Читать книгу It’s Not About the Pie - Nicki Corinne White - Страница 29

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Entertaining is a mindset; everywhere we moved was like a clean sheet of paper and a

new box of crayons. Each new place presented us with new options to entertain, and it

was challenging (and fun!) to figure out how to make each new residence a homey place

with new issues regarding how to best utilize new spaces, decorate bare walls, and set

up each new kitchen. I am so thankful that my husband enjoyed those times of change

with me and let me open our home. He didn’t have to. He would much rather have

alone time with our family. I love those times, too, but something pushed me on. I don’t

really know why I wanted company so much, but I wanted to create a haven for our

family that was sufficient for us to host friends and family, have game nights, and offer

a place for neighbor kids to play. To make your home a hub, the key is to be

ready and

willing

and to be

open

to the possibilities. Maybe an opportunity will only come once,

ever. Take that opportunity.

One of my biggest motivations for this book is how many times I’ve heard people saying

that they’d never have people over because they don’t feel their house is very presentable,

or maybe they think they aren’t gifted with a hostess’s knack for hospitality. What’s funny

is that I usually look at their home and think, “Wow, this is a great place for people. I don’t

understand.” We should not feel let down for not having what we define as “the perfect

home” or feel discouraged that our home is not right, but rejoice in what we have and

that we can share it with our friends, neighbors, and family.

Simply put, hospitality is making people feel welcome in your home or at the social event

you are hosting.

My dear friend from college, Re, shared a story about her friend, Monalta, who is such a

gracious person. She is very community-minded and loves to draw people from the same