The Romance of Home

Do you yearn for home when you are away? Is there a homesickness that makes you weary of the world? Our homes should be lovely and pleasant places. We should be the creative force behind the production of happy families. 

So often, we mothers get tired and caught up in our troubles, that we forget to remember the old days. When we were young, we longed for a home of our own. We longed for marriage and children. We romanticized a charming life in a grown up world.  We were eager and ready to make the effort of happiness.

Now that the years have passed, it is time to re-evaluate our situation. I hear of so many people frustrated because life has gotten harder. Worries become burdens. Many watch the courtship and happiness of new young couples with a sadness - like they are missing out on something precious.

When Dad comes home from work, is he greeted with cheer? When the children come home from their play, or their jobs, are they happy to be there?  When Mother has been out grocery shopping, does she drive in the driveway thankful to be back?

Here are a few ideas to help create an environment of a romantic home:

1. Have clean, fresh curtains in the living room - homemade, or lace, or whatever you like best. 

I remember, in the old days, sitting in the car while my husband drove us up to his parents home. There were beautiful, lace curtains in the kitchen window. They were charming.  I have also seen lovely homemade curtains in some homes that just made things look so nice and well cared for. This is part of romance - part of creating beauty.

2. Keep a tidy kitchen, with a few simple decorative items.

We do the best we can to keep our kitchens looking nice. Food is so comforting. You hear of husbands and grown children talking about missing home-cooking and you know how important it is to have a kitchen which is ready for hospitality. If there are stacks of dishes, and no time to clean, just do what you can to make that mess look neater. Wipe down counters, sink, and stove. Sweep the floor.  Have a few pretty things decorating the wall - even if it is artwork from the children. Just have something in that room to show that it is used and loved. There is fondness in romance.


3. Dress neatly and present yourself in a pleasant manner.

Keeping ourselves neat, even in casual clothes, sends a message that we care.  We inspire those around us to want to be neat and pleasant. I remember when my girls were very little. If they did not get dressed and fix their hair in the morning, they were irritable and difficult, until they took the time to prepare for the day.  There is beauty in romance.

4. In the evenings, try to have dim lights or candles with soothing, pleasant music playing softly.

This helps set a peaceful mood. It helps the family settle down. Sometimes, when mother has that gentle music playing and she smiles at her family, all the troubles and arguments seem to fade away.  There is serenity in romance.

5. Avoid discussing problems and troubles other than at a set time. 

I remember during my childhood. My Father would come home from work around 4 in the afternoon. We children stayed in the living room, or outside while Mother and Dad sat at the kitchen table to talk and visit. They discussed any troubles of the day, without any distraction or interference. When they were finished, we would happily visit with Dad and help Mom get the supper ready. The rest of the evening was happy and a time of contentment for us all. We felt secure and settled.  There is tranquility in romance.


In order to have happy homes, we need to find ways of dealing with the trials of life. We need to create homes that our families will yearn for. We want them to be wooed back home, when they are away. We want them to yearn and long - for their romantic homes.

Blessings
Mrs. White

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Financial Survival in Hard Times

LOC: Calleb family on the porch of their home, Appalachian Kentucky, 1940.

 

I don't think we realize how bad things are in this economy. Many of us have decent homes to live in and cars to drive. We even have furniture, computers, telephones, electric appliances and cable television. While we suffer without much money, we are able to enjoy some home comforts.

But things are getting worse. The cost of food and gas is skyrocketing. Yesterday, I drove to the grocery store and had only $32 to get through the week. I had to decide which meat to buy. I needed 4 meat items for 4 suppers. Then I needed eggs and bread. I still have some food at home, but needed to supplement what was already there. I had to buy a small can of coffee, rather than the large one I normally buy. When I got home, I reminded my husband that we must ration the rest of the sugar and all the coffee. It had to be enough to get us through until the next payday.

I quickly made a simple supper - hot dogs and beans. I did not have macaroni and cheese to go with it, like we normally would.  I ended up making a small batch of chocolate chip cookies so they would feel like they had a treat. I also announced to the family that "there is popcorn you guys can make later, in the air popper. There is butter to go with it." Then I made a batch of iced tea.

And that was our night... Tomorrow, I thought... God would provide for us again tomorrow.

Granted, we have enough money to pay all our bills. Yet that leaves us short for food and gas. It leaves us without any extra money for little bits of happiness - like buying an ice cream, or nice cold soda on a warm day.  These treats help cheer the soul.  . .  Now we must find another way to find that cheer.

Times are going to keep getting bad. In light of this, I wanted to share with you a few ways I have learned to "go without."

1.  I love Mary Kay, Avon and other name brand skin care products. But I don't use anything more than a steaming hot facecloth, and a little moisturizer to care for my skin. (No toner, No skin cleanser. . nothing.) I have been doing this for many years.

2. I buy make-up from the dollar store. I use it for months and months until it is gone. (I don't care that the experts say to replace it every 3 months.)

3. I wear torn and ripped up nylons almost everyday. But you can't really see the rips because they are too high up.  When I have a little extra money, as long as the children are happy and don't need anything, I buy a new pair.

4. My skirts, tops, dresses and sweaters (I never wear pants - they are too casual for me) - are purchased at nice stores in the mall  - on clearance in February and March each year.  I pay anywhere from $3 to $7 for each item. There are no thrift stores near me. We are in a very rural area.

5. I don't eat much. Most of my grocery shopping is for foods the children and my husband like to eat. If money is very tight, I will eat oatmeal, toast, hot tea, water and cereal for the day and be just fine. When there is money, I enjoy chocolates and cookies.  (This might explain why the mothers during the Great Depression were very slim.)  If I am really lucky, I get to enjoy a frozen pizza - my favorite!

6. I drive very carefully. If you go at a steady speed and avoid lurching, speeding up or suddenly slowing down, you can conserve gasoline and make it last much longer. 

Jobs are scarce. Many are out of work. Life is harder in America for a generation that is used to consuming and enjoying pleasant treats. We are in a time where we must learn to be creative and survive on less.

What ways are you surviving in hard financial times?


blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Encouragement - Poor and Pretty Living.

What it Means to Be - Just a Housewife.

Some Help - The Secret to a Clean House.

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 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

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 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.