A Bookish Life In AK

In this post I will share 2 of my favorite books for hospitality that work for all different stages of life.

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I remember growing up and always having people over for Thanksgiving. My dad was in the Air Force and would invite the people in the shop over if they didn’t have anywhere to go. I remember when we lived in England boiling 20 pounds of potatoes for mashed potatoes. I was supposed to make the gravy and it was a horrible disaster. Whatever was in the pan looked like it was going to come alive and eat us at any moment. Thankfully I have learned how to make gravy since then. But a love of entertaining friends and strangers was instilled in me. My husband grew up in a similar way. We both love having friends over for dinner and hosting church functions. My husband is an amazing cook, and I’m really good at making coffee so we have the basics covered. 🙂 Recently I have found an author who I really wish I had found earlier on in life. Sally Clarkson and her husband, Clay, started Whole Heart Ministries in the 90’s and has grown tremendously. Sally wrote her first book “Seasons of A Mother’s Heart” in 1996.In 2016 she started Mom Heart Groups, MomHeart.com, there are groups almost all over the whole world now. She has over 20 books that all range from motherhood to hospitality to friendships. I gifted myself 3 of her books one year, “The Life Giving Home,” “The Life Giving Home Experience,” “The Life Giving Table,” “The Life Giving Table Experience,” and “Own Your Life,” which I haven’t read yet. The two Life Giving books were eye opening and so well done. “The Life Giving Table Experience” was written with her son Joel and his wife Joy, and “The Life Giving Home” was written with her daughter Sarah with Joel co-authoring the “The Life Giving Home Experience.” Through both of these books Sally describes how she grew up, moving and having people over all the time. She shares how her and her husband would have people over that they just met. She also talks about how her children would be there to help, invite friends, and be a part of the whole evening. She also talks about about how things aren’t always perfect, and really emphasizes that even just having a mom friend over for a cup of coffee or tea with cookies is sometimes just what we or they need.

In “The Life Giving Home,” which I have used for a few of our own ladies meeting for our church, it talks about “creating a place of belonging and becoming.” I wish that I had read this when my kids were little. This books speaks of a home where the family is able to grow up knowing the Bible, God, and serving is a wonderful ministry. It wasn’t just written for moms though, seeing serving as ministry as a single person can mean getting your friends together for a meal where you all bring your favorite comfort food and share. It can mean grabbing coffee in a coffee shop with someone. Sally shares so many wonderful examples of how she did things both as a single person, when she was first married, with children and now as a grandmother. “The Life Giving Home Experience” shares monthly ideas on celebrations, Bible study for every month, book and movie recommendations and there is even a spot at the end of every month to write down special events. The set has really changed a few things on how I interact with both family and friends.https://amzn.to/3rKyJZw.

“The Life Giving Table” has helped me change the way I think about meal times, not just dinner, but all of them, from breakfast to potlucks at work and church. Instead of just eating for eating’s sake, meals should be a time to gather and enjoy each others company, no matter who you’re with. The tag line for this book is “Nurturing faith through feasting, One Meal At A Time.” I love that. The table is where families and friends should be welcome. Have you ever noticed that people talk more when there is food present? Food brings us together. Sally shares how to get people talking, how to invite even family members to share their day, She gives advice on how to make things fun and turn almost every meal into a feast just by being present with other people. In “The Life Giving Table Experience” it is more of a Bible study with 4 separate sections. There are conversation starters for dinners, recipes, and fun celebrations. I fell in love with these books. I hope you all enjoy them as much I did. https://amzn.to/3RZRjr3

I would encourage you to get the sets, there is so much great information in them. I’ve recommended to so many ladies. They would make great bridal shower and new mom gifts. I will link both Sally Clarkson and her family’s Whole Hearted ministry pages below. Sally Clarkson’s page https://sallyclarkson.com Whole Hearted Ministry https://wholeheart.org

All the information I used about Sally and her family came from both of those websites.