A Forced Rest

Late yesterday evening, my frailness came back.  It was like an unseen wind that suddenly appeared.  I know it is time to rest.

At first, I felt like I was trying to get ready for a long journey. I made preparations with the children, and warned my husband. "Don't be alarmed," I told them.  "But my weariness has come back."  There is a weakness in my legs that requires me to use my crutches. 

 I needed the family to take over much of my homemaking.  I gave instructions and requests, while glancing around the rooms yearning for a body that worked.  It felt like I was walking away from a dearly loved project. I did not want to be bedridden without my dishes to wash, or my floors to sweep.  But I will yield to the forced rest.

I have this pretty tray, and will have one of the children polish it up.  They can use this to bring me snacks and refreshments during my confinement.  I have old movies to pick out, while I am in the quiet chambers.  The family will go on, in the other rooms of this large old Estate, without me.  They will check on me, and visit me throughout the day, but they will be doing all the work.

Perhaps one will take a break and watch a movie with me?  Perhaps someone will bake brownies as a special treat?  And maybe someone will remember to do the laundry, and hang the clothes on the  line, while I am recovering from something I cannot see?

Please do not worry about me, dear friends.  I have been used to this for decades.  I will be okay again.  These sweet rests are very precious.  They are a blessing, and a gift in disguise.

Blessings
Mrs. White




For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 




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Staying Home

I heard the church bells ringing this morning, in our rural Vermont village. I had forgotten it was Sunday.  The days flow from one to another, and the weeks pass, barely noticed.  There is little need for the calendar, when one cannot leave one's home.  But hearing the church bells was a treat.  I loved the reminder.  I stop whatever I am doing and listen to the bells.  It is a call from the church to the townspeople, to prepare for the assembly of the saints.    Even though I stayed at home, I was blessed by the thought.

I have been without a car for a month now.  I have given up all my good-intentioned endeavors of driving, and taking people where they needed to go.  My errands of grocery shopping and banking, are delayed, but eventually get done.   Not in my time.  This reminds me that it is not my will, but the Lord's.   Here is something I have lost control over. . .  The ability to go out.  . .  I fret at times, but I am at peace and very grateful.  Good things are coming from this.

Today, the house is quiet.  My young adults are finding things to do, here at the Estate, and are enjoying the slow-paced summer days.

I am working on two book projects. I hope to have them ready next month.   Living in a rural Vermont Estate is the perfect atmosphere for writers.

Blessings
Mrs. White



From the Archives:

Our Latest Troubles - When Mother is a Shut-In.

Are you a Member?  - Mother's Benevolent Society.

What would it be Like? - If I Visit You at the Dinner Hour.








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Winner of - Dear Kitchen Saints - Letters from an Iowa Housewife

On July 8, 2013, we released Connie Hultquist's new book, Dear Kitchen Saints: Letters from an Iowa Housewife.   Connie's incredible marriage testimony had been published twice in Nancy Campbell's Above Rubies magazine (both in 2000 and 2013). 

This book contains a wealth of godly wisdom and is much needed by today's Christian Homemakers!

I hosted a "Treasure Hunt."  Entrants played a little game for a chance to win a copy of Connie's Book. The contest ended today.

The winner is:

Sally!

She will be notified by email and will receive a free copy of the book.

Thank you to everyone who entered!    I am also very grateful for all the help you gave, and continue to give, in spreading the word!





Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives:

Please be one of these - "The Mother Who Isn't Busy."

Remembering old Childhood days - "When Television was Special."

Simple Happiness in Marriage - "When Groceries are the Presents."





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Learning to Live in the Rural Countryside

Something in the soul tends to slow down and be at peace, out in a rural area.  We think of a vacation spot, getting out of the hectic "city" and just taking a break.  Perhaps we avoid some technology (television, phones, etc).  Maybe we spend most of our time fishing, taking strolls, camping, and just watching a little TV in the evening hours.

We visit more. . . We are more neighborly. . . We have an abundance of time.  We can read, study, write, bake, cook, and take the time to say "hello" to the few we happen to meet in a day.  There is less of a need for money.  This takes away many burdens and much pressure.

This, to me, is something like homeschooling. 

Often we think we need to be bombarded with social opportunities. We think we need lots of activities to be normal.  When we aren't constantly busy, or around a ton of people, we think something is missing.  This is like learning to live in a rural area; A place where few people live, limited stores,  and the only public transportation depends on how far you can walk.   This is often a culture shock, just like starting a homeschool.  It is so different. 

Somehow, as we learn to get through the adjustment phase, we find a blessing.  We find the joy that is hidden underneath all the social expectations, and all the things we are told we are "missing out on." 

We find that being in a rural area, is just the place to thrive. . . and grow. . . and become a productive, pleasant citizen.  It is a place where our children can thrive, and grow in character and nobility.  We are protected from the onslaught of humanism, ungodliness, and a worldly culture.  We appreciate many more things.  We are grateful.

We often have more time for prayer, for focusing on the needs of others, and for doing good deeds. 

This is what I am learning, in the middle of nowhere, "trapped at home with no car," in Northern Vermont.

Blessings
Mrs. White







For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 




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Ex - Housewife

The other day, Mister had to fill out a jury duty questionnaire. When he was finished, he left the papers on a desk for me to mail.   I glanced at the part where it said, "Name of Spouse," and "Occupation of Spouse."

Here is what he listed as my job:

"Mother and Housewife."

I was delighted and proud.  This is my lifelong vocation.    I have a home to care for.  I have children and grandchildren to tend to.  I am my husband's companion. I keep the home. 

Today's homemaker often has a home where everyone "does their own thing."  Husband and children can microwave their own food. They are capable of doing for themselves, after all.   They can clean the house, do the laundry and anything else Mom can do, right?  Well, of course. But this breeds a home that needs no mother.  This breeds the home where lessons of homemaking, and tender mothering, cannot reach the next generation.

My boys (16 and 20) were talking about working mothers.  I said, "I could never leave this house. I am needed here." I went on to talk about all the things I do, and the just being here.  One of my sons said, "How would we ever eat well if you were not here to take care of us?"  Now this son is an amazing chef himself and a hard worker, but he appreciates having Mom home to keep the house and prepare special meals.  Yes, he can do all these things himself, but why would one want a home without a full - time homemaker, a full-time mother?  The family needs a dedicated mother to make the home a place of rest and recovery.

I realize there are mothers in terrible financial circumstances who currently work.  Many want to be at home.  But there are many more mothers who choose to go out to work because they want to.

Some mothers had been home while the children were young, but then decided to go back to work, or got bored and wanted something new and exciting in their life.   This is called an "Ex-housewife." This term breaks my heart.  It makes me think of a broken home and an ex-family.  It makes me think of a home that fell apart because mother left.

The older Christian mother is to be the example to the younger generation.  Her staying at home, often waiting through the seasons and phases of life, faithfully loving and tending the home, is to be the ideal example to the young Christian Mothers.  What breaks my heart is that many of these Titus 2 Mothers are abandoning the call of home and becoming "ex-housewives."

Scripture says for us to be ye separate.  We are not to mimic the actions and ways of the world.  If there is a mass exodus of women into the workforce, why would the Christian woman join the crowd and leave the home? 

Is it hard to stay home?  When there are financial trials - YES!  Upper class housewives have it easier than the rest. They worry not about money.  But the majority of Christian Homemakers work harder than most people by making food from scratch, laboring in the garden and home and taking care of the family.  This is hard work. But it is a precious calling.  It is a normal way of life for the sweet mothers of yesteryear.  We can keep this going, from generation to generation. But we must learn to never take on the title of being an "ex-housewife."

Blessings
Mrs. White

"Who, but a few wild visionaries, and rash speculatists, and mistaken advocates of 'woman's rights', would take her from the home of her husband, of her children, and of her own heart—to wear out her strength, consume her time, and destroy her feminine excellence—in committee-rooms, on platforms, in mechanics shop, or philosophical institutions?" -   John Angell James, 1800's

For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 



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Home Shopping (History and Warning)

1940 New Mexico: Ordering from the Sears Catalog, because of the distance to the nearest store.
(Library Of Congress)

It used to be that every home had a Sears Roebuck Catalog.  This was a large book containing every kind of item you could possibly need.  It was a published mercantile for the home.   We would fill out order forms and mail in our order; Then eagerly wait for the postal delivery!   We children were often seen with the catalog, dreaming about the clothes, toys, and decorations we wanted.

Years later, they stopped publishing.  New ways of shopping were coming into fashion, and perhaps mothers at home were becoming more mobile - more able to go out to the stores. Mass shopping, for fun and recreation, was gaining popularity.   One of the saddest days in American family history, was the day Sears stopped printing their catalog. 

In the late 1980's cable television started appearing in homes.  This also brought a home shopping channel.  We were able to sit under constant sales pitches, and put under pressure, to order within the next 5 minutes or the item would be "gone."   Many bought jewelry, decorations and clothing through the telephone.  The panic of the ending sale played with the emotions and made us feel like we had to have it now.  . . This was the beginning of brainwashing (or brain-training) to turn the culture into a shopping- focused society, rather than a home- and- family focused society. Prudence, diligence, patience and hard work were being slowly eroded from our characters.

Today, we have Internet sales, and online shopping options.  This is certainly helpful for those who are generally homebound, or unable to get out much.  But we are still seeing the "buy now," and the "sale ending tonight" pressure that we never saw in the old Sears Catalog.  If we are not aware of these sales gimmicks, and are not armed with knowledge to fight off the fear of not "getting that sale price,"  we will be sucked into the lure of shopping for recreation; buying things we don't need, and of shopping without hesitation or prudence. 

Shopping from the comfort of one's home, with seed catalogs and Lehman's catalogs, while gathered around the kitchen table, are good ways of slowing down the spending process.  We may dream over the items, plan what we will do with them, and carefully come up with a wise shopping decision.  This is one way to counteract the consumer craze that has taken over our nation.

Blessings
Mrs. White




Did you get a copy of our newest book?

 "Dear Kitchen  Saints:  Letters from an Iowa Housewife" was written by Connie Hultquist.  Her amazing marriage testimony was recently published in Above Rubies Magazine.  Her book is a treasure of wisdom and encouragement!




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Cleaning House with Baby

It is certainly a challenge to keep house, when there are babies and small children around. But these are the loveliest times of all for the homemaker.

Babies often look on curiously at all the work we do in the home.  They are shocked by the noise from the blender, the vacuum, and the washing machine. 

One day last week, I was making a cake.  I had baby in the carriage.  He watched as I brought down the large mixing bowl (to his level), and used my electric hand-mixer to stir the cake batter. He loved it!

I have put him in the walker while vacuuming the carpet.  It is easy to play fun games with baby, when one is cleaning.  He enjoys seeing all the action going on at Grandmother's house.

We garden together, hang clothes on the line, wash dishes, sing hymns, sweep floors, and wash the high-chair tray!  Well, I do all those things while baby watches.  (Much like when I am helping Mister with his stuff, He does all the work, while I stand nearby.)  It's really the being together that is wonderful.

Part of playing with babies and children most certainly happens while we are living our normal, daily life.  We just bring the children along in our activities, making our work and our days delightful.

Blessings
Mrs. White



Did you get a copy of our newest book?

 "Dear Kitchen  Saints:  Letters from an Iowa Housewife" was written by Connie Hultquist.  Her amazing marriage testimony was recently published in Above Rubies Magazine.  Her book is a treasure of wisdom and encouragement!




An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.