Revealing the Mystery

Remember when I gave you a little peek at a few things for a project that I have been working on here and here? It was finally complete around the time my computer decided to die. I can now share the details since the new computer is here.

For several years I have decorated a table for a Ladies Christmas gathering at the church where I participate in Bible studies. It was so neat to watch it all come together. This year's theme was" Wise Women Seek Him" and our speaker was Jan Silvious. In the beginning I committed to pray for each lady that the Lord wanted me to invite and I did just that. It was neat to see how He showed me specifically each person that I should invite.

 I initially started looking at table decorations, figured I would pick out a picture, and go with it, UNTIL.......the Lord gave me another idea. I went back to thoughts of my grandmother. She has been gone for quite a long time, but I still miss her, and am reminded of the wisdom that she showed, and thus my table idea began. This wonderful blog friend took her time to send her wonderful ideas, and helped me to know that I was on the right track.

The picture you originally saw was my grandmother's sewing machine. This one I happened upon at our thrift store, my husband encouraged me to purchase it, and I did, for half of what they were asking.This way he did not have to dismantle my grandmothers to display. This was my table centerpiece. I spent many times at her sewing machine pretending that I could sew just like her.

The quilt piece that you see was an old pillow w/ quilted top that I purchased from the thrift store for .49. The number 28 was my table number, so I stitched it on an old piece of embroidery also purchased from the thrift store.

These were pin cushions that I made for the place cards. I was even able to stitch each lady's name.

Here's a look at the table with a few of my guests. I couldn't get anyone to look at the same time, or smile together. I wanted to use plain dishes, which I realized after the fact that I did not have 8 of everything, so I headed to Wal-Mart and purchased some plain off white dishes that they had in the Christmas section. I knew that I would use these regularly. By the time I figured I would purchase them, they had no coffee cups to match. What was I going to do? I went to the Dollar Tree, and they had mugs in the same off white color with similar beading around the top. Hooray!  Everything on the table was a reminder of a wise woman that I knew, my Grandmother.

 These Christmas cactuses were similar to the ones my grandmother used to grow. At Christmas when we would visit she had a room full and we always enjoyed seeing the beautiful blooms. I guess without realizing it,  I have inherited her love for growing these. I have six, all in full bloom, and I had purchased a small one to sit on the table. Along with the pincushions, and an old thimble each lady received a cutting to take home with her. I wrote a letter sharing about my grandmother, and shared a small portion of the story that she wrote to us before she passed away. Her letter closed with the words,"May all of you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior is my prayer." I had so much fun preparing this table and was so blessed by the ladies that accepted my invitation. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Jackie