Customer Reviews

Life That Says Welcome, A: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved reading this book. I gathered encouragement and practical tips on every page. The author's personal stories and humor make this a book that is fun to pick up and hard to put down. The book motivated me to plan ahead for cooking, invite others over more often, and do simple things such as lighting a candle at dinner to make family time feel more special. She gives great tips for cleaning that actually made me itch to pull out my cleansers and tackle my housecleaning! I would recommend this book to anyone, old or young, who likes practical suggestions shared in a warm, conversational tone. Tea, anyone?

Hospitality is on the decline, in my opinion. We're busy and don't focus on the art of entertaining like we used to do. I admit I don't have the gift of hospitality. After reading A Life That Says Welcome, I realize that it's not about what I do, but the condition of my heart, rather than my home.

There are tips and techniques to open your heart and home to unexpected guests, use the space you have and maximize it, decorate with what you have and within your budget, efficient entertaining, 'put out' good food that won't consume your time or stretch your budget or challenge your talent--and so much more.

Peppered with stories and biblical references, Ehman offers up a challenge to let your heart be the home of hospitality.

Armchair Interviews says: It's a good read.

Written by Hearts at Home speaker Karen Ehman, A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others is a practical introduction to the art of hospitality. Ad Ehrman explains, the secret of hospitality isn't primarily about how one's home is decorated or maintained, or what dishes are cooked; it's making one's guests feel welcome, and comes straight from the heart. Material matters are of course discussed as well, including the basics of battling clutter, dustballs and dirt; decorating on a shoestring budget; tips for hospitality on the road; and much more. As a devoted Christian, Ehman also shows how to open not only one's home to guests but also how to open one's life and soul as an avenue for God's love. An excellent selection of tips, tricks, and techniques for receiving guests with warmth and spreading joy.

I love this book. I have 3 small children, a husband, and a hyper dog. We want to entertain more and hope that people feel welcome in our home. I found encouragement on every page of this book, and many chuckles through-out. The humor hidden within the pages always left me coming back for more.

This book has been just what I've been looking for. The author is so real and encourages everyone to practice hospitality no matter what size of home you live in. This has allowed me to realize that what I have can be used to bless people. I don't have to have the best of everything, I just have to be me. Great resource!!

I liked the title of this book when I saw it highlighted through the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) website. Karen Ehman has written a book that is true to life and offers many great ideas. She covers a gamut of topics, but doesn't rush through anything. It is entertaining and heartfelt. I am very glad I chose this book.

This book is worth reading with a highlighter in hand. Ehman's take on hospitality-- to refresh, not to impress is dead on. I also like her idea that hospitality begins with your family. The recipes she includes are delicious. I heartily recommend one for your home library and one for a friend. It's also well suited to be a Bible study.

I've read many books about hospitality from a Christian perspective and this ranks as one of the best.

One feels they are sitting down and having tea with a friend as she shares her homemaking journey. There is a great deal of practical information, too.

Just the kind of book one loves to curl up with to relax and be inspired.

Ehman has written a wonderful introduction for incorporating hospitality into our daily lives, without ostentation or excess stress. She includes hints on basic organization that will enable us to avoid total chaos even if we never reach perfection in our housekeeping. She includes recipes that probably lean a little too much toward high fat and sweetness, but they are the kinds of "comfort food" that can make guests and family feel easily at home. Overall, a nice common sense book to remove the intimidation of God's call to hospitality for all Christians.

One weakness that drops this from 5 to 4 stars: there is no index! A book that includes more than thirty recipes scattered in several places and even more hints on quick cleaning and easy decorating definitely needs to have a better way for readers to find a favored excerpt or recipe quickly.

Oh friends, if you struggle with feeling discontent with your home, please read this book. It has helped to change my heart entirely regarding openning up my home and the reasons for doing it. I used to believe that no one would enjoy coming to my home....it's old, I don't have 'first-hand' furniture, the diningroom needs a new coat of paint- but this book has gently shown me that the relationships I would be building far out-weigh the feelings of inadequacy and intimidation I felt. I hear so many mommas of littles and homeschoolers say they just can't keep an immaculate house AND invite company over and I think this book has great things to say about making people feel welcome, even if you have a pile of toys in the livingroom or laundry on the diningroom table to be folded. I truly have bought 4 copies of this book and have given them all out! I haven't a one for myself!