We had the best time with our noon guests today. Cerwin and I were the host family at church.
When I signed up several weeks ago, I didn’t realize it was the same weekend as the Marriage Conference at church. After realizing that, we decided to set up for 14 people – us and 12 guests.
Since we are no longer young people, we start a week early by working in the flower beds, then on Thursday of this week we put the carpets (2) down on the garage floor and went to Fox Meadows Creamery for vanilla ice cream. We let the carpets settle until the next day – because they had been stored in rolls for the past few months.
The first thing I did on Friday was go to Hilltop Acres Farm Market to buy two angel food cakes (strawberry and pineapple) and a few other groceries. Later in the day, we taped the corners and a few edges of the carpet to the floor, put the tables in place, and placed the tablecloths on the tables.
On Saturday we set the tables, picked up scalloped potatoes and glazed carrots at Dutch Country Catering; dinner rolls at Zigs; and boneless chicken breasts and thighs, broccoli salad, and red beet eggs at Sensenig’s Poultry. After putting the groceries away, I cut each angel food cake into three slices, then layered them with vanilla ice cream and put them back in the freezer.
Today after church Cerwin did a quick swipe to the entrance of the garage and patio so both were cleared of leaves.
I had previously invited Bob and Mary Lowe, Jim and Lois Kime, and Carl and Nancy Groff – each from our church. That left room for six visitors to be our guests. Before Sunday School, I saw Dan and Marta Pierce in the narthex and invited them. It suited. I talked to another young couple, but they had packed their lunch and were leaving for home following the morning service. After Sunday school, I talked to another visitor couple, but they were going somewhere else for lunch. Then I saw a young family I did not recognize who were already sitting in the sanctuary. I was pleased that it suited them. We later learned that they were Norman and Esther Hoover and their two young boys. The Pierces attend a local Mennonite church, and the Hoovers attend Weaverland Mennonite Church (Weaverland Conference). Both couples attended the Marriage Weekend with Mark and Starla Schlabach and since today’s sermon “Intimacy in Christ” was a continuation of the Marriage Conference they returned for today.
We had a most delightful afternoon.
I enjoy having company for Sunday lunch – not because I like to cook but because I love the fellowship and learning more about each person. So, when I sat down to enjoy dessert, I asked Jim Kime to tell us about his life – especially his childhood in Philadelphia. After him we went around the table – learning interesting stories and personality traits from each person.
That satisfies my soul much more than people telling me my meal was delicious.