Come On Over!
February 1, 2011
Dear Friends,Since we’re locked in the cold of winter, I’ll share something I did a few weeks ago that warmed my heart. I invited our neighbors in for Sunday afternoon dessert.
Since I grew up on a farm during an earlier era, I have fond memories of chatting with neighbors. Yet I rarely get to talk to mine. So after I got to know a new neighbor after visiting her beauty salon, I decided to host a Sunday afternoon gathering to introduce her, her hubby and two young sons to my “old” neighbors.
I thought I’d invite just the two couples who live on either side of us, but you know how projects grow. My husband wanted to extend the invitations, and if you invite this one, you must invite that one. Then at the grocery store I ran into another one and invited them too. Before I knew it, I had invited 13 people. Surely they wouldn’t all come! But they did!
As neighbors gathered, I served punch. People talk more easily with something to sip, although this gang had no trouble conversing! Then, for openers, I had each couple tell how they came to live in our neighborhood. One fellow manned a timer and held us to three minutes. That added to the fun. We then answered ice breaker questions guests pulled from a basket: “What is the farthest you have ever traveled from our neighborhood?” “What is your favorite food?” That kind of thing.
By the time the afternoon ended, we had learned about pets, shared travel tips and heard stories about deer passing among our houses. Even the kids sat still to listen for the first hour before drifting off to puzzles and games.
Then it was dessert time. My pear custard bars were a great hit along with my pecan tarts. I also served mini-cream puffs and cheesecake from a supermarket. The party lasted three hours. The length of time guests stayed makes me think they had as much fun as I did.
We live in an age of connectedness. We log onto Facebook and send e-mails. We text and twitter. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we develop deeper relationships. Why not invite someone to your home this week? I’ll even share my pear custard bars recipe with you if you send an e-mail requesting it to sbrosius@epix.net. And feel free to share your entertaining ideas with me. I’ll add them to a future newsletter.
Check out my speaking schedule below. I’d love to see you at one of my engagements. Visit www.friendsoftheheart.us and www.shirleybrosius.com for more information. The latter website also includes a blog on the books I’m reading. I’d love to have you share comments on that page. Have a blessed day.
Shirley Brosius
Author of Sisterhood of Faith
ENGAGEMENTS
February 18-20 - Friends of the Heart - Women's Retreat, First United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg, at Asbury Retreat Center, Newville, "If Our Closets Could Talk."
March 8, 8:45 a.m. – Shirley - Lewisburg Women’s Brunch; 12:30 p.m., Lewisburg Midday Connection; 6:30 p.m., Lewisburg After 5, “Trusting the Hand in the Glove of Life.”
March 23, Noon – Shirley – Lock Haven Christian Women’s Club, “Trusting the Hand in the Glove of Life.”
March 24, 9:30 a.m. – Shirley – Williamsport Christian Women’s Club, “Trusting the Hand in the Glove of Life.”
March 25-27 - Friends of the Heart - Women's Retreat, Camp Swatara, Bethel, "Simple Reflections: If Our Closets Could Talk."
April 2, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Friends of the Heart - Women's Retreat at Faithlift, Pittsfield, MA, “If Our Closets Could Talk.”
April 12, 11:30 a.m. – Shirley - at Lower Bucks Christian Women’s Club, “Trusting the Hand in the Glove of Life.”
April 13, 9:30 a.m. – Shirley speaking at Eastern Montgomery County Christian Women’s Club; Noon, Pottstown Christian Women’s Club; 6:15 p.m., Chester County After 5, “Trusting the Hand in the Glove of Life.”
April 16 - Shirley - Black Diamonds Writers Network, Hazelton, “Turning Memories Into One-Page Memoirs.”
May 3, 6 p.m. - Friends of the Heart - Mother/Daughter Banquet, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville: "That Face in the Mirror: Who Do You See?:
May 6, 6 p.m. - Friends of the Heart, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Tower City, Mother Daughter Banquet: "Tea With Dora the Explorer, Wonder Woman and Hyacinth Bucket," (At Any Age, At Any Stage: Celebrating the Christian Life)
May 7, 6 p.m. - Friends of the Heart - United Lutheran Church, Sunbury, Mother's Day Banquet, "That Face in the Mirror: Who Do You See?"
May 17, 6 p.m. – Friends of the Heart – St. Peter’s UCC, Orwin, Mother’s Day Tea. “That Face in the Mirror: Who Do You See?”
May 21 - Friends of the Heart - Moulton Memorial Baptist Church, Newburgh, New York, "At Any Age, At Any Stage: Celebrating the Christian Life."
July 21, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - Shirley - Adamstown Area Library, Adamstown, "Passing On Legacies Through Publishing."
August 19-21 – Friends of the Heart - Camp Allegheny at Stoystown, “At Any Age, At Any Stage: Celebrating the Christian Life.”
September 23-24 - Shirley – Women’s Retreat at Twin Pines Retreat Center with Ebenezer Evangelical Congregational Church, “If Our Closets Could Talk.”
November 1, 11:45 a.m. - Shirley – Ephrata Christian Women’s Club, Stevens; 6:15 p.m. – Lebanon After 5, “Passing On Your Legacy.”
November 2, Noon – Shirley – Lancaster North Women’s Connection, Lititz. “Passing On Your Legacy”
November 3, 9:30 a.m. – Shirley – Elizabethtown/Mt. Joy Christian Women’s Club, Mt. Joy, “Passing On Your Legacy.”
April 20-22, 2012 – Friends of the Heart, Association of Evangelical Churches, Ulysses. Theme to be announced.