Tonight was my most favorite simple pleasure for the week...which is pretty cool since it's my final day of sharing my pleasures with you. Hasn't this week been fun?
I had three other women come to my home tonight to craft together. We all sat around my kitchen table just talking, laughing, sharing, and marveling at each other's creativity and ideas. Each one brought their own uniqueness and it was just a delightful mix of women. One brought her watercolors and painted a beautiful card of pansies and clay pots. Another brought her crocheting and moved her hands rhythmically as she laughed and shared. My sister brought a quilt she has made for a graduation gift and was hand quilting. I took the time to cut my fabric for one of my Christmas gift projects.
Hospitality is a simple pleasure that is getting lost with the busy-ness of people's lives. It's not very often that we get invited over for a meal or a night of games or for a celebration. People tend to close off their homes to others and just want to meet out at a restaurant or other public place. But to me it's just not the same as gathering around a kitchen table or curling up on the couches together to talk. It's so easy to invite others in...even just for a cup of coffee. We shouldn't allow paranoia of cleanliness or decorating or food to keep us from extending the gift of welcoming others in... just as they are and just as we are. Just keep it real.
Lord, thank you for the pleasure of friendships and the amazing blessing of being creative together tonight. May we be willing to use our homes as places of ministry and of service unto you and others....to be women full of love and authenticity, care and comfort, joy and peace who welcome others into our homes and lives.
photo courtesy of all posters.com
8 comments:
I host a monthly craft day and it is such a neat time together and a blessing. Most people bring paper crafts but a couple have brought sewing, crochet or knitting.
I've made some good friends from it too.
Gorgeous photo you've chosen.
Sometimes my mom has UFO parties (UnFinished Objects), which are always really fun. Everyone brings anything they are working on. It is always interesting to see what others are working on, and working together with our hands is really bonding.
I have thoroughly enjoyed your week of simple pleasures!
That sounds like a great idea! I've thought of doing it where we all get together and work on the same craft, but I love the idea of each individual being able to showcase their unique individual talents and interests! I think I'll have to borrow that idea.
I agree that meeting out never seems as cozy as getting together in homes. People never seem to really relax in public. Jeremy and I love to have people over for meals and game nights... in fact we are doing it tonight!
Shannon
Aimee, how fun! I love what you said about hospitality. People are so much busier now and in a hurry, and it's sad. I like how your evening with your friends wasn't just an eat-and-run thing, but you had something good to do together with your hands that allowed you to really visit.
I've really enjoyed reading about your simple pleasures, Aimee!
Susan
Thanks, Aimee, I'm really enjoying your blog and trying to learn more about living simply. Thanks for all the good inspiration!
our church hosts a monthly craft night and I love it, but not near as much as I love scrapping together with my best friend at her house when her dh is working nights, it ranks at the top of my favourite past-times list!
so much fun... wish I lived closer I'd SO be there to learn and create with you!... (o:
I used to do craft days in the fall so everyone could work on gifts for Christmas before everyone would be too busy. Now, everyone I know has little kids andcraft days have gone by the wayside. Guess I'll have to figure out something.
I, too, love havong people in my home. It is so much nicer than going out.
Post a Comment