• Pray, Pray, Pray. Ask God to help us be there for Him; to be His hands and feet to neighbors and family. To share with those who are strangers to us. • Plan, Plan, Plan. Get an early start and do a little every day. Make a list of everything that needs to be done … recipes, dishes to use, linens to wash and iron, food to buy, etc. •

Make a list of guests to invite after prayer.

• Keep it Simple. Make recipes used in the past and can be made ahead. Collect recipes that are simple and inexpensive, perhaps on Pinterest. Buy premade items and serve them on a pretty plate. Use prepackaged mixes. • Keep family meal times easy and quick before your gathering to have enough time to plan and prepare.

1 can cream of chicken soup

• Plan for unexpected interruptions … and treat them as divine interventions.

1 small can sliced mushrooms

• Allow others to help. When someone asks to bring food, let them.

Salt and pepper to taste

• Focus on your guests, not on your house. Let God’s idea of hospitality free us from having a perfect and clean house. By serving others in our home, we serve Christ and help spread the gospel of God’s truth. We can make heaven more crowded! “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” Matthew 25:40 (NIV). This is a simple meal my friend Sue, who was very influential in our decision to follow Christ, served to my husband and me many years ago. It’s a quick and easy meal with a packaged green salad and hot garlic toast. And my favorite part is, with this on the menu, you have more time for planning and preparation. CHICKEN SPAGHETTI 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (Costco rotisserie chicken is great) ½ large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 green pepper, chopped

1 can Rotel Diced tomatoes and green chili 1 can diced tomatoes 1 tsp oregano ½ tsp rosemary 1 tsp basil 2 cups cheddar cheese or 18 ounces Velveeta Cheese, cut into cubes Sauté onion, garlic and green pepper in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil. Cook spaghetti until al dente and drain. Mix together the sautéed vegetables, chicken and remainder of ingredients. Stir until the cheese is melted, then add the cooked Spaghetti. Enjoy! Serves 6 to 8.

LH

Find great recipes like this in Penelope’s book: The Art of Afternoon Tea: From the Era of Downton Abbey and the Titanic. Available autographed from PenelopeCarlevato.com

16 ounces spaghetti, broken into thirds

33.