Hospitality Dare #7 - Host a Party With a Purpose

This is the final day of my participation in the Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I've responded to a dare sent out by Kristin and Krista. See the link at the end of this post for details on how you can take the Hospitality Dare. It's not too late!

Dare #7:   Take a minute to plan a BYOI party (bring your own item).  We have many ideas for you on Kristin's website (think wine & cheese bar, ice cream bar, chili bar, etc.) Yes, the party will take more time than a minute, but this is your GRAND FINALE!  It should be easy since everyone is bringing something. Kristin's post gives the details about hosting a Party With a Purpose!


I love this dare! 

I had already planned a Fall luncheon to get together with my girl friends. To take time to have a little fun and fellowship before the hectic holiday season is upon us. 

The time from Thanksgiving to New Years is always filled with parties and activities but this year in December we're adding in a college graduation for one of my boys. I knew once we hit Thanksgiving I probably wouldn't have time to get all my friends together so this is like our last big hooray!

I printed out a little poem I made up and glued it to the front of the invitation.
 (I'm no poet but I think it gets the point across!)

Celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year's Eve can leave us in a tizzy. 
Let's take some time for friends and fun before we
get so busy!

Right before I sent the invitations I received this dare from Kristin and Krista to host a party with a purpose. 

Getting together with friends is a good purpose in itself but I thought I would expand on it a little. 

I decided to offer the ladies a chance to participate in Operation Christmas Child I slipped a little note in the invitation asking each lady to bring a small gift for the shoe boxes. I made it clear this of course was optional but I know each woman invited and I know they'll be happy to contribute. 

We'll take a group picture to add to the shoe boxes. I love the thought of a child somewhere in the world opening the box of goodies and seeing a bunch of smiling women looking back at them! 

I'll be posting about this luncheon and our group project Operation Christmas Child. 

This is the last day of the Hospitality Dare for me. You can still participate on your own. Go to Kristin's blog for details on how to sign up and how to host a party with a purpose!

I dare you!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges


Did you take the dare? Let me know in the comments...


Come back on the 18th as I start a short series on how to plan a party.

Hospitality Dare #6 - Welcome to the Neighborhood

Dare #6:   Notice the "new kid on the block." Fill out the "Welcome to Our Community " and give it in a welcome card or basket.  If you don't have someone new to the area, but new to a school or a group, offer to introduce him/her to others.

After many moves during our married life our family settled down in a home that we hope is our last move.

To find this house we did most of our hunting long distance and online. As a family we had prayed that God would lead us to just the right house in the right neighborhood.

When I saw what was to become my new home for the first time I felt God saying "This is it, this is your new home!".

So we put in an offer which was accepted and happily moved in certain this was where God wanted us to be.

My happiness turned to sadness when no one from our new neighborhood came over and introduced themselves.

Had I heard God wrong? Did I just love this house so much that I imagined this was where God wanted us?

Over the course of a couple of months we did meet most of our neighbors on our street. Not because they came to us but because we went to them.

That's when I realized that this is where God wanted us.

After that experience I've never allowed someone new to move in on our street that I didn't go over and introduce myself.

A few tips for meeting your neighbors:

• A plate of cookies is nice but don't get hung up making it a big deal. The last new neighbor I introduced myself to I saw her getting her mail out at the street. I just stopped my car and introduced myself.  
• Don't be offended if your welcome isn't received with open arms. People are funny sometimes. When I met my new neighbor a couple of doors down (at the mailbox again) the lady told me she wasn't interested in getting involved in the neighborhood. I told her that was fine but my name's Patti and I live 2 doors down. If you ever need anything let me know...Other than an occasional wave when I pass her on the street we've not spoken again. But I can say I did what I could. 
• Don't feel like you have to be best friends with everyone. Sometimes just knowing your neighbors name is enough. 
• Take a prayer walk through your neighborhood. As you walk by each house pray for the occupants. If you don't know your neighbors pray that God would open an opportunity for you to meet. 

To join this Hospitality Dare check out Kristin's blog and take the dare!


I dare you!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges


Do you know your neighbors?

Hospitality Dare #5 - Give a Small Gift

I'm participating in a Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I'll be posting about the dare and what I did. You can learn about this dare series and sign up by following the link at the end of this post.

I double dog dare you!

Dare #5: Give a small gift today. It could be a jar of homemade jam for your child's teacher, a latte for a coach after practice, or a journal for a friend going through something difficult.   

Every summer I can something from peaches since they are abundant in my area. For the past two summers I've made Vidalia Onion and Peach Relish. It's delicious served with pork or as a dip when poured over cream cheese and served with crackers.

I originally found this recipe in the May 2012 issue of Southern Living. You can find the recipe online by following this link.

Today I pulled several jars from my pantry to give to my fellow teachers in our Children's church. I topped each jar with an unbleached coffee filter secured with twine. 

A simple gift to say I'm thinking about you.

I dare you to take the dare!

Go over to Kirstin Schell's blog for all the detail on how you can sign up for this dare!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges

Hospitality Dare #4 - Provide for a Need Today

I'm participating in a Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I'll be posting about how I took the dare and what I did.
See the end of this post for how you can take the hospitality dare.



Dare #4:   Provide for a need today.  Take a bag of rummage to a non-profit, help an elderly person load groceries, take someone home from school who doesn't have a ride, or sacrificially give of your time or resources in some small (or big) way. 


The first day of the dare series I bought a case of beanie weenies, fruit cups and peanut butter crackers. I delivered these food items today to our church for the mini food pantry. We support a large food pantry that serves families in our community but we also keep a small mini pantry at our church.  This mini pantry is used to help people who stop by the church office looking for help.   Many of the people who need help are homeless, living on the streets or camping in the woods behind our church. All items in the bag are ready to eat. The bags also contain hygiene items as well. 

Some of the items in the bag:
Beanie weenies
Vienna sausage
potted meats
fruit cups
pudding cups
baked beans
bottled water and juice
crackers
plastic forks and spoons
Hand wipes 
toothbrush
toothpaste
comb


Every church should keep a food pantry of some type in their facility. It's a great way to give immediate help when someone can't get to the big food pantry right away.

The mini pantry is kept in a closest in one of the Sunday school rooms. Each bag is numbered
so we can keep track of how many have been given out. Since starting the mini pantry 5 years ago
we've given out 877 bags.

You can learn more about the Hospitality Dare by checking out Kirsten's blog post.

I dare you!

Have you accepted the Hospitality Dare? 

Leave me a comment and let me know how it's going!

You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges

Hospitality Dare #3 Listening to Someone

I'm participating in a 7 day Hospitality Dare. Each day I'll post about how I responded to the dare. See the end of the post to see how you can take the dare!

The dare for the day

Dare #3:  Take the time to STOP what you are doing and really listen to someone today.  See that person fully and give your undivided attention to him/her. 

This dare wasn't too difficult for me since I'm naturally more of a listener than a talker. That said I decided to try a little experiment. As I ran my errands today I made a point to really speak with the cashier and others I came in contact with.

• While picking up a prescription for my mom I turned to the lady behind in line and asked her how she was doing today. That lead to her telling me all about her husband and his illness and how much money she spends each month on prescriptions. I left the store and lifted up a prayer for her and her situation and I thanked God that my mom has really good insurance. 
• In the Dollar General store I asked the cashier how her day was going. She barely mumbled a surly OK. When I left the store I prayed that God would meet whatever need was on her heart and I thanked the Lord that I have a job I love. 
• While waiting on the traffic light I bought a paper from a guy who I know is homeless. I asked him where he was sleeping now. He told me he'd found a nice place behind the grocery store where there's plenty of cardboard to make a bed and  the deli manager leaves good food out for him to eat. I bought a paper and gave him a little extra. As I pulled away I prayed God would bless this guy and I thanked God for good people like the deli manager. I also thanked Him for my home and family. 

None of these encounters took much time or cost me anything. I'm thankful for the opportunity to listen and to pray. 

For more information about the 7 Day Hospitality Dare see

Kristin's post for listening tips

I dare you!

You can see what I did to meet these dares:
Hospitality Dares and Challenges

Hospitaltiy Dare #2 Make Someone Feel Special - Recipe for Bacon Cake

I'm participating in a 7 day Hospitality Dare. Each day I'll post about how I responded to the dare. See the end of the post to see how you can take the dare!

Day #2 Dare:  Bring the gift of hospitality to your own family today.  For dinner or dessert, light candles and put something special on each person's plate (a note, chocolate kisses, a favorite poem, etc.)   

For today's challenge I did put a little note in my husband lunch bag. It had to do with a private joke between us about square buns that I'm not going to share:-) He liked it and that's all that matters!

I would like to share with you something I did over the weekend that I think really exemplifies this challenge.

My oldest son had a birthday Saturday and since his wife is out of town we invited him over for a birthday celebration. 

Now this boy does not eat sweets. No candy, cake, cookies, brownies, ice cream...NOTHING! NONE! NADA! My husband and I joke that if he and his brothers didn't look exactly alike we'd swear he had been switched at birth! 

I'm ashamed to admit that during his growing up years we always had birthday cake because that's what you do on a birthday. Right? He'd always take a little piece and pick at it while the rest of us pigged out!

This year I decided to do something different. Something just for him. 

I made a bacon cake. Not the sweet and savory type that is so popular right now but a real savory bacon cake. 

Bacon Birthday Cake! 

I think he liked it!


The cake was a variation of a breakfast casserole that I make. Instead of baking it in a 13 x 9 casserole pan I used a 9 x 9 round cake pan.

The icing is just ranch dip and the chocolate sprinkles is bacon that I 

ground up in my coffee grinder. (Probably not a great idea since it was a 

chore to clean the grease out of the grinder!)

The Recipe

Bacon Cake (or breakfast casserole)
Makes 1 round 9 x 9 or 8 x 8 cake layer

Ingredients
2 pounds of bacon
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 stick of butter (to grease the pan)

Method
Fry the bacon till crisp. Drain on paper towels and cut or break into bite size pieces.
In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients and stir together.
Add the eggs and the milk and beat till smooth. Stir in the cheese and bacon.

Melt the butter in the baking pan.
Pour in the bacon cheese mixture.

Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Test the cake by inserting a wooded skewer or toothpick near the center. It should come out clean.

• To make this in to a cake I had to cool it completely before I put on the icing. The icing was really just for show. To eat the cake I scraped most of it off and reheated the cake in the microwave. 

• This does make a really good breakfast casserole. Double the flour, milk, eggs, baking powder and salt and bake it in a 13 x 9 pan. You can use sausage in place of the bacon if you want. 

I will have to admit that I really wanted a piece of chocolate cake and ice cream but my son enjoyed his bacon cake.  And that's really what matters.

It's never too late to accept the Hospitality Dare.

Go over to 

Kirstin Schell - Gather 'Round the Table for Food and Faith - 7 Day Hospitality Dare

For all the details.

I dare you!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:
Hospitality Dares and Challenges

Linking up with:

A Stroll Through Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

Hope in Every Season












Missional Women Faith Filled Friday

http://christianmommyblogger.com/fellowship-fridays-61/

Hospitality Dare #1 Lunch Sacks and Manna Bags

I got the first dare in my inbox yesterday. 

Day #1 Dare:   Make an extra lunch and put it in a bag.  Throughout the day, look for someone to bless.  It could be a homeless person, a child who forgot their lunch at school, a co-worker who has no time to eat, etc. {If you are a praying person, pray over the lunch and who to give it to}.   

I modified this dare a little. I do pack a lunch for my husband. It consists of leftovers and since I only had one hamburger patty I didn't have any extra to send as far as lunch goes. So I decided to make a pan of brownies for him to take to the employees in his office. 

He was happy since I don't usually make brownies just for us and he said the guys at work would eat them up.

Brownies made from a box mix. Can't get much easier than that! My
husband said they were gone by 8am!

The challenge option is to make Manna Bags. You can read all the details on Kirsten's post. She even has some neat printable.  Basically a Manna Bag is  a gallon size Ziploc bag that you fill with things such as individual servings of canned foods like beanie weenies and packages of crackers and a few hygiene items like a toothbrush and toothpaste. Keep these bags in your car and pass out to people in need. I did this project with my women's circle a while back and it's a really neat way to handle people who are on street corner asking for help.


(Manna - when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness they cried out for food and God generously rained down manna for them to eat. Exodus 16 The bible says that manna tasted like wafers made with honey. God gives only the best!)

Instead of making the bags I went to Sam's Club and purchased a case of Beanie Weenies, small fruit cups and peanut butter crackers to donate to our church's mini food pantry.  There's a small homeless population who live in the woods by our church and these bags are given out to those who come looking for help.


I didn't do this exactly as I was dared to but it did  spur me do something and that's what counts:-)


Hospitality is about seeing the needs around you and doing what you can to meet those needs.  

Have you reached out to meet a need today?

I dare you!

http://meaninginaminute.com/hospitality/

Hospitality Dare Introduction