Hostess With The Mostest ???

Oh my.... Yesterday was a complete whirlwind of events from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed! C-R-A-Z-Y.

A few weeks ago when I received our jewelry from AP I started planning and envisioning this awesome home party that I would host at our home. I invited all of the "Pink Hotties" at church, my Face Book friends, South Elementary friends, Otsego Elementary teammates, and friends/family in the metro area through text messages and emails. I couldn't wait for March 30th to finally arrive!!

I didn't sleep well the night before. I have been fighting allergies I think and my nighttime cough has been my enemy (and Ryan's too I'm sure!). I've also had a lot on my mind lately so it's been hard to settle my racing thoughts at night. Finally fell asleep shortly before 2 I think and then my little Tenleigh started crying out around 5. She had a fever around 102. Obviously she would not be going to Little Lambs today. Home with Mommy instead!

What I had planned as a day to clean, organize, get groceries, etc. didn't turn out to be as such. My little one needed me! And so it was that at 5:30 my laundry still sat in a HUGE heap on our couch, the dishes in the dishwasher needed to be switched out, our floors needed vacuuming, and I needed to shower. Not to mention that the chicken had yet to be cut up and cooked, and the soup transferred to the crockpot. I was getting absolutely nothing done with Tenleigh clinging to my legs and practically pulling my sweatpants down at each step. Ryan had to work out of town today, and would not be getting home for a bit. Ugh. Not a typical work day for him either! Of course this happens today! And the start time that I put on the invitation.... 6:00.

Panic has set in. I called my next door neighbor thinking that her oldest daughter could come and be a "mommy's helper" with the kids while I quickly tried to work some minor miracles through the house. Great idea, but didn't work. T really needed me. So... My 13 year old neighbor girl Marissa vacuumed the floors for me! She started a bath for Tenleigh, made popcorn for Johnathan and helped J feed Frankie.

My sweet friend Kathy soon arrived and she took over dish duty for me. I flew around and basically hid piles and closed doors! Then I flew into the shower!! Oh yeah, and somewhere in there Ryan got home so I passed the kids off to him and sent them to Urgent Care for Tenleigh whose fever was now 104.

I get downstairs after my shower DRIPPING wet and there sat 5 guests already, and none of them knew eachother! Yes, definitely "Hostess With The Mostest". I'm sure they all were thinking, "What is up with this!? Yeah, really great party, Katie." :)

So nothing has gone as planned! And yet... everything turned out better than I could ever hope!

For amongst this group of women, 9 new sets of eyes and hearts were opened to the crisis in Haiti. Kathy shared some pictures and personal stories of her times in Haiti. She will be living and teaching there for 1 year, leaving in July!! Everyone was touched by her testimonies and passion for Haiti. Each of my dear sweet friends left with handsful of beautiful Haitian jewelry and joyful hearts for The Apparent Project. I added on the purchases of my church friends that were not able to make it last night... I will be sending a check for over $550!!

Thank you, my dear friends. Thank you for looking beyond my dripping wet hair and frenzied appearance. Thank you for thinking nothing of the explosion of "stuff" dumped in my office, or wondering what was going on with other people taking care of my household duties! :D But most of all, thank you for sharing your hearts and allowing me to share mine.

I am so thankful for this group of friends that gave of their time to come to my home last night. I DO feel like "The Hostess With The Mostest"... The mostest compassionate, sweet, giving friends I could ever hope for!

It was a very good night.