Home's Cool with One

Hospitality at Home...

This is how I pray others see our home…

an inviting place to come in, relax, fellowship, laugh, cry, play and find a part of Jesus…

 Hospitality.

Some of my friends think it is my middle name.

I get such a kick watching my friends climb those steps to my front door.  I am almost always prepared for someone to drop in… only it rarely happens without an invitation.

I find people are too busy these days to stop y for a visit. It takes an invitation. Something I believe God has given to my husband and I, a gift.

Seems there is always a good reason to have company over.  Large and small gatherings or just one-on-one. No matter what the occasion or how big the guest list, me casa  su casa, which is spanish for; my house is your house.

Of course with the holidays just barely behind us, we had plenty of opportunity our home to company…

Oh my! We were excited about the possibilities to gather with those we cherish in our life.

We had a friend over for coffee, another family over to sled. An old neighbor stopped by on their way into town and a new neighbor brought over a Christmas pie. We hosted a holiday open house, where friends and neighbors stopped in throughout the day. We hosted another smaller gathering, with a few older friends. 

Family visited from out of town the weekend before Christmas. We hosted a political debate watch party and a few of hubby’s friends came over one night to watch a historical football game.  New Year’s Eve brought friends over to play games, do some hilarious karaoke and, of course, ring in the New Year.

We had wall to wall sleeping bags, in the game room,as we encouraged our guests to stay the night instead of driving home at such a late hour. Just as the final guest headed out, the next day,  my son and his fiancé came back for a final visit before heading back to school Florida.

I can imagine some of you reading this are breaking out into a small sweat, wondering how much is too much?  We have done this for so many years, it would seem abnormal not to. Even when we lived in a tiny town home, we opened our doors.

God has blessed us and now we live in a home that is perfect for entertaining... we honor Him by opening our doors...

I know some of you are thinking about the preparations, the expense or the mess left behind. Perhaps you are the kind of person who worries about every little thing, what will people think if I use paper plates or if my towels don’t match in the bathroom? Others are such perfectionists that they never invite people over for fear of rejection. If this describes you, then start small. You will be blessed when you open your home, even if just to have a friend over for a cup of tea. We started with kids birthday parties and found out it was easy and fun!

I have a secret resource… no, not Martha Stewart’s magazine… something much more refreshing!

TEACH Magazine It is a great Christian resource to have on hand. It is filled with wonderful articles that encourage and challenge homemakers. Their motto: we put the HOME in Homemaking.

Can you believe the winter issue was appropriately titled:  Hospitality How Tos!

I have always had a sense that hospitality is our way of serving the Lord in the home He has provided for our family. I was reminded by Lorrie Flem, Editor of Teach Magazine that God does not recommend that we are hospitable, He commands us to do so.  I consider having the gift a blessing beyond measure.

TEACH Magazine has an array of inspiring writers, I feel at home reading their stories, as if they are sitting across from me in the great room sharing from their hearts.  It is a hearty magazine, filled to the brim with articles, stories, poems and book reviews. Each article relates in one way or another to the theme of the specific issue.

I am looking forward to the spring issue, it is sure to be inspiring and encouraging, the theme:

Discerning God’s Will for your Life.

I do want to mention one of the writers, Jessica Cover, she is a 19-yr old Homeschool graduate from Grandview, Washington. She writes with brutal honesty and candor. Her word usage is eloquent, yet simple.  I have found it refreshing to read the honest words from a homeschool graduate, giving me insight into the thought process form the students point of view.

Please check out their website and start your own subscription, it is worth every penny. I have had many friends try to take my copy home with them… I just cannot bear to let it go! (giggle)

www.TEACHmagazine.com

Blessings to you and your families in 2008, may your home be filled with much love, warmth and the sound of friends gathering.

Melody

*photos taken by Korey Erickson, future daughter in law.