I’ll Be Homemaking For Christmas

Home. It’s where most of us want to be for Christmas. So much so that there is even a popular song written about it that proclaims,

“I’ll be home for Christmas. You can count on me. I’ll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams.”

For many of us, home represents warmth, a sense of belonging and a place where wonderful memories are made. It is a place where we can leave our worries at the door. Home is, or should be, where we are most comfortable. Where delicious food is enjoyed around a crowded dinner table and family gathers; refreshing our souls in rest and relaxation.

Homemaking on the other hand might seem like just the opposite of this. It might sound more like work than relaxation. It may bring to mind thoughts of busyness rather than rest. Yet, I believe it is all in the perspective we choose to see it through.

Homemaking does require effort but it can also bring joy. Homemaking and hospitality are gifts we give our loved ones and if we choose to see it that way (giving freely from our heart, in service to our friends and family), it flavors each memory with sugary sweetness and gravy boats of gratefulness.

Some of you may be going (back) home for Christmas. How wonderful! Others of you may be starting a new tradition in your own home for the very first time this year. So fun! And some will opt to make alternate destinations “feel like home” in far-off lands or in cozy vacation rentals. Sounds like an adventure to remember!

As for me, I’ll be home for Christmas. And…I’ll be homemaking for Christmas, too!

Since today is December 1st and you are probably beginning to make or solidify your holiday plans this year, perhaps like me, you find yourself hosting family and friends. If so, the list of ideas I have compiled below might be helpful to you, so I wanted to share some of the main staples I have learned to follow when preparing.

Each year my aunt and I trade off hosting the holidays. We both enjoy hosting and we also both enjoy being hosted. Trading off gives us the best of both worlds. It provides us each a turn to express our gifts of hospitality and our turn to rest and enjoy.

Christmas Day 2021 will be my year to host my family. As I prepare, it has me pondering all the wonderful traditions of Christmas and planning out how I want to display the ham dinner and decorate the table. Yet, more importantly, it has me considering how I want my family and guests to feel while they are here in my home. I ask myself what experiences they might enjoy and what special attention I can give them that will show them love.

I wanted to write out a few things I habitually do while homemaking and showing hospitality to guests. These suggestions are also applicable to any type of hosting you do all throughout the year.

Number 1: Make your guest list

No matter what event you are hosting, you will need to know how many guests to prepare for. I am a big list maker. I absolutely love lists! They help ease my mind and give me the feeling of being more organized.

Number 2: Choose a decoration theme

Whether you are hosting a holiday dinner, a dessert party or just having friends over for your favorite beverages, it is always fun to pick a theme to decorate with. I like to try and do something a little different every year. 

One of my favorite things to buy is hosting dishes and décor. But you do not have to have something new. Even paper plates and napkins will do the trick. It does not have to be an expensive endeavor. I love the dollar store and have found many things there in the past, including plate chargers for a dollar a piece!

Number 3: Decide on your menu; appetizers, meal plan, beverages and dessert  

In our family, when we celebrate a holiday dinner together, we have a list of food that we assign to each person. Whoever is hosting the party will typically purchase and prepare the main portion (the ham/turkey, appetizers and beverages) and then everyone else will bring a food item to share which consists of a side dish or dessert. Discovering the new trend of Charcuterie boards has also been a fun way to display snacks and finger foods.

Number 4: Make party favors

This suggestion is optional but I personally like to go the extra mile and create party favors for holiday hosting – to thank my family and guests for coming. Sending them home with a little treat is our family’s signature mark. This is always a lot of fun to explore creatively.

There are so many options and ideas on Pinterest for party favors, treats and goodie bags. Sometimes I will place the favors by the front door for them to grab on the way out. But lately I have been adding the favors to the place settings at the holiday dinner table. It can be as easy as store bought candy or you can try your hand at making something from scratch.

I have packaged the favors in decorative clear wrap, tiny gift bags and even in little gingerbread house boxes. The possibilities are endless.

Number 5: Spend time with your guests

This should be a given, yet depending on the size of your gathering and the amount of cooking that needs to be done, it may be a more difficult task to balance.

I tend to find that a lot of my time is spent in the kitchen preparing the food, so I try my best to purposefully have conversations with each guest. My interactions might include a welcoming hug when they get there, making sure they have everything they need while they are there and setting aside time to listen and relate.

You want to enjoy your own party. Laugh. Take pictures and have fun with your family and friends. It is so easy to be a “Martha” when being a “Mary” is the better option (see scripture reference Luke 10:38-42). Amen?

Number 6: Pray

This is the last on my list but it is actually the most important suggestion I have. It is so incredibly beneficial when you are hosting, homemaking and serving others to pray over your gatherings.

Each and every time, as I am cleaning the house and preparing for a holiday get together, I pray over the party and invite the Lord to be a part. I ask Him to watch over my guests as they come and go. I pray that they will be able to leave their troubles at the door and feel welcome, loved and relaxed when they enter my home. I ask the Lord to be in every conversation and allow me to serve them for His glory and by His grace.

Homemaking for Christmas is a big part of what I enjoy the most about the holidays. For those who may feel that you do not have much of a gift of hospitality, I assure you that you do. It may look different for each person, but welcoming people into your home and showing them love is something we can all do.

The size of your party does not matter. The quality of your dinnerware is not important. If the ham burns or the turkey is dry it is not a big deal. What matters most (and what people are going to remember) is that you welcomed them and they felt the love of Jesus pouring through you.

If the ham burns or the turkey is dry it is not a big deal. What matters most (and what people are going to remember) is that you welcomed them and they felt the love of Jesus pouring through you.

So open up your home! Don’t wait until you can buy new things, or until you are not quite so tired. Resist the tendency to say, “I’ll do it next year.” Tomorrow is not promised to anyone of us and the memories will be worth all the effort you put out. Invite people over. Celebrate. Enjoy homemaking for Christmas! 

And if you happen to find yourself completely alone this holiday season, I just want to ever-so-graciously remind you that we are never really alone. Not ever. You can host a party with just you and Jesus. After all, it is His birthday! Set the table and invite Him to come. He will. It may just be your best Christmas yet!

Happy homemaking, friends! And have a very Merry Christmas! 

From my family to yours, 

~ Stephanie