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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:
Inspire Me Mondays 

Tell Me A True Story



Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 6, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    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. Creations By CindyApril 6, 2015 at 11:36 AM

    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. Mevely317April 6, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    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. bettyApril 6, 2015 at 8:06 PM

    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. a joyful noiseApril 6, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    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. Ifeoma SamuelApril 7, 2015 at 12:39 AM

    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. JoyApril 7, 2015 at 7:24 AM

    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. TerriApril 7, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    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. TerriApril 7, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    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. Lisa notes...April 7, 2015 at 10:23 AM

    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. caryjoApril 7, 2015 at 7:00 PM

    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. Wise HeartedApril 7, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    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. blestbutstrestApril 8, 2015 at 8:25 AM

    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. FloydApril 8, 2015 at 5:13 PM

    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. Lux G.April 9, 2015 at 9:40 AM

    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. CeilApril 9, 2015 at 9:42 AM

    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. Joyful in His PresenceApril 10, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    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. Susan Marlene April 12, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    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. SharonApril 13, 2015 at 1:58 PM

    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

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