Guest Post from Nell at Whole Parenting Family

Nell and I met in Dallas last summer.  I've talked about her before.  You've seen Sophie and I wearing the leggings she makes in her fabulous Etsy shop.  And, I'm forever thankful we're "real life" friends.  She's an encourager.  Need a boost?  Text her.  Need advice?  She's there 24/7. She has three precious kids and lives in a multi-generational home - I'm going to get her to blog about that some day here, because I find it fascinating!  For now, she's so generously sharing a beautiful piece on growing even closer to the one we love.  Follow Nell, on every social media source you can - she just makes life better!


This post first appeared on Whole Parenting Family. I'm still a novice spouse myself, almost six years in. So don't take anything here as word from on high. In fact, take it with two fistfuls of salt because what you do with your spouse is probably totally different than what I do with mine with respect to this. But given that I have a blog and love to feel like an expert {NOT}, you get my take on this. For the first time in our marriage these past few months, I felt guilty like I was really neglecting my husband. I mean, I kept the kids alive and I talked to him. So that's good. Right? But him as a person and me as as person were not resonating on the same level. We were like two robotic puppets (now there's a weird image for you) going through the motions of gathering together our energies and household, but not actually connecting. That's in part why I wrote my last post about seeking common experiences outside of family life and work life, outside of talking over drinks or snuggling in the bedroom, or for the cosleepers among us, snuggling somewhere other than the bedroom. I thought about this idea of not connecting. Then I thought about vows. Then I thought about how SweetPea thinks vehemently believes one of Santa's reindeer is named Victim. Then I thought about Grace's last post about Bash's talking. Then I thought about how Bridget had her baby, Anders!!! Then I circled back to vows. And honoring. How am I not honoring my spouse? And how can I do it better?

1) Shut up and listen.

I talk a lot. You know how I sound when you're reading me? Yeah, I talk a lot like this in real life. Like a motor boat. And I interrupt. And I superimpose my thoughts//feelings//longings//foodcravings on other people in conversation. I've practiced this stealthfully lately. What is he saying about his day? How is he breathing? Long exhausted sighs when I pick him up from the bus stop or train station? Or are his eyes snapping open and closed as though that last pot of afternoon coffee at work made him jittery? What does he need? And what he needed was a weekend away from normal stressful everyday life. So we took an overnight to the Lodge. With only the baby. Heaven!!!

2) Don't override him and include him instead.

I make almost all the household decisions because I'm the one here for 12 hours a day without him. Where the furniture is moving, where the kids are sleeping//how they are sleeping, when snack time and rest time are, what's on our social calendar, what needs to be done around the house, etc. He's a laid back guy, and usually I think he's glad I'm running the household. It means he can come home, eat a warm meal, play with his kids, and crash after they do. Lately we've had lots more activity around the house than usual//visitors, events, parties, people over for dinner. I have to remember to clue him in, to go over what is coming up and make sure it's not an avalanche for him. Because I'm way more extroverted than he is. And I often spring on him oh, so and so is coming by for dinner//evening//staying!

3) Tending to our household.

The blog is fun! The sponsored giveaways for you are fun! The review products for us are fun! The etsy shoppe and all its glorious sewing & knitting is fun! But I'm staying home from lawyering for a reason so there is a fine line I tread between getting the feedback and enjoyment and affirmation I need from all of the aforementioned, and cleaning my damn toilets. And reading aloud to the kids. And folding the clean clothes. Because right now I don't know which are clean and which are dirty because they're all waded in a heap on the floor of the hallway between our room & the kids' room. It's a disaster. He helps out with cleaning, laundry, kiddos, teaching them great stuff (like SweetPea & her alphabet right now and SuperBoy and his addition). He is a very involved dad. BUT when I see him cleaning the bathrooms late Sunday night because I haven't in forever and a day, I know I can do that part. I mean, it's kinda like--just do it, Nell.

4) Letting him parent as himself.

How many of us moms jump in while the other parent is trying to parent? Oh, don't let him have that! She's got that scissors in her hand. He hasn't finished all his food and cannot be excused. I may have said all three of these things in one setting the other night. I had to refer to step 1 & shut up. He is in the room. He is watching the kids while I clear the table. He is a capable, competent adult who can handle their tantrums, choking hazards, and safety concerns. If I jump in all the time, they have no real relationship with him. Also, if something does happen, Lord, don't let it be with the scissors or the eating of the crayon peals, he can take care of them and it. I am not the Alpha & Omega. We're a team. I trust him and even if they are never fully dressed as warmly as I would like them to be on his watch, they thrive with their dada. Even if it looks like BabyLoves is about to put his hand in the fire here.

5) Praying for him.

If you're a praying type, try this with me. It was a really great exercise earlier this year: praying specifically for my spouse. I prayed for him a particular prayer for three months. And prayer isn't magic, obviously, insofar as it's not like oh I prayed so then it happened! It's more like a request line that you hope gets answered and are very grateful if and when it does. The exercise of specific prayer for a specific person helped me focus on him for that brief prayer each day and I felt more connected spiritually to him.

6) Making time for affection.

It's scientifically a fact that most women prefer talking to sex as it lights up their pleasure center in their brain, and men suffer//bask in the glow of? the opposite. And romance takes way more effort for us females to get in the mind space of. We have to stop thinking about our list, our emails, our friend's child's problems, our dirty kitchen, our hot cocoa mix beckoning. Now I really sound like an old married woman--but truly, just the facts! Making the time, not finding it because it's probably isn't there given how insanely busy life is, for intimacy is a great relationship win. Snuggling, spooning, or whatever happens next is really rewarding. To be able to give your physical and spiritual space to your spouse, as a gift, and have them receive and honor that gift? Priceless feeling.

 //snuck one in of our Godson & BabyLoves. So presh together!!//

Guest Post - Pardon my French

Ever wondered which transition was more difficult with children?  From 0-1 child or from 3 to 4? I'm talking about it today at Pardon my French...head on over!

Guest Post: Keri from Living in This Season

I met Keri from Living in this Season via this great big blog world.  She is one of the sweetest ladies around.  On her blog, you'll find everything from DIY projects to delicious recipes, but something I love most about Keri is the genuine care that emulates from her.  She's so incredibly graceful and full of love for others.  She's one of those women who you wish you could sit and talk with over a hot cup of coffee.  She's sharing a bit about grace here today.  Enjoy!

Growing up I always envisioned myself having a house full of kids. I imagined an organized home, kids that were always dressed perfectly, behaved... you get the picture. Now I look back at this and laugh... It is a rather unrealistic picture, isn't it mama friends? 

Motherhood is downright messy. You find yourself doing things you always said you wouldn't (allowing the toddler to climb into bed with you because you are too exhausted to care). And then in the midst of it all, we are so hard on ourselves. There have been many times I've wanted to crawl under a rock rather than reveal the reality- oh goodness yes my 5 year old has some tantrums or that sometimes my kids watch tv for way longer than they should, or that peanut butter and jelly is the lunch here. Everyday. We judge ourselves for such silly things! We loose our temper and immediately beat ourselves up... What if instead of all the judgement we gave ourselves grace? 

Motherhood is hard, parenting is exhausting. You may look at the mama with the organized house and think how does she do it? But maybe she is looking at you with the cute haircut and clothes and thinking how does she do it? 

We each have areas we are going to excel in and focus on. It's okay. We are all going to parent differently- Yay for that! Wouldn't the world of women be so much nicer if there was less judgement and more grace? 

Let me encourage you with this thought and challenge. The next time you start beating yourself up over a burned dinner or a child who completely looses it in public, stop- chances are someone who is watching has been there: they understand. Give yourself grace. Pick up the pieces and remember you are amazing sweet mama. You are doing a beautiful thing and a good work ministering to your family. 

I would love to connect with you... stop on over and say hi here!

Guest Post: Your Merry Mailbox

A few friends I worked with (and went to sporting events with!) in College Station have a blog solely dedicated to cards...specifically holiday cards.  They give wardrobe, location and design ideas.  They showcase cards they love and help you create your family's perfect card!

I'm over there today talking about the process of us sending out our annual Christmas card.  Head on over and check them out.  You might find just the inspiration you need to send a card this year!   You can also follow along with them on Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks for letting me guest post today, ladies!

Dear Not-So-Good Mom

Keri from Living in this Season asked me to guest post for her today.  She wanted a letter to a mom. So head over there to see what I wish some knew and could rest assured with, especially myself! From one "not-so-good" mom to another...

Ten Virtues of Mary: Divine Wisdom

This post is part of a series on the Ten Virtues of Mary, hosted by To the Heights and running every Tuesday until the middle of December. So if you need some help in the virtue department, here's a great place to start ;)

Well, it's my turn.  To be quite honest, I am not the perfect person for this post. In fact, I'm lacking in each of these virtues, but Divine Wisdom?  Gosh, I pray for it.  But I don't think I will ever feel "there."  However, I don't believe we should.  Breaking down this virtue, Webster tells us this:

Divine: 1) relating to, or coming from God or a god. 2) very good.

Wisdom: 1) knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life.  2) the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand.  3) knowledge of what is proper or reasonable; good sense or judgement.

Mary was the mother of Wisdom.  Truly, she carried and gave birth to the Son of Man, sometimes referred to as Eternal Wisdom.  God prepared her from her conception to carry His Son, and in doing so, she was blessed with a gift of wisdom that none but Jesus will ever truly know.  But being Mary shouldn't be our goal.  We will never be.  Our goal, however, should be to imitate her in every way we can, every second of the day.

What strikes me most about the definition of wisdom is the idea that it comes only from experience.  Mary experienced it all.  She was an unwed, pregnant teen in a time when that typically called for death.  She planned to marry Joseph, yet I don't know that she ever planned to be the Mother of God.  From the moment of Gabriel's announcement (and truly, long before) her life was no longer her own.  Before Jesus was even born, there were threats against His life.  And that life...it was a short one.  Mary thought she lost him once.  She knew that her heart would be pierced because she had said yes to God.  In the end, she watched - only watched - as her son was betrayed, ostracized, and brutally beaten.  She watched as he carried his own instrument of death.  She watched as he was nailed to a cross, knowing he was guilty of no crime.  And, she watched as her only son struggled to breathe and finally asked for the forgiveness of his perpetrators before he took his final breath.  She could not comfort Him.  She could not take his place.  She could not take any of His pain on her shoulders.  She could only watch as He bore it all...for you and for me.

She could not do it because she knew - in her wisdom - that God had a plan.  In that plan instead of sparing her grief as a mother watching her only son suffer and die, God used her, and her experience, to save us from a pit of unending pain and suffering.

She gave up her life in order to live one through Him.  In her "yes" to God, she became a living example of His will.  In her divine wisdom, she gave to God what was rightfully His for His doing...her very life.

How much do we do this?  Do we give ourselves completely to God?  How often are our wills aligned directly with His?  If I'm answering, I think my true answer is this: some times.  There are days when I'd like to think my will is His will.  But, it's during those times when I also typically convince myself that I need a lot more things that I really do...that I'm not truly doing something for any prideful affirmation but because I feel called to...that God would surely justify my unloving actions as I categorized them: justice (not mercy).  Wrong.  This isn't allowing God's will to work through me.  It is forcing my will on Him and calling it His.

I remember vividly making specific decisions when I was younger.  They were important ones to me at the time such as which college I would attend, which career path I would take, which job I would accept, etc.  In each of these decisions, I remember fretting immensely.  I would call everyone I knew that might have knowledgeable input.  I would make a list of the pros and cons.  I would cry.  I would lose sleep.  I would go back and forth and finally, in the case of college, overnight a decision on the day before my answer was due.  Then, I would worry some more.  I would even play the "what if" game after a decision had been made.  Finally, my mom asked if I had prayed.  Yes.  She then said, "Trust in His will.  He opened this door and led you here for a reason.  It is His plan."

My problem was when the first mishap would arise.  That mishap was seen as a "sign I had made the wrong decision."  I had no true trust in Him.  Had I, I would have known that wisdom comes from experience, and His will for us does not always mean sunshine and roses.  Sometimes it means learning lessons.

This is where Mary and her divine wisdom comes in.  She simply said, "yes."  And, she lived it.  To the joys, the sufferings, the responsibility and the agony, she said, "yes."  God has given her to us as Our Mother to help us say, "yes" too!

When experiences come our way that we don't feel we deserve, let us say yes.  When God takes something from us and we question that taking with every fiber of our being, let us say yes.  When we feel unloved, unwanted, and even uncool, let us say yes.  When the weight of the cross He has asked us to bear seems like it will take our very life, let us say yes.

And let us remember that if in Her place, we would have probably cried out that our Son was innocent, ripped the cross from our Son's shoulders, and given our own life to take away the slightest pain in Him.  In those moments, instead, she was silent, and in her silence she said, "Yes."

Mary, Mother of God, in your wisdom, mother us.  Help us understand that our crosses are for our gain, and pray that we receive these experiences in life with open arms, understanding that we will only grow closer to Him if we let Him have complete control of every minute of our lives.

Lord, give us wisdom.

For the rest of the series, please visit these blogs:

October 7 - An Introduction to the Ten Virtues of Mary - Olivia of To the Heights

October 14 - Lively Faith - Molly of Molly Makes Do

October 21 - Blind Obedience - Kendra of Catholic All Year

October 28 - Constant Mental Prayer - Jenna of Call Her Happy

November 4 - Heroic Patience - Kelly of This Ain't the Lyceum

November 11 - Profound Humility - Carolyn of Svellerella

November 18 - Angelic Sweetness - Regina of Good One God

November 25 - Divine Wisdom - Britt of The Fisk Files

December 2 - Universal Mortification - Abbey of Surviving Our Blessings

December 9 - Divine Purity - Gina of Someday Saints

December 16 - Ardent Charity - Christy of Fountains of Home

December 17 - Massive GIVEAWAY at To the Heights - Just in time for Christmas

The Unending Search for Balance

Olivia is one of my blogging friends I finally was able to meet in Dallas this August.  I gathered she was sweet via her blog, but I had no idea she would be as genuinely wonderful as she was the instant we met!  She's so very generous and extremely gracious.  She's one of those women who makes you want to be a better you.  Her love for others shines in all she does, and man, you ought to see her with her precious George.  She's a natural!  Okay, I'm letting her take it from here...

I want to thank Britt for completing her charitable giving by letting me guest post. I'm a long time fan of this blog, and I was able to spend some good quality time with Britt at The Hundred Event in August. Her grace, sweetness, and undiscriminating love captivated me right then and there. So I count myself super blessed to be writing about a topic she and I discussed at length while we were together, something that we both wrestle with on a daily basis, and I bet you do, too ... Balance.

 It's something that we all want in our lives, and something that is a constant struggle for most of us. As women, we can wear many hats: child of God, daughter, sister, student, wife, mother, teacher, boo-boo fixer, baker, chef, housekeeper, employee, volunteer, financial manager, etc. Gosh, we have a lot to juggle. Women are naturally terrific multi-taskers, which, I'm starting to see as a new mom, is necessary in order for the female species to get anything done. At all. God gave us a gift for multi-tasking for a purpose. But just because we can do a lot at once does not mean we should do everything at once. Yet most of us tend to push ourselves to the limits. In our eagerness to serve others, we can over-exert ourselves. We self-impose this notion of "doing it all" and for seem reason we hate saying "no" to anything. In our noble desire to help anyone we can, we can actually do more harm than good. We end up driving ourselves into the ground, exhausting all our faculties and, in most cases, causing us to be a crabby person to live with. And if our family is our main priority, we just shot ourselves in the foot.

Priorities. We talk about the importance of prioritizing, but how many of us take the time to write down our priorities and plan accordingly? It is so vital that we consistently make time for taking stock of our lives, our current season of life, and determine where our time and energy are most required. The kicker, then, is in following through on our findings. Sometimes it's important to say "no" to the good, little things in order to give a more resounding "yes" to the better, bigger things. For me, my relationship with God is number one in my life. But my actions don't always reflect that. Sometimes I forget to make time for prayer or I get distracted by a minuscule task when I should be in conversation with God. My family is numero dos. My husband and my son are my "why" in life. They are why I work, they are why I serve, they are why I go to bed happy each night. But have you noticed how easy it is to neglect the people closest to us in order to fulfill some outside duty? We tend to think that they'll be more understanding of our situation,which is probably true; however, they don't deserve to get the shaft 24/7. If we don't take time to pray with our family, to spend quality time with our spouse, to learn about our children, and to have fun with them at the park, then our actions aren't reflecting our priorities.

Awareness. Thus, we should be hyper-aware throughout the day. How many of us have "accidentally" committed to being PTO president when our kid's principal asked us during the craze of after-school pick up? You're in a hurry, you're frazzled trying to get last week's science project in your car, and the principal expresses a need for the position to be filled. In your honest, selfless, and good desire to fill that need, you agree, only to kick yourself 10 minutes later when the dust settles. You think: What did I just do? I don't have time to organize meetings and print flyers and brainstorm creative fundraisers, I can barely organize my shoes in the closet! Trust me, I've been in situations like this one. And although our desires to help are not to be shunned, it's imperative that we are constantly aware of what is required of us from our main priorities. Everything else must fall under those.
 

Mercy. Finding balance is a lifelong search, isn't it, friends? Just as soon as we have the wheels turning smoothly, a wrench is thrown in, we're thrown off course, and we are forced to recover. That's why it is vital that we have mercy on ourselves. Achieving a balanced life is hard stinking work, and it's not for the faint of heart. But you are not faint of heart. You are bold and brave and willing. That is half the battle. The desire for a balanced life is what will fuel us to constantly seek to strike that balance. Because the more balanced our life, the more we are able to give of ourselves to those whom we love. The more balanced our life, the more we are able to become the person we were created to be. The more balanced our life, the more we are able to glorify God by being dedicated to the most important roles to which He has appointed us. The more balanced our life, the happier we are. But we must have mercy on ourselves, because the Lord has mercy on us in our efforts. If we're not patient with ourselves we will drive ourselves and everyone else up the wall. Mercy breeds patience, and patience breeds results. We will get there, I just know it. Until then, let's walk arm in arm, encouraging one another along the way and reminding one another why we are doing this in the first place. And let's not ask one another to head up the PTO {wink}.

Guest Post: Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things

Almost a year ago, I "met" Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things via a blog mentorship we both did.  She's as sweet as can be and has a host of things she blogs about -- from days with her little ones to yummy recipes and all things organization.  She has something for everyone!  Please, check out her blog, and let her tell you a little more about herself...


Hi! I'm Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things~ I am so excited to be joining you in Britt's space today! Is she not just the most beautiful person? I have loved getting to know her and you - her readers!

Until just a few years ago, I was an elementary school teacher~ I taught third-grade, and I loved it with all of my heart, but when Caleb (my oldest) was born, I eagerly retired from the classroom. Since then, Isaac has joined our family, and I am so thankful for these three loves~

As a family, we love to learn together...

...eat yummy food...

...travel...

 

...and laugh.

In this family, we do alot of laughing!

I enjoy taking pictures...

...but my littles are my favorite subjects.

I have a passion for motherhood...

...and I would love to encourage you along your journey~

What is the best way to connect with you? You can follow "All Kinds of Things" on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Bloglovin'. 

Please stop by and introduce yourself - I always enjoy meeting new people~

Guest Post: Life in DC

Today, I'm blogging about my time in DC over at Bonnie's place (A Knotted Life).  Be sure to check it out!

A Day in the Life

I'm doing another little day-in-the-life post on Elizabeth's blog today (All Kinds of Things).

Here's a picture teaser, but be sure to check the rest out here.

Guest Post: Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things

I met and have gotten to know Elizabeth via her blog All Kinds of Things.  She is as sweet as her blog is precious and she's writing a wonderful guest post on here today.  Be sure to check out her blog and follow along via her social media outlets.  Welcome, Elizabeth!

Hi! My name is Elizabeth, and I blog at "All Kinds of Things". I am an elementary teacher turned mommy of two, and I am so excited to be spending time with you today~

From recipes and DIY projects to organizational tips and thoughts on faith and parenting, my blog includes "all kinds of things" that will encourage you in your day-to-day journey of doing life well!

I would love to connect with you and share life together~

This pineapple sits on my kitchen counter. I wouldn't say it necessarily matches my other décor, but yet I keep it there anyway. Why? Well, I once heard it said that the pineapple was the symbol for hospitality, and being hospitable is most definitely a priority in our home.

The dictionary defines hospitality as:

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers 2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

I love #2 - How I long to have a disposition that genuinely receives others...genuinely welcomes others in a warm manner.

Most of us can relate to this scene:

You hear the doorbell ring.

You jump up and start straightening your living area.

You start cramming your mess in closets...under the furniture...in the oven.

(Okay, I've never actually thrown any of my mess under the furniture or in the oven, but those would be good hiding places, huh?)

The doorbell rings again.

You start to head to the door.

You run to the bathroom, look in the mirror to make sure there isn't anything in your teeth...or on your face...or in your hair.

The doorbell rings again.

You start to head to the door.

You realize your toddler has smeared peanut butter all over the front of your pants.

You start to head to the kitchen to wipe off your pants, but then...you just give up...

...and you answer the door.

You know what? Life is messy...Your house is going to get messy...especially if you have little ones. It is okay. (Aren't those words so incredibly soothing sometimes?)

Let me say them again...It.is.okay.

When we moved in to our new house, we felt strongly that we use our living space to bless others. After cramped apartment living, my husband and I were both excited about the idea of having a revolving door on our home - We love to have guests. We love to entertain. We love to host overnight visitors.

I also decided that this philosophy would be the best way to encourage me to keep up with my housework. Knowing I have guests coming throughout the week definitely helps me stay motivated to maintain order in our home. However, there have also been the times when gals have sat in my living room with me...sipped coffee with me...and chatted with me...all while a huge, unfolded mound of laundry sat next to us on the couch. I have learned to embrace the possibility of these types of things. It really doesn't bother me, and it doesn't bother [true] friends either....or at least I don't think it does...maybe I should ask. ;-)

Some people have an open-door policy with their closest of friends. I love this idea! Your inner circle should be free of judgment. They should be stopping in to see you...to spend time with you...not to judge your space in any way.

However, if you know that someone is planning to stop by, here are a few things you might consider:

1. Clean up all the dirty diapers....Okay...maybe that's a given...Let's start over...

1. Light a yummy smelling candle - I usually light one in my kitchen, and it typically helps the house smell delicious even if I burnt my eggs that morning (or forgot to pick up a dirty diaper somewhere). *smile*

2. Have some kind of small treat prepared ahead of time. When I am in the mood, I bake additional items to throw in the freezer for days when I have guests. It is easy to pull something sweet out of the freezer that morning and have it ready to share with them when they come. If you're not in to baking, I have also been known to buy a few Banana Nut Breads from Bob Evans or Fresh Market, throw them in my freezer, and serve warm slices to guests when they arrive. I have a friend who keeps several gallon-sized bags of fruit in her freezer. She serves it [to guests] on pound cake slices, over yogurt, on top of icecream, etc. The freezer definitely helps make it easy to always be prepared with a treat.

3. Turn on music that you think your guests will enjoy - nothing wild & crazy...just something nice to have in the background when they arrive.

4. If it's chilly outside, I love to have my fire going - super cozy no matter who is coming for a visit.

5. I try to remember to have my front blinds open - so our house doesn't look like the Munsters'...so our visitors know we are actually home. If they're arriving in the evening, I will turn on lamps, etc. just to give a nice warm glow to the interior of the house.

6. You know what else makes me feel welcome in a home? I love when there are throw pillows and blankets easily accessible. You want your friends to feel comfortable curling up on your couch with a hot cup of coffee or tea and staying awhile.

You may be thinking I don't have time for this. It is so important that we wholeheartedly embrace the idea of community and reach out - in tangible ways - to others. We have to be intentional about this - structuring our days to include this type of thing - oftentimes planning for it in advance...as - most the time - it simply will not just happen on its own.

Keep in mind, however, that these are merely suggestions/ideas - I most definitely am not saying your house needs to be perfect before you can open the door for guests. In fact, I love The Nester's thoughts in her post: Why You've Got to Have Guests When Your House isn't Perfect. 

While hospitality includes the welcoming of family, friends, acquaintances, it is also important that we are welcoming to strangers. This will look different for everyone...Each situation will be different and require different things from you...but I challenge you to think about how you can be hospitable even to the strangers in your life. You may or may not choose to have them in your home - Either way, let's not miss the opportunities to treat everyone (including strangers) in a warm, friendly, and generous way...even if they cut you off in traffic...even if they are rude to you in the grocery store...I will stop there, I'm starting to feel guilty...

I will most definitely include myself in this "Hospitality Challenge".

Hospitality Challenge: to create a warm, safe place for others to land - remembering to put people before things...always - taking no thought for what may be in it for me.  

In my mind, it is oftentimes the small things that go a long way.

What does hospitality look like for you? What other ideas do you have for helping guests feel welcome your home? Have you ever shown genuine hospitality to a stranger? What did that look like?

Thank you for joining me today! I would love to get to know you better~

 Be sure to hop over to Facebook and click "like" on "All Kinds of Things" - Great extras featured there often! Also, follow "All Kinds of Things" on Instagram & Pinterest!



Guest Post: The Vanilla Tulip

I did a blog mentorship program this week with the lovely Ashley of  The Vanilla Tulip.  She's as sweet as she is pretty, and if you aren't already a follower, you might want to become one!

I have a guest post on her blog today.  Take a look.