A lot of women get up and make delicious breakfasts for their company.
I get up.
Years of living with cancer changed my view on life and my definition of hospitality. I’ve learned to accept my limitations.
If my guests haven’t stayed overnight in my home before, I casually let them know that if I haven’t slept well I won’t be up early. (If I’ve had insomnia, I may need to sleep until 8 or 9am)
Guests are shown where everything is in the kitchen, the bathroom and the linen closet, so if I can’t meet their needs, they can
Help Themselves.
The theory behind hospitality is making people welcome in your home. You can wait on them hand and foot and still make them feel uncomfortable. You can also make them feel comfortable making their own breakfast in your home.
Mornings come too quickly.
Especially during the holidays.
Especially if you’ve been up talking with relatives,
drinking decaf,
watching holiday movies,
wrapping presents,
or reading a good book.
It’s hard to be up-and-at-’em early in the morning, with a house full of early-rising old, I mean experienced, people.
I like to have things out and ready, so if I’m not out in the kitchen, my guests feel comfortable
Helping Themselves.
I start with one jar of regular rolled oats or steel cut oats for those healthy on-a-diet kinda’ guests.
Add one jar of Trader Joe’s low-fat vanilla and almond granola.
Add one tub of instant oatmeal packets of various flavors.
I try to find ones that are low in sugar, but it can be a challenge.
Take jars from your craft room, wash, and fill in with healthy mix-ins for the cereals.
(L to R) I have dried cranberries, dried apricots, raisins, and slivered almonds.
Display on a tray with a doily and you’re almost ready for breakfast.
These three jars were always on my counter filled with cold cereal when my children were at home.
I was tired of having so many opened boxes in the pantry, spilling and getting stale, so this was a pleasing solution for all of us. The oldest daughter now uses them for her children.
This is another standard on my kitchen counter.
In our early years of marriage, someone wisely advised it’s cheaper to eat healthy, than to pay for a doctor.
The bread basket is another company staple, although options change as my food knowledge grows.
I fill it with good breads, bagels and English muffins, so my company has a lot of options for
Helping Themselves
in the morning.
Cancer has taken much from me, but I won’t allow it to take hospitality.
I’m healthier and stronger today and have learned to PACE not PUSH.
But, there are three meals in a day, I know I can’t give them each 100%, so I choose where to put my energy.
I help myself by allowing my guests to
Help Themselves to Breakfast.
Hospitality isn’t waiting on people, it’s making them comfortable. Help them wait on themselves.
I love this Mindy! People have such different breakfast routines, and I would honestly love this over someone fixing breakfast for me.
Love it! What a great idea and very inviting to all guest! Merry Christmas To you and your family! Miss talking to you!
Do you remember that I stayed at your house in Fargo once? 1996 or 97….for Alison P’s wedding shower. I still remember how nice it was to be a guest at your house – I appreciated being shown where everything I needed was. I usually have a hard time staying at people’s houses because you have to guess when the shower is available, when/what to eat, where to find things, etc. I like your breakfast bar idea – I think I usually put out too many options and confuse guests.
Thank you for the kind encouragement. I always loved having the single girls in my home, you encouraged me SO much with your testimonies of faithfulness to the Lord. You brought such refreshment to my heart.
And, knowing how well you run your own home, now, Dana, I’m sure you make everyone feel very welcome and very appreciated.
Lovely. I think it would make any guest feel welcome and at home. You thought of them well ahead of time and was preparing for them – thinking of them. People appreciate that so much. I think it will definitely help them understand your need to sleep in. Sometimes guests aren’t morning people either so maybe they didn’t want to get up and instantly start visiting, this gives freedom there as well.
It’s easiest, obviously, to be more casual around family. But, we had one dear brother stay with us after my second surgery, and he just got up early and made eggs for my kids. I KNEW he felt welcome, and I was SO thankful for that.
It is hard, though, to watch company do stuff you used to do for them…
That is such a freeing way to look at things even if you aren’t battling cancer. I especially like the line, “Cancer has taken much from me, but I won’t allow it to take hospitality.” And the way you set everything up on the counter looks so beautiful, too. Mindy, you are a gem.
Thank you for your sweet words. I know you’re also probably struggling to “adjust” to your new physical limitations. It’s harder for you, though, because you were such a good cook to begin with! 🙂
Since this was a blog about breakfast, I didn’t confess how much pizza I’ve ordered over the past years for company…