Apples of Gold Banquet

We had such a lovely time last night. I had moved furniture around in the living room and put two tables in there. I used 2 red damask tablecloths, white linen napkins, crystal glasses for sparkling white grape juice, red glasses for ice water. I used clear glass cylinders for the centerpieces which had red roses and white carnations. These were not tall, so that everyone could see one another across the tables. I also had crystal votive holders on the tables.

I made place cards out of card stock, rose stickers and a red calligraphy pen! Our menu for the evening was:
Drinks and Appetizers
Punch
Hot Mulled Cider
Puffed Pastry Petites
Nancy's Quiches
Pepper Jam Pleaser

Dinner
Hot Rolls with Butter
Spinach Salad
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Scalloped Potatoes Supreme
Baked Cheesy California Blend

Dessert
Deep Dark Chocolate Cake
Lemon Bars
Southern Pecan Pie
Coffee, Hot Tea

It was all so delicious!

Tim did the welcome and prayer. The lady in the photo was one of the leaders. She and her husband have been married 48 years. He spoke last night about the book "Love and Respect", and said that 2 years ago they went to a seminar by the author, Dr. Emerson Eggerich. He said he learned more about his wife that weekend than he had all the years they had been married!

Do you see the chandlier? That is normally right over our dining table. I put a couch there facing the kitchen. The ficus trees with white lights were there to visually divide our open kitchen from the "banquet area." It worked out beautifully!

Our pastor spoke as well. His wife Betty was also one of the leaders. He challenged the men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. He mentioned how women always seem to be the ones who seek out how to improve their marriages, and challenged the men to seek to grow as well.

This is a picture of the top of my piano.

I would encourage any of you "older" women to mentor younger women, and younger women, I would encourage you to seek out an older godly woman to mentor you. If that is not possible, try to find an Apples of Gold group. You will be encouraged!