I have been blessed with a bunch of awesome friends, and last night God used them to pour out His love on us. Our Sunday school class is big, so we try to have socials to develop friendships outside of class. About every month or so, the ladies usually get together, and I'd planned to host a dessert-&-coffee/tea thing at my house this time, but my friend Jenifer called last week and asked if we could switch it to her house since I'd hosted last time, and because it would be lovely to do it on her back porch. So I sent out an email to let everyone know about the change.
Last weekend, Jenifer said she really wanted to include the teen and preteen girls, and we talked about how it's really wonderful to have multi-generational get-togethers sometimes. She said to go ahead and bring Kathryn, too. When she mentioned something about zebra-striped decorations, I started thinking maybe she was planning a little something to make Lindsey feel special... but I had no idea what she really had in mind!
She had secretly sent out another email to tell everyone else that this was to be a celebration of Lindsey joining our family--sort of like a baby shower celebrates the baby and the mama. All the decorations matched Lindsey's room, with lavender and black-and-white throughout the party. Lindsey was excited about getting to take home some of the adorable decorations. Jenifer had also made a little display on the wall above the table with the flier we first got about Lindsey, the photo from our first meeting, and one from the first day we went to spend the day with her; these things have been hanging on their family's refrigerator as they've prayed for us all and celebrated the story God's been writing.
Lindsey is a very personable girl, and chatted with everyone there. She and Jenifer's two teenage daughters are already friends, and she hit it off with another sweet teenage girl at last night's party, too. It's so neat when your kids become friends with your friends' kids! All these girls are homeschooled, too, so I think that's helping Lindsey get more and more comfortable with the concept. I don't think she'd ever known any homeschoolers until she moved here, so she probably thought we'd all be pretty weird! {grin}
We all socialized, ate plenty of yummy brownies (and a little fruit!), and we went around the group sharing a bit about questions on strips of paper we'd randomly chosen -- some were deep and heartfelt, and some were just plain funny, like Joanna's tale of hitting a skunk when driving to her first date with her now-husband! My question was, "What is your best summer memory?" At first, I racked my brain to think of something from years past, but then I realized my answer would be this summer, when Lindsey became our daughter. Lindsey's question was, "If you could change your name, what would it be?" She said she wouldn't change her first name because that was the first gift she'd ever been given, but that she'll be happy when she gets to change her last name to ours.
After all of that, we all gathered 'round Lindsey and prayed over her; it was a very sweet time. Then, more socializing, a few more brownies, and Lindsey opened her gifts, including a box-full of anonymous gift cards to stores like Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, even Trader Joe's! She received a few other lovely gifts and some sweet greeting cards. (It is, by the way, quite difficult to find cards to suit such an occasion!)
The timing of this was perfect, as was everything God orchestrates. We had that beautiful celebration on Sunday at Lindsey's former church, so everyone could love on her and tell her goodbye. Then later that same week, this celebration, so everyone could love on her and tell her welcome!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who was part of this special evening!
Last weekend, Jenifer said she really wanted to include the teen and preteen girls, and we talked about how it's really wonderful to have multi-generational get-togethers sometimes. She said to go ahead and bring Kathryn, too. When she mentioned something about zebra-striped decorations, I started thinking maybe she was planning a little something to make Lindsey feel special... but I had no idea what she really had in mind!
She had secretly sent out another email to tell everyone else that this was to be a celebration of Lindsey joining our family--sort of like a baby shower celebrates the baby and the mama. All the decorations matched Lindsey's room, with lavender and black-and-white throughout the party. Lindsey was excited about getting to take home some of the adorable decorations. Jenifer had also made a little display on the wall above the table with the flier we first got about Lindsey, the photo from our first meeting, and one from the first day we went to spend the day with her; these things have been hanging on their family's refrigerator as they've prayed for us all and celebrated the story God's been writing.
Lindsey is a very personable girl, and chatted with everyone there. She and Jenifer's two teenage daughters are already friends, and she hit it off with another sweet teenage girl at last night's party, too. It's so neat when your kids become friends with your friends' kids! All these girls are homeschooled, too, so I think that's helping Lindsey get more and more comfortable with the concept. I don't think she'd ever known any homeschoolers until she moved here, so she probably thought we'd all be pretty weird! {grin}We all socialized, ate plenty of yummy brownies (and a little fruit!), and we went around the group sharing a bit about questions on strips of paper we'd randomly chosen -- some were deep and heartfelt, and some were just plain funny, like Joanna's tale of hitting a skunk when driving to her first date with her now-husband! My question was, "What is your best summer memory?" At first, I racked my brain to think of something from years past, but then I realized my answer would be this summer, when Lindsey became our daughter. Lindsey's question was, "If you could change your name, what would it be?" She said she wouldn't change her first name because that was the first gift she'd ever been given, but that she'll be happy when she gets to change her last name to ours.After all of that, we all gathered 'round Lindsey and prayed over her; it was a very sweet time. Then, more socializing, a few more brownies, and Lindsey opened her gifts, including a box-full of anonymous gift cards to stores like Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, even Trader Joe's! She received a few other lovely gifts and some sweet greeting cards. (It is, by the way, quite difficult to find cards to suit such an occasion!)
The timing of this was perfect, as was everything God orchestrates. We had that beautiful celebration on Sunday at Lindsey's former church, so everyone could love on her and tell her goodbye. Then later that same week, this celebration, so everyone could love on her and tell her welcome!Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who was part of this special evening!
