How We Practice Hospitality As A Young Family // Budget Dinners, Hosting Guide, Kid-Friendly Ideas

[@corastockton8344]

Sometimes it can be intimidating to go to someone’s house and they have it all planned and organized and clean and “put together”. We’ve found that not having a perfect presentation actually makes people feel more comfortable and “at home” because nobody lives with a perfect house all the time. There’s something good about doing normal life together and welcoming younger and older into your home and seeing how you actually live. “Gospel comes with a house key” is an amazing book by Rosaria Butterfield that touches on this topic. There a fine balance between being a good hostess and making your home clean and welcoming, but also not putting on a perfect presentation

[@TheIAmAwakened]

I’m the type that is all about perfection and I agree wholeheartedly. Thank you for this. I need to find the right balance as it’s true. I’m always more comfortable somewhere where it feel clean but lived in.

[@laurfred2742]

Such a good point, ans something I struggle with! There's so much pressure to have things be "perfect" but "perfect" isn't always relatable.

[@anastasiyav1045]

100% true. Its better to almost humble yourself and not show a perfect house but make people feel comfortable

[@corastockton8344]

It just seems so much more important for people to come over and see Christ on display in our homes in the way we love each other and see what it really looks like to have 5 kids or however many haha. We’re missing the point of biblical hospitality if we focus on outward appearance

[@FLYING_TROLI]

Have to disagree I love having everything clean smelling good eveone gives compliments even the kids say man it smells clean Lol And food almost ready when people arrive so I can sit and relax w them and enjoy time together I dislike being un organized running around not even speaking to guest cuz I’m always doing something … I learned from my mother in law she has a clean home and she can whip up food together quickly and she puts a buffet before I can’t even eat as much as she’s serving up 😆

[@linak7155]

Hello! couples like uencourage me.💕When I was a young whipper snapper, I had no idea how to host. We learned about the hospitality of Abraham and wanted to emulate it. In the beginning, we over emphasized getting everything right. Over the years, we learned the nuts n bolts and relaxed more. We have lived in several states, and so meeting new ppl was always exciting . I have to say that now that we're older, it is hard to have guests. When we invite couples'/ families to come out, they're too busy. It saddens me that is so, but it is what it is.

[@sharonizzard4410]

Such a great episode. I’d love a couple of connected episodes, budget recipes for hosting and Katie’s external brain!!

[@katiacleroux7376]

I've wanted to host for a while, I feel pulled to it. I've always loved doing acts of service and feeling God pulling me in this direction! My husband, on the other hand, is exhausted during the week from working trades and very reserved. I'm thinking of making it a goal to once a month for now and utilizing our friends and family to get us in the rhythm. The spaghetti is a great idea honestly!

[@roar_with_mama]

Talk about God's timing! This is your second video in a row that speaks exactly to what we're struggling with right now! We just started hosting a weekly lunch for our brothers and sisters from church and I've been having a really hard time with it. Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work you're doing!

[@cm5822]

Dude every time my husband and I watch your videos we look at each other and say “why can’t they live closer?!- we’d totally be best friends lol!!”

[@user-xn4ys1wp3o]

So helpful. Is Katies document something you would share? Thank you!

[@freetobe15]

Love all you guys' videos! As a new-ish married couple, and being pregnant with baby #2, I really look up to you guys and appreciate your perspective and approach to family and faith! Thank you for what you do, and sharing your videos with us! 🫶🏻

[@xXDinscheXx]

I really appreciate you tackling this subject. I am quite an introvert, but would love to be a good host. I think it is such a gift to be able to make people feel welcome in your home! So my hubby is quite a social butterfly and he loves to invite people for dinner. Especially since we moved into our new, big house earlier this year. I constantly worry that guests might feel uneasy, don't like my food, think our house is not clean enough or whatever. And I am completely puzzled when our guest actually express how much they enjoyed being with us, and even come back for another dinner😅...the joys of being an rather insecure introvert lol

[@mackenzie2746]

That is such a great point to make sure to be cooking last...so many times I am cleaning my bathroom or finishing my makeup. Great advice, Katy! Also, what a trial by fire having so many guests as a newly wed couple. You guys are awesome!!

[@marishapeters1647]

I love hosting! It’s so much fun to have people over! We live in an apartment so we can’t have large families but we always do what we can!

[@lydiajones4727]

I don't know what you mean by not being able to host big families--I had this dilemma too (8 of our 11 years of marriage so far have been in apartments or townhomes on the small side)....I will say that you can host more than you realize with the right mindset. Also, if you're ever feeling like you need more space, you can also get creative and "host" a picnic at nearby park from your apartment. We've done that before. We also did quite bit of "picnic" style dinners and lunches in our apt. living room. More often than not, I have found that most people feel the love and graciousness you wanting to share what you have rather than worried that you have a large enough table for their family. Practical application: I have even spread a blanket on the white carpet floor of our apt. floor for hosting family with littles so the parents felt more at ease and it caught some of the spills. Let's just say there are practical ways to show love even if you have to be creative. This happened more often than not, because we only had a size four round dining table for 9 of our 11 years of marriage. People usually don't go away with what they ate or ate on but how you made them feel. Blessings on your pushing yourself to show hospitality!

[@crazyleaf257]

The thing that has always inspired me so much to be hospitable is having others be hospitable to me first, peoples absolute generosity gave me a sense of obligation but a joyful one, an inspiration to make someone else's day the way they made mine

[@ashlei6519]

Could you share the pages in your binder (food and hosting guide)? I couldn’t see it on the screen.

[@zandilemeier3204]

Yes, please share

[@adriannafredrick162]

Yes! Please share!

[@carladavis6392]

Katie I would love a video going through your binder.

[@mrsupchurch2987]

I’d love to learn more about your “foundational pantry”! Sounds like a great idea!

[@caitlinthomas6951]

This was so helpful! I'm a pastor's wife, so hospitality is important to us. I want to get so good at it that it no longer stresses me out, and I can have the practical prep down to a science. I would gladly pay a few dollars for a printable list and guide with the information and checklist you use if you would consider offering that as a resource. I think it would be really helpful for a lot of us who want to get better at the practical side of hospitality.

[@steffa648]

Girl I am so with you in the Ghirardelli brownie mix! They are the best!! Every time I make a meal for a friend who has just had a baby I make sure to make them a pan of Ghirardelli brownies because they are so good!! You guys also crack me up especially about cleaning the toilets while chatting to your guests 😂😂😂

[@omi.u2012]

Loved this conversation!

[@amandakoppana4509]

This is so helpful! Thank you for all of these videos! I watch again and again and have applied many of these things to our family and home. We have been very blessed by these practical how-to videos! ❤️ keep them coming please!

[@SavedBySweetGrace]

This was such a helpful video! Thank you! I love practicing hospitality, I don't do it as much as I would like to, but after seeing this video I can't wait to host more!

[@sabl6381]

Haha, we are hosting our pastors tonight and I'm making spaghetti. Unfortunately the lawn looks like a hot mess, but hosting has also taught me that perfectionism isn't helpful.

[@rachelschrock9157]

Great video! Katie and her systems are fantastic and inspiring!

[@margeesanmartino238]

The weapons part was hilarious, my jaw dropped for a good second HAHA. 😅

[@creativereindeer]

Huge thanks for this! And perseverance when you lost power! Really interesting perspective. I felt your heart for it not to just ‘look good’ but to bless those who come into your home. I also LOVE gospel comes with a house key even though it needs QUITE the translating to a London flat with busy couples who don’t always accept invitations etc - different challenges! We have loved thinking creatively about how we use our small flat to the glory of God and that has led to us stewarding it for good after church for singles (we have an afternoon gathering) and having Christian lodgers join us. I would love to hear more from you both on this topic, walk throughs of your affordable recipes (so many are alien as I’m a Brit even if it’s normal for you folks!) but I’d be keen to learn. Or other ways you have taken the Biblical command and learned from it etc, stories are soul food and I’d love to learn from you. Our church family is very young and transient so you folks are helping me and my husband hugely serve where we are - thank you! I also loved Rachel Jancokivs seminars they have been soooo good to get to the heart of things not doing stuff for show but to bless. Excuse the plug (it’s not my book but I voiced it on Audible) ‘Extraordinary Hospitality’ by Carolyn Lacey is a great short book from The Good Book Company on the topic, particularly about taking the principles into the cafe, workplace, school etc which for those in London with little of our own ‘space’ to share, has been really helpful to think really widely about the approach of hospitality in our everyday interactions. Thanks again for these videos you guys are blessing so many with your time and thoughtfulness! PtL!

[@EveryPeachInReach]

I love having people over. Funnily enough, we sometimes have difficulty finding people who can make time to actually come over. I don't know if it's just the circle we find ourselves in or if there is a general Feeling of people being too busy or Too Tired to Go to other people's Houses. 🤷‍♀️

[@emmyevansmusic]

Definitely agree with you on the brownies 😄 those have been our fave for years!!

[@rachaelshea133]

Thanks for the non toxic candle recommendation

[@bettinak.4]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@themohrlands]

I've been watching this over and over I'm so inspired where can I find out more about the external brains and I would love to now more about the systems that use to run your home.

[@lindsaymarie4416]

I love these tips and ideas

[@freerangerowlands]

Thank you for such a real, raw conversation!!❤️ I needed this.

[@nothanksmegan]

Costco now has siete chips which are avocado oil ;) Awesome tips as always, thank you!

[@nowthatimamother]

Literally JUST saw this this morning! SO excited about that! - Katie

[@-living4jesus4ever-]

Yes! Siete is the best! Love being able to avoid pufa junk oils. :)

[@richellesellers8878]

This was great! Loved the sprinkles of humor! What do you do about kids bedtimes when you have guests over?

[@laybournejourney1665]

I would love to know how you guys manage sick days in a house of littles

[@lightoftheworld77]

Yes same!

[@Yes_he_can_do_it]

Such a fun Episode ❤😊😃

[@bethany3914]

This is very interesting to me.. I completely understand your perspective but do you not think that the danger is that people come to visit and then feel inadequate and that they have to return the favour and get their home in the same shape? Isn't hospitality about saying to people "come as you are?" Hospitality is messy, noisy and inconvenient. It's fine if you're talking about having a middle class family around from church but if we're welcoming people off the street then I want to be careful about avoiding "presenting myself" and, instead, just sharing my life. I agree that it's important to have clean and tidy spaces for people but it's also 100% okay to invite people into real life - that's what Jesus did!

[@beccaholland3602]

Did you say “70 or 80 people?” When talking about the potato bar? Do people have that much company?!

[@laurens8623]

Did you both grow up having guests over weekly with such large famies,?

[@laurens8623]

Ask guests to be on time too or ifnrhey offer to help maybe they csn set the table

[@crazyleaf257]

70 or 80 people??????? You personally host that many by yourself?

[@caitlinthomas6951]

You have to remember both of their families are very large.

[@aprilh5186]

I would love to see a walkthrough of your external brain!

[@crazyleaf257]

Dang, I want to have people over to the house a lot more than we do which is hardly at all but being pressured into it three times a week??? And the reason why we don't have people over so much is because people in our church stay so busy really there's like 4 church services/Bible studies a week and then everybody's kids are in public school with all kinds of sports and activities people literally have no time for one-on-one just being together! It makes me really really sad because this is what I grew up with in my home church. I just want to come to your house and help with some chores or grooming horses with you or take your kids to the park with you. but in contrast you guys there wasn't this pressure from people all the time

[@thesimplesettlers]

I grew up with church services 3-4xs a week too, but now go to a sovereign grace church where we just have service 1x Sunday morning then have community groups once every other Wednesday in people's homes. There's occasional theology classes and events. I used to think once a week was too little but this works so well to have more time with getting to know and serve others!

[@-living4jesus4ever-]

I have a question, what are the main differences between your two channels? I get confused which is which channel and there is great content on both that I don’t want to miss. Thanks guys!! 🩵