Around mid-September, our church’s Bible study groups started up for the new school year. This is our 3rd year with (approximately) the same crowd–here we are the first year:
Our second year we took no pictures. Blast! I accept full responsibility . . . or maybe I’ll share it with Carrie, who also has a nice camera. If she agrees to be half a scapegoat, that is.
A few weeks ago I broke out my camera to record our third year together, thus ending the photographic drought.
It was Carrie’s birthday the next day, and Halloween was forthcoming. Girlfriend loves to dress up (remember when she conned us into that Regency Ball? More about that very soon), so she decided to put on a costume. How I love that girl.
Our Bible study leader (and my wonderful web admin) David also, um . . . dressed up.
And under the hat . . .
David? Why are you wearing that frightening cap on your head?
Don’t call me David. My name is Holy Streaks of Fire.
While all this was going down, his lovely wife served treats:
Freshly baked apple pie!
I’ll take two.
Our group meets every Thursday, alternating between David and Beth’s house and our apartment. We converge at 6:30, and everyone brings their own dinner. We spend the first half an hour eating together, and then move into prayer and study of whatever passage was just preached on the previous Sunday. I love how we get the chance to go over the same Scripture, because so frequently different themes emerge. Hearing the different perspectives of the people in the group really sheds light on the depth of the passage. We’re going through the book of Esther this fall (the series is called “The Hidenness of God” since Esther is the only book in the Bible in which God’s name is not mentioned) and there is so much more there than I ever thought.
I love when there’s so much more there than I ever thought.
In fact, it happens almost every time I open the Bible. Huh.
Anyway, I’m so glad we’re hosting every other week and am enjoying it thoroughly, in part because it forces me to clean the house on a very regular basis, and in part because when the study ends, my husband and I get to stay put in our cozy little abode instead of trekking our chilly way home on the El. I’m also glad for the chance to grow my hospitality skills–and what better way to practice than by having people over consistently?
But, if I’m honest, I’m also excited because of this:
Pies.
And other things. Like cakes.
Or cupcakes. Or brownies.
See, living with only my husband, sweet treats go a long way. If I chance to make a cake (I admit, a rare occurrence), we rarely get through the whole thing before it has to be tossed in the garbage. And remember those Peanut Butter bars and how it took us from April to September to consume 1 single batch?
And let’s talk about appetizers for a minute. I adore stuffed mushrooms. I love fried onion rings, dips, hummus, pot-stickers. I love little bite-sized savory snacks.
I even enjoy the lovely Velveeta-based treat, Queso.
But again, as with the dessert problem, when there are just 2 people in the equation, you can’t exactly go about making large batches of appetizers, because they just don’t keep long enough for us to get through them.
So in conclusion: I am excited about studying God’s Word. I’m excited about sharing our lives with our group, praying with our friends, sharing our joys and burdens, tears and laughter, answers to prayer (be they ‘yes’s or ‘no’s or ‘wait’s)–but I’m also excited because now I have an excuse to make cakes and appetizers that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to make.
Does that make me sound terribly superficial?
You know what, who cares how it sounds! I heretoforth embrace it! And I embrace myself! Everyone should embrace themselves and and do a jig on a rainbow. Do it! Do it now. I’ll be jigging right beside you . . . in spirit.
Tomorrow, Chile con Queso! With Velveeta. Gird your loins! And gird ’em well. They’ll need it after chowing down on this snack.
I’ll be totally honest here. I decided to TA a class this year mainly because it meant I could bake more since I would have a group of medical students to thrust my goods upon. Selfish? Maybe. But not really. Since they still get to eat the baked goods!
Sounds like a super fun bible study group! Although, I’m pretty sure if something involves you and your adorable self, it has to be super fun.
Hah! A woman after my own heart. =)
Bake away, Jenna! Your group looks fun and engaging and I seriously doubt they’ll mind. I love that you follow up on the previous Sunday’s Scripture verses, too. Really a neat way to “live” it! With appetizers. Or pie. Or… 🙂
I’m amazed that the 1 batch of peanut butter bars can last any family that long!
My mom once went to bed for the night and by the time she woke up my 2 brother had eaten more than a half of a sheet of cake by themselves. She was furious.
Another time my brother’s dietitian told him to save calories during the holidays was to limit himself by not eating a second slice of cake at parties, he responded, “it’s not the 2nd slice that’s the problem, it’s that he he eats half of an entire cake” he said, she actually got tongue tied and didn’t know what to say, LOL
That’s hilarious about your brothers downing that sheet cake! Wow.
What’s even better is the fun we once had with it by tricking her. Once while she took a nap we cut off a piece of cake and hid the rest, leaving just one medium size slice on the original cake plate. When she woke up she was fooled that it all got eaten, but I quickly assured her it was a prank!
The “threat” of company is so healthy, helping to motivate us to do what we know we should do & want to do but often don’t get around to doing otherwise… I love that you are growing in hospitality. Have fun with it!! You make me smile!!
That’s a wonderful reason to cook things you normally wouldn’t. I also cook for two and my friends often benefit because of the amount I cooked. Never had that problem when my son was home…lol! 😉
getting to cook/bake for a group is half the reason i love our church small group too! 🙂
I love it when you say “gird your loins!” hahaha. You and my sister would get along very well, as she has her own language. Not that you’re using foreign words, but you use them in funny ways, just like she does. Like she uses “crisp” or “crispy” as a derogatory term. She’ll hold up some failure and say, shaking her head, “criiiiiiiiiiisp.” Or if she’s feeling fat, she’ll say, “look at these crispy thighs” which is also hilarious b/c it sounds like she’s talking about fried chicken. Anyway. I love that you have a Bible study group that meets in your home! I also appreciate opportunities to make things I usually wouldn’t. I love me some queso and I’m wondering if yours has a special something in it. Can’t wait to see!
Crisp! Love it. I’ll have to incorporate that word into my vocabulary too.
I remember at this one zoo/animal thingamaging, this Australian dude said “fluffy” to mean fat–like “that lioness is eating a lot, and she’s getting quite fluffy.”
As far as my queso, it’s just a P-Dub classic–but I love it just the way it is!
I’m not fat, I’m fluffy! Much nicer word. haha
I don’t know what those spinach filled cup things are, but could you share a recipe please. I could literally eat that whole plate. They look so good. And yes, there is something so decadent, cheap and easy about Velveta melted with salsa.
Yes! Here’s where I got it: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/spinach-artichoke-cups/
I really, really loved the filling, but the reason I didn’t plan on sharing it “officially” on my blog is that the wonton wrappers that serve as the base didn’t crisp up on the bottom, and were kind of a weird chewy consistency. Anyway, aside from that it’s a fabulous appetizer!