It takes a village

Every Fall Russ hosts a dinner for his clients. This event is always interesting to pull off. Last year Russ' mom and sisters came from far and wide to help clean, cook and decorate. This year they had just been away from their families for Sisters Retreat, so I figured I'd call a few friends in my moment of need. One friend decorated the tables in a manner that would make even Martha drool. I'm hoping to get some pictures from her, but there were white pumpkins, candles, plaid table runners with matching napkins, and every other manner of fall decor possible. She was literally decorating until the first guest arrived. She even has bruises from cutting wire for extended periods of time.
Then my neighbor stopped by who is a great chef. She frosted pumpkin bars, drizzled caramel on cheesecakes, glazed a ham and ran home multiple times to get just the right serving platter for this and that.
Then another friend let my youngest children stay for the first half an hour so they could meet Daddy's work friends, and then whisked them away so I could be more attentive to our guests. That was a brilliant idea, that I'm so glad she thought of. I'm confident Matthew would have pulled the tablecloths off in minutes and started a huge fire had he been around all night.

It's great to have a deadline to get projects done that have been hanging on for a while. We hung multiple pictures, mulched the yard, had the carpets cleaned, and the house looking cleaner than it's been in some time.

But just to remind us of reality, as I went to get the door for the first guest I saw a big puddle on the floor, and realized our potty training child had not received enough attention that day.

It was a wonderful evening. I went to bed very grateful that things had gone as smoothly as they did, and very grateful for wonderful friends who do so much for me. They say it takes a village to raise a child, I believe that is true. I've learned it also takes a village to host a party.