Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Blessing of Visitors

Our friends came to visit on Wednesday. They left, as planned, on Saturday.  In between we said more words than I've heard in ages! We laughed, we shared, we sang, compared  gardening notes, we recalled memories,we commiserated, we drank too much coffee, we ate too much and probably slept too little.

What a joy it was to see them again!  It had been two years between our last visit and this one. Our men had met for the first time when they came here in 2009, and they became instant friends. The gabbed in the rocking chairs on the front porch, as if they'd known each other for years. (or, as Nan said, "like two old women!") 

The house seemed strangely quiet after they'd gone. Mike and I sat for some time sharing the highlights of the four days, much of which the other of us had missed, as sometimes there were two simultaneous conversations taking place...one between the males, one between the females. 

It is time now, to begin a new week, pulling things back in order and regularity. We have Easter to plan a menu  for, and a guest room to clean and laundry to do....all the routine stuff to return to. And then...it will be Saturday when my oldest daughter and her two teenagers will arrive for the weekend. We will share time, catch up on their lives, speak many words, eat too much and sleep too little...again. We will  celebrate the Easter Day with church together and add more family to the table on Sunday. We will give thanks together for the food, for the family gathered and that which is afar. We will offer praise for the Springtime, for the flowers, for every good and perfect gift that the Father has showered upon us.

And...we will feel honored for the blessing of visitors.