friday nights.

all day, there is this hint of anticipation...just to know we'll be together later in the evening.
arrival time is not mandatory, come when you can, you are welcome.
such different age groups, faces and past experiances gather around the different sizes of food to be quiet, for just a moment, and be thankful.
people scatter in many different rooms, somehow still being in the same sphere and mindset. playing games, eating food and talking.
the conversation carries on about serious, important things involving fasting, women's place in the church and forgiveness. shortly these conversations evolve into fits of laughter, about silliness, pictures or something funny someone said or did.
joy is brought here.
as the night moves on, people dwindle out and the core people remain.
my personal favorite time of the evenings.
laying on carpets and couches, we discuss things that make us smile, and take us back to when life wasn't so complex and baffeling; even though at the time we thought it was.
we talk about books, clothes, toes and music.
doors get opened, then get shut, attempting to blance out the heat level in the room for the many bodies all crammed in one room.
jokes get told, three different conversations happen at once, at least.
love surrounds us like a blanket.
the bantering continues, everyone talking everyone. like being with extended family who spend a large amount of time together. group discussions to one-on-one in a matter of minutes. juice gets spilled. clean up as we go.
sooner than later, the men that we respect and look up to call it a night and the mass amounts of giving hugs begin.

many people my age would much rather be out, partying, dressing up, going to the movies, spending time with significant others and trying to be much older than we should really have to be.
but I choose this.
being with people who are like my parents, older siblings, younger siblings...learning more about manners and when to speak and when to listen every time. this is the church, I believe this is what we were made for.
it's beautiful and rare and I am in love with it.