In a weird way, all of those were fulfilled: my beloved Bible study ladies spent lots of time in these two rooms, learning to discern God's truth from the lies of the enemy, learning from the book of James and First Peter, and listening to Beth Moore show us what our inheritance is as a daughter of the King. Those nights were some of the best...good food, fellowship, and friends. I loved friends popping by or coming over for an amazing Pampered Chef show (thank you, Marti, for doing those!), or a candle party, or just grilling and hanging out. Sometimes the silence after those nights was deafening...for a few hours you forget you are single and then it smacks you in the face.
Only a few students made it to this house. My most frightening moment was inviting several recently graduated eighth graders to go to dinner and come back and watch a movie. All I will say about that is Sam and Emily will NEVER pick the movie again (still can't make gingerbread cookies or look the same way at a rocking chair...UGH). However, it was an amazing night listening to these young women give their perspectives about school, teachers, parents, life...I remember thinking how hard it would be to have to tell your mom or dad that THEIR dream for your life is not YOUR dream. I admired them and loved their enthusiasm. A few others came over and we cooked and, oh my goodness...did we cook some delicious food! Journi, Lexie, and I created the BEST Alfredo sauce on the planet. I am NOT kidding; it was that good! And, Katie, Bailey, and I made the best brownie/cookie combination...heavenly! Still waiting on Glendy to teach me to make carne asada, but I think we'll have to cook somewhere else.
And, oddly, God provided a family for me...a precious young lady who lived with me for a short time, but I got to be her "gringa" mom. It was so fun having someone in the house, listening to her dreams, making jewelry, taking her to school, telling her to stop talking/texting her novio because she had school the next day. Thank you, Jasmin, for letting me be part of your life. Many others have become like sisters to me and have supported me through "The Break-Up," all the other trials life threw at me, and this move to Romania.
And now, all people see are some scuff marks, fuzzy pink carpet, and an outdated kitchen. I hope that whoever buys it will see the dreams that can come true inside those four walls.