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Company is Coming



"Hey mom, we're coming."
"Be there tomorrow."
"For dinner."

When the occupancy under your roof doubles and you have 24 hours notice to prepare for your guests, there are a few things you must do, some things you can do, and one thing you shouldn't do.

I  know some fantastic Hosts.  I have learned a lot from each of them.  I have also done my fair share of hosting the last 20 years.  Birthday parties for the young and the not so young , holiday gatherings, bridal and baby showers, ladies breakfasts,  youth group hang outs, special occasion dinners.
More recently we have been enjoying a new kind of hosting.  In the last month, we have had 21 overnight guests.  We have had visitors with us 12 of the last 30 days.
It would be unnecessary to tally how many loads of bedding and towels I've washed.
Through practice I've been able to boil down the to do lists to a handful of manageable steps.
Here are some ideas that will make your own preparations more manageable.

a few things you must do:

  • Forget dusting.  It's overrated, and especially if you're pressed for time, it shouldn't be high on your priority list.
  • Vacuum, de-clutter & wipe down bathrooms.  Particularly if you are pressed for time, these are your top priorities.  In our house, a freshly cleaned floor goes a long way.  Get the piles of mail under control, lingering clean laundry put away, and bathroom mirrors clear.  
  • Have food out when they arrive.  If they will arrive during a meal time, plan to have that meal ready about 30 minutes after their arrival.  This will give you time to greet your guests, let them freshen up and spend time catching up around the table.  If their arrival is scheduled in between meals, have some light snacks and beverages out for them to refresh with, and definitely have a plan for whatever meal is next.  Indecision happens frequently when groups attempt to decide their next meal.  You don't want your guests first hours with you to be spent with the pressure of planning your very first outing together.

some things you can do:

  • Bake something.  Nothing is as welcoming as the aroma of a freshly baked sweet treat as your guests enter your home.  It doesn't have to be cookies for immediate consumption, how about a coffee cake?  Imagine your guests waking up to that homemade goodness on their first morning with you.
  • Have the guest beds made up.  Even if they are arriving well before bedtime,  having their beds set will give you more time to visit when your guests arrive and make them feel like you really thought through preparations for them.  Guests don't want to make their beds after a day of travel.  Arriving to something ready to crawl into is such a warm welcome.
  • Lay out the guest towels.  Guests don't want to have to guess which towels are okay to use.    Hang fresh towels on racks, lay them out in the bathroom or on their beds. Save yourself from scrambling last minute.
  • Offer laundry services mid visit.  If your guests are with you for more than a few days, ask if they would like to use the washer and dryer or if you can do a load for them.  It is so helpful on the back end of a trip to unpack mostly clean clothes.  

and the one thing you absolutely shouldn't do:

  •  Sweat it.  Likely, your guests will never notice  the things you find yourself stressing over.  

I hope you find yourself welcoming company into your home.  I hope you find that opening your home to guests gives you & them a unique sense of community. I hope that you find the lively conversation and memories made by cultivating friendships far outweighs the workload of hosting.  I hope these ideas give you some tricks you can stick in your back pocket when you get the call that Company is Coming.


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