My husband stared in bewilderment as I smoothed my hand over the heavy table and pronounced instantaneously, This is it! After weeks of shopping and arguing, we finally decided on a dining room table. Strike that. I finally decided on a dining room table. Matt, my sweet, darling, stylistic bachelor, would’ve been just fine with a baby pine table and four matching chairs from Ikea. In fact, his last table was a baby pine table with two standard chairs and a table bench. A bench. From Ikea. I’m not far off.
I can’t adequately explain why we need an extra large table. We are newlyweds living in an apartment so there was no logical reasoning as to why we needed a six-foot long dinner table made of restored wood. But I insisted we did. Each panel of wood means something. The dents and bruises and stains it has acquired represent moments, shared moments, with people we love. Around food. Making memories. Eating food.
There are a few empty nail holes and even some unmatched panels, but it’s so perfect for our home. In fact, all the furniture in our home is repurposed wood from different parts of Latin America. Restored wood, like restored people, is used, worn, and full of stories. We like our furniture like we like our friends: weathered.
But especially the table.
As far back as I remember the dining room table was the cornerstone of my life. Every painful, joyful, sad, or celebratory event occurred around a meal, with loved ones, at a table. The table I purchased had to be able to withstand death, absorb pain, sustain joyous moments, and endure weathered grief because a table welcomes the weary, seats the sick, and provides community for the lonely.
I’m not a chef, but I like to cook. And I’m not a writer, but I like to write. This blog has been my table where I can do my best to whip up something simple so we can sit around and talk about it. Thank you for being here with me.
Today is my birthday, and I’m about to go to work, sit in traffic, and eat a lunch I packed in a brown paper bag, but this right here is my table. And we get to share our joys, struggles, successes, and failure around a six-foot long table of restored wood.
Because I like furniture like I like my friends: worn, weathered, and restored.
Here’s to many more years around the dinner table!
What a beautiful, fun post! Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday! Mine was yesterday.
happy birthday bianca! thanks for allowing us to sit around your virtual table (:
Happy Birthday!
I love sharing at your table.
Just remember the surprise and celebration this time last year on your birthday!!! x
Happy birthday B! 🙂 Hope it's a lovely one, full of life!
Happy Birthday! Great post…thanks for the sharing at your table. =)
Happy Birthday!
I want to personally thank you for creating this post.
Happy Birthday! Many blessings!
Happy Birthday, Bianca!!! Hope you have a wonderful day amidst the traffic, and brown paper lunch bag:) God Bless you!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Happy Happy Birthday…may all your drrrreams come trueeeeeee! 😉 You are so lucky I didn't sing that at the top of my lungs into your voicemail! Others aren't so lucky! 😉 My birthday is in 10 days! Happy Birthday Month to us!
Absolutely love this post! Happy Birthday Bianca!
Happy Birthday Bianca! Thanks for sharing this and all you share. May the blessings of God leave you AWE Struck with what He has in store for you this year..!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Bianca! May the Lord continue to fill you with many blessings! Much love…sent your way!! 🙂
Today is my little Brother's (36th) BDay too! It's nice to be able to celebrate two sibling's birthdays on the same day!
I love you so very much and one day, one day very soon I hope, I will get to hug your neck and tell you in person just how much you mean to me, how much you have changed my life and how much you continue to force me to open my heart to the bright and shiny things of God. (Run-on sentence much??)
I love you, Biance Juarez Olthoff! I mean, BB! ;0)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIANCA! I can't even begin to recount the ways that your life has blessed, ministered to, and convicted me!
I've been listening to your SoS series, and GIRL, you brought The Word. It's been so, so cool to hear your share and teach and inspire, especially on the topic of love, since I'm hearing your current (married) story on the blog and sharing in your single story through the podcasts. Thanks for all you do to advance the Kingdom of God!!! xoxoxoxo
It's a joy and honor to sit at this table with you!! Hope you have a rockin' amazing Birthday!! 😀
Amen!!
I am so glad you were born on this day, and oh how I have enjoyed pulling up a seat at the table. Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday B! Thanks for having a place in the table for us! I've enjoyed every moment spent here!! Hugs and blessings!!
Beautiful! The kitchen & dinner table are the heart of a home. =)
Have a Fabulous day Diva!
Happy Birthday! I love this story and COMPLETELY relate to it. I put my husband through the very same experience with very similar thoughts in mind.
Have a beautiful day!!
Happy Birthday Bianca… For many years my table was where I ate my food, it could have been my lap, out of a can/ box, out of the back of a truck or a mess hall. Now that I'm retired we have a round glass table, O' how I wish we could all sit around an enjoy each others company but I can't remember when the last time we did. We eat in our rooms, on the kitchen counter or wherever we feel comfortable. But I can't blame anyone, it's no one's fault, but reading your blog make me envious but happy for you and those who do. God Bless…
Happy Birthday Bianca!! I enjoy sitting at your table, may your cup runeth over today!!
Happy Birthday friend! May God continue to bless and challenge you! I'm glad to be at your table, girl!
happy birthday, bianca! (i was so hoping for a pic — can't wait to see your table! so important in italian families too, so i GET it!)
Love the analogy…I actually rarely got to enjoy dinner at the table being raised by a single mother and all but definitely that is going to change when we have our own kids. 😉
Happy birthday Bianca…I sent you a birthday tweet.
I just want to let you know that I have been reading your blog for a few weeks now and I am really enjoying it.
I am going through a somewhat stressful time in my life right now your blog really brings a smile to my face. Reading your blog is really a highlight of my day.
Thank you for making my day with every post you write and being an encouragement to me!
Happy birthday!! I hope you had a lovely day!
"Because I like furniture like I like my friends: worn, weathered, and restored."
Excellent post. Hope you had a great birthday!
Happy Birthday!
your post reminds me of a quote…
"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” Audrey Hepburn
thanks for being a light in this world…
I love this post. The table is such an important gathering place, and I hope that many souls are comforted at yours. This post reminded me of Richard Smallwood’s song, “At the Table” in reference to the feast of the LORD. if you don’t know the song check it out on YouTube. It’s the one with the choir in dressed in blue…. might wanna wear shades, suits are briiiiite! God bless you.
Sonya
After a tip from a friend ~ today I can across your website!! You speak such beautiful words, each one really resonates with me. I can feel your passion, love for others, and love for God all through this "technological" piece of equipment we call a computer. What a blessing you are giving through this website. Thank you Bianca – I am a follower for life!! God Bless.
P.S. My oldest daughter and you share the same birthdate. She just turned 28. 🙂
Denise DeCarbo
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
i thought this was a really great post to read. i’ll check back for new posts by you!
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
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