Sunday, May 24, 2009

Prayers and Blogger Friends--A Fun Story

I love to travel, but I do not like having to stay in a hotel on Sunday where our only option for food is to eat out. We always attend church and each time I silently pray a family in the ward we are visiting will invite us to their home for dinner, as my husband’s family often did for tourists while they were living in Mexico City. So far, however, no one has answered my prayer.

But, for some reason that thought was on my mind last Wednesday when it occurred to me that we live near a new resort and it is possible families on vacation there might attend our sacrament meeting services. I decided that if I learned of any who were visiting I would be sure to invite them over for Sunday dinner.

As I thought about it however, I decided it would be helpful if I could get a prompting in advance so I could be sure to have enough food on hand to feed extra people. And so I said a prayer and explained my desire to feed those who might be traveling and asked for a prompting when they might come so I could prepare.

A few hours later I received a comment on my blog from a blog friend, Lisa, asking if I had received her email. I hadn’t, as I never check the email address (before now :-) listed with my blog. So I got on to read her email and discovered another one sent May 5 from a blog friend, Christina. In Christina’s email she asked a question and while responding, I randomly told her what town I lived in. I didn’t know why I included that at the time, I just did it.

Christina quickly wrote back telling me she and her family would be in my town that very weekend staying at the resort near our home. And so I invited her, and her family to dinner. I was so amazed and thrilled how my prayer was answered so quickly and in such a fun way. If Lisa hadn’t asked about her email I would never have checked that email address and found Christina’s note. If I hadn’t randomly included the name of the town we live in, she would not have told me they were visiting near us this weekend. And they would have come to our ward, and left, and since I was attending another ward during our SS and RS, I would have never met them and been able to have them over for dinner at our house. And I would have missed out on meeting a very sweet blog friend.


I love it when prayers are answered like that! It is always such a comfort to me to know our prayers are both heard and answered. Here are some pictures from our time together.


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Everyone helped get dinner ready. Wes mashed the potatoes, Kristen made the gravy, Kathryn cut the meat, I made the fruit salad and cooked the vegetables and Michelle took care of the rolls and water.



After reading each others blogs for several months it was fun to meet Christina, her husband and their seven children in person.

I got so caught up in dinner, I forgot to take pictures, but afterwards while the adults visited and my older daughters did the dishes, Michelle helped entertain the kids. Here she is with the twins watching a movie.


And of course we had to take a group photo! Unfortunately Wes had already left for meetings and I was the photographer, but here is everyone else--a few hours after meeting and now good friends.

I was so glad we could meet them. Although we were friends in cyber space, it is even better to meet and be friends in real life.
So to Christina and your dear, sweet family . . . thanks for coming to dinner and for bringing so much . . . joy to our journey!


11 comments:

Shannon said...

That is a great story. Thanks for posting. I'll have to be more observant in church from now on. It might take some doing, being in YW, but the Lord will take a willing hand wherever he can find one! Thanks for a great idea, maybe someday you'll be at our house!

Dave and Camille said...

That was too cute! I love it when prayers are answered - especially this time for you. I'm glad you had fun... and I definitely think that you need to have more kiddos :) Ha!

Momza said...

Wow. How inspiring a thought to action...I need to think more like you, truly.

Anonymous said...

I am constantly amazed at how aware our Father is of our every desire.

What a precious day.

justmeagain said...

Wow! That is a great story. Don't you just love blogger friends!!!

Lisa @ Pulsipher Page said...

Great story- and I get to be a part of it! Just when you think you live in a great big world of strangers...friends appear.

Unknown said...

How fun! Prayer works...and blogging friends aren't bad either!

Heidi said...

Love it! Wow! What a blessing you have been to Christina--7 kids is a lot to feed. But I know you are the one who feels blessed--it is always such a privilege to be used by the Lord thus.

Xazmin said...

That is such a great story! What a neat answer to your prayer.

I love that you were able to meet your bloggy friend and her family in person.

I have a blog friend coming into town in a couple of weeks with her family, and we are already planning to get our families together...it will be so much fun!

Handsfullmom said...

Thanks again so much for dinner. It was neat to meet you in person. I just keep thinking, "of all the places for her to live . . ." and "of all the resorts for us to be heading to." It's amazing we crossed paths like that! Your family is beautiful and we really appreciated the dinner!

Wendy said...

I'm so glad that you were able to do that for them. I happen to be friends with Christina too, and this whole story was really touching. I'm glad to know that there are still kind, nice people who pray for opportunities to serve others, even if it means they have (7) kids. That's so nice of you and your family.

Your family is beautiful as well!! What a great example you must be to your children.