There is no Place Like Home

"Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.”

― Jani Ortlund 

“Watching and learning from Mama and the other women in my family gave me a deep love for home and hearth and taking care of people. I knew from a young age that there was eternal value in those things.”
― Sophie Hudson

My parents just left after a week long visit and I'm thankful for a wonderful time with them. I enjoyed cooking and baking for them. As they sat and read a book some afternoons, I was able to putter around and get some housework done for the first time in months. I filed a year's worth of paperwork that had been sitting in piles.

I really enjoyed being in homemaking mode this week. The past two years have been busy with studying, writing papers, sewing and crafting, and a multitude of other things I do. But I always find something soothing in some of the homemaking practices that fall by the wayside when I get busy. Having company certainly helps motivate me in that area! ;-)

I lay awake around 4 a.m. and was reflecting back on my life and I was reminded of different women who inspired my love of being a homemaker. My mother was a single mom who worked many late hours, but I remember Saturday mornings and apple fritters. I remember her making many of my Halloween costumes.

My grandmother had a large brood and every Sunday they would all show up at her house with their children and she would cook a large family dinner. It was loud and chaotic but I always enjoyed going there.

Our pastor's wife when I was a teenager would bake everything from scratch and I learned many tricks from her on how to make bread, pies and many other delicious items. And yet, despite all of this, she was a spiritual advisor to many and was an accomplished teacher.

My landlady when we lived in the inner city taught me much about gardening and keeping a house. Her husband put up a clothesline from our second floor apartment to a tree so I could hang out clothes. 

I had a friend from Germany who kept her house spotless. She was a neatnik who would scrub her floors constantly. She must have painted her walls once a year. I was always amazed at how much energy she had for all these things.

There were women in our last church who taught me many things about sewing, canning and preserving, baking and gardening. I am forever grateful to these strong women who showed me how to be a better wife and mother, and how to manage things on the home front.

There is something comforting to be able to make a place that is warm and inviting. I love that others enjoy my home as well as my own family. Emily is coming home for the weekend and has already put in a request for a favorite meal.

It  may not be much and it may not be perfect, but there is no place like home!