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Bella
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| Posted: July 19 2008 at 7:56pm | IP Logged
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Quick history....
DH isn't Catholic,I am an (almost!) five year convert...read: intimidated! 
Our priest is coming to dinner. He wants to get to know our family, on our "turf"(his words!), hoping to send a message to our DC and DH, that he is a person who truly cares about our family-and is a religous the DC can trust. ( DD has a huge fear of nuns.)
He is a good ole farm boy-a year older than me-DH's age.
What do I serve him? Should I let DH grill? I am a horrible cook.... I know he drinks alcohol,and though we drink *very* little, should we offer him an alcoholic drink,or would this be a bad message to DD(11.5yo)?
He said he wants our time together to be relaxed. What do we talk about, or *not* talk about? 
Should I go mad cleaning, or let him see the real me...pretty much a disorganized,messy momma! 
Any suggestions welcome! 
Thankyou!!!
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Peace and Blessings,
Bella
Wife and Mom to my sweeties!
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organiclilac
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| Posted: July 19 2008 at 9:37pm | IP Logged
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I don't really have any specific advice, but wanted to share a blog post on hospitality that has really stuck with me since I read it almost a year ago. Post is here at The Common Room.
Hope that you have a wonderful dinner getting to know your priest!
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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crusermom
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| Posted: July 19 2008 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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We have had many a priest over for dinner. He will probably not care too much about what is served. If it were me, I would have some beer or wine, or whatever he likes available. But that is me, always trying to be the good host. Just relax, he probably wouldn't mind hotdogs. Usually, they just like being in a family setting for the evening. I don't know what your family prayer life is - but we do the family rosary and it is nice to have a priest join us for this. Don't stress out!
Mary
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Mary
Army wife and Crusermom to 8 wonderful children!
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juststartn
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I'd say to clean up "some". Not so much that you are over-stressing everything, but he is an honored guest, right? Prepare as such.
A grill out might be good to eliminate some of your stresses--sides can be made mostly ahead of time (potato or macaroni/pasta salad, any veggie type plates, etc). DH doing the cooking would be a GOOD thing...
I'd suggest having a decent domestic beer on hand,if you are going to grill out. Also have some iced tea prepared, and some cokes/carbonated beverages...
Its GREAT that your priest wants to spend time with you as a family! We've never been blessed to eat a meal with a priest (not for lack of trying, schedules just conflict), but I look forward to it, esp now that we are NOT going to be going anywhere anytime soon, and really HAVE to get "up" with our priest here in our new home parish.
It isn't often that they can just relax in a family setting--without the demands of their priestly office, iykwim. Such opportunities must be a real blessing to them. 
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
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John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Fuzzy
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 8:14am | IP Logged
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I'm sure you have already had Father over, and I hope it went well.
Growing up, we had many priests over for dinner. 7 kids makes for a very "relaxed" atmosphere, and you can't help but make it a family experience and give Father a taste of what it is like in your home. We always tried to clean up, at least the main areas of the home, and I think conversation will flow exactly as it needs to. I would say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to help you, as well as DH and kids.
We had one priest tell us that every time he went to someone's home, they served a really fancy meal, but the meal he always wanted was a barbeque-like meal: Hamburgers! It was so much easier on my mom, and the kids definitely enjoyed it too.
Now that I am married with my own kids, I get nervous about inviting priests to my home when it is just my family. Perhaps because I was one of the youngest in the family, so really didn't have to worry about converstion. I am still much more comfortable in my big family setting with a priest.
Hope it was great!
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 Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
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Bella
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 12:21am | IP Logged
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Thankyou Ladies!
Nope! He will be coming over next week.
We are keeping it simple. DH will grill burgers, and share a cold beer! I think I may ask my Mom to provide her famous potato salad, and am putting the DC in charge of dessert.
I really feel like I haven't allowed our priest to see, or get to know the real me, so I am not going to knock myself out with the cleaning. Our home will be presentable, as long as I keep cracking the whip for the next several days.
Thankyou for the links! 
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Peace and Blessings,
Bella
Wife and Mom to my sweeties!
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Topic: Help! Priest coming for dinner!
