What does true hospitality look like when your home is a work in progress? Join us as we welcome Bonnie Ivester from "Embracing Outdated" who shares her journey of transforming an 80s fixer-upper into a welcoming haven while nurturing a heart for hospitality.
Bonnie reveals how her understanding of hospitality was shaped by watching others create "revolving door" homes where people felt genuinely welcome without pretense or perfection. These formative experiences—from impromptu dinners with neighbors who combined whatever ingredients they had on hand to receiving meals after her first baby—taught her that meaningful connection happens in the midst of real life, not in picture-perfect settings.
As a mother of four living in what she describes as "the most outdated 80s home," Bonnie offers practical wisdom about creating beauty within budget constraints. "We all live within a budget," she reminds us, noting that limitations simply invite creativity rather than excuses. Her constant decluttering provides peace amid the chaos of family life, while her willingness to welcome neighborhood children stretches her type-A tendencies in unexpected ways.
Perhaps most refreshing is Bonnie's perspective on comparison in our social media age: "There's always going to be a prettier house than yours." Instead of chasing perfection, she encourages listeners to seek what God has specifically for their homes and families, recognizing that we all possess creativity as image-bearers of our Creator. By focusing on making spaces functional, expressing gratitude for what we have, and embracing the process rather than rushing to completion, we create homes that genuinely welcome others.
Ready to transform your perspective on homemaking? Follow Bonnie's journey on Instagram @embracingoutdated and discover how to create a home that reflects God's love and hospitality—even with pink sinks and dated cabinets.

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