I was a bit surprised this last week when a friend told me that their “house just wasn’t quite ready for entertaining yet.”

I looked around my unfinished kitchen at this.

And this.

And this.

And I thought, Holy Cow, I have 14 guests coming to dinner tonight (probably around 20 if you count the kids)! What will my guests think? What if they see our unfinished molding in our bathrooms (from 4 years ago)?

Let the image go!
I understand that everyone has their own expectations and standards, but one thing I’ve learned (yay! I’m so happy!) is to just let the image go. It’s way more important to invite people in and to enrich our lives with love and connection than to worry about the “unfinished” projects or “how things look.”

Through our busyness in raising 3 teenage kids, projects, ministry, life in general–I’m Praising God that my family and I have learned to live with imperfections and can practice hospitality no matter what.

Setting the Table for tonight!
Wal Mart clearance table chargers

Yard sale dishes

Dollar Store goblets

IKEA clearance napkins

Dollar Store candle holders turned to bread plates

And then put it all together…

If we had to have things just right all the time, I’m afraid that we would miss out on some of the BEST GIFTS ever handed to us. And most of those have been given to us around our dinner table.

I’d love to hear about your plans for NYE, or if you struggle with perfectionism, please feel free to share!?