Immediately following my trip to Georgia, a good friend of mine (and old roomate) was coming to visit from California (literally a few hours after I arrived home). I had little time to clean before her arrival, and therefore for the first time ever, didn't clean at ALL. Now for any of you who know me, I usually get all anxious about cleaning before any guest arrives, and want everything to be just so (the grocery shopping done, laundry put away, menu planned for the week, etc). My husband just loves the day before company, because I am a woman on a mission, running every which way, while barking out orders (well, hopefully I'm not that bad :)Anyway, I took a deep breath and realized that there just wasn't enough time to get it done, and after all this is someone I lived with for over a year, and frankly I knew she wouldn't care.Wow, it was such a relief to not have to rush around and clean! None of that precompany anxiety to get everything done. And we had a great time! Can that be? You can have a great time without a clean house? Who knew?
We really did have a great time though (well I did anyway). I was unsure of all the things we would do over that week, and how I would entertain her, but in the end it all worked out. We spent much of the first night catching up, while snuggled on the couch. The next day she helped me grocery shop and make brunch bake for the following day's holiday get together (we had 9 woman and 11 children get together and attempt to do a craft -that didn't go so well). Thursday, we searched the adds to figure out our shopping strategies. Friday, we got up early to shop (my husband got up at 3:30am! if you can believe it). Then finally we had another get together with friends, who chatted over several games of speed UNO. Our time together was very simple, nothing extravagant planned, but it was wonderful. I was truly blessed by her company, and was reminded how much I miss having her live close by. Perhaps the best gift she gave me was the gift in playing with my girls. She was wonderful with them and they loved her. She will be a wonderful mother someday (and a very creative one at that). My kids will miss her (during dinner time at the inlaws house on Sunday, Kyra said she wished Rebo was here). And I will miss her too. Good friends are hard to come by, especially in a messy home!
6 comments:
simple time is usually the best! Glad it was good-- and though I am the same way-- deep down I know good friends don't care about your mess-- I still want it clean though! :)
For the record - from the visiting friend - I had a *WONDERFUL* time! I loved every minute of catching up with you and getting to know your girls.
You all have a special place in my heart, deep down where I treasure the best friendships.
So glad you were able to let the mess go and just have fun! Good friends shouldn't care, but yes, it is hard to get that through our heads.
Sounds like a great time!! I find that I'm much more relaxed, for some reason, if I don't worry about my home. It's sooo hard though...I'm the same way as you. My husband finally told me "I don't think we should have any more company over, if it's going to stress you out this much." Oops. Now I TRY to be more laid back.
Yay for you, and visiting with an old friend. They're the best!
Oh man. Well said. Good friends are hard to come by. This is evident by your friend's selfless behavior and how she rolled up her sleeves and went with the flow.
That's a great day!
I'm with Kyra - I wish Rebo were still here!!! Her visit made us remember afresh how much we miss her, and what a gift her friendship is. And watching her with Aaron was so sweet. We agree she'll be a wonderful mother someday.
Mike and I are wanting to come visit for a weekend sometime this winter... but only if you promise not to clean the house before we come. :-)
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