HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Eight}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry
A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

Well, I never thought it would take so long to get another part of this series typed and sent out to you, but here I am.

(With it being so long no doubt you forget what I am even talking about, but the entire series will be linked in the sidebar for you to peruse when you have time)

I hope in someway this series will give you something to think about and to consider as you move through the years of keeping your home.

I am entitling this post, The Big Part : Contentment. I know, I know, you are taking a big sigh right about now and saying to yourself, "When in the world is she going to focus on our dishes and laundry and why is she bringing up vision, fruit and contentment!" Well, as I look at you to answer, I would say all of that is small in comparison to your vision, your fruit and your contentment.

When I say the word "contentment", what does it bring to mind? Are we content with what we have and what we have to work with? Some of us live in "fine" homes, some us live in trailers, some of us live in apartments, some of us live in two-story or single floor dwellings. The where and what does not matter as much as the how. How we live there, do we find peace and contentment living in that "house", serving in that house and in doing so, turning the house into a home.

Do you remember as a girl how you would play "house"? How you would take a box and some blankets and pretend it was your house? I remember as a girl, many times playing in the woods and making paths, using Mommy's old broom sweeping the dirt and leaves away and making a path to my little stick and bed sheet house. What fun times they were! Those times were preparing us for now, they are "in" us from the time we, as little girl are born. They are part of what make a woman a loving nurturer. Some of us fight against that our whole life and we run from home, not wanting to "keep" the home, but others of us gently and sweetly succumb to it's loveliness, reaping the many blessings. Our nature is to make a place for those we love and care for...a dry place in a muddy world. 

I do pray that you feel satisfied and happy in your little nook or as I call mine, my nest. To me, there is nothing quite so satisfying then to be at home, to make, to create and to warm my home.

Contentment, so how does one find it in homemaking?

In the upcoming and final post in this series, I will share with you how I keep and maintain my contentment. Also, we will be looking down a list of questions that will help us focus in on the job we are doing at home, how we could change a few things and how we move forward from here.

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Seven}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

As promised in the last entry of this study series, I want to share with you the journal entry I wrote in 2008. I begin writing a bit about homeschooling, but it moves to where I share thoughts on what I term as, "pocket moments".

"I pray you all had a restful weekend and one you purposefully slowed down. I love Monday mornings and find them like a month of Septembers each week. Always a day of planning and of getting back into the rhythm of things. We have been having short days of homeschooling and will continue this pattern for one more week before taking them much longer.

I "school" so much calmer now that I have a bit of time doing it under my apron. I do not get fluffed anymore in thinking that a child may not be up to grade level on a set subject. It does not hold great importance for me to run my children all over the county to fill in with what I can not cover here at home. I surely do not want to spend my husband's hard earned dollars for our family on this new book or that new thing that might be the current rave. I try hard not to get caught up in all of that. I find it homeschool peer pressure and will avoid it happily. I believe that my days are to flow and to blend as a simple life. I don't think we fit into any homeschooling mold that has been poured in recent years and come to think of it neither do I as a woman.

In my life as a follower of Christ, I have sought out of the way stops, off road places and have been pulling away to myself more. Not in removing myself from others, but have spent more time one on one with Jesus. Besides my very important alone time, I am trying to create places and time, "pocket moments" within my day to day when I can not be "alone" with the Lord. 

One way is through music, one way is through prayer, one way is through open and verbal praise and still yet another is through speaking forth the name of God aloud in all things. Here on our mountain, he is intensely welcome to join us for meals, for homeschool hours, quiet times, evening settle in nesting times...minute by minute...second by second...breath by breath. 

This way for instance HE is not boxed into a Sunday service. So many leave him at the church door and visit with him when time presents itself. You do not have to have time, He created time, He is time. Surely, we must never stop our devotional time spent, but on days that fill up fast with busy or hurried home mornings for whatever reason, do not let discouragement of feeling like a failure steal your joy or keep you away from Him for the rest of the day.

God knows your intentions and sees your heart and would be honored to have even your stolen thoughts, praise, thanksgiving, and adoration that you give or even those "pocket moments" during those run-thru kind of days. We should not set out to make this a habit, but it just has to be okay some days. 

So let's not let Him get lost in the shuffle! If we love Him we will long to be with Him and care what He thinks, what He says and He will be our God."

*~*~*

This was a hard repost to type out. Why? Because I fail and fall down doing this very thing at times. The flesh is weak and it is an ever constant thinking process that I need in order to remain faithful and true to that which is life..my life. 

continued...

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Six}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

I am finally back with part six of this study series. Sorry for the time in between posts, but it has been a busy month. I had thought of putting off anymore posts because of where we find ourselves in life right now, but maybe we need these words at this time. Having written this study series in 2008 and now sharing here I think it is timely.

Let us continue...

Sowing and harvest, worlds apart aren't they? There is a lot that goes on from the time we plant and until the time we enjoy the fruits of our labor. I know at my home that some fruit take a long time, whereas other crops do not take near as long. 

So it is with our home and family fruit. It may take years for the best of the yield to land into our hands. It is not easy, it takes a lot of time invested or as I say at times, blood, sweat and tears. You harrow that long row, taking care to remove the big stones, place your fertilizer to sweeten the ground, cover those tender and tiniest of seeds, water, tend, week after week, loosen the soil, hoe the row and pray for a glorious outcome. But, as it is in gardening, so it is with sowing and reaping at home.

What you put in most often times is what you get out. This is why it is so important to take care of your own personal garden so can tend to the family and home ones. Yes, they are different and I find the older I get the more important it becomes to maintain that personal plot of ground.

Let's take a pause here

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

In your journal write down ways you can better take care of you and do so in detail. This is your time and putting it down on paper helps us to focus for a bit. Come up with a few goals, a simple plan and try to implement one or two slowly to your routine.

So, l think to myself...

What is causing me to neglect personal/devotional time? What can I do to make time or perhaps more time for my Lord? What would my "perfect" devotional time look like in this season?

Let's stop here for a moment! Do not feel guilty if you can not at that time in the mornings. I have had women come to me with such a plight and I tell them to make time all the time. 

My next post in this study series is called, "Pocket Moments". I wrote it a long time ago as a young mother, but it pertains to this topic. 

We know those deep morning times are the best, but sometimes it is just not possible. Do not feel so much guilt that you throw up your hands and completely forgo any time spent in your day to give to the Lord. We need that refreshing and renewing time...more now than ever!

We make time for other things, we go to the doctor for check-ups, the dentist for our six-month cleaning, the grocery store for our food and the like, why not make time for our spiritual check-up, cleaning and food. How much more important are these than anything else we can do for ourselves, they are but window dressing.

I pray that this is not a jumble of thoughts, but rather makes perfect sense to you. I pray you get clarity from my words.

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HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Five}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

As I was writing this entry, I was thinking that some of you must be thinking from following along, "But, how in the world can we have all of this with all the children, all the dishes, all the laundry, all the...?" 

I believe that we can have all of this and more, if we are focused on our foundation which is the base to which the house is added. It is work, it does not come easy, but as in building a physical house and seeing the completion, there are rich rewards once complete.

As we know, the foundation or building blocks of a home is the supporting structure the house is built upon. These building blocks are the character traits that are found in the nature of Jesus himself and ones that as a Christian woman, I should strive to acquire and try to maintain. 

So, let's look to the building blocks or fruits we will call them. In our Bibles, Galatians 5:22 tells us about this fruit: "But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

But, in order to reap or harvest, we must first sow or plant to the soil. If we plant the seeds of Christ into our home, then we can be sure to reap fruit in due season, fruit from our steadfast diligence. 

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

In your journal write down each fruit listed above and add your personal thoughts about each. 

How are you doing with these building blocks? 

How is your foundation holding up? 

Where can you sure up an area?

Next, we will look at what takes place between sowing and harvest.

continued...

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Four}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

 No Place Like Home

Good Monday! 

I am hoping, even with all that is going on in the world, that you are following along with me. By now, I pray you are beginning to see where I want to go with this little study series. Perhaps, it is not what you had expected and it surely is not the typical, "How to clean your house in 6 easy steps". I believe and can say for sure that you can clean and organize all day, and still be totally out of sorts and in a mess in your home.

So, I pray that you have your vision (see my last post, A Vision Takes Shape) thought through and written down. You will no doubt go over it from time to time, making changes and adding to it which is a good way to keep it in the forefront of your mind. 

For the next part of our study series, let's look to our "fruit". The sweetest fruit of all and how it applies to our home making. But, first let's rest on a word...home.

When one says the word "home", it most often evokes warm images. For me, it brings to mind; peaceful haven, warm nest, restful sleep, soul contentment, satisfying meals, secure dwelling, as well as other thoughts. There are times in my life when these things did not always come to mind and that is fine as you may agree with me. Life throws us curves, there are swings forward and there are swings back, but over all these are words that come to mind most often and ones I strive to achieve.

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

Write in your journal what the word, "home" brings to your mind, just simple single words or short phrases. 

The notes from this post you write and the notes from the last may no doubt intersect and blend. Your thoughts of home and your homemaking vision will slowly move into one. With the two combined there will be strength in your resolve and purpose. You will become mindful of how you want to proceed and what it will take to do so.

continued...

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Three}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

A Vision Takes Shape

When I ponder the words, "homemaking vision", I think of the way in which I view or see my home making. And inside of that "seeing" lives my personal goals, plans, dreams, hopes, prayers and other aspects that make up it's core. 

These things are mainly rooted in my upbringing, my childhood experiences, my mother's role within my family home and the ways in which she carried it out. 

Some were forged by special women in my life, media; such as television, books, movies, while others were added by mentors, church life, my faith, the Bible, my age and maturity. 

My vision has changed only slightly over the past many years of marriage, though I can not  recall a purposefully set pattern during those early years, especially those rough few. Difficult and hard times are the biggest culprit for dimming and blurring your vision.

 As time moved on, children were added to our home (six in all with one having special needs) and then as the homeschooling movement began to form, so did a new vision. With that...I came into my own and have pretty much remained the same.

Over the years, the outside view of my vision has taken on different shaped flesh if you will. While the outside has been shaped and reshaped because of changing needs, the core has not. The core has remained the same and it is where I always come to when I have lost my way, when I steer too far, and especially when I think I can do it on my own. 

And yet, the very essence of my vision is my belief in and love of Christ Jesus.

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

Be thinking about your "homemaking vision".

Write down what these two words say and mean to you. If you have never thought of having a vision for your home, begin thinking of possible tiny steps you could take to put one in place.

Remember your vision for your home will not look like any other. You are unique and so is your life.

Use your journal to write down your heart thoughts.

continued...

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry {Part Two}

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Upsplash

(Part 1 of this study series is found HERE)

My Personal Oil Lamp

I believe the lamp is likened to my relationship with our Lord and the oil and globe are the state in which that relationship is in.

Personally, when my lamp is running on empty or my globe is black with soot, then things are very off at my home front. I have neglected the most important person in my life, my Jesus. I have allowed other things to press in on me like the storm. I have fallen unprepared and thus am caught off guard. It has been either neglect, busyness or the taking for granted of the Savior. All of which can cause the breech and all of which, sadly are of my own doing or perhaps my own undoing.

This holds true for our lives in general and affects many other areas, but for this series homemaking is the center focus.

It is times like these that I have most often misplaced my homemaking vision and what happens is discontentment sets in, hurried-ness becomes the norm, confusion circles around me and if left go unchecked, resentment will hush in like a fog and quietly cover like a shroud.

So look to the lamp as your centerpiece for this study series moving forwards,  as a symbol, a thermostat if you will.

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

Over the next few days be praying over and thinking about your personal oil lamp.

Take spiritual inventory of your oil and globe and see how the wick is doing. Maybe go back and re-read part one of this study again.

Journal your heart and next week I will share more about having a "homemaking vision" along with my own in part three, A Vision Takes Shape.

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes And Laundry (New Study Series)

HomeMaking :: More Than Dishes and Laundry

A Study Series written by Peggy Hostetler

The Stage is Set ~ Part 1

You are sitting at a circular oak table in a room just after dusk. On top of the table is an old-fashioned cotton doily in the same round pattern as the table. In the center of the table is a beautifully etched glass oil lamp covered in a gray dusty film. The wick is hardened with black soot and the base is near empty of any oil. From what remains exudes a strong smelling odor and it has become yellowed with age.

You feel alone, sad and filled as it were with emptiness. You are enveloped in near darkness with a feeling of fret and worry. There is a chill as the thunder begins to rolls in. You are unprepared to ride out this storm. You want to flee as the twinges of fear now settle upon you.

There is unrest and a confused state you can not explain, but you know it is not right nor where you want to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Stage is Set ~ Part 2

You are sitting at a circular oak table in a room just after dusk. On top of the table is an old-fashioned cotton doily in the same round pattern as the table. In the center of the table is a beautifully etched glass oil lamp with an even burning, never wavering flame. The wick has been trimmed neatly, the globe of the lamp is bright and clear and the base is full of fresh oil.

The wind is howling, the rain is pouring, but as it beats against the windows you feel warm and safe inside. You feel secure with the warm glow of the lamplight. You have a peaceful quieted heart and know a sense of coziness within your soul. Your state of mind is thoughtful and focused.

There is rest and a simpleness of space and time you can not explain, but you know it is right and where you want to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just an Oil Lamp?

Do I have oil in my lamp? Is the wick trimmed and burning brightly or is it overdue for a straight cut? Do I take the time to freshen my lamp with new oil, filling it full? Is the globe clean from dust and soot?

As women, we do not want to be caught like the foolish virgins...asleep, with empty lamps, but we want to be like the wise ones with lamps full and ourselves fully awake.

~*~*~*~

Food for Thought

Look up Matthew 25-

{write this passage down}

Look up the word wise and write its meaning

Look up the word foolish and write its meaning

* Please feel free to take notes from this study series for your personal use. 

find all posts in this series on the sidebar ----->