It's not about the numbers

Before the school year winds down I always like to get in a coffee at my house.  Actually, I've been able to have two since the beginning of the year.  Summer is off limits to official coffees, though I have no objections to meeting up with friends at a local coffee house.  I'll have one in the fall again, after kids are back in school. 

Each coffee starts the same: pick a date and send out the invite then decide on some snacks.  The date arrives and I wait, usually not knowing who will attend.  It's a fun guessing game as to who may show.  I've had close to 10 show and once no one showed.  And I love it no matter what.

Last week one gal was able to come.  I felt so special having her all to myself.  I love hearing her stories and she has this wonderful way of challenging me with thought provoking questions.  She is a deep thinker, something I am not. 

My previous coffee was such a blessing to me.  Three wonderful friends showed up (clarification: all those on my invite list are wonderful!).  I was able to catch up with a couple of the gals and find out some very significant changes happening in their lives and discover what their kids were up to.  We sit at the table, nibble on treats, sip coffee or tea and enjoy each.  The time files by.

This coffee was especially touching for me because my friend, who has been in France for a few years, was back in the states and made sure her schedule cleared to come to my coffee.  This was the first time the family was back in the states since they left so they were filled with appointments and time with friends and family - and my house was one of her stops.  I am pretty sure she was tired from her non-stop schedule; rejuvenated, but tired.  Little does she realize how much she encouraged me to see her and hear, first-hand, how life in France is and how their call to love the French as Christ loved her has been going.  If you'd like to follow her adventures of loving Christ and being a French church planter, you can at her blog, Four For France.

These coffees allow me to slow down and take in life with friends.  Something I need to do much more often.

Welcome Back

What a surprise I had at Costco.

Before I get to that let me catch you up on my day.  I didn't sleep well the night before and to top it off woke up even earlier than I normally do on a weekday.  Yuk, why is that???  Nothing that a couple of cups of coffee can't help.  So I drank my coffee, read the paper then ran on the treadmill for 2.5 miles. Another side note....I signed my husband and me up for a 7K run in July (yikes!  That's 4.3 miles....I had to look it up).  I haven't run in a race for probably 15 years, and then only did a couple, but this one is sponsored by our church and helps Kenya with clean water.  So I'm focusing on running, which is NOT a natural thing for me to do. 

Back to the story.

My kids were gone for the day on their own adventures so it was nice and peaceful in the early morning.  I got ready and hubby and I went to lunch then headed over to Costco.  We needed fertilizer, but they were out.  We did manage to find many other items to fill the cart, though.  Isn't that always the case when you go to Costco?  It is for me.  I will try to go in for only a couple of items, then walk out with more than I planned (Yes, that is another post and issue to discuss about self control). 

We made it just past the TV's and there was my surprise.  A friend I haven't seen in five years was there.  She and her family have been in Germany for the last five years for her husband's job.  I knew they were headed back to the states this summer, but didn't realize they were already back.  They have been back for only seven days she told me.  I could have talked to her for hours - luckily we didn't and our husbands were very kind and patient in the 15 minutes or more we did chat.  It was such an unexpected treat to run into her and made my day!

Mrs. O had been one of the first attendees at my coffees.  One of the things I love the most about her is she asks probing questions.  Not the kind that are invasive, but truly inquisitive and thought provoking.  She's a thinker and challenges me.  And always with such kindness and sensitivity.  That's her heart and her nature. 

Since I take the summer off from coffee hosting I now can't wait for Fall to have my next coffee and know there is a chance she can make it. 

Have you had any fun surprised lately?

We Need A Car

Yes, that red car is, or should I say was, our car.  By God's grace our injuries weren't as bad as they could/should have been.  My husband was driving with my daughter and the other driver clipped a city bus and hit my husband head on.  The broken windshield is from the airbag, thankfully, not my daughter.  Here's a link to the story that the news covered along with more pictures.  (The added comments below the story are others who know nothing about the accident except what they read.)

After saying our blessings, we are now a bit put off because we are in the throws of car shopping-yuk.  We really liked this extremely reliable and affordable low mileage car.  Trying to find something comparable has me pulling my hair out.  I hate the idea of having to replace something that didn't need replacing prior to this and I'm not finding anything similar. 

The drama we've been experiencing these past four plus months is getting old.  I don't live a drama filled life and am ready for the "excitement" to subside.  I think we are on our way because my son has been golfing very well and that has been exciting to see him improve during the school season, which just ended the other day.  As he reminded us, now he has to start paying for his golf.  Time to find a job, I think, to help pay for all those tee times.

I am planning on having a coffee soon.  This will get me to clean the house and get back to a more typical "normal".  I've already decided that I'm not worrying about making fun treats (something I love doing) because that's not important.  The local grocery store can supply the goodies this time.  It's the company around the table is what I crave and enjoy and are what the coffee times are all about.

Enjoy and appreciate your families today.

Coffee

I recently had a coffee at my house.  The things I look forward to when I plan a coffee....

1.  Creating the invitation

2.  Deciding what goodies to make

3.  Who will show - will anyone show?

And my husband's favorite...

4.  Having a clean home

Sometimes my husband will ask if I'm having a coffee any time soon because the house needs a good cleaning (I'm the first to admit, and my husband is the second, that I'm not the world's best cleaner.  Actually, I'm not the anything's best cleaner).  So, sometimes I decide to have a coffee just to get me to do some extra cleaning - and it always works.

I enjoy having a coffee get-together in December because the house is festive with Christmas decorations and there are so many dessert ideas to choose from.  This time I had shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate (some sprinkled with crushed candy cane) and seven layer bars.  My daughter loved the seven layer bars. 

This time I only had one person show and it was a sweet neighbor lady.  I don't know this woman very well, so it was a treat for me to have her all to myself for an hour and get to know her better.  This is what's so great about hosting the coffees.  I prepare for ten but expect none.  With these expectations, each coffee is always a success.  Refer back to the four items above.

I only have three or four coffees a year - I don't do any during the summer months.  I'll be planning another as Spring gets closer.  By then my house will need a good cleaning.