Every year I find myself in the same position when it comes to hosting - stressed. panicked, and overwhelmed by my long to-do list. Most of the stress stems from my desire for everything to be perfect. Hosting has become more about a performance lately than welcoming people into our home. When did it become about the hosts instead of the guests? This year I want to shift that mentality in my life - maybe you're wanting to do the same. Welcome to the club.Even though my focus is on stressing less and moving away from perfectionism, there are still things that need to be done before we host people in our homes. To help me stay organized, I created a short guide...
"It's not good enough yet"I recently heard a child say this and it shocked me. Instead of saying "it's not done yet", they chose to say "it's not good enough yet". I'm sure the concept of "worthiness" is well known by our older kids but I wasn't prepared for a younger child to express it or demonstrate even the slightest understanding of it. Our striving for worth and perfection is seen by others, especially the younger people in our lives. Not only do they pick up on what we say, they also pick up on how we say it and how we respond to situations. When did we start shaping our actions and responses around proving or growing our worth?When did we start believing...
Normal, daily life ticking by on our streets and sidewalks, in our houses and apartments, in our beds and at our dinner tables, in our dreams and prayers and fights and secrets – this pedestrian life is the most precious thing any of us will ever experience.”
When I throw a party or prepare something special for my friends and family I want it to be right. I want it to be seamless and impressive. I want it to be perfect. And guess what? It never is. I've made plenty of things that were slightly under baked, over seasoned, or room temp by the time my guests ate. I've forgotten to light the candles on tables, left the flowers in the garage, and forgotten to sweep the bathroom floor a countless number of times. I've forgotten and been ashamed by my less than perfect performance. Oh, and I've made the mistake of attempting homemade donuts. All in the name of winning approval. Can I let you in on a little secret? It isn't about...
