Open Heart Open Home, Chapters 17 and 18

Welcome!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  Today I am linking up to The Common Room where The Head Mistress is sharing the book "Open Heart Open Home", by Karen Mains.  We are reading chapters 17 and 18 this week. 

Chapter 17 is entitled "Creativity and Simplicity".  One thing that stood out to me in this chapter was a passage that stated, "Once God's kingdom has become our priority, we will not always need to ask "What shall we eat, or drink, or put on?"  He will provide.  Our hospitality can't help but reflect this."  I think this is so true, and I really want to work on this attitude.  I do tend to plan every detail of an event, instead of doing the inviting and sharing, and giving God the opportunity to provide.  I'm going to make a conscious effort to let God be in charge of our hospitality. 

In another paragraph Karen talks of God always honoring us when we step out in faith in front of him.  He will provide for us when we give him the opportunity instead of trying to take care of everything ourselves.  If we give God the opportunity and pray about it, God will provide us what we need every time.  Recently I was wishing for a couch.  I had used the one we had for many years.  It had been my Mother's "good" couch during the time I was growing up.  I had covered it with fabric and throws, but I was really wishing for a new one. I didn't want to pay for a new one, though.  I'd look at the thrift store on half price day, but I never found one that we could use.  Then one day I was at a thrift store in Tennessee that I don't go to often.  There, just as I went in the door, was a suede leather couch for $450.  Pretty good price, but not what I wanted to pay.  Then I noticed a second piece, a matching love seat.  Two pieces for $450.  Pretty good price, but still not what I wanted to pay.  When I was exiting the store, I saw the sign.  "4 piece living room set.  Only sat on about three times.  $450".  There was also a chair and over-sized foot stool.  Four pieces for $450.  That sounded really good.  More than I wanted to spend, but for brand new furniture!  The owner of the store had bought it for his house, put it in a room upstairs for his kids to use, and they never used it.  So he and his wife decided to sell it.  The furniture was only three months old!  I took pictures on my cell phone, and decided to talk to my husband.  If it was meant for us, it would happen.  My husband was all for the new furniture, on the condition that I agreed to get rid of what we were replacing.  No Problem!  We had some insurance money from the tornado, to replace some furniture.  So I called the store the next day.  Someone else was suppose to pay that morning.  I told the store owner that if it didn't work out to let me know, and we would take it.  So the people did not show up with their money.  The owner let me know, and Pappy and I went and paid for the furniture.  So I know first hand, God will provide in His time! 

Chapter 18 is entitled "At Ease".  This is a very short chapter and basically is about making your guests feel at ease.  This is something we should all remember.  One other thing I wanted to mention.  While cleaning out a thrift store that is going out of business, this week, I found a little book that I thought went along with this topic.  The book is titled, "The Pleasure of Your Company - Simple Ideas for Enjoyable Entertaining" by Ann Platz and Susan Wales.  This book has beautiful illustrations, and has ideas for different entertaining situations, along with menus.  Ideas like Grandmother Baby Shower, Harvest Supper, Get Well and Feel Better Dinner, and a Singles Valentine Party.  Cute ideas that I would like to try one day, and the food looks delicious.

I have really enjoyed linking up for this book discussion.  I want to thank The Head Mistress for this opportunity! I hope you have enjoyed it too!  Honey

Open Heart Open Home, Chapters 15 and 16

Welcome!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  Today I am linking up to The Common Room where The Head Mistress is sharing the book Open Heart Open Home, by Karen Mains.  We are reading chapters 15 and 16 this week.  The title of these chapters are "Stewards of Time" and "Shortcuts".

In Chapter 15, Karen starts out talking about her husband, and how he has always been in charge of time.  She said that time had control of her.  I feel very similarly.  I usually do things last minute, but I am not usually late.  I just usually don't see a need to do things before they have to be done, if you understand what I mean.  I have a sign hanging over my stove that reads:  If it weren't for last minutes, nothing would ever get done!  That is so true, and it drives my husband nuts!  I am trying to become more orderly and in control of a schedule.  This has really become more apparent in the last year because my husband retired.  He used to work third shift and sleep all day.  Now he is home.  So he likes a routine, and I have to try to find one!  Actually, we have had schedules and routines in the past.  But at each change of our lives, those things have to be adjusted.  So this time is one of those changes.

On page 172 Karen mentions that "Since Abraham put Sarah away privately when she was with child, I felt we in decency should do no less, and for those last few months I remained home from church, grateful for the few morning hours of silence."  I thought this was interesting.  I wonder if she would feel that way if she was expecting today?  I say that because the original text was written in 1976.  Although I'm sure I would enjoy the silence now! But I believe she had a difficult pregnancy, so that may have been a reason also.

Karen talks in this chapter, also, of realizing "our time is really His time".  I think I am at that time of my life.  I find myself thinking of God and His plans for me and my family, more and more.  I don't know if that comes from age, or maturity.  I always want to feel that the Lord would know He is welcome any time in our home.

At the end of chapter 15, Karen writes about going on an over-simplifying kick.  She realized that people like to feel that you fussed over them.  I'm sort of the opposite.  I like to see how sometimes simple things that others do, are very satisfying and can be elegant.  I remind myself at those times that I don't have to spend a lot of money, or all day getting ready, to entertain and offer hospitality. 

Chapter 16 talks of Shortcuts.  Karen feels that if she has a good housekeeping schedule in place, it is not necessary to clean before company.  I don't know if I will ever be at that point.  I will at least have to run around and pick up the piles of mail, books, etc., and swish the brush around the toilet! 

On page 182, she talks of being unique in your decor.  She mentions using an old patchwork quilt as a table cloth.  I am actually doing this.  I got a quilt out of one of our empty rental houses.  It is covered in large daisies, about the size of plates, in different colors.  I love it, and it makes me happy to look at it.  Well, that must be a matter of taste, because we were expecting company, and my daughter asked me if she could remove the "bedspread" from the table!  I said, "NO!".  Oh, you know.  One man's treasure.....

I love "dishes".  Really this includes any kind of kitchen item.  We come across lots of "treasures"  in our empty rental houses, and at thrift stores and flea markets, etc.  Recently a young girl at church was married.  I loaned her all my china plates and several serving pieces to use at the wedding.  Antique china is a weakness of mine.  So Kate used my "mismatched plates" at her reception.  I was somewhat embarrassed when a lady said, "all these plates are yours?"  Yes, all 80 plates.  So I really don't need to collect any thing.  If you ladies need to borrow anything, you just let me know!  I've got it covered!

Please come back to see me tomorrow.  Got to the last line, and GrandBoy said, " Honey, cut it off" and pushed a button!  I thought this was gone for good!  Thank goodness for auto save and drafts! Honey

My quilt "tablecloth"

Open Heart Open Home, Chapters 13 and 14

Today I am linking this post to The Common Room and the Headmistress's post about the book "Open Heart Open Home.  This week we are reading chapters 13 and 14. 

Chapter 13 is entitled Open Hearts and Chapter 14 is entitled The Hospice.  The chapters are about extreme acts of hospitality.  I have admired for years, the women I have known who make this look so easy.  I would like to do more of this, and hope one day to be able to do so.  We try to share our home with others as their needs are made know to us and as we feel the Lord would want us to.

Twice during our life at the farm, our grandmothers have come to live for extended periods of time.  My husband's grandmother came to live with us when my father-in-law (her son) died.  She was here for about 6 months.  It was an interesting experience for me having another woman in the house, and I feel a great benefit to our children. 

When my own grandfather passed on, my grandmother came to live with us until a month before her death, when hospice took over her care.  These times required a lot of putting the other person first, while still trying to provide the routine my own children were used to in their lives.  My grandmother resisted being here so much, but she was unable to live alone.  I think this was a great learning experience for my children.  These are still difficult times to think about and remember, even years later.  I remember going to a Ladies Day Meeting at our church during the time my grandmother was staying with us.  The lesson was about juggling our responsibilities and wearing many hats.  I sat there all day with tears running down my face.  At the end of the day the lady leading the meeting asked who had enjoyed the day and learned something.  I remember saying, "I don't ever want to study this again"!  But I'm so glad we were able to keep our grandmothers in our home.  And I most certainly would do it again.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please come back again tomorrow.  Honey

Open Heart Open Home - Chapters 9 and 10

I was unable to post yesterday because I had to be with one of my daughters away from home during an emergency.  So I am going to link to this post at The Common Room today.  Chapter 9 is about making your church family feel like "family".  We have always been close to others in the congregations we attended.  At the church we attend now, we usually have several children who come to church without adult family.They often sit with us in our pew.  When I was a child, I went to church on a bus, and sat with other people's families.  So I guess it is important to me that children in a similar situation feel invited, included, wanted, and important.  One little girl always sits with us, because she loves my Daughter #1.  The other children come and go, week to week.  One of the girls sits between my husband and I quite a bit! 

When there are covered dish meals, we always try to take plenty to share, and invite others to stay and eat with us.  We also bring dishes to share with older members during the holidays.

When my girls were small, I had a card ministry of sorts.  I sent greeting cards to everyone who needed one.  Birthdays, anniversaries, visitors, get well, etc.  People commented that they always knew they would get a card from us.  This was something that I could do at home with three babies. That and pray.  When the girls were a little older, I would let them decorate the cards, and I would do the writing inside.  This was pretty popular with everyone.  We kept a white board in our kitchen.  If the girls heard of someone who needed prayer, they would tell me and we would write them on our white board prayer list.  The girls were very good about remember people who needed prayers.

Once a year or so, we would have a prayer night at our home for teens, or a picnic in the fall on our farm.  I tried to do "social" type events at our home, because Pappy isn't a believer, and I didn't want him to be uncomfortable.  He has met a lot of our church members this way over the years.

We have taken meals to sick and shut- ins, driven people to doctor appointments, visited the elderly, changed surgical dressings, taken people to the grocery store, sung at funerals, and I'm sure there are other ways we have let the members of our church congregation know we view them as family. 

Now my girls are grown, and my Grandboy goes with us to serve others. 

The question I always wonder about is, do the church members view us as "family"?

Open Heart Open Home - Chapters 7 and 8

I'm sorry I am so late getting caught up on my reading.  Just been a busy week in my family, I guess.  In Karen Mains book Open Heart Open Home, Chapter 7 is entitled Tell Tale Marks.  I believe this chapter is mainly about being hospitable to those in our family, our children's friends, etc.  Although I believe we should treat our family as well as we do guests, I don't really consider this hospitality.  I also agree with her that sometimes we overlook opportunities to be hospitable to those we see often.  Such as neighborhood children.  When my girls were little, say 5 and 6, we carried an older neighborhood girl to church with us for a long time.  She was probably about 10.  I remember one Sunday she wouldn't behave in church.  I turned to her and whispered harshly, "do you want to go outside?"  Mind you, this in not my child, but someone else's.  I don't know what I thought I was going to do to her in the parking lot, but she was horrified.  She said "NO, NO!".  I was so embarrassed that I forgot who she was, and who I was more importantly.  But she settled down and everything was fine.  I guess I didn't treat her much like a guest.  But what she really wanted was to be treated like a member of our family.  So maybe it all worked out OK. 

Chapter 8 is entitled Welcome.  In this chapter it is discussed that life doesn't wait to start until you get married.  This is a good lesson.   We have opportunities to show hospitality at all stages in life.  I know where I used to go to church for many years, an elderly couple would have a fish fry each fall for the "widow women".  I thought it kind of odd at first, since they were still married.  But now I see what an honor and treat this was for all involved.  We should all look for opportunities that may easily be overlooked by the majorities.

Now I am caught up and ready to move on this week to chapters 9 and 10.  See you soon.

Honey

Saturday Happenings on the Farm

Hi! Welcome to our home.  We are so glad you stopped by.  Saturdays are always busy here on the Farm.  Friday night, Pappy's niece and great niece stopped in for a visit on their was to Texas.  We had a nice visit, and the Great Niece was so taken with Mikey the kitten and the baby rabbits.  Her Mom said she talked about the animals all evening! 

Other visitors were some children from church.  A brother and sister group came to spend the night.  We had a "staycation".  I think they had a nice time.  They roamed the farm, looking at all the animals.  The Boy kept catching ducks!  They helped fix dinner, and watched TV.  This morning after breakfast, daughter #1 and I took them to the thrift store for half price day.  They enjoyed the bargain hunt!  After the shopping, daughter #1 took the kids out for lunch.  When they returned home, daughter #1 highlighted the girl's hair.  She got permission from their Dad first.  The girl was so happy with the results.  While the girl was getting her hair done, the boy was picking up peacock feathers.  He then proceeded to decorate Grandboy's tractor.  I've never seen such a festive tractor.  Have you?  Then they had a snack and went home.  We had a nice visit, and I hope they enjoyed it as well as we did.

Pappy is putting up the last of the goat milk to make cheese.  The goats are drying up early this year.  I guess it may be the heat.  I've been experimenting with freezing eggs for the winter.  In the winter our hens don't lay, but during the summer we have plenty.  So I hope to be able to get through the winter without having to buy eggs.

Stop back by tomorrow.  We look forward to seeing you then.  Honey

Open Heart, Open Home: Chapters 3 and 4

I'm sorry, but I am very late in taking part in this post. We had company for the 4Th. ALOT of company! But it was a lot of fun. It seems the older I get, the longer it takes to recover from things like that. But that is OK. I believe that I relaxed and enjoyed this more than I usually do. I tend to fret a lot and want everything to be perfect. But this time I let some things go, and it all worked out OK.

Over at the Common Room, the Head Mistress posted some questions we could use if we chose. I'm going to use them, because I feel like I tend to not comment on the chapter so much if I just ramble.

Question 1. What does the Holy Spirit have to do with your hospitality? I pray each day that I will recognize the opportunities the the Lord and the Holy Spirit put before me. Too often, too many people confuse "entertaining" with "hospitality". I think entertaining should be a part of hospitality, but hospitality is done because we recognize a need in some one's life. Even if it is inconvenient, hospitality should still be offered. There is always need, and opportunities will become apparent to us if we are open to them.

Question 2. Is, "I don't have the gift of hospitality" a valid reason for a Christian not to practice hospitality? No. Many times in the Bible God has put tasks before someone that they did not want to do. But they still had to do it, and God showed them a way. God sees in us talents that we don't realize we have. But regardless, if the need of hospitality is there, the recipient will not care if you are not "good" at it. They will just be glad you offered and shared what you have.

This just happened in my own kitchen, just this afternoon. I heard knocking, and a neighbor couple was knocking on my door. The next thing I know my husband was leading them inside to sit in my kitchen because it was too hot to visit outside. I looked at them before they even got inside and said "I'm glad you came by. Please have a seat, just don't look at my dirty house!" They laughed and acted as if I were joking. But I proceeded to pick up, rearrange, and wash dishes the whole time they were here. We had a big gathering at our home on the 4Th of July. We are still putting up platters and large bowls we only use for times like that. Plus, even thought dishes had been done that night and the next day, we are still gathering bowls, and glasses, etc, to be washed and put away. I had it on my list today to work on the kitchen, but the neighbors arrived just as I was getting in from church. My husband apologized later, and explained to me what had happened. I told him that it was perfectly fine. I would rather the kitchen been neat, but I was doing a Bible study on hospitality and I could not allow my pride to keep me from offering to share with our neighbors. My husband is not a believer (Christian) yet. I think he was impressed that I would swallow my pride in the middle of a kitchen of dirty dishes and make these friends feel welcome. Maybe this was one of the days that the "Lord worked in mysterious ways" in my home.

I think the older I get it is easier to offer hospitality to others. I don't know if it is because we have more to offer, we have more room now, I have no small children, or because I'm just more comfortable with who I am. But what ever the reason, I find it easier at this stage of my life.

Question 3: How do you develop the gift of hospitality? The only way I know to develop the gift of hospitality is to be hospitable. Practice makes perfect, I always told my children. It will get easier the more we do it. As my children got older, they sometimes would be quicker to notice a hospitality need. When they would ask me about it, I never wanted to discourage this action in my children, so I always tried to make an effort to offer hospitality, even if I wouldn't have on my own. I wanted my children to know that with God, we can do anything!

Before you have people in your home, it would be a good idea to pray about the evening and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you how to proceed. I think wonderful things will happen if this path is taken.

If something comes up and you feel led to ask someone to dinner, do it. Don't worry if you haven't cooked enough. I'm sure there is something you can add to make enough for dinner, Everything will work out fine. Recently I asked some children what they were doing after Easter service. They said "nothing - there is nothing to do!". I said go ask your Grandma if you can come home with me. So they did, and our egg hunt for one Grandboy stretched easily for four other children. They didn't care what we ate. Regardless it was festive, and something they weren't going to do at home. So I felt glad I could share with them, and wished I had planned it from the start.

I look forward to the next chapters in this book, and will try to be more prompt in the future!

Please come back to see us. Love, Honey

Open Heart Open Home Week 1

If anyone is still here, I have been away a while. I got away from posting daily during the spring Bible in 90 Days reading session with Mom's Toolbox. A new session starts soon if you'd like to sign up. I was a mentor, and also a reader. Those activities took up more time than I planned. When that group ended, I immediately went into another B90 Days reading session with Raising Olives and family. More about Bible in 90 Days in another post. So here I am, back again.







Today at The Common Room, the Headmistress started reading a book entitled Open Heart Open Home by Karen Mains. I believe I already own this book, but since I couldn't find it, I had to order another copy. I find myself purchasing duplicates a lot lately! One day I will have a large library room so all my books can live together and I can find them. But that day will have to wait.





When Pappy and I bought the farm house and land we live on today, we looked forward to being able to entertain and share our home with others. Each year we have a Large 4th of July celebration. Our family and friends, our daughters' friends, and lots of police officers are in attendance each year. People are in and out all day. Some just come in time for the fireworks show at dark. Pappy spends way too much on fireworks each year. But it is his favorite holiday of the year, so I turn my eyes and try not to notice.





On other holidays we always have extra people around our table. Some times it is people who don't have family here. Other times it may be "friends of friends". But they are always welcome at our table and we can always add another seat. A friend of mine once said that if I had left overs each night, I cooked too much. I said "no, if I didn't have any leftovers, I'd think I didn't cook enough! I always want enough to feed any "angels" who show up at my table.





One time when my youngest was in high school, she asked me if she could bring home "a girl and her baby" that she met at work. She said the girl was living in her car with a baby. I said, yes, bring them home. Imagine my surprise when the "girl" turned out to be a 30+ year old woman and her new infant son. They stayed with us about a week. That is an interesting story for another day. But my daughter wanted to share what we had, and I didn't want to discourage her from that. I was proud that she noticed their need.





This week we covered the first two chapters of the book. These chapters were titled "Company's Comin" and "On Entertaining". One of the stories shared in this book talks about the young preacher's wife always taking care of others in her home, and learning how to let them serve her as well, by preparing a meal, sharing in the cleaning, etc. I remember as a young bride away from home with my army husband in a place far from the South where I grew up. Other soldiers would come home with my husband each weekend and hang out at our home. My husband was one of the few married guys in his group, and we lived off post. The soldiers would bring steaks, or other food items, and say "Ms. Cindy, do you mind if we have ..." Of course I didn't. And they would clean up, and do a better job at that than I did. My husband told me not to be uncomfortable when this happened, because the guys were used to doing this at the barracks, and wanted to be able to come back to our home, and come often. And so they did. Watch for the next installation of "Open Heart Open Home! Come back soon! Honey