The Invite

Al and I decided that we wanted to invite our neighbors over for a soup supper.  

It seems that in this modern culture, at least in this area, people come home from jobs and just roll into their garages and stay in their homes.  And so it is hard to really get to know those who live by you.  We have wanted to get to know our neighbors more - not just their names.  

                                    

We decided on a day and took the invitations to people who lived beside us - 2 houses on both sides of us and north of us.  Only one person was home where we could hand it to them personally.  We taped the invitation to the front doors for the others.

Our son-in-law asked if we could babysit Friday so they could go on a date.

We wouldn't turn that down!  I thought it would be good to have the girls help us make a peanut butter pie for the dinner.

Big sister, who loves cooking, is learning to be patient with her younger sister(?)

 Doesn't it look good???  The recipe is at the end of this post.  The girls did such a good job!
 I also made 2 cherry cheese cakes!  Yum!

Saturday was blanketed with snow.  We knew that wouldn't be a problem since we are just a short walk away from the homes by us.

 Al shoveled the sidewalk and driveway.

We had the home all ready.  Put on some soft jazz and soft lighting.  The smells from the soup and bread were wonderful!

We were not sure who would make it.  We got replies from some but not all.  One couple could not get out of a previous engagement.  Another family had birthday party plans.  Another lady was ill. We found out that one family had a death in their family this past week and we figured they wouldn't make it.  We didn't hear from another.

It ended up that only 1 person was able to make it.

The thing is, we had prayed that God would send who He had in mind, so even if only 1 could come, we would make the best of it and hopefully make that person feel welcomed.  And we did have a good time and found some common ground too!  

It really reminded me so much of the story in Luke 14.  There was an invitation given out.  But there were many excuses for not being able to go.  

"In ancient eastern civilization, to turn down an invitation to a dinner would be a declaration of war because when you're invited to a meal with someone, that was an extension of friendship and when you refused that, that was a statement that you wanted no friendship with that individual."  Oh wow. 

I am in no way saying that my neighbors are my enemies.  Ha ha!!  No!! we extend grace and we totally understand the busy lifestyles we as Americans have!!  We had a good time and even were able to take the extra soup and pie to a family that needed it!  And we will definitely be planning another gathering in a couple months or so!!

                                       

One day there will be a lavish banquet!  God is preparing and making ready.  What a heavenly celebration it will be!  But there is disinterest, indifference, even defiance to the message of Jesus Christ.  "Come!" (Rev. 22:17) He says.  How He loves us and wants us to come to this feast!  He invites ALL to come.  But we must accept the invitation.

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Reece's Pie - (makes 2 pies)

Mix 3.9 oz. instant chocolate pudding recipe using pie filling instructions.

Spread on the bottoms of 2 graham cracker pie shells.

Next layer:

1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, soft

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 T. butter, soft

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all together with mixer.  Fold in 1 container Cool Whip or 1 cup heavy cream that has been whipped.

Divide among the 2 pies and layer on top of the chocolate layer.

Top with more Cool Whip.

Top with broken Reece's peanut butter cups.

Drizzle with melted chocolate chips (melt in microwave).  To make it more drizzly, I add 1 tsp. shortening to the melted chips.