As a woman, there is an undeniable pull to my home, to my nest. This is what I call a “grounding force,” placed into the heart of a woman by Creator God. We must stay deeply rooted and grounded during such turbulent times.
We need to make a deliberate effort to step out of our paralysis of fear and all that we cannot control, and step into some positive action right here in our homes. Even a small amount of energy will begin to build upon itself, and you will find yourself looking around at things you can control, a place where you can make a difference and create a peaceful haven, a place where you can have real and lasting influence (the kind unknown to Twitter) in the lives of others, and thereby have real influence in the real world.
Here we are in that odd week between Christmas and New Year’s, when we find ourselves tired/happy/reflective, out of our normal routine, but also trying to do something useful if at all possible. Here are two useful things that I’ve learned to do in the week after Christmas. They don’t take much effort, but as the years go by I am more and more thankful that I’ve gotten into the habit of doing these simple things. So, I thought I’d share!
1.) File away the family Christmas card or letter into an album. Mine is a simple binder that now contains our Christmas letters and/or cards, going back every year, all the way to 2006. I use plastic page protectors in the binder to hold the extra cards and letters, labeled for each year. It’s an easy way to gradually collect memories and thereby create a treasured family heirloom.
It’s a weary, weary world right now. Maybe you feel it too. It’s a bleak horizon and I can feel the grayness in my soul. A personal weariness, a national weariness, a global weariness. This is a strange subject to write about merely days before Christmas, I agree. But somehow, the joy of Christmas also brings out the weariness of the world.
I was texting someone recently about this, and she replied: “It is a weary world! We took some treat plates around to some neighbors the other day and I realized fully for the first time how elderly our town is. At least 50% of the town is retired, some of them very elderly. Several people invited me/us to stay and chat, several said they love seeing our family walk by…one neighbor stopped back by and dropped off a gift for the kids and said ‘I’m so glad you’re my neighbors!’ And we received three Christmas cards and two thank you cards back in the mail! One of the cards says, ‘nice to see a family together.’ So many lonely folks…I told my husband that our ministry may be to just walk around town as a family and be a little corner of togetherness in people’s lives…the older people seem to really resonate with seeing our family out together.”
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the LORD; let it be to me according to Your word.'” Luke 1:38
What a response to the announcement she had just heard from the angel. Some say Mary was incredibly honored to be the recipient of this incredible announcement. Others say it would have been shocking and frightening; a major shake-up in Mary’s life. Probably it was both at the same time. Whatever emotions she was feeling, whatever thoughts were racing through her mind, no doubt her world had just been turned completely upside down. And yet, what do we find in her one sentence response?
We’ve probably all been there. Excited kids on every hand, freshly fallen snow outside, and suddenly you find yourself lost in a bin full of mittens, gloves, scarves, hats– all sizes, shapes and colors, and no matches in sight. Arghh! Just get these kids outside to play already!
I decided this would finally be the winter to conquer the winter gear problem, once and for all (if such a thing were possible). (Spoiler– looks like it might be possible!)
Congratulations to Megan, the winner of our recent giveaway!
I just found a post that I wrote this past summer but never published. It’s appropriate for right now too, with the crazy election and bizarre virus and looming holidays and uncertainty on every hand.
Here it is, written a few months ago:
Steve and I have been reading books together in the mornings. Often we’re joined by one or two of our little people; sometimes it’s just us and our coffee and the birds and squirrels running around our yard.
Recently Steve read me a chapter by Frances Ridley Havergal* called “Our Moments Kept for Jesus.” It’s rare to read something that kind of revolutionizes your life, don’t you think? That’s actually what this chapter did for me.
Here on Treasuring Home, we will be giving away a lovely one-of-a-kind piece, skillfully created by my talented sister-in-law Esther. She designed and wood-burned this beautiful piece of home decor, by hand. I love placing decor around our home that will remind us of truths, especially Scripture.
We tried hard to capture some photos that would do this piece justice. We *almost* succeeded.
To enter the drawing:
Sign up on the email list for Treasuring Home (if you are not on it already). Use the subscribe button at the bottom on mobile devices, or on the sidebar on a desktop. **Be sure to check your email, in order to confirm your subscription. You may have to check your promotions folder or your spam folder. You are not actually subscribed until you click the link in the confirmation email.**
Next, leave a comment on this post, here on the blog. (A Facebook or Instagram comment will unfortunately not be counted.)
Doing the two things above will give you one entry into the contest.
After you have done that, if you would like a bonus entry, either share this post on Facebook and tag me (Jennifer Hall), or tag my account in an Instagram post or story (@treasuringhome). If you do both, it will count for two bonus entries.
That’s it! The giveaway will close on October 31, a name will be randomly drawn (out of a literal hat 😜), the winner will be notified.
“The one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:8
Showing mercy is pretty much the business of motherhood. Here are two definitions of mercy that seem SO fitting when applied to the everyday life of a mom:
Compassionate treatment of those in distress.
Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power.
Don’t you love that… “those in distress”? Sounds all. too. familiar.
Are you homeschooling with little ones in the mix— underfoot, climbing on the table, needing snack every 4 minutes, causing general havoc?
I have lived this life for quite a few years. Somehow we all survived and now my two oldest are homeschool grads and in college, so apparently they must have learned something along the way, in spite of shrieking toddlers and their mom being on her last nerve much of the time.
Starting around 2011 when Toby (our fifth) was born, things got crazier and more difficult every school year. Just this year, I am starting to come down the other side of this particular rugged mountain experience. The peak of the mountain was probably in 2017, when I had five in school, 1st grade to 12th grade, and three too young for school, ages four, two and nine months.
Amanda recently sent me the question below. I have heard at least three other moms voice a similar question in the past few weeks. Amanda has Annie who is 10 years old and in 5th grade. She also has James and Leah, twins (adorable pics throughout!) who will be two in October. This conversation is shared with Amanda’s permission.
(I also added a few more ideas at the end, that didn’t necessarily apply to Amanda’s situation, but might be helpful for others.)
Amanda:Hi! With the “virtual” school year approaching…I have a question for you!
Just how in the world do you homeschool on the HARD days? The days where the little ones are throwing fits every 3rd minute? The days where no one is listening? The days where it’s just plain hard?! We amazingly are getting to keep Annie home from school this year (one good thing I can blame on covid!) ..still enrolled in public school but it’s not going to be enough instruction, so I’ll be doing additional math and reading/language arts with her and Bible!
Even with reviewing math all spring/summer with her it’s been hard at times, but given the situation we were able to be super flexible. But with her being home full time now, I want to establish such a schedule that it’s still “school” to her..not a whole bunch of free time, etc? How do I do it?! 🤷🏼♀️😬😆
Annie and the twins
Me: Great question, and believe me I get it!! Homeschooling with little ones in the mix is just plain hard! Here are my thoughts and suggestions, for whatever they are worth: 😅
People from our church have been giving us all kinds of garden veggies, including marvelous English cucumbers! Today I want to share with you my favorite cucumber recipe: Continue reading “Kansas Cucumber Salad”→
Treasuring Home 