I gotta say, I feel really blessed to have married into the family that I did. They are all wonderful! It is difficult to be so far away from our families, so it is that much sweeter when we get a visit from them. This weekend, my sister-in-law Rachelle is coming for a quick visit. Her husband Peter Mathios is a very talented wildlife artist and has an art show in Maryland, so she'll be driving down to visit us for a couple of days while he's at the show. We're so excited to see her -- it's always fun to have Auntie Ray around!
We don't have house guests that often, but we always enjoy welcoming friends and family into our home. If I remember in time, I usually like to create a little "Welcome Bag" for our guests. My sweet big sister prepared a similar bag for me when I visited her for the first time after she moved to Kansas City. It was such a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes about how happy she was to have me in her home. Although it was years ago, I still haven't forgotten that little token of welcome.
A little "Welcome Bag" doesn't cost much to put together, but it tells your guest that you've been looking forward to having them with you. It's also a great way to involve your kids in welcoming a friend into your home and teach them about hospitality. Some things you might include in a "Welcome Bag" could be:
- Water Bottle
- A snack or two in case your guest gets hungry late a night. A bag of pretzels/nuts or perhaps a granola bar of some kind.
- A sweet treat like chocolate. If you know your guest's favorite candy, that is always a great choice.
- A souvenir of your town. It could be something as simple as a postcard or a little magnet.
- Anything other little gift that you think your guest might enjoy.
- Something from your kids like a drawing.
Here are a few other articles that I've found online about demonstrating hospitality to your guests during this holiday season:
- 7 Ways to Say "Welcome" with Your Decorating from Lisa of DIY Your Way
- Kids Room to Guest Room in 30 Minutes or Less from Becky of Organizing Made Fun
- Make a Beverage Basket for the Holidays from Jessica of Life as MOM
- Get Organized to Welcome Unexpected Guests from Prerna, guest contributor at Life as MOM
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