Monday, February 9, 2009

A Special Lunch for Friends

Years ago, when Hannah was little, I used to put on an occassional tea party or lunch for my friends, and then she got a little older...and then I had Rachel...and then life just got busy. But having friends over for lunch and making things pretty and special is something I really enjoy doing, and I've missed doing it.

About two weeks ago, I came up with the idea to have friends over for lunch on this particular date because there was no school, and as Mom's we wouldn't have to hurry or worry about getting back to the school to pick up our kids, etc, etc. I was rather spontaneous with this one. I didn't even ask friends until last week.

My plan was to invite just a couple of friends, simply because children would be accompanying them since school was out. I knew one friend couldn't make it from the start, however, in the course of the last 48 hours, I had another friend contact me and say she and her kids wouldn't be coming. So yesterday at church, I invited a few more friends. When you put a lot of work into planning and preparing, you want to bless as many as you can, so when I had two seats open, I wanted to try and fill them. I'm glad I was able to, because another friend called last night and was in bed with a temperature of 104 and said she wouldn't be coming. So as it was, I had three friends, and seven kids here for lunch today and we had a great time!!

Our dinning room table was the "Mommy Table", all decked out for Valentine's Day. I used my pretty clear goblets from The Madonna Inn, which are always a hit. And had candy hearts and love tokens spread about the table. Little party favors at each place setting and candles lit. For food, I made chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, a raspberry jello salad, and a tossed broccoli salad. For dessert I had decorated homemade brownies, meringue toppers, and cream puffs.The kids table was in the family room. Hannah and Rachel helped set the table and were very excited to help out. Each place setting also had a little party favor and a heart shaped sucker. Their lunch consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into heart shapes, cheese puffs, BBQ flavored chips, orange slices, and for dessert little chocolate heart cakes and sugar cookies. They also go pink lemonade to drink. Us girls sat around the table for just over three hours, chatting, talking, sharing what's been going in each others' lives. The kids played in the girls' rooms. At one point there were so many toys out in Rachel's room that you couldn't even see the carpet. LOL. Years ago, this would have caused me to be so on edge. I now figure as long as no one is crying, and nothings getting broke, and I'm being left to socialize, then it's all good. I've come along way in recent years.

I enjoyed the time spent with the friends the Lord allowed to be here today, and I look forward to having friends over for lunch some other time...sooner, rather than later.

3 comments:

Joy Howse said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time. I love having parties and will take any excuse for having them. Convincing Dale is a whole other topic.

Paige Garner said...

Sounds like so much fun! You've always been great at thinking of others and making people feel special! Looks like you definitely did it again! :)

Kim said...

I haven't had a tea since Ryan was a baby either, though I have been thinking about doing it again sometime soon.

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