Happy New Year

A new year!  365 days to practice hospitality!!  Let's go for it!!!

dinner ideas

Spaghetti Tacos

I spoke with my lovely sister-in-law today.  We talked about our kids, Christmas, my blog, her business plans (for www.explorationsplaystudio.com), and about what to make for dinner!  In case you have run out of ideas, here are a few suggestions...  Breakfast for Dinner.  It's easy enough to scramble up some eggs and you can toss in any leftover veggies, cheeses, etc..  Or, try baked French Toast. (I use Challah bread)  Don't forget to add bacon to either of these suggestions to ensure happy kids.  Seriously, add bacon to any meal and everyone is happy!  We also like grits.  I buy Quaker Quick Grits and top with butter and salt.  (My girls and I like cheese sprinkled in because we're cheesy like that!)  Finally, make a salad, load up their plates, pour some juice, then sit back and receive the love.  When I serve Breakfast for Dinner, I am adored!!

 I also suggested to Nicole Spaghetti Tacos.  My kids learned about these from an iCarly episode last Christmas.  They are as it sounds; spaghetti (any way you like it) served in a taco shell.  How fun is that?!  They actually taste good.  Serve with a salad and your kids will think you are sooo cool!

Hope these suggestions help.  If you have any "go-to" favorites, let me know.  Thanks :-)

Be Ready

It's the night after Christmas, and all through my house, not a creature is stirring, except me, of course... There is food to put away and dirty dishes on the counter.  In the family room there is more evidence of days well spent... more dishes, toys and games on the floor, pillows and blankets that need straightening, lots of tidying up to be done.  Let's face it, practicing hospitality has consequences.  Clean-up! 

Tonight, it is quiet.  I feel no pressure.  I will take my time and do my best to be ready for tomorrow.  And there it is: 'be ready'.  Isn't that what practicing hospitality is all about... being ready?!  It's learning to anticipate guests.  It's praying for them to come!  It's offering 'room' in your inn to someone who needs refreshment or a place to stay.  It's preparing your heart to receive someone elses'; it's being ready to listen to someone, discern his/her needs, to offer encouragement and love.

So, let's not stop being hospitable just because Christmas is over.  Even if our holiday guests have all gone home, let's be ready for whomever else God may have in mind for us to practice hospitality on.  If the thought of it makes you tired, I get it, but pray about it.  Ask God to help you to be ready.  I believe!  He will!!

Merry Christmas

As you give and receive hospitality this Christmas may you feel God's presence

in the midst of all the presents! 

Merry Christmas and God bless you.

  

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

(from Isaiah 9)

angels

We welcomed a lovely couple from Kentucky into our home Sunday afternoon.  They drove 15 hours to pick up their son, who has been studying at Ramapo College this past semester.  Their son has been attending The Plant (our church), along with several other Ramapo students for the past few months.  This couple arrived in Mahwah an hour before church started.  We happened to sit in front of them Sunday morning.  During the 'meet and greet' time I had to ask them if they had a place to stay because I'm nosey like that ;-) but also because I wanted them to stay with us.  I had been asking God to show me who may need to be welcomed in this Christmas and I thought it might be them?!  Call me crazy, but the Bible does tell us to entertain strangers, because some have entertained angels without knowing it.*  Well, I'm glad they said "yes".  They are our angels from Kentucky.

So, don't forget... and then please tell me about your angels.

* Hebrews 13:2, check it out :-)

Christmas cards

Our Christmas cards have arrived and now it's time to address them and send them out!  As you work on your cards, think of it as sending a little hospitality in the mail.  Your card is a gift of love sent in an envelope.  Have fun thinking about all those wonderful friends and family members who will be blessed to receive a Christmas card from you.  Hope I get one. (wink, wink)

Here's Karalyn and Jillian showing some Christmas attitude

your heart

I was encouraged as I read your comments on FB and here on my blog after my 'Love your neighbors' post.  I am happy to think some of you have plans to introduce yourself to those living nearby and some of you will welcome neighbors into your homes again or for the 1st time.  GOOD FOR YOU! 

As you prepare to welcome people in, remember that practicing hospitality is more than welcoming people into your lovely home, it's welcoming them into your heart.

Love your neighbors

We hosted our annual Orchard Street Open House on Sunday. Welcoming friends and neighbors into our home is a privilege and we are honored when they come.  We had almost 60 people here (including kids) and most of the adults huddled in our cozy kitchen.  We spent hours together; talking, laughing, eating and drinking.  It was great fun!

We have lived in our house for 7 years.  We learned that the previous owners would invited the neighbors in at Christmas-time for cookies and chili.  We felt it was important to continue this tradition of getting together.  I don't bake cookies (Caleb and I placed them on a baking sheet!) or make chili, but everyone brings something.  There's always a ton of food and it's all so good!  We love it!

Well, here's my hospitality challenge... if you do not know your neighbors, please make an effort to get to know them.  Consider crossing your street this week to introduce yourself.  If you do not know the names of your neighbors, I hope you will be intentional about getting to know them.  You may not be ready to have all of them huddled in your cozy kitchen, but I pray that time will come.  When it does, I want to hear about it :-)

CBS

I am studying the Book of Acts with a great group of women.  CBS (Community Bible Study) is such a wonderful thing!!  On Wednesday we discussed lesson 11, which covers the end of chapter 9 to the middle of chapter 11.  Here's one of the homework questions: "Both Peter and Cornelius practice hospitality.  What basic attitudes are evident in their hospitality?  Which attitude is personally most instructive to you?"  Hey, did you catch that?  I was so excited!  I'm telling you, practicing hospitality is a big deal.  The answer to the question comes from Acts 10:17-33.  I'm gonna let you look it up and answer it yourself.  Let me know what attitude is most instructive to you.

PH and PMS

How can I PH (practice hospitality) when I have PMS?!   Chances are, if you are a woman, you will experience symptoms of PMS during this 'most wonderful time of the year'.  If you find yourself feeling particularly hormonal, please give yourself a gift ... take a day or two to just rest ...  put the 'to do list' down and get down on the floor and play with your kids; make a coffee date with some girlfriends; download some worshipful Christmas songs and get down dancing with your family; make popcorn and watch Elf. 

Hospitality comes from the heart and if our hearts are stressed we won't be very welcoming, will we?  So, it is possible to PH while having PMS as long as we take care of ourselves.  We deserve it!  XOXO

Where's Mary?

Aprons

I love aprons.  The one's my girls are wearing I found a few years ago at the Market Basket in Franklin Lakes.  I often put one of these on when I'm making something messy.  I have a few of my own too, but I fall for frills and the retro look every time!  I wish I could sew because I would definitely make some pretty aprons.  In fact, the idea of making my own apron may be incentive enough for me to take lessons. 

If you don't have an apron, I encourage you to find one that makes you happy.  Putting it on just may inspire you to practice hospitality.  Think of it as your superhero costume... when wearing it you will look and feel like a professional in the kitchen.  If you already have a favorite apron, I'd love to hear about it.  Send me a comment about what it looks like and when you like to wear it.

Have a great weekend.  Practice hospitality in style!  ;-)