Sweet things

Two months....so hard to believe....in a way, it feels longer than that since I lost my dear and precious friend...It seems like it's been forever...I still love her, but I think more now than ever, as she's in a much better place, called Heaven. I pray that everyone would go there, but few do...and she was one of the few! I am so thankful for that!!! Whenever her family introduces me to someone, they always introduce me as 'This is Ari. She was Amy's best friend'...And I am so touched by that. Even though we rarely saw each other, we texted quite a bit, and we were always there for each other. We made each other laugh all the time. It was so much fun!!! I feel that I have taken her place in some people's lives, which I don't mind, but I know it definitely is not the same. Especially as I wasn't around her much. I may have been her best friend, but I feel that some people have had a much harder time....for me it was just an occasional visit, and texting alot, but for others, it was seeing her everyday. I feel for those people. She touched so many lives, it's amazing. She was only 15, but her love for Jesus shone, and she kept in touch with so many people. Her family is doing fine, but it has been so hard, as she did so much to help with their family of 8 children, now 7. Especially since the oldest got married exactly one week after the funeral. But now she is expecting a baby!!!! I pray that no one has to go through that again...almost losing  5 children was very hard for the family, but God was merciful and spared 4 of them, but called the other Home. She is now preparing a Home for her family, where the streets are paved with gold!!! How amazing would that be!!!! But I know that she finished her calling here on earth, and He has something planned for each of the other ones, that they were not injured worse than they were. It is a sweet thing to know Jesus and to have Him as your personal Saviour! I pray that each and every one of you has that chance to know Him, and that you take it. You have no idea what your missing, if you do not know Him!!! He gives you strength when you are weak, and peace when you are stressed, and hope in times of failure. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!~Miss Kindel

A Tea Party

 The relaxation of sitting and picking out picking out matching linens, setting out the china, folding  the napkins was enjoyed by at least on individual. And then came the time to making the finger foods.
 A friend and I were put to work making many different finger foods. We sat while we put everything together and cut them all. We had a very good time, in spite of all the hours we spent putting the spreads on the bread, chips, and crackers, and cutting and trimming them all.
 We scurried about filling all the trays with sweets, sandwiches, and scones. We finished putting together all the extra tables that we set up in case of overflow. When we got that done, the 'boss' (Heather) and I went and put our fancy clothes on, and came back to finish all the food. People started coming and never seemed to quit!!! We were not finished putting the first and main course on the plates, which then had to be served. And then we did not have enough fruit compote, so we were rushing around making more of those.
 The butlers did an amazing job of serving all the food and tea. We set for 220 people, and we had but one empty seat. And most of the workers were not seated! With everyone working together, it was a huge success.
 Then came the organizing, washing, drying, and packing of all the china. I had to move slowly and sit most of the time, but I still helped with drying, organizing, and packing. A friend and I were Heather's 'right hand helpers'...I helped reorganize the miscellaneous totes so we have sets for more tables if needed in the future, and my friend did the work. And then we packed it all up!
 After the cleanup was done, we went back to the hotel to get changed and relax for a while before the evening events started. The whole week was a huge success! And then everyone went and did it again the next week in a different city.
 As I sit here, listening to the crackling fire and howling wind, I am able to relax. I don't know as if I have been able to fully relax since the tea party, and I am not sure if I will be able to for a while.
~Miss Kindel