Hospitality...

 

 

Several months ago, two wonderful couples that we have known for years, but have not had much contact with decided it was time to reconnect!

 

 We had a delightful time once again...sharing many stories of the years gone by.

 

 They decided we must do this again in the spring...and I found myself extending a warm invitation!

 

 

 

 

Soooo....in all honesty...the closer it got, I felt myself getting anxious about this event!
quite.anxious.

 

 I have always loved having company...

but I have not hardly done it at all during the past 5 or 6 years of working full time.

 Just little bits.

 

 

 

 

One day, as I was talking to myself quite sternly...like, "Seriously" (this is what my little 2 year old grandson says quite often)    "Serious-ye"?  :) :)

 

  I remembered a blog that my sweet friend Cindy had told me about, and that I used to follow a lot...

and what a blessing.

 

 She had the sweetest story of NEVER entertaining because of all of her fears...

 

but one day she drove herself down to the Dollar Store and bought TWELVE GOBLETS for $12...and that is how she began her life of Entertaining...and then her blog followed...The Reluctant Entertainer

 

 I have always loved her story!

 

 

 

 

So I drove into town to Fred Meyer and bought two delightful bunches

 of

 pink tulips for $6...

used my sweet Mom's 50 years old at least lace tablecloth (with all the stains),

 

my FAVORITE bowl from Goodwill for $11,

 

 my sweet Aunt Shirley's birthday napkins to me and a lovely old silver butter knife that I found several years ago for $6....AND our everyday white dishes!

 

  And we had THREE HOURS of laughing and sharing and praying together, as old friends should....not that we are old...just the friendships!

 

I also remembered I had a little list of her Ten Commandments of Entertaining...but I love the word Hospitality...

 

So here are a few of her helpful tips for Hospitality...

and a few extra thrown in :)

 

 

 

I actually followed this great tip...planned ahead and had my Cheesy Potatoes prepared 3 weeks ahead and put in the freezer!

 It worked like a charm!

 

 

 

I did not apologize for those stains on the tablecloth! :)

 

 

 

 

My dear friend Irita, once shared with me that Julia Child never told her guests if a mistake had been made...

she just pretended it was supposed to taste that way!

 Love that!

 

 

 

 

Love that salad bowl from Goodwill! :)

 

 

 

 

I have learned so much about hospitality from others...

especially my lovely Aunt Shirley!

 

 

 

 

Loved all the stories around our table that day...

 

 

 

 

So, so true...this is what I kept reminding myself...

 when I would find myself getting anxious!

 

 

 

And lastly...but most important...

 

 

Hope you are able to be blessed with practicing some hospitality soon! :)

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