“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
― Mother Teresa
loving others does not have to be imaginative, wrapped with a handmade bow, or something pretty on a stick. Love comes in a variety of packages and is available for anyone to give …at any time, as long as that person is willing.
Please do not feel like your home has to be perfect to invite someone into it… That you have to look perfect to approach someone…to have a theme in order to have a gathering, be an amazing cook, or have something important to talk about. Loving others without planning is so okay.
I had the blessing of hostessing a sleepover/playdate for my son this weekend. Nothing I share with you is worth “pinning”, but ladies….the memories these boys made together fishing in my backyard was priceless. I didn’t make anything special, or decorate, or even plan an event. I just let them be boys.
Here was their weekend…
They fished, for what had to be 12 hours. Not kidding.
I bought them night crawlers….did you hear that? Night crawlers were in my refrigerator. Eww.
My son ran in to get me when they caught this one…he was a doozy!
I was there to take this picture and rejoice with them …
“I want to be the Mom who has the kids at her house”…words I told my hubby when we first had our son.
Nothing to “Pin” here! It’s what I had on hand- burger melts, cheese curls, mixed berries, cottage cheese, pickles and juice boxes. That’s it.
They ate every bite and loved it.
They had tasty food and got to eat it together!
They fished some more, then I called them in for some chocolate cake and milk.
It was warm and it made them smile….the chocolatey kind of smile.
May you love little in a big way this week.
Lots worth “pinning” here 🙂
I pray our house will be a “gathering spot” as well.
And if it means worms-in-the-fridge…
Then–
So be it!
Amen Kara 🙂
I loved this post Janelle! Everything was served with love and that is what matters most. Can I pin this post to my ‘Inspiration for Living Life’ Board? I will use one of the pictures that doesn’t show the boys. Maybe the shoes at the front door and your quote ‘I want to be the Mom who has the kids at her house’ because that’s me too!
lol, of course Ann.
Hi, Janelle! I’m new(ish) to your blog, and I love it! I’ve tried several of your recipes and they’ve all been amazing. I love this post! I so get this…I’m the mom of four boys, and I am always saying that life is all about the little things! Thank you for always sharing your heart, your home and your yummy recipes.
God bless you, my sister in Christ!
Jennifer
Thank you SO much Jennifer!!!!
I just finished reading the biography of Mother Teresa to my kids. She was an amazing lady!
Janelle, I so appreciate your “realness” and encouragement in this post. You are a godly example and you bless my life. Thank you so much!
So true! I love that quote… “we need to love without getting tired”… so very true! Thanks for sharing!
When my boys were little and they had some of their friends over to play our small above ground pool, lunch and homemade fudgesicles. They loved me BEST! Nice, memories. Thanks for sharing such sweet times!
Looks like a terrific weekend! Being the house that the boys’ friends enjoy hanging at has always been something I’ve liked too. Little jealous of the whopper fish! It’s still too early to fish here. Thanks for sharing.
I love the simplicity of this and how happy those boys were! Thanks Janelle! Back to the basics!
What a great example of showing how perfect things can be, without perfection! I love it!
I have 3 boys, and I hope and pray all the time that them, and their friends will find our home to be a comfort! Wether it’s to play, or because they need somewhere to be where they feel loved, I hope it’s in my home!
I love that- I want to also be the house where the kids gather with my children! Looks like a fun day for the boys!
Big loves trumps pinnable ideas every time. In fact, genuine love without the focus being on impressing others is the most “pinnable” idea I have heard in a long time!
Good for you for loving from your heart, and enjoying these precious moments with your children and friends.
Love this!!
Your comment warmed my heart- thank you for those kind words Kelly.
Awesome. What a great reminder!!
This post blessed me sooo much.I worry about having all together or being a good cook for bible study lol but what i got from this post is as long as i love that is what counts.I hope my house to be open also as my Mum was a brilliant hostess and fed everyone with love,in fact we were talking about this yesterday as our summers were busy having friends and family over. 🙂
SO glad to know you had such great memories you have of your mom- I am certain that love she had back then is love you will share as well Marie!
Your have an amazing heart! This is one of the many reasons that I just love you (& REALLY want to be your neighbor)!! Maybe one day we’ll have side-by-side mansions in glory??
Janelle,
I’m enjoying your site…(following you on facebook, Pinterest…and just now on Twitter 🙂
This sounds just like our home. Well, we don’t have a lake in our backyard but my husband and I have kids over all the time. I wing it a lot on foodo to serve if these get-togethers are unplanned…and they often are. We don’t have a lake in our backyard..but my son (11) LOVES to fish!! I loved this post!!
Just wanted you to know also I “pinned” your grape salad recipe from ROO Magazine and have got a LOT of re-pins…and not from my followers. So your recipes are getting noticed too. Just re-pinned your Strawberry/ Spinach too. Can’t wait to try it!
Blessings to you!
Lisa McMann
(Lmcmann4 ..on Twiter 🙂
Thank you SO much Lisa!!!! Love to you! Janelle
I just love this! I’ve always told my husband that I wanted to have the house where all the kiddos where welcome & where they could all feel comfortable.
Kindred Spirits 🙂