SURPRISE ARRIVALS

We enjoy having people over for dinner!   It may take place in the backyard, kitchen or dining room, but wherever we’re seated, we can be sure of laughter being part of the experience.

This event turned out so surprisingly that I just had to share what transpired.  I seldom remember what we serve people to eat, but on this occasion I tried a new way to serve vegetables.  Rather than place the various vegetables in separate dishes, I made a platter of them.   I placed the cauliflower, dripping with cheese sauce in the center, and I placed some other veggies around it.  It’s an amazing trick I learned from one of my friends.   It not only looks attractive, it also gives the appearance of an abundance of food.   And on this evening, that was important.   Just for the record, the main entrée was roast pork.

We had invited a couple over for dinner that were visiting in the southern California area.   My husband had done some consulting work for this individual who was the president of a Christian University in Canada, but I had never met he or his wife, so this was our first time socially, and we were anxious to see them and enjoy the evening together.  This evening I had set a lovely table in the dining room.   I was just adding a few touches to the table, when my husband noticed their arrival in front of our home.  All was ready just to pull out of the oven, so I was in good shape.

“There’s more coming, he exclaimed.”  What?  We had invited two, how could there be more than that.   “They brought their three teenage children!”   From the moment those words proceeded out of my husband’s vocal chords, I flew through the kitchen for three more plates and utensils.   I can’t remember the speed in which I rearranged the place settings on the table and shoved three more dishes and cuttlery in place.   

As I’m feverishly moving items in place, my husband is giving me an up-to-the-second arrival schedule.   When the doorbell rang, I was out of breath.   In walked this couple with their three teenage children.   They’re a lovely family and we were pleased to have them all, but how could I have made such a numerical blunder.

Everyone was greeted and made their way to the dining table.  I’m still processing more oxygen to get the roast and veggies out of the oven.   I can honestly say that the new idea of the veggies on the platter was a hit for the unexpected additional arrivals.

The conversation around the table was full of laughter with the update about their lives and ours.   When dessert was served I brought out a pecan pie.   My husband was pouring the tea and I began the slicing event of 7 pieces of pie, one for each guest.   And you’ll never believe it, but there was one piece left.  

I can’t remember how the topic came up, but we finally let the cat out of the bag about not realizing their children would be coming with them to our home.   You could hear the gasps from all of them, but we soon assured them of their welcome.   By this time we were all laughing “uncontrollably” about the situation.   Then I glanced over at the lonely piece of pie remaining.  I lost all sense of appropriateness and grabbed the pie dish, and began passing it to the person on my left indicating that we were all going to get involved in eating this last piece of pie.   We were still laughing about the situation.  

Even today, when I serve a pork roast to guests, my mind goes back to the evening when more came to dinner than were ever expected.   It brings a chuckle to my heart even as I write about it today.

So, I guess the moral of the story is that when you invite guests, it never hurts to have an abundance of veggies and bread and butter just in case more show up as an unexpected, but delightful surprise.

This couple became dear friends through the years and we would often look back with laughter at the wonderful surprise God had in store for my husband and I that evening.   This dinner event taught me to welcome “whoever” walks through the door of our home, and that you can serve crackers and cheese, or a full dinner to them.   It doesn’t matter the cuisine, but the love with which it’s served.    Laughter accompanied our dessert that evening and secured a loving and lasting relationship with them all.