Forgotten Tuesday

So I've waxed poetic (or as poetic as I get) about the blessings of having company.  Lately I've been following a couple of "31 days to" blogs, and one of them is "31 days to a Warmer Connection"  Check it out if you like having company or desire to grow in appreciation of it's blessings.  Yesterday when blogging about my busy week, I rather skipped right over Tues.  Just forgot that I had these great photos on my camera.  

I have a friend from my home district who moved out of state when we were 12.  She is one of those friends who regardless of how long you have been out of contact... you can immediately start talking and feel right at home!  She is an inspiration to me on a variety of fronts.  Godly wife and mother to 7 (4 of whom are adopted).  God has blessed me through her.  A question she asked while we were visiting the other night is my thought question for the post...."What gives you peace" 

The "great" pictures are NOT so great from a photographer's standpoint...except that they capture exactly what was happening.  It was that moment after part of the company has left and the rest are about to....and then....Laurie and I became aware of the din and began laughing.

One side of the room

The other side of the room....each of us intent and vigorous in our conversation! 

The 14 children lined up and exercised the tire swing and rope swing =)  Sarah and her new friend had a blast in her "kitchen"  It is fun to think that these young people might spend time together in YF sometime!

As far as food goes?  The evening is proof that "what" you serve doesn't matter as much as you might think. I actually served a casserole. (I haven't done that very often)   No, it didn't have a cream sauce.  Brown rice, chicken, honey, peppers, wine, mustard, pinapple.  It's pretty good. And handy b/c you can prepare it ahead of time!  Let me know if you want the recipe.  Then I baked Rhodes Texas Rolls - they are large and delicious and super easy.  Available at Winco.  A friend brought a beautiful toss salad. Green beans from our garden rounded out the main course.  Lime pear jello - easy and made the day before....and then...b/c I have lots of pie filling on hand...pie for dessert.  I was a little too hurried to take pictures.  Too bad really, b/c I used my fun leaf pie dough cutters to decorate the crusts a bit.  Maybe I'll use them again at Thanksgiving =)

Does anybody else always have that "panic" time about 2-3 hrs before company is due to arrive?  It gets me every time (just about!)  Do you have any solutions to share?

This was a school night, so that added a few variables...thankfully there was little in the way of homework!

Again....the thought question...."What brings you peace?"  Elaborate as you wish.

And the winner is....

Lindsay and the Beach.  What?  You've never heard of them?  No worries, it's just me smashing 2 posts into one, probably breaking all blogging rules that might exist...Deborah from KS...- can you help me out on that one?

As some of you know, my last rather lengthy post was about Pluots and Jam...and more pluots and jam.  I added a giveaway, will work it differently next time, but hey...learning usually requires experience, yes?  One thing I learned was my ridiculous propensity to misspell giveaway.  But I digress.  You of course... are wondering who the winner is!  

A Lady named Lindsay M...a friend of a friend who liked my page on facebook.  I must say that she makes darling knit fingerless gloves and sells them on etsy, which you can handily link to from here.

Kind of funny how I was mentally rooting for one of my close friends to win.... are we always so biased to those we love?  Probably so. 

Speaking of spending time with those we love; well we were just privileged to spend the weekend at the beach with my Mom and sisters.  It was glorious, even if it did rain on Sun. afternoon.  Ok, well drizzled...David, John, Sarah and Stephen (in the stroller) went with me on my run.  I pretty much ran in slow circles, zigzagged widely, jogged ahead, coming back to meet them.  Stephen is a trooper, didn't act like a little drizzle bothered him in the least!  Felt sorry for the couple that was planning to get married on the beach...the only activity we saw was the music man setting up under a lowdown beach umbrella. 

REJUVINATING

RELAXING

Pretty much everything a vacation should be!   Thanks MOM

I got to run on the beach 2x AND  play FRISBEE with my son and others.  It really is fun when you can start playing "older" games with your children.   

And there is the inspiration for my thought question.....What did you play with your parents when you were a child? 

 

Another semi random thought....if you want to be inspired re: HOSPITALITY...go read about the Shunnamite woman.  It's semi random b/c hospitality is on my mind...it is such a big blessing to both those who recieve it, and those who serve (as long as your heart is right)  Anyways, I believe it to be no coincidence that God led me to read about this amazing lady right before the hospitality opportunity came to my doorstep.  So yes, I will be busy for a few days...make that a week+ - but it will be such a "good" busy =)  

Blessings to you all, thank you for reading and responding to my thought questions.  this really is fun!

P.S.  I f you want an inspiring wonderful humorous motherhood blog to read....meet my friend Kendra.   Like my adjectives, Kendra?  =)

Whoops,...found some more pictures =)  I'm beach happy right now!

Praise the LORD for the OCEAN...there is a special peace there.  Don't worry, I won't go into the fascination diversity of  sea life.  Our God truly is an AWESOME GOD!