Skip to main content

From Perfection to Poo-Pourri






My ideal candlelight dinner party didn’t end up perfect like I imagined.



In my head, I planed something outstanding.  I would start early in the week and by Saturday night when my guests arrived, they would applaud my homemade manicotti accompanied by homemade sauce along with the beauty of my table setting complete with my finest dinnerware and polished silver.



Lori and Brian were prompt and I creviced in Brian’s hug.  My invitation made him feel loved in the thick of appointments during the week with the VA giving him the run around as they treated the newly diagnosed tumor on his liver.  I embraced his exhausted Lori, weary and warn these days, and invited them to grab a seat at my altar of perfection in the dining room where I lit the candles and we sipped our sodas waiting for my kids to join us. 



When Amy and Mark arrived, we chatted as we dipped crusty bread in olive oil and spices.  Tom served his delightful platter of antipasto and then we dug into my homemade pasta entrees.   It was an evening that transcended them all.  I made a pot of coffee and served it with my homemade Italian Cream Cake, the piece de resistance. 



Our stunning Amy looked and spoke with elegance, but she never fools her mama and I bristled when I opened her beautifully wrapped gift.  Boisterous crackles filled my dining room when I held up a box of winter, summer, spring and fall Poo-Pourri, the spray for the toilet before you go to the bathroom.  I’m a clueless country girl and it made it all the funnier.  Tom pulled up the commercial on his desktop and we all gathered around his big screen, holding our sides with laughter.  See it here.



The night ended too soon.  We all hugged goodbye.  When I placed the last plate in the dishwasher, Brian knocked at my back door.  It had been constantly raining all evening and as his van pulled away in the soft mud, he got stuck.  I mean really stuck!  It took the guys over two hours to get his van up and going.  I knew they would figure it out; my goodness, they survived the war zone in Viet Nam.



PRAISE GOD WHO RESCUES US IN THE MUD

This is my story of the perfect intimate dinner party gone bad.  I am, again, reminded that perfection does not exist and that my friends and family are the tools that God uses to make me laugh and release me, and keep me humble and free from my fantasy that, well, I am royalty.



As we sojourn together in this life, I’m remembering it’s not about me.  I’m just a country girl with a vision and I thank the Lord for those who love me with a rich and rewarding love but won’t let me get away with anything!


I'm linking to:



Comments

  1. Yes, it is about the imperfect ones remembering the forgiveness and love of our Creator. Life is filled with the ups and downs, yet He never stops loving us.
    Nice to visit from Anita's.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I have enjoyed this post with your humble approach to our tiring efforts of trying to be perfect in a non-perfect world. Things go wrong for sure! Laughter is the best medicine! Thank you for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  3. You have such a gift for words, Mary! What visuals you’ve painted for us would-be perfectionists!
    … “creviced in a hug”? I love it!

    Amy’s poo-pourri made me guffaw! Isn’t the gift of laugher grand?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't know, reading this, I think your evening went relatively well; of course there were the problems, especially with the van getting stuck in the mud, but it seemed perfect with the people sharing love and a good meal together!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your evening was a total success, even with the laughter and the gift of bathroom spray. Being an old stick in the mud is not so good, so might as well laugh with everyone else. Sorry about Brian being stuck in the "Mud." But that was part of the memory for a wonderful evening. Thank you for sharing with us your wonderful story here at Tell me a Story.

    ReplyDelete
  6. If things were all perfect, I think it would become boring at some time. Sometimes messes and mud allow us to see beauty in little things that matter more in life- family, friends, community, laughter and joys.
    Loads of Blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think too that life without challenge and ups and down is boring. We just be happy when we can and take one problem at a time.
    Have a blessed week my friend:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What was perfect was the sweet gathering of people and the love. We spent Easter alone again as we have now for many years. We take what God gives us and appreciate the smallest of blessings. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What was perfect was the sweet gathering of people and the love. We spent Easter alone again as we have now for many years. We take what God gives us and appreciate the smallest of blessings. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're so right that perfection does not exist. Why do we keep thinking it will? ha. I do it too. But when we let go and know God will pull us out of the mud, we can enjoy the party even more. Lovely story!

    ReplyDelete
  11. As usual, you did quite an unusual and blessing way to share and spread the truthfulness and the needfulness around to many. Ya dun good. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How blessed you to be able to write this sentence, I am, again, reminded that perfection does not exist and that my friends and family are the tools that God uses to make me laugh and release me, and keep me humble and free from my fantasy that, well, I am royalty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It sounds like a lovely meal with a challenging twist at the end ;). AZ mud is amazing stuff, isn't it?! Thank you for linking up at Inspire Me Monday :).

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great story. It's funny that in our imperfect world, God makes it exactly what we need for the time we're in.

    Blessings to you and your friends. Praying for him.

    I know it's not perfect here, but Italian is as close as you can get!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Praise Him indeed for always being ready to reach out to us no matter how far we've gone away or how low we get.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Mary! I love that quote from Nicholas Cage that started off your post. I so agree with that. Perfection is boring! I think you had a wonderful evening, topped off with saving a car from the mud :)

    God truly worked through you for your friend who are going through such a hard time. You helped their mood, and then their truck. Pretty good evening if you ask me!
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete
  17. Truly, it is not about us...but all about HIM and the way He desires to work in our lives and change us to His image.

    You are a gem, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh I laughed with your post! You are adorable! Thank you for sharing your perfect meal - that didn't go all that badly really! Very nice! I'm sure your efforts will never be forgotten!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just love the way you tell a story, Mary! I feel like I'm right there with you. I've never really given a dinner party (I know, just not an entertainer, or a cook!) - but I have a feeling that if I tried it just might be a hot mess!

    Poo-pourri. OK, that's funny!

    Thank goodness we have the sweet-smelling love of Jesus to cover all the *stinky stuff* of life!!

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Because He Lives, I Can Move

I’m currently in one of those places where you lay out all the options and then you make the best decision. It seems, however, like none of the choices are fair or attractive. I know God will help me in my situation because I desire His guidance. I’m clinging to His Word which promises that ALL things work together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28. I heard a great teaching this week about seeking God’s will and all the freedom that surrender brings. We can know that God is bringing about a victory if we trust Him with each and every decision. The speaker illustrated his point with a famous painting. The painting depicts a look of despair on the chess player’s face. He’s playing Satan and his soul is at stake. It looks like Satan is winning. Checkmate! When Paul Morphy saw this painting back in the 1800’s, he set up a chess board and aligned the pieces to reflect the painting. Being a world champion, he studied the board. His conclusi

Humor for the Bride and Groom

A young couple decided to wed.  As the big day approached, they grew apprehensive.  Each had a problem they had never before shared with anyone, not even each other. The Groom-to-be, overcoming his fear, decided to ask his father for advice.   "Father," he said, "I am deeply concerned about the success of my marriage."  His father replied, "Don't you love this girl?"   "Oh yes, very much," he said," but you see, I have very smelly feet, and I'm afraid that my fiancé will be put off by them."  "No problem," said dad, "all you have to do is wash your feet as often as possible, and always wear socks, even to bed."   Well, to him this seemed a workable solution. The bride-to-be, overcoming her fear, decided to take her problem up with her mom."  Mom," she said, "When I wake up in the morning my breath is truly awful."  "Honey," her mother consoled, "everyone has

A Veteran's Story

  I noticed Bill sitting in our local park where I walk.   He glanced my way just as I finished the last exercise walk song on my playlist.   He shouted and pointed to my car:   “Hey, is that your car with the Nam front license plate?   I stepped closer into the veranda where Bill sat on a picnic bench.   I noticed his Vietnam Vet cap and instantly I knew why I walked there that day.   The Marine Vet served during the 1960’s, the same time span as my husband.   Bill talked a lot about the war evoking my emotions from laughter to tears.   My South Vietnam front plate often prompts a conversation with a stranger and I’ve learned a deep respect for it over the years.   It is my way of listening to a veteran.   I enjoyed listening to Bill.   He made me laugh in spots but he made me cry as well.   Like when he talked about the sandwich lady.   “Do you ever eat at the sandwich shop in the gas station down the street?”   I replied that I’ve order coffee once in that place with a turke