We Trust You Can Relate

This weekend is Sam's birthday weekend, and the plan had been to spend it in one of his favorite ways-- with a two-day State softball tournament.  But, enter flash flood warning-esque rain beginning on Friday and carrying on through the weekend, and we had a change of plans.

Rather than sit under a tarp for two days hoping to sneak in a game here or there, the USSSA made the call to postpone the tournament on Friday afternoon, leaving us with a wide open weekend.  Although I generally do not mind a bit when Sam's games are canceled, I was a little bummed because A) we wouldn't be seeing our normal group of friends, and B) I didn't have a single thing planned to celebrate Sam's birthday since I imagined us hanging out at the softball fields all weekend.

So, in response to Sam's text that the games were rescheduled, I asked if he wanted to have a few friends over for dinner.  It was 2 p.m., and I had no menu for dinner for even our family of four.  Who am I kidding, I didn't even have much in the way of groceries left from last weekend's Kroger run.  Just the day before, the bi-monthly housekeeper let me know that her son had an ear infection and she would be running late, at which point I told her just to stay home with her sick child, since it wasn't like we had plans for company over the weekend.  

So, no menu, no food, no sparkling clean floors.   

And I didn't care.  Because I cannot wait until our home is "finished" to entertain guests-- that day will not come.  I may never feel that this home is done.  But, God has blessed us with an imperfect home that can be a perfect place to grill some burgers, let the kids run wild, and laugh with friends.   

 

Did Sam clean like a mad man while the girls were napping?  You betcha.  Did I do a quick scan of my Pinterest boards for a few throw-together recipes? Absolutely.  But, more than anything, we just invited our friends into our mess of home, with a basement that still needs lighting and baseboards, and a stairwell that needs stained.  Why?  Because I believe what The Nester says about hospitality.  "Hospitality isn’t about me. It’s about you who come into my home. It’s about listening and connecting and encouraging. It’s about rest and peace and fun."

 

And that we did.  The big kids had a pillow fight downstairs with the guys, while the girls stayed upstairs with the little ones and chatted about our kids, our dream homes, our life right now.  I am so glad that we have friends that we don't have to impress.  They know us; they love us; and they can be trusted with some simple food and an unfinished house.  

 

Because the bottom line is that our home is not perfect, but we trust you can relate.

www.thenester.com