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| Library of Congress: 1941 Georgia family saying Grace |
The other night, I cleaned our kitchen and parlour before I went to sleep. I wanted it to look nice because that makes me happy. I want to reflect a little on this since it is the first day of the New Year.
No matter how tired I am, I try to make the effort of having the main rooms of the house put "to rights" before I rest. This often takes herculean courage and an incredible attitude of "with a will."
I am not young, nor am I old. But life has taken its toll on me. I get worn out incredibly easily. I do rest when I must, but I have to get back to the duties of homemaking to accomplish lovely things here for my family.
The lovely things of home, for me, are just keeping things simple and peaceful. It is peaceful to have homemade foods made on a daily basis. This keeps us nourished with wholesome food. It is peaceful to fluff pillows and straiten the couch cover in the parlour. I want the couch and chairs to look inviting so people can take the time of rest and refreshment here before getting back to their daily work.
I have grown children, a teenager, toddlers and babies here on a daily basis. They play, eat, run around, and enjoy home. They do not make "messes," they simply "live." I clean up as we go, or when they are finished. They are my helpers as we often do chores together. I feel blessed as I work as I am so grateful to have them all here. It is a privilege to be the wife, mother, and grandmother of a family.
Sometimes, if I am terribly worn out, I will leave the crayons on the kitchen table. I will leave my tea cup there as well. I will leave the papers, and the cups from the children's juice. I will leave the chairs out from the morning activity. I am greatly amused when, later in the day, a little grandchild will come back to visit me, glance at the table, and looking worried, say, "Me`me didn't clean up the mess?" It is funny because he knows how much I love to clean and he thought something was wrong with his beloved grandmother! This sweet little comment gave me the energy to get it all tidied up with his help.
We cannot have perfectly spotless houses in showroom condition. Certainly not. But we can take the time, throughout the day, to be about the business of housekeeping. It takes work and effort and creativity to keep a home in order. It also takes a cheerful willingness to make home a peaceful, happy place to be.
The nice thing about being a good homemaker is we don't have to wait for a New Year to start. We can start fresh every morning.
Blessings
Mrs.White
From the Archives -
Frugality - Poor and Pretty Living.
Happy Marriage - When Groceries are the Presents.
A Wonderful Kind to be - The Mother who isn't Busy.
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
Mrs. White's special book for Homemakers -
"Mother's Book of Home Economics."
312 pages, paperback.
Yes, what a lovely thought: we can start fresh every morning! Blessings and Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Mrs. White. I am not young or old either. It has taken some getting used too, to not be able to very quickly and efficiently do my duties. It does become necessary to do it " with a will!" Looking back at the house to take in the finished product is very motivating for me. I love seeing the calm it brings the family to enter and be in well kept surroundings. As I have gotten older, I have learned to love our humble living and not yearn and yearn for what others have. Just taking care of what the Lord has so graciously blessed US with. You have been a fine example to me this past year. Please keep up your writings. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMrs.O
Great post.
ReplyDeleteI am blessed to have my 'dream home', although I will admit it is a mobile home. It simply has all the great features we wanted in a house, but at a price we can afford (it was a bank repo).
I love to 'keep house' now, and take great joy in changing the table linens every few weeks or so, for a fresh look.
Keeping things tidy is a daily task, but as long as I do a bit each day, things stay controlled. And for those days I don't feel like it (as you mentioned)? Well, the mess isn't going anywhere, it will be there when I get back to it, lol.
Happy New Year, Mrs. White, from SE Georgia.
What a sweet little grandchild, to see that things were not all put back into their place. Daily living is what we should do in our homes and I agree some evenings when I have left a few dish's and stuff on the table I wish I had tidied up before going to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI do want to wish you and yours a wonderful and blessed New Year!
Warmly, Roxy
Happy first day of the year! 2017!!!
ReplyDeleteIt has arrived and seems like a dream,
d
You are so right! Got your beautiful card today. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Laura
Such a lovely sentiment Sharon. And, yes, being a homemaker for 30'years now has been not only a privilege, but such a blessing. Thank you for always "lifting us up" , sharing stories from your daily life and encouraging ladies young and old to feel blessed to be able to call ourselves "homemakers" in a world where it's not a popular "occupation" any longer. Happiest of New Years to you dear lady :0D ~ Marge ~
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! I like your approach to homemaking/housekeeping duties.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes... we start over everyday. Isn't that wonderful?!
ReplyDeleteI just found your post at the homemaking party. So blessed to read your post. I love seeing ladies who truly enjoy homemaking. Your house & heart seems so very full. I am a new fan of yours and will be following.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it does seem like Herculean effort is needed when we are tired!! But the reward is worth the effort. I do love to wake up to a clean kitchen.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you, Deborah
I agree with you about tidying as we go, it seems to be much easier to keep things clean as we work, and certainly before going to bed, although as you said, sometimes it can take a herculean effort, lol! Housework is never done, but it helps to keep working at it when possible. Hugs to you today!
ReplyDelete