Take Them a Meal & Monday Makeover Link Party Take 4

Please accept a big heartfelt thank you to all of you who linked up last week!  As a fledgling blogger, it is such a blessing to know that people out there share my interest in making their tables a more beautiful place and are willing to come visit and share their amazing creations here.  After all, without all of you (linkers and visitors) it wouldn't be a party!

Keep in mind that a beautiful table is not just one that is tablescaped.  A beautiful table is a place where memories are made, whether through a delicious meal, a shared experience, decor that inspires the imagination, or simply that inexplicable feeling of hospitality.  To give you some insight into why I spend so much thought on lovely tables and what they mean,  I shared how my mother inspires me through her gift of hospitality in her home.

I hope you feel that sense of hospitality here to link up any project that shows off how you enjoy your table - recipes, family game night activities, tablescapes, DIY decor, sewing projects, new dishes, ideas for a smoother mealtime, you name it.  Just show us what makes your table a special place!

The most viewed link last week was Nostalgic New Year's Eve Table shared with us by Ann at Corner of Plaid and Paisley:

Isn't it lovely and creative?  On her blog, Ann shares her passion for fabric, paper, and dishes.  You will definitely find some beautiful tables there!

I promised I would feature a favorite of mine.  It's just so hard to do as they are all wonderful, but in the spirit of New Year's Eve, here is 

Alycia's festive table: Life Is A Cabaret! from Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One

If you don't already know Alyica, go meet her!  She teaches classes on "The Art of Tablescaping" and is a retired event designer.  All of her tables are amazing!  She has also been a big encouragement to me.

Before we get this party started, I want to introduce you to something that has helped make my table special many times over the years.  Even more importantly, this free program has helped allow me to serve others in a way that is humbling and joyful and has contributed to that wonderful feeling of community we are all created to desire.  

Take Them a Meal is a free online tool to help facilitate meal coordination for those in need.  "For those times in life when filling their table will warm their hearts" is the sentiment of creators Scott and Adina, who provide this website for free through contributions from individuals, churches, organizations, and companies.  Anyone can use this website to set up meal schedules and relay information to individuals who wish to support those in their communities with the gift of a meal.

I was first introduced to Take Them a Meal by a wonderfully loving woman in our church who coordinates Meals of Love for families in need, sometimes because of joyful events such as a new baby, other times due to mournful times such as a death in the family.  Our family has been the recipient of meals after the births of our children and I started serving in this ministry when I saw firsthand what a huge blessing it was to have the help of meals for a few weeks with a newborn in the house.

Taking meals to those in need has always been a fun way for me to meet families within our church with whom I may not have connected otherwise (this is especially true if you are part of a very large church!).

But the most humbling experience for me occurred early this fall when I underwent a major surgery.  At the time, my children were 10 months, 2, and 5.  Due to the nature of the surgery, I could not lift my children, do housework, stand for too long, or function in my normal capacity for six weeks, and I was in a lot of pain.  Meals would have been impossible!

I was amazed at the outpouring of love from our church community.  Friends and people we had never met (who are now friends!)  brought us meals for more than 5 weeks while I recovered and life resumed.  While this service of love certainly would have been possible without a website, everything was made smoother by Take Them a Meal, for the coordinator, the meal providers, and me as the recipient. 

If you know someone who needs help with meals and you are looking for a way to help, check out Take Them a Meal.  You do not have to be part of a church or a specific organization to use this tool.  Anyone can sign up and invite people via email to participate in providing meals.  There is also a wonderful blog with tips for taking great meals, recipes, ideas, and even stories of meals gone wrong!  If you decide to use this website, I'd love to hear your thoughts on your experience.
**I am in no way being compensated for this post.  I just really appreciate Take Them a Meal and the needed service it provides!**

Now on to the party!

Rules for sharing your own Humble Creations:

1. Please grab a button or just link back to my site somewhere in your post so we can all share.
2. Feel free to post more than one project, but please be sure to link back to the specific post, not your main page.
3. Please consider following me (Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Google +, Google Friend Connect, RSS feed).  Not required, but you might find something you like!
4. The link party will be up from Sunday evening until Friday evening at 9:00 PM.
5. Each Monday I will feature the most viewed link along with some of my favorites. 
6. Have fun playing table!