Three stink bugs and daddy-long legs peruse the exterior of our screened-in back porch. No need to fret, they aren’t getting in here, so I prop my leg up on the chair next to me and take a breather before guests arrive.
When you’re the hostess with the mostest, a break is only momentary. Soon enough, I’m back to tidying, checking the lasagna’s doneness in the oven, and managing a mild sense of panic. With 37 minutes until everyone arrives, there’s still the salad to toss with Caesar dressing and croutons, butter to slather on the French bread, and the lasagnas to pull out of the oven. It feels like a race against time, and I’m already thinking of anything I might have forgotten.
I’m finally in bed four hours later, reflecting on the evening. The lasagna came out 20 minutes late, but no one seemed to care. The homemade salad dressings were a hit—especially the ranch. After one family member tasted it, I had to admit I supplemented it with a packet of Uncle Dan’s Ranch. Since I can’t find it at Kroger like I could at Fred Meyer, I’ve resorted to ordering a 10-pack from Amazon. And yes, at one point I frisbee’d a packet across the island to three women who asked for it.
All in all, everything went off without a hitch, aside from the 12- to 14-year-olds’ sudden craving for root beer. I’ll definitely be better prepared for that next time! To top it all off, someone asked if we could host Christmas this year.
I’m already envisioning it with our sectional couch finally in place by then. It’ll make for a cozy and festive gathering, and I’m excited at the thought of creating new memories here. The evening left me feeling grateful, and although hosting can be exhausting, it’s the kind of exhaustion that comes with a full heart. I’ll catch some much-needed shut-eye now and look forward to the next gathering.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 