This weeks show and tell is about a dinner "party" we had just one week ago.  It  was the night of the Biblical Passover Dinner that was commanded to the Israelites to observe from generation to generation (Exodus 13). 

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We went grocery shopping about a week before, and a trip out to the store the day before to get a few perishables. We spring cleaned the house Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  .

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On Thursday morning, the first thing the children  did was set the table.  I like having this done in the morning instead of waiting until the evening.  I spent most of the day in the kitchen, from morning until afternoon, cooking. 

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 When everyone arrived Thursday night, I had coffee brewing and hot water boiling (for tea.) The table pictured above is perfect for a buffet/drink/coffee/tea/dessert table.

For about an hour, everyone mingled with one another.  Rachel and Kristi played the piano, and there were different groups of people all throughout the house talking to one another.

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.When it was almost time for dinner to be served, we all congretated into the family room.  One of our guests, who is also our neighbor, is Robert and Jody Frye, missionaries to Romania.  We had asked Robert to give a small presentation of what the Passover is, and how it related to Jesus dying on the cross and shedding his blood for our sin.  Robert is an excellent speaker, and he explained this so beautifully.

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 He concluded his presentation with a little ten minute musical film, a song that tells a story.  The name of the song is called, Watch the Lamb, and it is written by Ray Boltz. 

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Afterwards, we had dinner by candlelight. 

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Entrees:   Grilled lamb; cheese potatoe salad; corn bread casserole, green bean casserole. salad, and "mortar."  If you are wondering what "mortar,” is, think of  brick and mortar.  This dish represented the mortar that the Israelites used while in Pharaoh’s building program.  It is made with raisons, dates, pumpkin seeds, apples, walnuts, and honey.   Everyone wanted to try it, and it was a hit.  “Pass the mortar,” became the night’s joke. 

We liked our "mortar" so much, that we've been making it every day since then.  Today, I asked my mom, who was not present at our Passover dinner, if she would like some mortar.  She didn't have a clue to what I was talking about and looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.  I'm known around here to cook up some pretty crazy things, in the name of being "healthy." 

 After dinner, we had special music, compliments of talented Jodi and Rachel.  They played the guitar together and Jodi sang, "El Shaddi." 

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It was such a beautiful evening, and I wanted to capture the moments with pictures.  Yet, I didn't have my camera set right, obviously.   

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 When the girls finished, Robert took over.  He played some hymns, but also some fun bluegrass music, too.  He even played a song for us that he had written himself.  It was a song with humor in it, and everyone laughed hilarously.

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He sang some old-time country favorites (he’s originally from Kentucky.)  He even taught us all how to sing harmony as we practiced several times our various parts before singing a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace.  We sounded great, if I may say so myself.  Everyone enjoyed this. 

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 Aren't Robert and Judy just the cutest couple?  I think so.

 Even Baby Kayla loved the live music.

We have many memories in our family of previous Passover dinners, but this was by far the most outstanding dinner we have ever hosted.  Special guests, good food, a candlelight dinner, a presentation about the Passover event, a movie/song, and live music by Rachel, Jodi, and Robert; lively conversation, jokes, stories, and laughs.  It was a night I don’t think anyone will forget any time soon and will linger as a special memory for a long time.

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Be sure to go visit other show and tells and visit Mary, the Encourager.