Last week we looked at some ways to have hospitality-ready homes. I mentioned several practical strategies, but one strategy—preparing to welcome guests with genuine enthusiasm—is not practical. Instead, it relates to the state of our hearts. In trying to prepare my heart for hospitality, I’ve found it useful to consider some things … [Read more...] about How to Have a Hospitality-Ready Heart
Book Review: No More Perfect Marriages
I’ve made it a priority this year to find time to read, so I quickly agreed when I received an email about an opportunity to review No More Perfect Marriages, an insightful book by Mark and Jill Savage. I’ve read numerous books on marriage. When I began reading this one, I noticed immediately that it was a little different from the … [Read more...] about Book Review: No More Perfect Marriages
Christ-Focused Easter Traditions
For many individuals, the term “Easter” conjures up images of candy-filled eggs, gift baskets, and an anthropomorphic bunny. These cultural traditions often overshadow the fact that Easter is a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. There is a lot of debate about the origins of these Easter traditions. Some historians cite evidence … [Read more...] about Christ-Focused Easter Traditions
How to Have a Hospitality-Ready Home
This last summer, when I was 36 weeks pregnant, our AC stopped working. It was June and we live in southeast Texas, so you can imagine how hot it was in our house! I’ll never forget how two gracious friends invited us to stay with them until technicians were able to fix our AC. They had no warning, but these friends welcomed us into their … [Read more...] about How to Have a Hospitality-Ready Home
Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Spinach Soup
One really interesting thing that has been happening since my husband started pinning meal ideas on Pinterest is that he’ll select some options that include ingredients he doesn’t usually eat. This recipe is an example. My husband hates spinach, but he saw this recipe and it looked good to him (plus he knows I love slow cooker recipes) … [Read more...] about Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Spinach Soup
6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
There are a lot of families with young children in my church. These families are generally easy to identify because we’re the ones straggling in after service has begun! Being prompt is important to me, so I decided to take action when I realized we were falling into a pattern of arriving late for church. If your family struggles to … [Read more...] about 6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
Spring 2017 Menu
The warm spring weather is on its way in, so we’re starting a new menu! I won’t delve into the details of my menu planning process here because I’ve described these in a previous post. In summary, I plan a new menu that contains a month’s worth of meals at the beginning of each season (spring, summer, fall, and winter). We use each of … [Read more...] about Spring 2017 Menu
DIY Flannel Activity Board with House Scene
I made my oldest daughter a flannel activity board last fall. I’d been wanting to make her one for some time because there are so many fun and educational flannel board activities that parents can make for their toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy. In addition to being the foundation for so many activities, flannel boards are affordable … [Read more...] about DIY Flannel Activity Board with House Scene
