Dinner Party and Update on my "normal"

Andy and I love any excuse to have people over for dinner and last week we had our small group from church over for a post valentines dinner...or a "Pink and Red" party as I called it. Everyone wore pink or red (and some went all out as you'll see below).

On the Menu: (I will post the recipes at some point if anyone is interested)

Smoked Gouda and Manchego Cheese Plate

Hot Feta, Artichoke, and Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Salad with Pears, dried cherries, blue cheese, pine nuts and my favorite dressing Maple Vinaigrette

Chicken and Mushroom Crepes

Roasted Asparagus

Dessert Tray- Peanut Butter Truffles, Cookie Dough Truffles, and Almond Shortbread

(my new favorite way to serve dessert for dinner parties of 8 or more...it's much easier to do pick up dessert than slicing cake/pie with ice cream and having to serve everyone another plate etc)

Found these at Costco for $16...aren't they so pretty?! Too bad they died after 3 days.

Not a great pic but the place cards were a free printable off pinterest

Chicken and Mushroom Crepes...I wanted to do something "fancy" yet many times those dishes require cooking while the guests are here...which I'm not a huge fan of (like frying crab crakes when we had our Ashley Mac's staff over last year..all 25 of them- lesson learned) Last time I made these crepes I figure out that I could....

..sear all the chicken the day before

.....and make all the crepes the day before...so I just made the cream sauce and through them together the day of then popped them in the oven when everyone arrived

We had some wine and cheese and hot feta dip while we waited..

Love these girls! wish we had a big group pic with the boys. These have become some of our dearest friends and we are so thankful for their friendships. Christian community is such a gift and I'm really not sure where I would be without it!

some of the lovely pink and red outfits below...

We had more laughs than I've had in a very long time...it was so much fun...I think I need to plan another one!
Thank you so much for all the comments on my last post. And several email/fb messages I got regarding it too. It's neat to see the body at work and I'm so encouraged. We sang a song at church sunday that brought me to tears because I know God was speaking to me through it

Lord I surrender all.....I'll just trust your perfect plan:

When I don't know what to do- I'll lift my hands

When I don't know what to say- I'll sing your praise

When I don't know where to go- I'll run to your throne

When I don't know what to think- I'll stand on your truth

I don't know what our future holds, but I KNOW his revealed will...that I am a wife to a wonderful husband, a mom to 2 precious boys, and a boss to 34 amazing employees, a friend to many, and a servant to HIM...to whatever that looks like for today...until He shows me what to do tomorrow.

and just tonight a great reminder in Jesus Calling:

You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of LIfe day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repat to you; Follow Me.