Holiday Hospitality
Part 1
Part 1
The 6 weeks or so of the Holiday Season is quickly approaching...it WILL fly by and be over before we know it. The more we have a Christian perspective (which is not the legalistic should we celebrate or not celebrate, but should we continue to show love for each other anyway we can) and prepare for the many opportunities, the more meaningful it will be for us and those we encounter. I plan to post several tips on Holiday Hospitality and Gift Giving over the next few days.
Do Not Complain
An attitude of complaining and dread is the quickest way to ruin your Holiday. It will teach your children to hate having company. It will cause strife between you and your husband. It will make your guest feel like an imposition, and above all it will be sin and not honoring God.
Hospitality can be stressful and it can be alot of work, but your attitude is the biggest part of the burden. Have pure motives. It's not about you, it's about serving God by loving and serving others!
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
give preference to one another in honor;
1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
An attitude of complaining and dread is the quickest way to ruin your Holiday. It will teach your children to hate having company. It will cause strife between you and your husband. It will make your guest feel like an imposition, and above all it will be sin and not honoring God.
Hospitality can be stressful and it can be alot of work, but your attitude is the biggest part of the burden. Have pure motives. It's not about you, it's about serving God by loving and serving others!
Entertaining is about YOU, hospitality is about Jesus!!!
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
give preference to one another in honor;
Overnight Guest
This week is Thanksgiving, many of us will have overnight guest. The more we plan ahead the easier it will be.
Deep clean the best you can the week before or at least a few days before. Make a list of at least 3 areas to tackle each day. Work quickly and cheerfully. Give each child a job to do. Clear out those piles of clutter.
Cook as much as you can before the BIG DAY! Many of our traditional dishes can be cooked ahead of time and frozen or at least kept in the refrigerator a couple of days with no change to their appearance or taste. Make a few different sweets and freeze them. These are great to put on a small, pretty dish and placed in a few areas through your home. Nuts and pretzels are good too. Be sure to have some sugar free candy for guest that may have some health issues.
Cookies or a loaf of pumpkin or banana bread (baked ahead of time and frozen), served with cream cheese, are perfect when there is a need for a snack...along with some coffee or Spiced Tea on the stove. :o)
Deep clean the best you can the week before or at least a few days before. Make a list of at least 3 areas to tackle each day. Work quickly and cheerfully. Give each child a job to do. Clear out those piles of clutter.
Cook as much as you can before the BIG DAY! Many of our traditional dishes can be cooked ahead of time and frozen or at least kept in the refrigerator a couple of days with no change to their appearance or taste. Make a few different sweets and freeze them. These are great to put on a small, pretty dish and placed in a few areas through your home. Nuts and pretzels are good too. Be sure to have some sugar free candy for guest that may have some health issues.
Cookies or a loaf of pumpkin or banana bread (baked ahead of time and frozen), served with cream cheese, are perfect when there is a need for a snack...along with some coffee or Spiced Tea on the stove. :o)
Place Cards
There are tons of ideas online for simple place cards. For Thanksgiving, a small pine cone and a small piece of paper are perfect to add the guest's name. You can add a raffia bow, if you like. This is a GREAT project for the children. It involves them and teaches them to be thinking of 'others'.
There are tons of ideas online for simple place cards. For Thanksgiving, a small pine cone and a small piece of paper are perfect to add the guest's name. You can add a raffia bow, if you like. This is a GREAT project for the children. It involves them and teaches them to be thinking of 'others'.
Bedside Baskets
This is one of my favorite things to do! When we have overnight guest I fix a basket of goodies to place next to their bed. I have found that this always WOWS our guest...it makes them feel so welcomed and special. We do this no matter what time of the year it is. I am always on the lookout for 'basket items'. Keep in mind the personality of your guest as to what you'd like to put in it. It can be very simple or chucked full of goodies.
Suggested items:
A Welcome Note...this is usually made by one of our daughters, simply saying, "We're so glad you came to visit us!"
Toothbrush
Trail size toothpaste, shampoo, pain reliever, etc... (just incase they forgot theirs)
Special lotion (I get mine form my friend that makes her own, all natural bath products :o) )
Small package of tissues
Note pad
Pen
Postcards from your area (with stamps)
A bottle of water for during the night. (replenish if they are staying longer and you notice it has been drank)
Package of snack crackers
Peanuts
Mints
Magazines (I always add Southern Living for ladies, and if we have men that enjoy outdoors activities I put in a Field and Stream. Think about the hobbies of your guest and put magazines that they may enjoy reading during their visit. The Thrift store always has these that still look like new.)
Some times I will add something extra special, like a Rice Pack for them to heat up.
If you have young guest add a few things for them too, bubbles, crayons, coloring books, a sucker, crossword book, a little stuffed animal, etc...
If you have an old photo of your guest and you that is fun to add.
Suggested items:
A Welcome Note...this is usually made by one of our daughters, simply saying, "We're so glad you came to visit us!"
Toothbrush
Trail size toothpaste, shampoo, pain reliever, etc... (just incase they forgot theirs)
Special lotion (I get mine form my friend that makes her own, all natural bath products :o) )
Small package of tissues
Note pad
Pen
Postcards from your area (with stamps)
A bottle of water for during the night. (replenish if they are staying longer and you notice it has been drank)
Package of snack crackers
Peanuts
Mints
Magazines (I always add Southern Living for ladies, and if we have men that enjoy outdoors activities I put in a Field and Stream. Think about the hobbies of your guest and put magazines that they may enjoy reading during their visit. The Thrift store always has these that still look like new.)
Some times I will add something extra special, like a Rice Pack for them to heat up.
If you have young guest add a few things for them too, bubbles, crayons, coloring books, a sucker, crossword book, a little stuffed animal, etc...
If you have an old photo of your guest and you that is fun to add.
Guest Towels
I have bought 4 sets of towels that I use only when guest come. I lay them out on their bed and I think that also makes them feel welcome and more comfortable. I'd like to get them monogrammed one day.
If you can't afford to do this now, put it on your to do list. In January when all the stores have their big White Sales, buy a set! Watch the clearance racks. Always have hospitality in the back of your mind all year long. Christian hospitality is a duty and a privilege.
If you can't afford to do this now, put it on your to do list. In January when all the stores have their big White Sales, buy a set! Watch the clearance racks. Always have hospitality in the back of your mind all year long. Christian hospitality is a duty and a privilege.
Guest Sheets
Sheets are another special thing to do. Your guest won't know that they are 'special sheets', but you will! :o) Here again, this is something that you have to plan for. Perhaps buy a nice, high tread count set when they go on sale. Before the guest come, fluff them in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet so they'll smell good!
Atmosphere
Above all pray for a pleasant visit. Keep the conversation light and believing the best in others (no family gossip). Photo albums or scrapbooks are good to have laying out to help pass time and create conversation. Candles, light music, little or no TV, all add to the atmosphere. Keep the children busy with good activities and not left to themselves.
Remember Christian hospitality is about Christ...loving and serving others.
Entertaining is about YOU, hospitality is about Jesus!!!
Entertaining is about YOU, hospitality is about Jesus!!!
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