home-of-our-own-less hospitality

one of the most difficult parts of being home-of-our-own-less for almost 10 weeks now is our inability to invite people into our home.
whether it be to reconnect with old friends, invite the kids' new friends, or attempt to get to know neighbors better, we are keenly aware of how overwhelming it is for an 80-something couple to add 9 people and 2 dogs to their once quiet midst.
for a family that is 80% extroverted socialites, this has proven to be a very hard thing. the solution?
accept every invitation we get to go elsewhere, but seek to bless them however we can.
over the weekend we had the opportunity to visit another friend-from-college couple and their 4 boys.
we hadn't met the youngest two (who are now 10 and 12) but were part of a play group with the oldest two (now 16 and 14).
we took this cake and shared simple desserts while getting caught up on the past 13 years.
other opportunities we've had since we've been here: taking a meal to share with another family, taking brownies/lunch/cookies, etc. to a young family and helping them fold laundry, picking neighbor kids up and taking them to church with us, attending plays that their friends are in, etc. it is not easy, even though i'm doing all the cooking for the 11 of us, to feel the same level of hospitality when i don't have access to my linens, fancy dishes, or recipe books.
but i've found that more than the circumstance of hospitality is cultivating an attitude of it.
it may not be my kitchen, but i can work hard to have an attitude of servitude as if it were my own. and i can carry the spirit of hospitality, truly serving God rather than men, anywhere i go. (and since i keep this blog for my children--since i gave up scrapbooking--and nick has suggested i do so, i'm going to end each post from now on with a Bible verse). this one is so good!

"whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." colossians 3:23