Hostess Journal : A Lovely Keepsake To Cherish
This weekend my family is having their Christmas get together. Although we aren’t an overly large family (about sixteen of us when all assembled at my mother’s house), it isn’t often that we are all able to get together at the same time, usually no more than two or three times a year. With many of you having company over for the holidays, I thought this would be a perfect time to bring you a little information on starting a hostess journal, which is sure to be cherished by you and your family for generations to come.
I have always wanted to do this but only just now did. I simply purchased a journal, lined or plain, it makes no difference.
My journal is for Bountiful, our new home.
Whenever we have company over (What a gift it is to be able to entertain friends and family!), I write the date at the top of the page, the names of our guests, what we served, and any special memories or a little summary of the gathering.
My first entry was for our impromtu Christmas party.
(I really do have horrendous handwriting but I know my children will be glad I wrote this in my own hand one of these days. They may also wonder why I didn’t go into medicine…)
The second entry was when my Mother, Father, and Grandmama came over with my nephew and niece for dinner.
Their anniversary was coming up and so we gave them a gift and I wrote down what it was in addition to the other information.
That time,. I had everyone sign the book. Katy especially enjoyed this.
We took some special photos, so I placed them in an envelope and tucked them inside.
Of course, this would be a lovely idea for a scrapbooker to expand on but I prefer to go with the lesser pressure option right now, you can always go back and scrapbook later.
My niece, Elle is just a few months old, so I traced her wiggly hand on the page. 🙂
I know I’m going to cherish this and it is such a simple idea.
What a wonderful keepsake to pass down to my kids, too!
Special thanks to my dear friend, Maralee McKee, for taking time to talk with me yesterday about the wonders of keeping a Hostess Journal. I just knew she’d be a wealth of information and she has been keeping one for about fourteen years now. I’ve heard of other ideas where folks kept a special table cloth and had each guest sign it in permanent ink. I love that idea but the journal is something I can pick up and flip through, remembering what I served to people and drawing ideas for future guests.
Just a simple, lovely idea I thought I’d bring you in time to make your Christmas entries. This would make a lovely hostess gift as well.
Merry Christmas. Take time to draw joy from the simple things!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Grandmama, Katy Rose, Mama, and niece, Elle.
Joy is not in things; it is in us.
-Richard Wagner. Submitted by Sara. Submit your quote here.
Linda, I am so sad for your family. My condolence and prayers to all of you.
Linda, I’m so sorry for you loss. I’ll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts.
So sorry for your loss, I will be praying for you…..God Bless and you are in my thoughts and prayers…
Linda I am so sorry. Know that I also am praying for you all.
I hate when I’m so late getting caught up with your posts! This is a wonderful idea that I plan to start today! I actually have a journal to use. I’ve always been one to have journals & little books that I write in……but of course, I wasn’t quite smart enough to think of this.This would be a good time to tell you…..again….how happy I am to have found you & to wish you & your’s the very best this wonderful season can bring! I look forward to the year ahead with all your recipes & great ideas…..I’m going to try to keep more caught up! Afterall, I have you on my homepage! My family has been going thru a very tough time,we lost my nephews baby to crib death. My Mom is just a mess, him being her first Great Grandson. We bury our little Angel today.Then I pray we can begin to heal.
Dearest Linda,
I’m so honored to have folks like you take time out of their day to read my ramblings and let me be a small part of your life.
I wanted to thank you for your kindness and well wishes and let you know that my heart is with you and your family right now. I can’t imagine your loss and I’ll keep you all held close in my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Christy
Oh Linda, I am so sorry! I’ll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh Linda, I am so sorry for your families loss! I have a little one myself and just can not imagin what ya’ll are going through. My prayers are with your family, I know the Lord is with ya’ll today! ~hugs~
God Bless,
Vickie
Praying for you and your family today and in the weeks to come.
Linda, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. No one should have to go through what your family is. I pray that you all find the strength to endure and start the healing process.
I am so so sorry for your loss. Babies are precious, and he’s being rocked in the arms of our Lord and Savior now. I know that doesnt help much right now, but I pray for you and your families grief to be soothed very soon.
Dear Linda,
I am so sorry for y’alls loss especially at this time of the year. We had two miscarriages before our sons were born and it was horrible. I can only imagine what y’all are going through.
We will be thinking of y’all at this sad time. Just nknow that people care and God cares and he can heal your hearts over time.
Sincerely, Jessica Evans
Linda, my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. I have a 5 month old and can’t imagine how terrible it would be to lose her. ((hugs))
~Jennifer
Linda, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that your family will be able to heal quickly. It is such a hard thing to lose a baby, especially this time of the year. I pray that God will wipe away your tears and strengthen the bond in your family. May God bless you and yours.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I will be praying for your family.
Dear Linda
I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
Please accept my condolences and you and your family especially your Mum will have a special place in my prayers.
God Bless you all during this very difficult time.
Dear Linda, I am praying that your family supports each other for strength and find comfort in each other too. All my sympathy to you and yours.
Linda, I’m so sorry to hear of your family’s loss.
Another baby was born to heal the broken hearted, to bare our grief and sorrow. I pray you and your family will find His peace during this time.
Ann
My sister stated this years ago and I’ve stared then lost it through the many moves but you have reminded me — I think it’s time to start again — thanks kristeen from The Gough Inn
What a lovely idea! Thanks for sharing!! Merry Christmas to you, your family, and everyone who visits Bountiful!