26 June 2010
Imagine the furnished living room of a home.
The lamps seem to brighten the rooms in the cool of the evening as the sun sets, adding a comforting warmth. The furniture well-worn, having the look of being well loved. The family China cabinet holds what appears to be precious dishes used for the most special occasions.
The end-table next to the sofa is noticeably hand-carved, as it could be seen that great care was given in the composing of its every detail. A writing desk in the corner has an unfinished letter on it, and in the writing of a child the beginning reads, “Dear Grandma.”
Four filled bookshelves cover one wall, suggesting a love of learning. On the other walls are found family pictures, paintings of virtuous men and women, embroideries of Scripture.
What does this room tell you?
What things do you imagine happen each day in the life of the family living in this home? How do you picture their outlook on life? What do you believe is important to them?
The things found and seen in this room reflect the daily life of the family who lives at the described dwelling. Their worldview can be found when searched for, and the things they hold dear are evident in the furnishings and surroundings alone.
Which leads me to a question we all should ponder,
If the rooms of your home were frozen in time, what would your living room
say about your family and what is important to you?
23 June 2010
On June 12th, I was surrounded by my precious family and many friends whom I have had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime. They came to celebrate what the Lord has done in my life, how He has taught, instructed, and guided me.
And how He laid it on the hearts of my parents to educate my sister and me at home.
My dear parents spoke to those gathered at our home about the workings of the Lord and His great mercy He has shown towards our family. What a blessing and encouragement to hear them speak and glorify the Lord with a testimony of His goodness.
It was a beautiful day. I have an over-abundance of things to be thankful for!
As you may well know, I will be learning for the rest of my life. I have been blessed with a love of learning. The celebration was the end of my “official” education at home, but I won’t stop the adventure there. (We do have more projects in the works!)
The decorations shown above were made from folded, vintage dictionary pages which were hot-glued together. On top was glued lace (which had been sewn into a circle) with scrapbook paper added to the center. They make for a perfect whimsical decoration!
11 June 2010
The mental image of “stay-at-home daughters” is usually of a girl . . .
Who is at home twiddling her thumbs while waiting, just waiting, for her Prince Charming to come and sweep her off her feet. She has nothing better to do than clean the house. Oh, and she can cook, too. What in the world does she do with all that free time? I mean really, all she’s capable of doing now is just waiting for her Prince Charming . . . right?
There’s a lot more to being a stay-at-home daughter than just cooking and cleaning. But because that’s the only thing the world thinks we’re doing, no wonder we seem so strange . . .
7 June 2010
A little over thirteen years ago, the Lord gave my mother the vision of homeschooling. As she shared about it with my father, God laid it on both of their hearts. There wasn’t a choice.
And here we are. Thirteen years later.
My gratefulness to God and to my parents can never be fully expressed. Because of being educated at home, Breezy and I were able to be raised with a biblical worldview and Christ-centered education.
The precious parents my Lord has blessed me with, by God’s grace, were able to follow the commands in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, which says,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and
shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when
you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Although my “official” home education is over, my education will never be complete . . . because I’ll always be learning. Always be watching. Always be reading.
I like it that way. And I’m thankful to have had instilled in me the love of learning.
P.S. The photos are of crinkled, vintage dictionary pages, which will be a part of the decorations for my upcoming graduation open house.
2 June 2010
There is something very special about a little girl.
She will grow up one day and become an influence to others, maybe even have an impact on an entire culture. How can a little girl one day grow, by God’s wondrous grace, into a lady who impacts the lives of others?
She is trained. To fear the Lord. To be a sturdy woman. To have character. To be a light to those around her. To be patient. To serve joyfully. To submit. To be selfless. To be a keeper at home. To be a homemaker.
By God’s grace, a little girl can grow into a godly woman who is passionate about her God-given role in the home. Her light can shine brightly and have an impact on many generations to come.
There are many examples of strong, sturdy women throughout history. We desire that the the next generation of ladies will be homemakers who delight in their God-given role and trust in the Lord with their whole being.
Raising Homemakers is a new website to encourage mothers (and daughters) in teaching and preparing daughters in the art of homemaking! There are several contributing writers, including my dear mum, Sarah Mae, June Fuentes, and Stacy McDonald (+ more!).
P.S. There is a wonderful giveaway, too! Homestead Blessings, anyone?
