I Don't Need a To - Do List

I have come to realize that I only need a list of things to do, when I have been slacking, or out of it. I know that sounds harsh, but when I do my daily, normal routine, I don't need a list.

Why would I have to read a piece of paper to tell me to wash the dishes? Or if I notice the floor needs sweeping, will I check my list first?

Making a daily list can limit our joy and creativity in homemaking.  There are certainly times for a list (for example - during spring cleaning, or when extra things need doing).  But for daily work, a list can be a hindrance.  It interferes with the normal flow of the day.  It makes one focus more on the paper, than on what we see before us.

I want to wake up each day, and be so good at my job as a homemaker, that I know what to do without being told (by a list).  I want to wash mirrors, dust furniture, wash floors and sparkle counters because I see that it needs to be done, not because of a piece of paper.

Early yesterday morning, I had the care of my grandbaby.  He is such a treasure. I sterilized bottles, made a batch of formula, and prepared his morning bottle.  I also washed dishes and tidied up the rooms, while he played. Then I sat in my parlour chair and delighted in feeding and holding him.  After he fell asleep, I gently placed him in the crib for his nap.  I went back to creating a happy and orderly home, while frequently checking on him. 

No list in the world could have given me such joy, as taking care of the baby while doing my homemaking duties.

Blessings
Mrs. White

I am - Not Happily Married.

Such joy in Cleaning - It's Time to Make the Rooms Shine.

For Those Difficult Days - Make the Mess Look Pretty.




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The Morning Work

The sun has not yet risen.  .  .  The house is quiet. . .  There is pleasant work waiting for me. . .  I turned on the parlour heater and will start polishing and cleaning before my family wakes up.

I will turn on some quiet classical music (Mozart) and I will work by lamp-light.   It will be a lovely morning of work.

When the family wakes up, all will be clean and neat. . . all will be well.  Their morning moods will not phase me, because I will have been in the quiet sanctuary of a godly home.  I will be prepared with the armour of kindness, patience, endurance, and I will be full of a slow and sweet temper.

This will happen because of the seclusion of my morning work.

Some rise early to run, exercise, or go to the gym. But this housewife rises early for the precious joy of keeping the home.

Blessings
Mrs. White


Sweet Childhood Remembrance - Memories of Ironing and Other Chores.

I want to be just like this - Something to Ponder.

A Very Special Place - The Comfort of a Dressing Room. (With a link to hear my voice.)


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Do Not Disturb

At any moment, we are troubled by many things. Our peace, in this world, is always on the brink of danger. A feeling of calmness, that things are okay, is often elusive.

The main offense, that robs us of our peace, are the words of others.  This may be news, gossip, slander, troubles, or facts.  When someone speaks words of discord to us, or speaks words of facts that will upset us, they have spoken something dangerous that will disturb our souls. 

Everything we see, or hear, or experience, does not have to be shared with others.  What we say to others, can cause them harm, even if the information is true.   What we share with others, even in confidence, can cause them pain, even if that was not the intention.  Do not trouble the mind of others.  Do not disturb their peace.

The Chofetz Chaim tells us that "Loshan hora (lit., evil talk) is defined as information which is either derogatory or potentially harmful to another individual.. . . . A statement that could potentially bring harm to someone - be it financial, physical, psychological or otherwise - is loshon hora, even if the information is not negative."

I cannot even count the number of times someone told me something, or shared some news with me, that I considered to be gossip.  They considered it to be telling me something important or what I needed to know, but I considered it a disturbing of my peace.  Often, people tell me things just before I face a trial.  Or just before I am about to go to sleep.  Then I am troubled for hours.  But I keep the "news" to myself, so as not to spread the harm of a disturbed mind. 

Will there ever come a day when genuine gossip will cease?  Genuine gossip is sharing truth with others.  Even this is a vexation of spirit.  Why bring people down with facts and news and sad things?

When will we learn to speak life into others? When will we learn to share positive, uplifting words that will encourage a weary soul? 

Be quiet. . . Be meek. . . Keep it to yourself. . .  It is a blessing,  a good deed,  to spare someone the pain of negative talk.  More often than not, they really don't need to know what you are about to say.

Blessings
Mrs. White


P.S. It just occurred to me that homes where there is constant drama and misery are homes where gossip and sharing of the latest troubles are daily conversations. While homes where the residents use restraint and discretion in speech are happy and peaceful.


Grace Kelly wouldn't be one of these - Bossy Wives.

Fill the Mind with This - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

A Precious Time - The Respite Before Church.


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The Behind - the - Scenes Mother

There is a quiet kind of mother, many strive to be.   She is in the background of the home.  She is meek, yet strong.  She is steadfast and tough in her convictions, yet not bold in her demeanor.    She does those little things for her family and home that no one really notices, unless she is not there.

She seeks no applause.  She seeks no praise.  She is content with her crucial work, behind-the-scenes of her family.  She believes in her husband and children. She stands behind them, watching them in their daily lives, and quietly cheering them on, with gratefulness.  She has no need to praise her children in the gates (to all the neighbors and friends), because this is not to be their earthly reward. She has great discrection, sharing only polite words, and not the personal good and bad of her family.

She does not ask many questions of her loved ones. She is not constantly trying to get "information" out of them, or try to get into "their business."  Because she trusts them with their decisions and choices, knowing that God is on their side.  She has no need of fear or worry.   When things go wrong, or the children make mistakes (as will often be the case), she leaves the burden in Heaven.  For she is wise and brave enough to know there is a plan in the unseen, for which she has no control over. She must trust the Master with those details.

She takes her worries and "what ifs" and pleadings to the Lord in prayer. And then she leaves them there.

This dear quiet mother is the joy and hope of the home.   She is on a lighted path to Heaven. Many will watch her daily life, and want to follow her to that eternal HOME.

Blessings
Mrs. White


I will do This - No Matter What It Cost Me.

Can you See this? - The Smiling Mask of Mother's Pain.

Be One of these - The Mother Who Will Not Accept Reality.





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The Duties of Home

In hospitals, "housekeeping" comes in each morning and cleans the rooms. Trash is removed, the floor is swept, the room is disinfected and everything is put back to "rights."   These same tasks are duties that must be done in the home.  However, sadly, housework today is often neglected because our mentality of "freedom," catering to our moods, and the idea that chores are to be done on a flexible schedule (in other words: when one feels like it).

Honestly, I fight with this attitude myself. It is a daily battle.  But we must do our sweeping and our washing and our cleaning and our cooking, all at routine, expected times. This brings order in the home. It brings stability, and it keeps things pleasant and clean.

The best way to do this, is to make it a habit. There should be morning duties. There should be afternoon tasks, and evening work. This is a highly valuable job and it should be done with pride, despite our lazy moods.   I am as much to blame as anyone else!    Underneath it all, I have the mindset of an entitled, pampered, slacker. (gentle smiles)  This is why I often have to set a "mood" to clean and keep house.

I have to turn on a sermon, or old gospel music, on my kitchen radio. I have to light candles, fluff pillows, and straighten the drapes before I can start anything.   Once I commence my work, I love it!  I love to vacuum carpets, polish furniture, shine mirrors and do dishes by the back window.  The hard part, for most of us, is just putting down the cup of tea, setting aside a good book, and getting out of a comfortable parlour chair to do the chores.


Blessings
Mrs. White

Please be one of these! - A Wife Who Does Not Complain.

Is It True? - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

For Those Very Sad Times - Trouble with Teenagers.




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Forgotten Kindness in Marriage

There is a joke that once a couple gets married, all the nice gestures end. Things like opening doors for a lady, or baking a favorite dessert for a gentleman, just don't happen anymore. Why is this often the case? Because so many worldly cares come in and rob us of our best behavior.  We get caught  up in trials and worries, and have trouble taking the time to do nice things for those in our own homes.

Lately, this seems to have happened in our house.    Mr. White and I have been on alert-mode, solving problems.  There has been little time for slowing down.  Today, we had a lovely time annoying each other (smiles), and then apologizing. 

Then he made the first effort. . . He turned on The Waltons on Television. He knows I love that program.  He would never watch it, unless he was being nice to me.   I was grateful.  Later, while I cleaned the kitchen, I asked him if he would like something to eat.   These were the little gestures of affection that we had been neglecting. 

It was time to shut out the worries, the problems, the trials, and just slow down our home life and be nice. 

Then we took a drive to the hospital where our second grandchild had just been born.  We both held the new little treasure. It is a girl, and she is very precious.  When it was time to leave, Mr. White opened the car door for me.  I was content and happy. 

It only takes a few minutes to swallow our pride, control our temper, and be nice.  These little sweet actions can help make a marriage a precious, cherished institution. It also makes home a little heaven on earth.

blessings
Mrs. White

Are you one of these? - The Old Time Housewife.

It Happens - When Mother Is Late for Her Shift.

When There Isn't Much Money - To Encourage the Downcast Housewife.



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Choose Your Propaganda

Whatever you focus your mind on, that is what you will become. Is that a scary thought? Or does it explain a lot of our doubts, confusion, and our misery.

The wonderful thing about the United States is that we are a free country.  However, we are constantly bombarded with propaganda from biased media.  Our minds are always under attack with ungodly ads, news, and "lifestyles" paraded before us, in our everyday lives.

Most of us cannot become reclusive and hide out in the deep woods, living in a cozy cottage. But we can recreate such a retreat in our daily choices. It is up to us:

1. What we read.
2. What we watch on television.
3. What we see on a computer.
4. Where we go.
5. What we will listen to on the radio.
6. What kinds of people we will be friends with.
7. What kind of church we will be a part of.

The last few days, I have heard plenty of reality shows, news, and horrible "trivial" propaganda coming from the people around me, and the programs they watch. It is causing a restlessness and a misery inside me.

To counteract this, I am choosing propaganda that will re-new my mind, my soul and my heart.  I am going to get all dressed up today and sit in my parlour. I will do my normal duties throughout the day, while listening to gospel or sermons on my kitchen radio. I will read and sing from my hymn book. I will do my Prentiss study.  I will also read from three books I have chosen from my home library:

1. "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham.
2. "Raising Your Children for Christ" by Andrew Murray.
3. "Not Regina" by Christmas Carol Kauffman.

In order to live a joyful, godly life, one must have a mind on heavenly matters.  We must seek for it as hidden treasures. We must yearn for it, and be disciplined enough to do certain religious duties.  We must avoid the bad propaganda that will cripple and destroy our mind.

  It all really comes down to freedom of choice - our free will.  Choose this day which propaganda you will hear.

Blessings
Mrs. White

You Can Have  - The Cleanest House Ever!

Are You One of These? - A Mother of Sinners.

It is All I Ever Wanted To Be - Just a Regular Mom.





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