January's Little Women Meeting

Why in the world are these girls smiling while folding sheets, you ask? Well, it just so happens that cleaning can be fun; when you're a Little Woman.

This month's skill was how to prepare a room for a guest. For holy inspiration we looked to the Nativity. St. Joseph had to prepare the "room" where Jesus was to be born. Our Savior was coming and things needed some tidying up. In our meeting, we discussed the things that should be done in our rooms so that any guest would feel comfortable and welcomed. The checklist the girls used included things like: clearing a spot (top of a dresser or bookshelf) for the guest to put their belongings, make a space in a top drawer and/or the closet for the guest's clothing, a small dish to put coins or other miscellaneous things, clean linens, nicely made bed with extra blanket handy, as well as a fresh set of towels.
Here, the girls had learned the proper way to make the bed which meant squaring the corners, making sure the flat sheet is upside down so that when turned down the proper side is showing, and putting the pillows in order so that decorative pillows are on top.
After lunch, we had the very fortunate opportunity (thanks to an extremely generous friend) to have the use of a time share cabin to enjoy as well as to reference as good service. It felt reassuring to see how they folded their towels, made their beds, and provided "extras" that a guest would need when staying.

After careful examination, we proceeded to play a little game of.....race to make the bed.
Our beautiful judge.
The girls split up into two teams, one downstairs and one upstairs. The beds were stripped by the opposing team and then rapidly made again.
If you didn't center the sheets right, then one person ran out of room on their side to tuck the edges in. Yikes!
Every corner had to be squared. Way to go, girls.
The finished product...just as pretty as when the maids do it. If you were wondering, Bubble's team did not finish first.

After that, we pulled out all of the supplies to make some extras for a gift basket to have ready in our homes for the next time a guest came over. Earlier in the day, during the lesson, we had discussed some things that could be done to make a guest's stay even better. These things included a gift basket that had an extra toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap, lotion, water bottle, or a note of welcome. You could also keep a stack of magazines or prayer books that the guest might like to read at night. Rather than buy a few sets of each item for the girls to put into a basket, I decided to have them make potpourri sachets to put in a drawer, in the towel set, or send home in the guest's luggage.
This little woman chose a lavender fabric to make into a lavender scented sachet.
Inspired by the log cabin, this little woman went with the red gingham.
We had a vanilla and a lavender scent to choose from. We soaked polyfil and cotton balls with the scent. Once they are finished, you just have to put them in the dryer or the microwave to refresh their scent.
One girl added a ribbon to hers so that she could hang it on the dresser or the bedpost.
Look who added the sweetest bow to hers which gave it such a nice touch.
Bubbles made a door sign to put in her guest basket.
It just so happened that her grandmother was visiting that weekend, so she gifted her sachet to her.
One last picture before leaving the cabin and heading back to the house.

It was a wonderful day and the girls learned a lot about preparing your room, as well as your heart to receive each guest as if you were receiving the very Christ child himself. It was a message that we could all heed.