Our home has been a place of gatherings for the past thirteen years or so. College kids started hanging out at our house during the winter of 1999 when we lived in Flagstaff, Arizona. Late night cocoa and midnight football in the snow accompanied by "hookie-bobbing" behind our vehicles thru the street of our quiet neighborhood were frequent occurrences. The late nights continued for the years we lived in San Antonio and ministered to young adults. Last year our house was quiet here in Kalamazoo, almost strangely quiet. This year has seen the return of late nights at our home, and we are all rejoicing.
The holiday gatherings over this past weekend included a party for Steve's friends Friday night...complete with cookie decorating, a bit of wild dancing (which actually made my Christmas tree sway back and forth as the house shook) and culminated with watching The Grinch. Saturday night my Red Tent ladies came for dinner with their spouses, and Monday we hosted the team from Open Hearts Ministry.
As the original three grow older the fun of these parties increases. The prep time was almost as much as the parties.
I don't have any deep profound words to share about any of this, just profound gratitude for the return of gatherings that feel life giving and sweet to my soul.
Comments