A Little Homemaking

Good morning! I hope you had a pleasant morning. Mine was. :) I indulged in a little more sleep (since I could!) and here I sit, drinking tea in my sunny kitchen and reading some blogs which talk about homemaking. One in particular got me thinking. It's about the simplicity of old fashioned homemaking. Truly, my mind is whirling with too many thoughts on this post.

First of all, I agree with the author when she implies that we don't have to keep up with the "star" lady. Sometimes, we'll find that woman who's got it all together (seemingly). She makes delicious food, keeps up a passionate love life with her husband, takes special time out for her children, does MOPS, Mary Kay and never misses a prayer meeting, keeps a ever clean house, always attends her children's soccer and baseball games, all the while looking immaculate since she always eats healthy and exercises every day. Phew! Yeah, she does it all and we are failing miserably. So what do we do? Let go! Let her do her thing and quit comparing ourselves! Don't aspire to be like her because you know that she's probably having a hard time keeping it all together, no matter the brilliant smile plastered on her face.

Now on the flip side, I thought the author of that post also implied that we aren't to do anything outside the home. By the end, I thought she was saying "Don't ever eat out. Don't ever have people over. Always ONLY focus on your home, children and husband." I'm not for that either. I believe that God has blessed us with much and we are to bless other people! Don't isolate yourself and your family from serving the world!

I'm sure by now you're thinking "Okay Casey. First you say I don't have to do it all and then you say I do! What gives?!" I can sum all that up in one word. Priorities. I believe that people should come absolute first in your life (after God of course). If you're married, then that first person is your husband. We need to be sure we're nurturing that relationship daily instead of giving him our split ends as we drift off to sleep. If you have children, they come next. I've learned from my child-watching days that children watch you and mimic you more than you know. YOU are your child's hero and you are molding them into what they will be when they grow up. I think I'm more like my mom than she realizes. :) Now then, after those people, you decide what comes next! Your job, your home, Mary Kay, whatever you think the Lord is calling you to, go for it girl!

Okay, one more thought about simplicity and homemaking. First some quotes:

"After Laura and Mary had washed and wiped the dishes, swept the floor, made their bed, and dusted, they settled down with their books. But the house was so cozy and pretty that Laura kept looking up at it." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

“I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.” ~ Jani Ortlund

My prayer is that I can bless my husband and anyone else who enters our home with my own homemaking. I hope to keep my home as a haven for whoever would desire to visit. I want my husband to love coming home and finding a cozy place of comfort and relaxation after a long day. I want guests to leave feeling rested and rejuvenated. And if some cleaning and baking bread will do that... then I'll sing while I work!

I feel the need to put a disclaimer on the end here. I know many many many mothers who have full time jobs and still do a fantastic job keeping up with the relationships in their household, even if their household isn't always clean. I applaud you for those efforts!!! I talk about homemaking a lot because that is what God has put on my heart and that is what I ultimately want to do in life. So please don't think that I'm putting down any wives or mothers who are in the workplace. You just keep doing what you're doing. :)

Remember, you are LOVED with an everlasting love so stay happy!