Generosity at its best

We have been in need of a new bed for Raegen. We were thinking of getting a toddler bed or twin for her. However the other day I received an email from our RS pres saying that a generous sister in the ward had a King size bed that she was no longer in need of and wanted to get rid of it and to let her know if we were interested. So I thought well, if we got the king bed we could give Malory the Queen and Raegen her twin. So I let them know that we were interested if no one else was interested. So on Saturday morning we picked up the king bed. Now starts in on the funny parts of the story. As we were driving down the street which is a country back road Andrew says look out the window and see if it is staying on top of the car ok. I said looks good to me. And within seconds the mattress flies off the car and starts tumbling down the road!! Thank goodness the person behind us was far enough behind and could see it coming. He stopped and helped us put it back up and we were on our way home. So we got home set it up and all was ok. On Sunday we had stk conference in Amarillo and on our way home thought we should quickly stop by their house and drop off the straps that we had borrowed to tie the bed down with and pick up the Mattress cover that was still in the dryer when we picked up the bed. Let me tell you about this couple that gave us the bed. They are probably in their late 50's early 60's. She is Greek and He is from New York but what is the Navy and met her in Greece. When we got to their house She wasn't home and Andrew got out of the car to take the straps back while I waited in the car with the kids. He then comes out to the car and says, "What are you going to have for lunch?" I said, "Chicken Parmesan" He said, "Do you have to prepare it when you get home?" I said "No, actually I prepared it yesterday and it just needs to be heated up" (Which any of you that really know me, know that I NEVER DO THIS! THIS WAS AN ALL TIME FIRST FOR ME!! I don't know the phrase prepare in advance!! Anyway, He says "well it's going to take time to heat up so why don't you come in and wait for her to get home and in the mean time have a Hot Dog?" I said, "OH that its really nice of you to offer but we'll be ok." He then says to the kids "You want a Hot dog don't you? You look Hungry, I bet you'd eat one wouldn't you. You need something to tide you over while your Mom heats up lunch." My kids, "Sure, ok, yes" So we go inside and He cleans up the kitchen table starts making Hot dogs. He sets out Bread, condiments, Hot dogs, Beans. She gets home gets out fruit and some cinnamon bread. He asks us all if we want Mac and Cheese we said Oh, I think we are full but thanks anyway. I start to pick up plates and she says, "Oh I think he has some more food coming!" He Brings out the Mac and Cheese and we eat!! In the mean time we are getting to know them asking questions and I said, "aren't you going to eat? He says no, I'm fasting for a DR appt that i have tomorrow." I said, "well then this is probably torture for you!" He had told us that this meal he was fixing was his favorite meal. He said, "Oh it's ok we're glad you're here and love company." So through the food and stories we find out this story and I find out something I never knew before. And if you check kellie's blog out this is what I find funny about her latest post. So he is asking my kids what their names are and then he said Well my parents named me John so that they could call me Jack. And I was like, HUH?? What?? must be an older generation thing or something. He then tells us that back east if you want to call someone something you have to name them something else but in Texas if you want to call someone something then you need to name them exactly that. And John was for Jack and Richard Rick and Robert for Bob and William for Bill etc. I have heard most of these but never had I heard John for Jack. Very interesting. It also ended my wonder why J.F.K. is John but has been referred to as Jack. But Kellie just for the record I like John and Jack and I never knew or thought of that before yesterday and I think it is an older generation thing.

So to finish up this long post that I found humorous only because every time we said No Thank you we were found eating more and more and eating somethings that we don't care for very much! ie: beans for me. It was my first experience with the Greek and I have heard that they push food down you and don't take No for an answer and I did indeed experience this for myself. They were and are true examples of generosity and the pure love of Christ.
By the way, in case you were wondering. We were too full for my pre-prepared meal. We did have it later that evening for dinner though and it was good!