Nothing quite says, “Country” or “Old fashioned” like having company over for an afternoon of fellowship and food. Many of our January weekends have been full of friends and family (when it’s too cold for visitors, it’s just our us and yummy food!)
I love the preparation almost as much as the visitors. The cleaning, and baking–I know, crazy?! But, the satisfaction of a semi-clean home (I have kids and puppies, let’s just be real. The floor is always gross!) and a fresh loaf of bread, pot of soup and pitcher of sweet tea is so rewarding.
Hospitality is a gift that I’ve always had, but didn’t always cultivate, especially when the children were babies. I have always loved the family gatherings from my childhood, but they became rare once we moved halfway across the country from our family. I could no longer depend on another relative to plan the get-together.
So, how in this busy world can we be intentional about spending time together?
Create a Time
Between kids’ activities and my husband’s work, our schedule is often packed full. Add in the necessary tasks of grocery shopping, meal prepping, homeschooling, and my “for-fun” hobbies, and there isn’t much left over. So, I purposefully plan visits with friends on the weekends, when things feel a bit slower. But, sometimes, if I know I only have 2 or 3 hours, I still try to squeeze in a quick weekday visit.
Create a Space
This really boils down to a table. However, you could use couches, boxes, counter tops or an outdoor patio. Find a space that can hold a few people, and fill it up!
Of course, it’s fun to have a fancy set-up, candles or an oil diffuser and pillows, but it’s absolutely not necessary.
Create a Menu
A simple meal is probably the best as it keeps stress levels at a minimum. When you come to my home for a meal, you can bet you will be eating soup, burgers and hot dogs (& mac-n-cheese!), or some put-it-together style of meal (sandwich, taco, etc..) I keep it way simple, maybe to a fault. But, this allows me to focus on what’s most important: My Company!
Invite
The most important thing about opening your home is sending out an invitation. Over the years, I’ve invited many families into our home and we have deepened relationships around our kitchen table. I have been blessed when friends have invited our family into their homes as well. And all it takes is a simple text!
I hope you take some time this week to invite a friend over for a meal and quality time!
