The floors are mopped. The menu is planned. The kitchen is well on its way to being spic-n-span, and I am a bucket of nerves! Okay, a bucket of nerves may be a bit dramatic, but I am nervous. Tomorrow, we are having people over for dinner. Yes, it is as terrifying as it sounds. In just over twenty-five hours, five people (three children and two adults), are going to peek behind my shades and actually see my inner dwelling. A little background: The folks coming over have been our friends for over ten years. Yes, over ten years and we frequently visit their house (like, almost weekly). In … [Read more...]

Even before she left this world to be with Jesus, I was planning to write about my beloved Miss Betty today; but, knowing I will never experience her amazing hospitality again this side of Heaven makes this post even more special to me. Likely, I will weep my way through it and maybe laugh a bit along the way. A year ago, I had no idea my days with her were drawing to a close. Had I known, I would have made more of them. Miss Betty is (and always will be) who I think of when I hear the word, ‘hospitality.’ She opened her home to me hundreds of times; and, in doing so, she not only … [Read more...]

When I was a child, one of the highlights of my life was when company came over. Sure, Mom did the typical thorough cleaning routine beforehand, but it was always fun having visitors. Mom was a busy teacher, so we did not entertain often; and, even as a little child, I wondered why we did not have more dinner parties. Fast-forward twenty years: now I know why! Ever since I have been the lady of the house, the one in charge of cleaning and preparing (and the one to be judged if the house is not spotless), I have developed a significant discomfort for hosting dinners or inviting couples over … [Read more...]

Have you ever been in a job that sucked a bit of your soul away with each passing day? Have you ever been pushed into pursuing a career path or college major that you ended up hating, even if it seemed perfect for you on paper? Have you ever wondered, “Who am I and what was I put on Earth to do?” If you have ever been in any of these situations, you are in good company. Colleges are filled with young students racing down the wrong path, and the workforce is crawling with people who would rather be somewhere else – anywhere else; but, they either do not believe they can make a career change … [Read more...]

I want to key it!!! ... ... was the thought I had when I walked past her brand new car. I did not care for her (and that is putting it mildly). Seeing her made my blood run cold. We did not talk much, but we shared an unspoken and evident dislike for each other. She was, for all intents and purposes, my enemy. (In retrospect, I think if she had liked me, I would have liked her fine; but, she did not. I think if someone had lit me on fire, she would have let me burn – that is, if she was not the one who set me on fire in the first place.) In my teenage mind, I had scores of reasons to … [Read more...]