• Feb. 9, 2006
Just catching up...
Oh, it's been a fun (albeit crazy) week! Tomorrow night is the annual Sweetheart Banquet which is sponsored by our youth each February. This banquet for adult couples is always one of the highlights of the year. It serves as an outreach event, so it's always great to host so many guests!
The theme changes each year, and this year the theme is "Bella Notte"...a beautiful Italian evening! The couples will have their pictures taken against a beautiful Venetian mural that was painted by one of our senior girls. It's just so incredible! Not only that, but some of our youth staff created a gondola for the couples to sit in while getting their picture taken...complete with a gondolier!
I love cooking for this event! It's something that God has wired me to do, and it always invigorates me. The menu for the night includes Italian Spinach Dip and Pesto-Roasted Red Pepper Spread with crackers, Italian sodas, fresh spinach salad with cranberries and pecans, crusty bread with garlic butter, lasagna, Italian green beans, raspberry-chocolate cake, and coffee.
Entertainment for the night features our jr. and sr. high youth singing old songs such as "My Guy," "My Girl," and "I Got You, Babe." Dramatic pieces about marriage are woven throughout, and then at the conclusion, my husband will give a devotional/challenge regarding marriage. Our kids will conclude by singing "I Will Be Here."
Needless to say, the week has been filled with final preparations, decorating, shopping, rehearsing, and racing from one thing to the next. However, I'm so overjoyed that God has placed such peace in my heart regarding this year's banquet. In the past, I'd been so prone to work myself into a tizzy and fret about all that needed to be done. But I think perhaps I'm learning to turn my worry into prayer.
We've planned and prepared for this event for so long. But now I'm hearing God whisper to me, "Is your heart prepared, dear one?" After all these years, I think I'm finally learning what it means to exchange my inadequacies for His strength. And He is faithful to fill me with exactly what I need.
Praise God for His strength in my weakness.
Comments
• Feb. 9, 2006
Wow
Posted by Suzie
My name is Suzie and I love doing things for the church too! We moved to FL a year ago and our church is getting a building soon.. I can't wait the we can do fun functions like yours... :)
Do you think you could give me the recipie for the Spinch Salad? I love to cook and bake and that sounded wonderful...
I sure wish I could go to your party it sounds so awesome! I love the fact that you are utilizing the youth for functions... I think is a great idea and they will grow from this experience...
May God's face shine upon you and your family..
Suize
• Feb. 9, 2006
grand evening!
Posted by javamamma
Sounds like a fabulous evening! We're planning a Vday banquet for Saturday night, probably not as glamorous as yours but it should be nice. We're going to a small country club (our community is small!) with a nice buffet, brief teaching (by My Beloved) and some live music (young guy with an acoustic singing love songs!). Have a grand evening!
• Feb. 9, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by RainyDayMichele
Hooray! Oh Nikki, it looks like you have a wonderful evening planned. :o) I am glad you are relaxed and ready for the Lord to use you in a magnificent way! I guess when you mentioned your desire to own your own business someday.....you meant something involving wonderfully prepared meals??? :o)
Praying for your event to go without a hitch, that those attending would be richly blessed by the ministry provided, and for your young people---that God would use these ministry opportunities to grow their faith and their desire to serve Him.
Have a great evening!
• Feb. 9, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by kleo30
Your banquet sounds lovely. I pray every couple is blessed.
• Feb. 9, 2006
Banquet memories...
Posted by CTdittmar
Hi again! I used to be IN the sweetheart banquets at our church as a high schooler just like the one you are describing! I even sang "My Guy" as a duet with a friend wearing a bright red dress! It was a wonderful memory and such a tremendous good thing to be a part of serving the older couples in our church. How fun to be involved with the youth that way. I always looked up so much to our youth leaders and admired their families. You have a tremendous ministry there! Stay strong and have fun!
Blessings, Christa
• Feb. 10, 2006
Wish We Were There!
Posted by jaminacema
This is such a neat idea! What a great night you all will have. God bless you for doing this!
• Feb. 10, 2006
Oh what fun!
Posted by HappilyEverAfter
Oh NIkki, I want to come! What a fun time and we are in need of a little fun around these parts (as you well know). Praying that your night turns out wonderfully and that you continue to find peace in the Lord.
In His precious hands,
Fran
• Feb. 10, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by Happyhome
Sounds wonderful! I pray your heart is at peace as you minister to the couples in your church.
Blessings,
Angela
• Feb. 10, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by TNMOMTO5BLESSINGS
Praising the lord with you!
TNMOM
• Feb. 14, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by heartofvirtue
Thank you for the sweet encouragement!! I look forward to the days ahead that "just keep getting better"!! :)
How was your special evening on Friday?
Happy Valentines Day to you and your sweetheart!! :)
Smiles,
~Myklin
• Feb. 15, 2006
You're Incredible!
Posted by kindredspiritMom
It sounds like such a fun evening. The mural was beautiful. Your husband is a blessed man to have a counterpart with so much love and dependency on God.
