What are tables for?...

I've got this large table that is in my front room...you see it right when you walk in the front door.  It has a farmhouse look to it.  Because it's in the front room, it's a decorating nightmare!  First off...it's HUGE!!  It is larger than my couch that's in the same room.    Second...I have super tall ceilings in that room so there's A LOT of space above (but very little around).  Sooo....I'm always on the lookout for some decorating/place setting ideas that go beyond just a normal table.  Pinterest has become one of my all time FAVORITE things in the world.  I put pictures on there of ideas...yet...hmmm....I seem to NEVER accomplish many of them.  

Example:

Isn't this Pottery Barn table beautiful?  Very warm and inviting!  I pinned it because I thought the burlap runners were clever and cute.  Even without the place settings, this would look nice and very decorative.....aaahhhh.....Great Idea!!! 

Yet, in reality....my decorations fall a "BIT" short. 

Example:

On most days of the week, this is what you would find when you walk in my front door......

Yep...a closer shot reveals.....an un organized pile of lesson material....strewn ALL OVER the table!!!

In June, I was released from teaching seminary.  Even though it was one of the most exhausting callings I'd ever had, I cried and cried and cried.  I couldn't walk or drive by the seminary building without busting into tears...embarrassing!!  In August, I got a call from Br. Morrison asking if I'd like to WORK for S&I as a paid substitute teacher.....uhhh....YES!!!  So, instead of having my decorated table...it is still messy and is used for all my lesson planning. (LOVE the space!!)

The question is...really...is this uninviting?  As I look at the two pictures...yep...Pottery Barn gets the decorative award but I think mine gets the warm and inviting award!! 

 In the 2010 General Conference, Elder L. Tom Perry gave a talk titled, "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home".  At the time of the talk, I was into my 3rd year of teaching seminary and the kids had watched the transformation of our front table turn from a decorative piece to a lesson prep table.  At one point during the talk all heads whipped over and looked at me.  Along came some laughter and a "That is soooo YOU!!"  Here is what Elder Perry said,

"Mother was a great teacher who was diligent and thorough in her preparation. I have distinct memories of the days preceding her lessons. The dining room table would be covered with reference materials and the notes she was preparing for her lesson. There was so much material prepared that I’m sure only a small portion of it was ever used during the class, but I’m just as sure that none of her preparation was ever wasted. How can I be sure about this? As I flipped through the pages of her notebooks, it was as if I were hearing my mother teach me one more time. Again, there was too much in her notebooks on any single topic to ever share in a single class session, but what she didn’t use in her class she used to teach her children."

I can think of no better compliment on the decorations of my house!  =D