Seeing One Another Through - Friday Foto Friends

In my last post A-little-nervous-energy and-it-isnt-even spring yet, I mentioned that I was preparing for a ladies' gathering at my home this week.  Well, today (writing this on Thursday) was the day...and what a glorious day it was! Nine beautiful ladies (and one charming little granddaughter with her grandmother) came together for a "Tea-Brunch", a time to "honor  and encourage our Pastor's Wives and Friends " with a time of fellowship and prayer....

This was an idea born out of a desire to bring together the pastor's wives and friends from our local community churches, sponsored by our home Bible fellowship.  We live in a small town with only a few churches, and it seems as though we all have a tendency to stay within our own little groups and not mix with those from the other churches, and to me that just seems a real shame.  We are all here for the same purpose, serving the same Lord and sharing the love of Christ with those we meet wherever we go.  So, this was an effort to bring the ladies together for a time of getting acquainted, sharing our burdens with one another and lifting each other up in prayer.  We found out that we were a very congenial and caring group...and it is our hope that we will continue to meet like this on a regular basis in the future.

The picture above of the verse and quote is from a little daily devotional calendar that I have had for years, sitting on a shelf, and occasionally remembering to turn the pages for each day.  When I was dusting the furniture in preparation for this gathering, I thought perhaps I should flip the pages over to the scheduled day of the brunch, and was so surprised to see what was written there...and it was as if God was saying, "Here is My message for the ladies...this is what I want you to share with them..."
and so it became the theme for our time together...bearing one another's burdens...seeing one another through...perfect!  Isn't God amazing? He always comes through if we just take the time to notice.

This was an especially poignant time for me, as while we were gathered together for prayer and fellowship, my husband was meeting his brother at the nursing home where their mother (my mother in law) was being admitted for long term care.  I had a feeling that it would all collide on the same day, but God knew beforehand that this would be the best way to handle it.  These ladies were able to show me the support and love that I needed, as well as praying for my mother in law and family during a difficult transition.  And the good news is, the facility where she is now living is in the nearest city to us, so it will not be difficult for us to visit her often. That is a wonderful answer to prayer!

Okay, so this is my offering for the weekly "Friday Foto Friends"...when you are finished reading here CLICK HERE to skip over to Deb's place at  "Breathing in Grace" and see what others are sharing.  Here are a few more pictures from our event...and also some of the table settings before the ladies arrived. It truly was a lovely time...and next time the girls said they want to meet in "The Secret Garden", which hopefully will be ready soon!  (It really isn't a secret at all, is it?!)


Here are the "Before" pictures:

"An Invitation to Tea" was sent out to all the ladies

Love these beautiful camellias...









And here are the "After pictures"....love these beautiful ladies:

Our menu included a spinach, bacon, cheese, egg brunch casserole, a ham and cheese quiche, a delightful berry fruit cup topped with an almond cream sauce, delicious "Grandma's Coffee Cake" and Applesauce Muffins....and any kind of tea you could want...and of course coffee for those who prefer it.

In addition to eating, talking and praying, one of our lovely ladies (above on the right side of the table) blessed us with a beautiful solo of "In The Garden", which left us each desiring to have that peaceful time of walking and talking with the Lord in the garden "while the dew is still on the roses".
A delightful time was had by all...and we look forward to future times of "Seeing One Another Through".