. You're an inspiration to me. Hang in there.