The room is silent and still with just the hum of the air-conditioner. All the plates are set on bright colored tablecloths, the silverware is shining, and the glasses are reflecting prism rays. All is in quiet expectation of the noise and laughter soon to come from a baby shower.
I am only a little acquainted with the expectant mother. She is a friend of my friend who had twin girls a few months ago. Another of her friend’s had a baby boy and we had a shower for her too. So now it is kind of a tradition to have a shower for expecting mothers who are friends at work with my friend. Most of the same ladies come from the third floor of the Africa West Area Office building where they work.
I only make the banana bread and leave all the real cooking to my friend Comfort. She makes very good Ghanaian food that is well liked. Another friend Favour is going to school to learn catering skills. Favour comes over to help me set things up so it will look good and have a good traffic flow. She is the one who polishes the glasses and silverware. She wants everything to be just right.
We are going to have a party today; it should be fun!
And that was the last moment of peace for about four hours…
The phone rings and it is Freeman. Freeman works at the temple but will also go shopping for fabric for me. I have found the price is much better if I do not go in person. He brought me over some fabrics just now, and I am receiving the materials to make temple bags for those who come to the temple with only a plastic shopping bag to carry their sacred clothing. Another friend will sew them up into the temple bags.
While I talk to Freeman, I am also watching the clock as I am expecting Comfort to come with food, and Eugene to come with the fruit salad his wife is making for us. Juliet calls and says she is coming over “soon” to pick up a sack I made for her on Saturday. Freeman leaves and I was relieved to see Comfort come to set up the food for the party.
My guests all come together and walk around the workers who are doing something on the roof and 2nd level. I was so happy to see them all again. Eugene and his wife came with the fruit salad – Yeah! This is all going to work out fine.
Juliet arrives while my guests are here, but she leaves after saying hello and congratulations to the expecting mama. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Comfort made up a plate of food for her. Comfort is feeding Eugene and his wife in the kitchen. She is also putting together two dinners for ladies who were coming but had to deal with work issues. Later I found she fed the construction workers who look at her with longing. Everybody is happy!
It felt good to listen and watch the other mothers give advice and assurance to Jennifer, the expecting mother. I felt good about inviting them to my home and watching them in a peaceful environment chatting as good friends.
Remembered to take a picture, some had left
I had a call from David, an artist from Nigeria who will be coming soon. He wants to sell his Nativities to the senior missionaries, so I bring them to Sister Scripture Study. He has a hard time getting invited to different homes to show off his work. No one can buy and sell or set up shops because we live on the Temple grounds. New missionaries arrive and the others leave, so getting his name and work shown and reputation made is difficult.
Comfort stayed until everyone was gone. She hand washed all of my dishes!! She then helped me with the cleaning and taking down tables and chairs and pulling all the furniture back into place. What a joy she is as a good friend!
Another knock at the door brought the construction worker returning a container. Nice. I thought it would be Sister Kaku who had called to see if I had any banana bread she could bring to a meeting. When she came, I gave her some that had been frozen and told her it was important to defrost it without a cover as it would just get soggy otherwise.
By 3:00 pm my house was peaceful, clean, and quiet. It was a good day.
LTC
