Food Glorious Food
"It's not hard for you....is it?" That is the question we got several times today in the Oxford 2nd Ward and from some of the YSAs. The answer is "Not as hard as it once was, but we aren't saying it is easy!"
That conversation is about giving talks. SK and I were the speakers in the 2nd Ward today. We each had about 15 minutes. The topic was "The Covenant Path," which I might add, was a joy to prepare. I always love the preparation. The reading and studying and the challenge of putting it all together in a cohesive talk. Giving the talk? Not so much.
There was a lot of material, and I think I managed to organize an acceptable talk. I spoke about the Path itself. SK gave one of his best talks ever. He spoke about the specific things we can do to stay on the path, paying special attention to choice - his favorite topic. He explained everything beautifully and clearly and brought in some really great ideas and scriptures. We are both happy that is done. It kind of took the last couple of evenings to prepare.
We went to both wards this morning, as we will always do. I love both of them. I tried hard to get around to different people and introduce myself, and I tried equally hard to get to know them and to remember their names!!!!!
After both wards were over, we hurried home where we began throwing food together. Actually 5 young women entered with us. Six of us were in that little kitchen trying to get a meal on for the "break-the-fast." Several YSAs had signed up to bring food, and had specified what they would bring. I looked online at the sign-up and decided I would make a simple salad (coleslaw -because one of the young men said he would bring pulled pork) and cookies (SKs favorites). We discovered today about 15 minutes before the meal would start here at our flat that nearly everyone forgot to bring something!
One sweet young woman brought chili, and one brought a rocky road dessert. But it was a little like the miracle of the loaves and fishes. People came in bearing food (I don't know where they got it) and joined us in the kitchen. Every cupboard was opened, every drawer sorted through, every shelf examined. Knives and cutting boards came out, the oven went on, the microwave was pressed into service and voila! In a half hour, we were filling our plates with chilli, sloppy joes, cole slaw, asian chicken salad, rolls, yorkshire pudding (it looked like a popover to me, and if it is served in the proper British way, it is topped with beef and gravy), cucumbers in vinegar, chips and salsa, grapes, cookies and a rocky road cookie bar.
Everyone ate until they were full....FULL. Then everyone sat around talking and laughing, for another hour or so. The young women puttered around in the kitchen cleaning up, while one of the young men connected our TV so that we can watch BYU.org and MormonChannel.org or whatever we call it now.
One student stayed an hour or so after. She is from Singapore, speaks Mandarin and English, is studying at Oxford for a Masters Degree in Tax Law. She is cute. Her name is Janice. We gigled about that.
As the evening sky was deepening, she left, and then SK left with the Bishop to go to the stake priesthood meeting, which is an hour away.
It has been a sweet day, and I have enjoyed the many conversations I have had with people.
Well, tomorrow is another day (thanks Scarlett), and I'll be on my own fixing that meal, so I had better begin my shopping list!
And then, sweet sleep.
That conversation is about giving talks. SK and I were the speakers in the 2nd Ward today. We each had about 15 minutes. The topic was "The Covenant Path," which I might add, was a joy to prepare. I always love the preparation. The reading and studying and the challenge of putting it all together in a cohesive talk. Giving the talk? Not so much.
There was a lot of material, and I think I managed to organize an acceptable talk. I spoke about the Path itself. SK gave one of his best talks ever. He spoke about the specific things we can do to stay on the path, paying special attention to choice - his favorite topic. He explained everything beautifully and clearly and brought in some really great ideas and scriptures. We are both happy that is done. It kind of took the last couple of evenings to prepare.
We went to both wards this morning, as we will always do. I love both of them. I tried hard to get around to different people and introduce myself, and I tried equally hard to get to know them and to remember their names!!!!!
After both wards were over, we hurried home where we began throwing food together. Actually 5 young women entered with us. Six of us were in that little kitchen trying to get a meal on for the "break-the-fast." Several YSAs had signed up to bring food, and had specified what they would bring. I looked online at the sign-up and decided I would make a simple salad (coleslaw -because one of the young men said he would bring pulled pork) and cookies (SKs favorites). We discovered today about 15 minutes before the meal would start here at our flat that nearly everyone forgot to bring something!
One sweet young woman brought chili, and one brought a rocky road dessert. But it was a little like the miracle of the loaves and fishes. People came in bearing food (I don't know where they got it) and joined us in the kitchen. Every cupboard was opened, every drawer sorted through, every shelf examined. Knives and cutting boards came out, the oven went on, the microwave was pressed into service and voila! In a half hour, we were filling our plates with chilli, sloppy joes, cole slaw, asian chicken salad, rolls, yorkshire pudding (it looked like a popover to me, and if it is served in the proper British way, it is topped with beef and gravy), cucumbers in vinegar, chips and salsa, grapes, cookies and a rocky road cookie bar.
Everyone ate until they were full....FULL. Then everyone sat around talking and laughing, for another hour or so. The young women puttered around in the kitchen cleaning up, while one of the young men connected our TV so that we can watch BYU.org and MormonChannel.org or whatever we call it now.
One student stayed an hour or so after. She is from Singapore, speaks Mandarin and English, is studying at Oxford for a Masters Degree in Tax Law. She is cute. Her name is Janice. We gigled about that.
As the evening sky was deepening, she left, and then SK left with the Bishop to go to the stake priesthood meeting, which is an hour away.
It has been a sweet day, and I have enjoyed the many conversations I have had with people.
Well, tomorrow is another day (thanks Scarlett), and I'll be on my own fixing that meal, so I had better begin my shopping list!
And then, sweet sleep.
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