Beautiful Homemakers

Living on One Income - The Prequel Comment: "We aren’t living in luxury! We don’t have a large home, we don’t drive luxury cars, our kids are in public school, we don’t have maid service, and we don’t even go on vacations! There is no way we could make it on my husband’s income, but I WANT to be home!   What do I do?" Over a decade ago I read an article by Patricia Chadwick called “Leading Me Home”.   Patti has graciously allowed me to share a snippet of it here, and the majority of the article is in my book How to Thrive on One Income . This article was so encouraging to me! “While we didn't live an extravagant lifestyle, my husband's wage was low, and his work was seasonal. In my mind, there was no way I could quit my job. Over and over again I would feel the Lord prompting me to become a homemaker. I would hear Him speak to me when I read the Bible. I would hear His voice when I heard a sermon. In my time of prayer and devotions, I would feel Him promptin...

I did this complete the sentence "quiz" last mother's day and everyone had a lot of fun.  Feel free to copy and paste and make your own version for mother's day.   (A. Sarnoff) If you don't stop, your face will _________.  I only have two ______________! Let me ______________ it and make it better. Go ask your _______________. Because I ______________. Because I'm your ______________. Get your hair out of your ____________. Eat it, it's ______________________. Don't put that in your ______________; you don't know where it's been! I don't care who _______________. If all your friends _________________, would you do it, too? You call that _____________? Clean your plate, there are ______________________. ______________ doesn't grow on trees. Don't ever forget that _________________________. You'll always be my _____________________. www.keeping-house.blogspot.com Possible answers (if giving away priz...

Sallyedelsteincollage.com There are two schools of thought in teaching young children: " Better Early Than Late " and " Better Late Than Early ."  I fall into both camps.  I agree with all those people who see that their preschoolers can memorize anything, and believe you should take this window (that closes around age 7 or 8) to help your child memorize Bible verses, the times tables, helping verbs, and other pertinent life facts.  At age four, my son (like your child) was memorizing a favorite video.  When my husband was aged 4-8 he inadvertently memorized commercials (and can win all jingle contests at parties).  When I was that age we went to church three times a week, and so without trying to, I memorized hymns (for which I am forever grateful!).  But I didn't want my son memorizing The Three Little Pigs video!  So we began Classical Conversations, and I'm glad we did.  He (we) learned a lot.  Their timeline song is amaz...

Decluttering happens in layers.  Thirteen years ago our house was so stuffed from inherited items that we had no space, and the fixer-upper house we had was a bit dismal. Then we had a baby.  First borns come with a lot of stuff! Through concentrated effort I was able to remove all the stuff we didn't use regularly into one bedroom and one large patio room, plus storage over the garage. Layer one was gone through.  We could breathe again. Then two more grandparents went to heaven.  We received a truck load of furniture and stuff.  Beautiful stuff, that brought back memories.  It was so hard to let go of my grandmother's rocking chair.  The extra tv. The china. The fridge magnets. The "good" (unused) towels. Despite letting many things go, we managed to refill all the empty places. I kept going forward with my routines of caring for baby and cleaning.  I stayed out of thrift stores, but not consignment baby stores!  I'd drop off...

Awhile ago I went to an outdoor spa and resort with a vivacious, outgoing, and beautiful friend. Arthur Sarnoff She was also a big flirt.  I was used to her coy behavior, but that day I cringed at her flirtatious ways.   I was embarrassed by all of the men's remarks to her. But one man was surprisingly honest...and hurtful. When she batted her lashes and cooed, "But would you marry me?"...fully expecting his answer to be a flirtatious "Yes!", he instead laughed and replied, "Marry you?  No, I would not marry you.  I would marry your friend.  She would be a good wife.  You would be a great mistress." Shocked, she exited the pool and I found her in the locker room crying, "I am not wife material!  I am mistress material!  That is why my boyfriends don't marry me!  Why can't I find a good man?" Good men, and good women, are to be found though...in the right places.  Do you really want to meet your man in a bar? My mate wo...