baskets and blessings

Last night I went to the most amazing event. My good friend and quilting buddy, Bridget, invited me. Baskets to Blessings is a major fundraising event for her church that helps support a local food pantry, a child shelter and a teen transition center. When we arrived, the parking lot was overflowing with cars and the line was out the door. We had already purchased tickets and were let right in. The lobby was festively decorated and the atmosphere was so upbeat. Any tension I felt from my busy day quickly abated as we waded our way through the crowd to the basket display area.

The ladies had spent months gathering donated items to fill the most amazing decorated baskets I have ever seen. We had little over an hour to wander through and place our raffle tickets in baskets we hoped to win in the drawing later that night. I had to chuckle watching the whole scene, grown women acting like kids in a candy store, trying to decide which baskets would be the recipients of their prized ticket. But that was nothing to hysterical tone when we gathered for the ticket drawing and holiday skit. We laughed and clapped and cheered as each winning ticket was drawn. The MC and her cohort were like a comedy act bantering back and forth as they drew each ticket. When the especially prized "Hen Pecked" basket came up the MC went off on a tangent about her own chicken raising days, i just smiled and a warm connected feeling came over me for a few minutes. I must admit I was disappointed not to win that basket, but I took comfort in the fact that I had lent a hand (and a few dollars) to making the evening a huge success.

I didn't win a basket last night, they didn't call my name. But, I had a great evening of fun and laughter and friendship. I met new people, saw old friends and helped support a few local charities to boot. What a way to start off the Holiday season! I look forward to going next year, and, you never know I might even come home a winner.