Dinners and Such

My mother is the consummate hostess.

You know those little things you remember about your childhood and you have no idea why you remember?

Mine came in the form of the Sunday nights when Mom and Dad would invite friends over after Sunday evening church. All the adults would be standing around talking, and the church emptied...and at last Mom would ask if those still chatting would like to come over for dinner.

Nothing fancy, she'd say. Just some snacky stuff.

And she always managed to have enough bread and meat...chips and dill pickles...slices of cheese and some sort of dessert goodness...and they would gather around the table, all the adults.

They would talk, late into the evening, and I would occupy myself in the other room with books and dolls. And I loved it. I loved knowing they were in there, enjoying our home. And I wanted to be just like my mom when I grew up.

The consummate hostess.

I wanted to invite people over and whip up a meal...nothing fancy...just some snacky stuff...

When I became an adult with my own house...I did it as much as I could. I invited people over and tried to make this home inviting and comfortable. A place where people would want to come.

Saturday evening, we had plans to get together with some friends of ours {friends I've come to know and love because they knew and loved Ryan!} - for lattes. We wanted to introduce them to our good friend, the apple pie chai.

And then Ryan called and said they were coming for dinner, too.

So I scurried to the store with hair undone to pick up a few things.

I tossed a salad and made my own croutons {because I feel like a better hostess with homemade croutons. It's the Marilyn in me}.

And I threw together some baked spaghetti...

I lit candles and turned on the fireplace and brewed a pot of coffee {because one can never be in the wrong with both coffee AND a trip for lattes} - and piled the chocolate chip cookies I baked that afternoon onto a silver platter.

...because when we got married, our fifth grade teacher gave us that platter and said every home needs a silver platter.

And we gathered around our tiny table, plates piled high from the food on the buffet...

And while their little guy sat in the next room playing games on his mom's phone - he had already eaten before - the four of us savored food and talked, laughed, and shared things of the heart.

It was just like I remembered.

Just one of those little childhood dreams that came true.

Thankfulness, Day 11: Oh how many times I needed to talk...and I needed a listener. Not an advice-giver. Not a lecturer. Not a judge. Just a listener. Today I'm thankful for listeners. And I'm going to thank one of them...maybe you've got a listener in your life too? Say thanks...