pre-party adventure
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Lara & I love to have people over. It's something we've always had fun doing for the last 16 plus years. There are more than a few stories of the happenings at the Thompson gatherings. Yet there are also a few stories of happenings moments "before" the Thompson gatherings. I call them pre-party adventures. Last night was one of those nights. Thursday nights, our LifeGroup (18 people) gathers at our home to hang out and do life together around 7:00 p.m. I've found that I look forward to our LifeGroup nights. Not just because I get to hang with great people and study the Word of God. Not because I get to chow on some great food. Not just because I have an excuse to drink my Starbucks Gold Coast at night. But because the house has a reason to be clean. It's awesome. We have a built-in weekly motivator to have the place looking presentable. (Anybody else pickin' up what I'm layin' down? Guests = Clean House. It's a win-win formula.) So last evening, at about 6:45 p.m. the house is looking sharp. Everything is ready for "show time". Jazz music on? Check. Candles lit? Coffee brewing? Check. Chairs set up to accommodate the gang? Check. Dog put away? Check. Large fuzzies that collect in the corner picked up and thrown away? Check. Tea pot on? Check. Pillows straightened up on the couches and love seat? Check. |
| "Sweety. What's that smell?" It's now 6:49 p.m. T minus 11 minutes 'till "show time". "Some chicken juice oozed out of the package and on to the stove top when I was making dinner and I had to clean it up with the antibacterial spray. " (We have a flat electric stove top.) "So what is that disgusting smell?" "It must be the residue of the antibacterial spray heating up on the stove top under the tea pot." It's now 6:51 p.m. T minus 9 minutes 'till "show time". "Quick! Turn the stove off! Wipe that nasty stove down again with some hot water! Light some more candles! Open the windows! Open the front door! Create a draft!" (Did I mention that it was 28 degrees outside?) It's now 6:55 p.m. T minus 5 minutes 'till "show time". And then our first guest walks in wondering why the front door was open when it's so cold out. The digusting smell has started to dissipate as the draft and the vanilla almond candle does it's magic. Another guest arrives. Show time. Another pre-party adventure is complete. At least the house is clean. | |
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