Today is my birthday! April 20, 2020!
This is a birthday in the middle of the ‘STAY AT HOME’ season that impacts us ALL, but leaves EACH of us responding differently. I enjoy time at home. But I need people too. I get energy in both realms. Today…I knew I needed people. So I used my birthday as an excuse to invite some women to celebrate.
This was an open invitation to women in my world to join me for a virtual tea-party. I didn’t know who would say they wanted to come, but I know the women in my world. I knew they would be good for one another. And they were!
I covered my kitchen table with a beautiful hand-made lace tablecloth that had been given to my mother-in-law. I set the table for a tea party of two. I did that mostly because I couldn’t decide on which ‘tea set’ to use, so I used two different ones.
On one end of the table I used my grandmother’s dishes that she got with stamps at the grocery store long ago. I served cheese slices, olives and PICKLES (because I love dill pickles just like my grandma.) The tea I had was Lady Darjeeling.
On the other end I used my mother-in-love’s wedding dishes. I had berry fruit salad and Deitsch’s chocolate covered pretzels. (I included a link in case you want to try them.) They are just the best, though I only get the three pack and usually share with Rennie - at least one. And the tea was Peppermint.
I also got to use the silver tea service from Ren’s grandmother which has been tucked away in a closet for far too long. I spent some time cleaning it up this week, and with the encouragement and suggestions from many in the GHC community, I was able to share it with the ladies at the tea party.
Take a look at the Before and After pics.
But setting the table for a tea party was only half the fun!
Today I got to sit with women - even if it was over a computer screen - who are some of the heroes in my life. Remarkable women who have loved me, supported me, invested in me for much of my life. These are women who have made a difference just by being who they are.
I celebrated with my Daughter, my Mom and my Mom-in-love, My Aunt (who was also born on this day 81 years ago), and one of my special sister-in-loves too!
There were dear friends from the Green Hope Coaching community and my SoNOW professional networking group, from our current church and our former church, my college roommate, and even my high school best friend.
They are/ or have been nurses, teachers, post masters, book keepers, copy writers, artists, gardeners, Mary Kay consultants, pastor’s wives and farmer’s wives. They are breast cancer survivors, care givers and obstacle over comers. They are health coaches, grief coaches, and life coaches because they have known the struggles and the victories in health and loss and life.
These beautiful faces looking back at me from my computer made me wish I could grab each one up and give them a hug. Yet I was so glad for this moment we had together when I could introduce them to one another and we could SEE each other’s eyes and be warmed by their smiles.
These women gave the GIFT of their PRESENCE today.
Their PRESENCE through out my life has spoken greatly into who I am!
Abundant, rich, empowering…these were a few of the words that come to mind when I think of the influence they have had and the remarkable difference they have made.
I asked them the question, “What have you recognized as a GIFT during this time of isolation?”
People,
being together,
going out to eat with someone,
running to the store
without masks
without gloves
without fear.
One shared that she is coloring enough pages out of adult coloring books to send one to all the residents in her retirement community.
Another shared how she is calling someone every day, in her family, church community or from her past, to encourage them and then is encouraged by them too.
Some who love to cook commented on how they make meals for family and friends. One Momma fixed her regular Easter Dinner and took some to her son and each of the grand kids so that they could all share the same meal together even though they were apart.
We celebrated that one woman had just complete 18 months of chemo treatments and I saw others in the group nod their heads out of knowing that journey.
We talked about how we are cleaning - or not cleaning.
Organizing - or not organizing
Reading - or not reading.
We talked about how our relationships with our husbands were better because of this time together,
or how it was harder to be patient with each other.
or how grandmas miss their grand-kids.
We talked about what we are learning about ourselves and how we are able to use our GIFTS to help others during these days, or how we struggle because we can’t use them.
All these women came together mostly because they knew me -
yet we all shared so many other things in common.
What a GIFT to have their PRESENCE in my life! Not for the day- but for a lifetime.
Thank you, REMARKABLE WOMEN, for the difference you have made in your worlds. Thank you for sharing this day with me.
I am one who is most grateful!