What a busy few days they have been. Our new friends left, and our household is back to a family of five again. We can hang up our host's hats for now.
Right after our guests left, we went throughout the house and cleaned like before the guests arrived. We probably washed over 30 loads of laundry, including towels, bed linens, and our family laundry. (I'm thankful for our washer and dryer machines. They have been swishing away for almost 21 years without any issues.). We put away items we wouldn't usually use or have out. My husband returned to vacuuming and steam cleaning our carpets so the house would be fresh again. There was plenty of cleaning before but probably more after. It's not as fun to do it afterward because there's no anticipation of hosting guests, but it's still necessary.
I want to give a massive shout-out to my kids, who were troopers in accommodating others above themselves and trying to befriend as many of our guests as possible. Funny story: one morning, when I was up to get ready for work, I didn't see my daughter sleeping in her spot on the floor in our room. I wondered where she could be, and then I was surprised when I opened my closet door. She moved from her spot to the closet because of my husband's snoring, my one son's heavy breathing, my other son's coughing, and me grinding my teeth—memorable times, to say the least.
But the MVP award goes out to my husband. Even though he's still recovering from the accident, he dedicated himself to preparing and cooking delicious food for what started as 21 people and ended up being 26. He didn't complain or have a sour attitude about having to accommodate the changes. His efforts were truly remarkable.
I would give my husband a suggested menu idea, and then he would make it happen but with his extra flare. I'm still an amateur when it comes to cooking several hot dishes simultaneously. I know timing is key, but it's a skill I haven't perfected yet. However, my husband mastered it by ensuring every dish was hot and ready to serve when everyone was ready to eat. Every dish was presented with his touch of detail. From all the shopping, prepping, and serving, he fed every meal like we were royalty. I'm thankful to have my own personal chef extraordinaire.
I pray my kids follow their father's footsteps and have a servant's heart, even if it's not in the kitchen. I hope they find their own unique ways to serve God by serving others, and I'm excited to see the impact they'll make in the world by loving well.
It was a stretching but fruitful few days. I will share more in a separate post. Off to fold more laundry. ☺
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