She's Going Away...

I only paid $25 for her! TWENTY-FIVE! I gave another $25 to get the six chairs with her. I remember that day so well. I was out garage-saling. We were new in the area and trying to furnish our new home on a budget. I came upon an elderly lady's garage sale. She was down-sizing to move into a smaller apartment. I fell in love with her the minute I saw her. I asked, "How much?" The lady replied "Twenty-five." For a minute, I thought she meant $2500 and I was shocked. But then she said, "You can have her and the chairs for fifty dollars." I immediately went over to my FIL's house and woke him up to bring his van to help me bring her home. And here she's been ever since.

I remember the lady being a bit sad about losing HER table. She told me about the dinners she and her family had held around it. She told me it had been used with her kids when they were younger and her grandkids. I promised her it was going to be used for many of the same purposes in our home. I told her what a blessing I knew it would be. I was right.

Here "she" is in the picture below (at the far end, closest to the window) ready for Thanksgiving last year. We had to add two "extensions" to her to fit everybody.

The second picture shows her doing what she does best, entertaining family and friends for special occasions. (Note: This is "her" looking towards the extension tables.)



Here she is below, all dressed up for our Christmas Open House last year. This has been an annual event in our house since DH and I started in the ministry. I have loved having her here for it because she extends to such a nice size to hold all the yummy food!!

Here she is at DS 3's birthday celebration this summer. She's not particularly dressed up...just providing us a great place to eat all the yummy food. DSs 2 and 4 are waiting for the "go ahead" to dive into their lobster feast.

You might be wondering, then, "WHERE'S she going?" Well, we are a growing family. Not in numbers, but the boys are getting bigger and they need their space. DS 3, especially, has been shifted around in our house. He needs a place to call his own. We are closing this dining room "nook" in to make a bedroom/office space. It will have a wall and french doors to close it off. This will make it usable as an office or small dining room (should we ever sell) and usable now for DS 3's bedroom--something he desparately needs.

I have no room for her now. I realize that we really only use her on very special occasions because most of the time we eat at the dining area of our kitchen. It's sentimental, I guess. I love the fact that she extends to hold so many. I love the fact that she is solid wood with some very neat scrollwork on her sides. I'm a little sad. I know that sounds strange. I won't miss her in the way you miss people when they leave. I'll miss being able to "dress" her up for the holidays and special occasions, the joy of feeding so many people around her, and the memories she dredges up (in general). I NOW understand what was happening in the lady's mind as she watched her table be loaded into my FIL's van. Yes, I'll miss her!!