Christmas Party Time!

 We had about twenty people in our home last night! For many of you this is normal behavior, especially at this time of year. For Hubs and me it is unusual behavior, at least for the last ten years. So this makes last night's event a pretty  big deal.

Ten years ago we were the senior pastors of a small church so our home was full of people all the time. We had parties and meetings several times a month. I loved it, Hubs tolerated it but knew it was part of the job.

For the last ten years we have not opened our home very much because it was not expected or required of us in our changed position as teachers of a ministry school. But there is another really creepy and gross reason we've kept our house
off limits to even our close friends.

Our two sons were living at home and the "guest" bathroom was their bathroom. (at this point I am wondering why I am announcing this to the world?!) You know how little boys are really dirty, messy and pretty much oblivious to cleanliness?

Well, as little boys get bigger, the mess gets bigger. At least for our house it did. I tried everything to get them to clean  the bathroom. There were check-lists taped inside the mirror doors giving them step by step instructions for keeping the room useful to humans. Did not work.
                          

 The truth is that we did not have company because our house needed a lot of work and the bathroom was just too horrible to allow friends to use it. I used to lock it and tape a note to please use the master bedroom's bathroom down the hall.

 But now that we are EMPTY NESTERS, we have remodeled the guest bath and it is beautiful! So this year we invited our Connection Group of twenty students that attend the ministry school. The school has three Connection Groups of twenty people each.

We had a great time with our wonderful students! The small tree in the main room was covered with glittery ornaments we found at Wmart for only $1 each and we had them choose one to take home along with a goodie bag. Their surprise and delight was super fun! Even Hubs had a great time!

From now on I think we will be having more company in our pretty home and I am so looking forward to it!
The clincher was when one of our girls came to me and told me that the bathroom was so serene she wanted to just stay in there!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!