Beyond Hashtags: Dear Anthropologie
Dear Hillary, I want to tell you about my favorite coffee mug. I bought it about 10 years ago from the Anthropologie store in Southlake, Texas. It has the loveliest variations of blue, painted onto its flower shaped bowl. The handle is so thin it makes people nervous, but it is just the right size and width to slip my […]
Read moreTrick or Treat Attitude
Moment of honesty, I’m not a fan of Halloween. I just try not to be a jerk about it. Carving pumpkins is a big, slimy hassle. I don’t like it when my kids are loaded up on sugar; they’re not sane. I don’t like gross stuff. I resent people who jump out and scare me. And I don’t want to […]
Read morePreparing For Guests- Before and After
Isn’t it a good feeling to present a perfect space to an incoming guest? I don’t always get to do it, but when I do, I love that feeling. Wow it takes some hard work to get there. Last week, my boys prepared their toy cave to be taken over by three teenage girls. It took a while to hide […]
Read moreKids Hosting Kids- A Cultural Exchange
To pass on the philosophy of hosting, we want our kids to experience the gift of hosting. An exchange program can provide that special experience of feeling the work of preparation followed quickly by the reward of fun times with new friends. This week, we are hosting some members of the BOHAM children’s choir from Uganda. If you have kids […]
Read moreDrowning Is Silent
Pool Party Season We’ve been doing quite a bit of backyard hosting this summer. I have something called “Pool Guilt”. I have the pool and I know others don’t and so I compulsively invite people over to swim. Sometimes as one group leaves, another one arrives. Along with the work, it’s lots of fun. It makes for a very social […]
Read more40th Birthday Party
She said, “My 40th birthday is in three weeks and I want you to throw me a party.” This is because we are good friends and good friends can make very clear demands. I hope you have a good friend or two yourself. The only thing I didn’t like about the idea is that I hadn’t thought of it. A […]
Read moreBackyard Summer Camp
My friend decided to do some very brave hosting last week. She set up a backyard Bible camp and entertained 20 children (only 2 of which were her own) for 5 days. Wow! How did this happen? Well… It all started during a conversation with the family ministry director at Cedars church, where our hero and her family go each […]
Read moreAir Hosting
You have the right to host people in any space you occupy. You may not have the right to set them up for a night’s stay or a gourmet meal, but you can welcome people into your space. If I occupy a seat on an airplane, I can offer my welcome and influence to anyone on that row or near […]
Read moreI Love Duchess Potatoes
This is not a recipe; it is a cooking loophole. To practice sustainable hosting, make a plan that keeps your sanity intact. While planning for meals is helpful, planning for a feast is essential! Choose dishes that can be made one, two and even five days in advance. That way on feast day, you’ll warm things up, set them out, […]
Read moreA Cup of Questions?
Whether you love it or hate it, another family holiday is coming. Many of my friends discuss long and awkward dinners with family members they hardly know. They dread holidays and the obligation to connect with these disconnected relatives. They feel miserable and a bit empty when it ends. In any situation you can’t just get out of, seek to […]
Read more