by Kimberly | Oct 23, 2017 | 31days, Books, lavish hospitality
Friendship is such an avenue for hospitality.
And you know it well:
Think of the friend that you can just pop in and see and it doesn’t matter what their house looks like or what they are wearing. I read in a study recently that teenagers have more of a self-image problem because of selfies – you could just hang out and not care what you look like, but now everyone is doing instastories and selfies all the time – you have to always care what you look like.
Think of the friend that you text or call first when something hurts you. Or when there is something to rejoice over!
Think of the friends that you text or call when there is a crisis and you need prayer. I know I have a short text list of ladies I know who will pray for me as soon as I text them.
Think of the friend that you want to share your struggles with – whether they are struggles in your marriage, in parenting, or in your business.
Friendships like these don’t come along all the time. And they also don’t come by way of social media.
These types of friendships take countless hours interacting, journeying life together, sitting in coffee shops, skyping or talking on the phone, or pulling up a barstool to the kitchen counter.
Quote from Maggie Brendan’s new book Trusting Grace
by Kimberly | Oct 17, 2017 | 31days, Bible, lavish hospitality
How do you get to know someone? Thankfully in today’s technology-driven world, I think that is easier and harder. Let me explain.
You can get to know people on social media. This is how I love to keep track of new friends and old friends who live in different areas of the country/world.
You can get to know people by running into them at small groups or in church services. Or playing basketball, shopping, being in a creative group together or a book club.
But, I genuinely think that the only way to truly get to know someone is to sit down with them. Talk with them face to face. You may not want to genuinely know everyone – but for those close friends, don’t you want to genuinely know them and sit down with them face to face as often as you can.
With my husband: I can get to know him through texts, through what he posts on facebook, but most I get to know him when we are talking to each other without distractions. Or if we are sitting side-by-side traveling alone together.
WIth my best friends – I want to get to know them while sitting on their porches, sipping coffee together, or grabbing a quick breakfast together (without our kids).
With new people: it is hard to get to know new people at 40. It is. But, I have found it best to just sit down with them, have food or beverage present, and talk. Share. Be open.
That is what God’s Word does for us. Though we don’t have a face-to-face with God, the Word reveals God’s heart to us. He has been hospitable in creating the Word. He was hospitable when He sent Jesus. And He was (and still is) hospitable to us when He God-breathed the Word to be carried down to generations for us, believers today in 2017.
Quote from Noel Piper Treasuring God in Our Traditions
by Kimberly | Oct 12, 2017 | 31days, lavish hospitality
When people come to our house to spend the night, whether visiting for several days, or just overnight, I like to know what they like and have it for them.
I like to make foods they will eat or a special coffee they will enjoy. I like to have little gifts ready for them in the room they are staying in. I want them to feel welcome and loved. And often times, for most people, gifts make them feel welcome.
This part of hospitality doesn’t have to be extravagant, believe me, hello Dollar Spot at Target!! The best thing is to be thoughtful. Preparing your home to be hospitable is an easy task, just be mindful of it.
I know a couple that has a gift room. They buy things on sale, Black Friday sales, TJMaxx, for just this reason. To be able to give gifts, or to be able to be hospitable throughout the year through gift-giving.
With Christmas right around the corner, you may have more opportunities to practice this. Don’t be overwhelmed and don’t stress the budget. It can be as simple as having your kids draw a picture welcoming them. Or picking flowers from the yard. Just something that says welcome.
Quote from Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Charles Spurgeon) in a collaboration book by Nancy Guthrie.
by Kimberly | Oct 1, 2017 | 31days, lavish hospitality
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Every October comes around and there is group of women who set out to write a blog a day for the entire month. Every year I try to do it, and every year I fail.
This year, I’m trying something new. I’m working on a book (Lavish Hospitality) and want to use this space, this month, to work out the 31 short chapters of the book.
This is not going to be a book about food and blankets and setting up guest rooms. Yes, partly, there will be some recipes and stuff like this. But, hospitality is more than just setting a pretty table.
I want to “prepare a space for lavish grace”. Here the the sub-headings:
To my heart.
To my husband.
To my children.
To my neighbors.
In my home.
In my church.
Grace was poured out lavishly on us. We need to be ready to pour it out lavishly on others.
Hospitality has a southern ring to is. You may think of cozy reading corners, mums in the Fall, tea and coffee, flowers and guest rooms. It can be those things. But, just because you have coffee set out doesn’t mean you have a welcoming home for others.
So, in the next 30 days I’m going to be sharing 30 quotes and thoughts on them. These quotes will help me formulate thoughts on this topic, and I hope they will encourage you to practice lavish hospitality in your world.
by Kimberly | May 2, 2017 | mothering
May is here in all its gorgeousness and it is a month to celebrate moms. Moms all play a special role in our lives (whether birth, foster, adopted, or mentor mom). We owe a lot to our moms: knowing how to tie our shoes, feeding us, making our school lunches, driving carpool, talking late in to the night about first boyfriends, being our biggest cheerleaders, praying for us, celebrating our biggest and smallest victories. The list never ends.
How do you celebrate your mom? Or another way to ask it: how would you like to be celebrated? This is a list of the ways that would be good to pamper me with – and hopefully you can get some ideas to pamper your mom with (or give the list to your husband and ask him).
- A night away or a weekend away (solo or a couple’s weekend – no kids). This is honestly what I ask for every year. Depending on our budget it might be a day or night away by myself or just a day in town doing my favorite things without the kids. The top three within a few hours of ATL that I would love to stay at is: Old Edwards Inn, Blackberry Farm, or Serenbe. We’ve celebrated a birthday at Serenbe, but would love the chance to stay there and eat at their amazing restaurant. Of course for me, the beach is ideal, and I’m always home there, but right now its a little far for an overnight. It if were a luxury beach trip, I’d stay here. This year for me I’m getting a day off to do some things I love. I’m heading south of ATL to do a styled shoot then stay and enjoy brunch, coffee, hiking, exploring, shopping, all by myself, which is so refreshing.
2. A great meal. We moms usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen or the drive-thru line or the grocery store. It is fun to be able to eat without working for it. My mister and I are going to a new-to-us place in Buckhead this May. My mister and I love food. For us though, we’ve learned that we love good food but the prices are so high for good food here in ATL, that we’d rather just cook it at home after the boys go to bed. And we love to cook for each other.
3. Gifts. My mister and I love giving gifts. When our bank account doesn’t let us give as big or as often as we would like, we have to get creative. Something both of us do for each other is we keep a gift list. It is a google doc list that both of us can always see and edit, and we love to surprise each other when we can. Right now, here are some of the things on my list. A subscription to this magazine, a gift card to this place (my fave in ATL), or concerts to some of my favorite artists.
4. Pampering. What woman doesn’t enjoy some pampering from time to time? Whether its a facial or a massage, a manicure or a pedicure, time at the spa is usually quiet and wonderful. But, sometimes you can’t get to the spa. Its hard especially with young kids. Well, if you don’t have time or money to get away to a spa this Mother’s Day, I’ve got a special package just for you. The ladies at Moody Sisters, who I have worked with before creating delicious healthy recipes, have given me a special Spring package just for you, a blessed winner. The set you will receive if you win includes: this scrub, this lotion, and this powder. I’ve been using this for the last month and love it. My face always feels super soft after the scrub. My skin feels refreshed in the morning when I wake up (even my hands, because of course that’s how I put on the scrub). The floral smell reminds me of spring in the South so I definitely love that. Moody Sisters makes all of their skin care line with natural ingredients. I love how they interact with their customers and want to make you feel special, especially as a Mom this Mother’s Day. And you don’t have to leave your house to be pampered. After your kids go to bed, turn on a shot bath or shower, play some music, use these Moody Sister’s products, and you’ll be all set!
So, here’s how you get entered to win.
- Leave a comment on the blog telling me what your favorite Mother’s Day gift would be.
- For another entry: go over to Moody Sisters and tell me what you would like to use next.
And to all you mamas out there – you are loved. You are delighted in. You are seen and known.
You’ll also get some lovely goodies from me. This post is sponsored by Moody Sisters and all thoughts are my own.
