As my family has grown in number, it has become challenging to practice hospitality. It is especially tricky when we want to welcome a large family into our home for a meal. Where will everyone sit? Can we afford to feed everyone? Do I even have enough bowls for everyone to use? Thankfully, with a little advanced planning, I’ve been … [Read more...] about Practicing Hospitality with Large Families
hospitality
6 Air Mattress Alternatives
I’m so thankful that my family’s home is large enough that we are able to use one bedroom as a guest room. However, sometimes one guest room isn’t enough to accommodate all of our guests! For example, my husband’s youngest brother and his girlfriend came for a short visit a couple of weeks ago. Their visit happened to coincide with a visit … [Read more...] about 6 Air Mattress Alternatives
20 Questions to Ask Around the Easter Table
Family dinners are such a great time to have meaningful conversations with one another. This may be particularly true on holidays. Whether you are having a formal or casual dinner this Easter, why not use some thought-provoking questions to get the conversation started and help you get to know your loved ones better? Thought-provoking … [Read more...] about 20 Questions to Ask Around the Easter Table
30 Questions to Ask Around the Thanksgiving Table
While eating Thanksgiving dinner, many families take time to share about the things for which they are grateful. This is wonderful because it gets everyone thinking about gratitude. Family members sometimes find themselves repeating the same things over and over again. There’s nothing wrong with this—most of us are genuinely grateful … [Read more...] about 30 Questions to Ask Around the Thanksgiving Table
French Bread Pizzas: A Great Meal for a Crowd
When my house is brimming with hungry guests, I try to prepare a well-liked dish that is easy to prepare and affordable. French bread pizzas fit the bill and they also happen to be fun! To make French bread pizzas, you need some bread. French bread is the normal bread used to make them (as their name indicates), but in a pinch you can … [Read more...] about French Bread Pizzas: A Great Meal for a Crowd
How to Have a Hospitality-Ready Heart
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
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
Practicing Hospitality When Your Guests Have Food Allergies
Today we are going to tackle another question from a reader. Her question is highly relevant to me and I think many of you will find it relevant, too. Rosie in New Jersey asked the following: "It seems that everyone today has food allergies and intolerances. How do you safely welcome these folks into your home for dinner?" The … [Read more...] about Practicing Hospitality When Your Guests Have Food Allergies
