To bless or impress?

The purpose of hospitality is to bless, not impress.

Many of us will be hosting family and friends this week for Thanksgiving. Maybe we've spent hours already cooking and cleaning in anticipation of the big day. Have we stopped to think about WHY we're doing all we're doing? Do we want everyone to think we're great decorators? Immaculate housekeepers? The epitome of Martha Stewart and the Proverbs 31 woman rolled into one?

Well, if you've been to my house, you know none of that is the case! My house is never spotless for more than 30 seconds at a time and I decorate with what I have. As for Martha...she's highly overrated anyway.

While I have spent time cooking, cleaning and decorating the table this week, my end game is that my guests will be able to relax and enjoy one another's company and that I will be able to relax along with them. I want whomever visits our home to leave feeling blessed. This is not accomplished through fancy centerpieces or a perfectly executed meal, but by giving guests my time and full attention. A bit of organization and preparation beforehand allows me to do that and not spend every minute of Thanksgiving in the kitchen.

As The Nester says, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." I'll add to that..."It doesn't have to be perfect to be a blessing."

Game, set, match!

Picture if you will...you're standing on a tennis court, racket in hand. Across the net from you stand four players, all of whom are hitting tennis balls at you as hard and fast as they can. You have no hope of hitting them all as they zing past, narrowly missing your head. Forget hitting any winners, you will simply settle for surviving. Finally in frustration, you throw down your racket and begin picking balls up and throwing them back at your four daunting opponents.

You've just pictured my morning as a homeschool mom. Had my quiet time this morning, picked up my racket and was ready to start the game. Before I knew it, I was being bombarded on all sides by those four opponents - my kids! It was all I could do to throw my hands up to protect my face! We finally called a time out mid-morning to regroup. After a few minutes of prayer and quiet, I shared the tennis analogy with them. I also apologized for throwing the balls back at them when I should have gathered them all sooner and made the choice to redirect the day.

Count it all JOY when you face trials of many "kids"...I mean "kinds". Believe me, that joy James wrote about is definitely a choice. I must chose to play the game in such a way that we all come out winners.

Sausage Pasta

Looking for an new recipe to get you out of that cooking rut? This one is easy, deliciouso and low-fat.

Sausage Pasta
3/4 pound of your favorite pasta (I use whole wheat angel hair)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound spicy Italian sausage OR kielbasa
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
fresh spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add your favorite pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.

In a large skillet, heat oil and sausage; cook through until no longer pink. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add onion and garlic to skillet. You can also grill the sausage on the grill, slice and add to pan after sauteing onion and garlic.

Add broth, basil and tomatoes with liquid.

Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to slightly reduce. Add a few handfuls of fresh spinach; cover skillet and simmer on reduced heat until spinach is just tender, 2-3 minutes.

Add pasta to skillet and mix together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Utterly random thoughts that might somehow explain my absence...

Just for the record, file this one under "completely random thoughts".

It's been a busy fall, but I'm sure the two readers I have left can attest to that fact. A trip to Idaho to visit family and friends kicked things off in September. Though exhausting, it was good to see everyone again. We followed that up with a trip two weeks later to Colorado for Ash and Rajeev's amazing wedding. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...plans to give you a future and a hope" - a quintessential wedding set in the CO mountains was the perfect embodiment of God's promise.

Amongst all the coming and going there was school to be done, too many church activities to count, football practice and games, along with the ins and outs of a family of six. Despite how it all sounds, I am getting better at saying "no"...really, I am.

Emma turned five and lost her first tooth. Football is winding down. One more playoff game and hopefully a trip for Connor to the Superbowl. Yes, football in Texas is apparently a big deal. Basketball season has started up and games begin next week. Hosting Thanksgiving here in a couple of weeks, along with Austin's 13th birthday party. Any idea how much pizza five 13 year old boys can consume?

Oh, did I mention it's only 46 until Christmas. I.will.not.panic!