{My only picture of the night!}
On the night I have my Sister Party and invite my in-the-skin friends into my mess, Seth decides to be extra awesome and take the boys upstairs an hour before their bedtime. Rather than not stressing about my messy house, I have an hour to stress about how I promised a mess but then get unexpected time to clean it. 
Rather than vacuuming, I actually have to work to keep from cleaning. I decide to give up on my awful tasting, burned smelling, jiggling crock-pot cake and to whip up a pumpkin dump cake (1 melted stick of butter over 1 butter-recipe cake mix over 1 can of pumpkin pie mix).
As the house warms with the smells of butter and awesome, a friend calls to cancel, expressing disappointment about not joining our group. She’s my age and has to make it to her own surprise spinal tap in the morning. She calls to say that she probably has Multiple Sclorosis, to ask if we would pray, and then to express such a held-up faith, such a secure love for her faithful God. She called to say that every second with her daughters was a gift. She’s soaking in how blessed she is.
I get off the phone with the sweetest sadness, a more wise smile, and the girls pull up one car at a time. Everyone notices my non-mess. We start quiet, inching toward the food, and then we crescendo in belly laughs in the living room with empty plates and hot drinks.
I’m not really sure why I invited the small group of friends that I did. So few of them know each other, and it is just beautiful to see the connections they have as we begin a few more formal introductions, going around the room. In the process, I hear the best stories. At one point I laugh so hard that I almost spew my water, having to run to the sink to spit and then collapse in the floor.
That night I learned that two of my friends grew up as neighbors. One ran over the other’s cat and then burst in to tell her family but instead puked everywhere.
I learned that I still can’t even make it through a prayer without giggling with my best friends.
I learned what warriors we friends are (how Ashley prayed so strongly). Only a few of us knew the friend struggling with the news of MS, but we all prayed like we share a kindred blood with her, and now to think of it, we do. ———
What about you? Tell us about your Sister Party between today and Sunday, October 24th. That evening (Sunday), I’ll announce the GIVEAWAY winners from among those who link up to this post.
Make sure to link only with the permalink to your Sister Party Post. I can’t wait to hear all about your time with your Friends. Thank you for joining me in celebrating the people who will point out the spinach in your teeth when the need be!
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great idea, can I come next time?
What a beautiful night of laughter, building connections, and prayer. I will be in prayer for your friend with possible MS. She sounds like a truly strong and faithful woman. I love that you invited friends that didn’t necessarily know each other before and that you call came together and found commonalities.
I laughed when I read your bit about your house being a mess and then running around last minute to clean… not that… err… I’m like that AT ALL… hehehe…
I agree with Monica – What a great idea to invite your closest friends to get to know one another! Even more that you can be Prayer Warriors together for your friend!
Thank you for hosting! This was such a great idea!
It sounds so lovely! (and your only picture of the night now has me craving gooey chocolate…)
What a wonderful story of friendship and sisterhood. I think it’s so important to have those vital relationships. The last time I was part of a group of sister-friends was when a friend of mine from bellydance class invited us over for a henna party. We laughed, shared stories, basked in the beauty of friendship. Sadly, none of these women are Christians. I’m still searching for that kind of connection with other “skin on” Christian women.
I really wish I could have a sister party. It seems all my friends are away at college. The only sister party I can have is via Twitter.
Sounds like you had a great time!
I had ANOTHER sister party last night because the first was so fun. The other 6 girls and I are making it a monthly thing!
How wonderful that your sisters were able to get to know each other, and that y’all were able to lift up a friend in prayer!
Amazingly powerful!
Oh, this is the best. I do hope your friend is ok.
Steph
I’m sorry about your friend. And so loving this post at the same time. I don’t know what I’d do without my sisters. I really don’t.
I’m having a sister party tonight (at a friend’s house, not my for-sale one), and I didn’t comment originally that I would be joining in on this because I didn’t know if I’d pull it off with how crazy life is at the moment. But anyway, all that to ask if I should still link up when I post about it. I’m inspired to post about it either way
This post made me well up with tears at the end; it’s so beautiful to see such strength in a group of women-children of God.
I can’t wait to read the adventures of the ladies who have linked up!
What a fun time, introducing new sisters…love the aprons!
Praying for your friend, friend.
xoxo
Oh what a special evening…and those are aprons? Wow, I thought they were adorable dresses or you trying to figure out what to wear.
Praying for your friend. One of my best friend’s hubby’s has had it for ten years. It’s a struggle but God is faithful – they have an amazing testimony.
It sounds amazing, I wish I was there. Or better yet, that I got an invite.
Here’s my part two: http://mandiesmumblings.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-sister-party-part-two.html I’ll try to wrap it up in 4 parts…we’ll see, though.
Having a ton of fun with this, Amber!
I just happened onto your blog today…which, I believe is no coincidence! I prefer to believe it was providence.
I work for the Nat’l MS Society. I don’t know, nor…do I need to know, the results of your friend’s tests….but, if she did get a diagnosis of MS…I would highly encourage her to call the MS Society 1-800-FightMS (344-4867) to get more information about the disease and learn more about the MS Society and its programs in her area! Our she can visit the website: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx.
Your friend is in my prayers….
Your party sounds so special… belly laughs are the best!!
Praying for your friend.
Here’s the conclusion to our sister party weekend:
http://mandiesmumblings.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-sister-party-part-three.html
Amber, thank you so much for encouraging this- It made me write a little more personally than I think I would have ordinarily.
McLinky won’t let me in….
here is my post:
http://tout-est-des-roses.blogspot.com/2009/10/sister-party-literally.html
lovelovelove,
Sara Sophia
Um…also…I want an apron and the full recipe for Pumpkin Dump Cake. (don’t you love how the South has the most unseemly names for desserts? Dump Cake, Cobbler…..)
I have a dump cake recipe that calls for one large can of crushed pineapple, a butter cake mix, a stick of butter and pecans (we serve with homemade ice cream and use an organic cake mix and pineapple so we’ll feel better about ourselves:).
I think it bakes at 350 degrees–is this about the same?
–Sara Sophia
So sorry I didn’t get my party linked up in time. I’m not in my usual time zone and it has thrown me off…for real! Looks like there were some wonderful parties thrown, though. Thanks so much for hosting this!
I know I’m late to the party, but couldn’t resist sharing. Love this post!
Here’s my somewhat burned, last minute microwave offering
Really, here it is…hehehe….
http://outwardexpression.blogspot.com/2009/10/sister-sweat.html
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