The day unfolds, a familiar rhythm begins with a slow but steady tempo. Make the beds, greet the children, begin the laundry, make a pot of tea, help children with the various bits and pieces which inevitably, arise as they work and play…the day is in full swing. The rhythm is comforting, soothing. I am thankful that there’s no “out-the-door” rush in our home. Rarely, in fact! We make choices to avoid this and ask God for His grace to cover the times which we cannot avoid it. Home is where we work, play, coexist, learn, relax, and love. These thoughts play in my mind this morning, as I continue with the small tasks which begin today’s song. I check my daughter’s progress in her room cleaning, put away the scraps of this and that which I find lying here and there. I place outgoing mail (a finished Netflix) on the mailbox, and enjoy the coolness of morning’s air. Although still a couple months away, the air has Autumn’s crisp notes and I sigh, wishing Autumn’s song had already begun to play. Yet, I do not want to wish away the time, only the summer heat and pesky mosquitoes. The day’s rhythm slows when I sit down, and, for a few moments, open up my “pink” laptop. Just the sight of it makes me happy, for I love PINK. I sip my tea from the pink mug I chose to start my day with…today is a strong, black breakfast tea and as usual, a bit of milk has been added to temper tea’s acidity. I look forward to seeing my chubby baby this morning, but I find myself grateful too, for a few extra moments for housework, or, for sitting down.

Until now, when I hear her sweet baby voice cooing, an edge of concern in her voice. She is ready to become part of our music today! The rhythm picks up quickly, and I miss the slower tempo of my day’s first hour. More laundry, lunch, laundry again, nursing, baby’s cat nap, laundry, return phone calls, check email, schedule an appointment…I feel the acceleration. A few moments to mend on the sewing machine. Awake again, my baby rides contentedly on my hip as I move about the house.

The children play happily, my daughter telling stories to her younger brother. Imagination at it’s best! And at last, baby is down for her longer afternoon nap. My almost-3-year-old (who had dissolved into hysterical tears, a sure sign of tiredness!) fell asleep as well. The house is blessedly quiet and I make some tea, savoring both it and the slower tempo it restores. The last load of laundry for today is humming in the dryer. Dinner will be leftovers eaten amidst the rush between my husband coming home and the kids’ swim lessons. It is hot and humid outdoors, and so the water will bring refreshment this evening, as they splash about and (hopefully) learn to float--or slide--or swim!

Time to begin evening preparations before the little girls wake. Soon, the day’s tempo will increase until the comfortable rhythm of bedtime arrives. And so our days go in this way, their music beautiful to my ears, composing the song our life and home sings, measure by measure.

Wow.  Life has become incredibly busy.  4 kids.  Eating all our meals at home, with no takeout.  Laundry.  After a month off, we've begun "school" again.  Vacuuming.  Bible Study time.  Reading time.  Story time with kids.  Nursing a baby.  Picking up the house.  Again and again.  Menu planning.  Cooking again.  Baking.  More laundry.  It never ends. 

And I do like the rhythm we have established.  We are always home, attending to the busyness that keeps our home running smoothly.  Caring for and discipling our children.  The work which makes up Motherhood is endless, it is all-consuming, but it is immensely satisfying as well.  There is a peace which invades homelife when relationships are right within our families and when we are doing what God has called us to, by caring for our children and serving as a helper to our husbands, as we are able. (Lately it seems, my husband has become a helper for me, as well, as we work together to do our errands, our school, and raise the children God has given us).

But sadly, I find little time for blogging.  Oh, how I miss it!  There's so much I want to share, to write...so many times I'd like to comment.  Time doesn't allow.  And I realize many of you are in the same position; the ebb and flow of blogs is a continual changing thing.  One appears as another disappears...life consumes yet another friend and still others check in only occasionally.  Surely, life catches up to all of us, even in a virtual world!  But today, I have a few moments, stolen from housework, and so I wanted to say "hello" to all my friends in xangaland.

We are well; just busy.  We've begun using Math-U-See this term and I think it is exactly what we need for this season, perhaps for the rest of our schooling.  My older 2 children like it, so far, and I believe it will provide solid explanation and understanding for Math and for its use in life.  As well, we are beginning the Apologia Elementary Science series; we are starting with Zoology I, which is the "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day".  I believe this too, will be a blessing to us.  Either of these resources can be used independently by my oldest, but are wonderful for my son (6) as well, and will continue to be recycled through the rest of our children.  They fit in beautifully with our teaching philosophies and are planned enough to reduce my work, yet still offer flexibility so that we may tailor the work to our family and schedule.  Praise God!  It is a relief to find materials which work so well!

I still hope to post more about some "green" living changes we've made...I haven't forgotten.  Of noted importance, though, is the fact that we make changes in order to respect God's creation and to be better stewards of all that He has entrusted to us.  The "chicness" of "going green" is a disgust and is evident by many Hollywood stars who embrace the language but do not live up to the lifestyle changes!!  I do not want to jump on a trend, but rather, to make changes within our home which will glorify God in the way we live and so that we are able to train up our children who will lead the next generation. 

I mentioned, at the beginning, the cooking/baking I'm doing.  This truly is an ongoing effort on my part, in order to spend our food dollars more wisely and to nourish my family with a healthier diet...a benefit is that I can reduce packaging that is waste, and, compost the kitchen scraps easily.  Just another area of homelife we've focused on.  I have always cooked and baked, but we are more committed, as a family, to eating at home these days.  To avoiding fast food meals or take-out.  I work harder to plan menus, to start dinner early in the day, to bake regularly so that we avoid satisfying a sweet tooth with chemical-laden junk.  We are able to incorporate better foods into our diet and keep out the "crud" which pervades much of society's current eating habits.  With living costs on the rise, it has become of utmost importance in our household, to spend wisely!!

“Please understand, I am used to a different sort of preparation. Where I come from a proper meal is the result of reflection and study. A recipe is merely a theme which an intelligent cook can plan each time with variation. Several courses are served. Menus are often prepared days in advance, timed to perfection. It is said, without the culinary art, the crudeness of reality would make life unbearable.”

~movie “Kate and Leopold”, 2001—character speaks of the ‘Victorian era in which he lives


I love that quote! It sums up a large part of what we homekeepers do for our families. As my own family grows and my children age, I find it increasingly important to spend time planning menus. I need to do this for my own daily sanity, but also, for our budget’s sake. I wish to be deliberate in feeding my family as nutritiously as I am able, within my budget and our individual tastes, and at the same time, I wish to give my children dinnertime memories. Table time. Tasty desserts. A home which smells of home-cooking or freshly baked cookies. Is my family not worth the extra effort of providing home-cooked meals that are thoughtfully prepared? Is it not possible that dinnertime can indeed be the positive force in a negative world?

1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (NIV) In fact, the Bible has much to say about food; from the Old Testament laws regarding food, to the New Testament freedoms and responsibilities. Jesus spent the end of his earthly life celebrating Passover with his closest friends, His Disciples. Food was very much a part of His culture; the Biblical Feasts were centered around the table. Meaning was applied to various foods during these Feasts, in order to remember the Jewish history. Tradition was established and solidified so deeply that it is still honored today!

Those of us who wear the name of Christ may partake of Holy Communion by eating and drinking in remembrance of Christ. Therefore the physical act of eating takes on great spiritual significance. During this time, we are invited to dwell upon His sacrifice, to become His friends as we share in the last meal, even today. We become holy as He is holy, through the confession and cleansing act associated with Holy Communion. We become one with Our Christ through the act of eating His body (bread) and drinking of His blood (wine or juice).

Hospitality was an important part of the culture in Jesus’ time. In her book The World Jesus Knew, Anne Punton reminds us that even enemies were to be treated as guests if they came to a home for food.

Perhaps this is why church ‘pot-luck’ dinners have been popular for decades. A time to gather with our Community of Believers for food and fellowship, thereby nourishing our spirits and our bodies! Is this not worth an amount of effort to prepare a homemade casserole to take? Or a fresh batch of brownies?

In Portrait of a Lady Henry James said “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”

Who can argue with that? If you doubt it, brew a pot of tea (or coffee), find a sweet treat (a cookie perhaps, or a banana muffin), and sit down to enjoy a few moments. If you want to encourage conversation, invite your children to join, pouring them mugs with mostly milk and a splash or two of coffee or tea.

And so, we might easily realize that throughout history, the act of eating and drinking is more than simple physical nourishment. We may be nourished in our spirits as well. Within this context, our meals at home take on more importance. Time around the table may become the life-force of a family; the time to gather, visit about their days...many even do daily Bible readings at the table. This is a sacred time; a time to connect. As Mothers, we can truly set the tone for this time together, by preparing meals worthy of savoring. Even if it comes from the freezer (our prepared “stash”, remember?), it can still be tasty. Perhaps we can spend extra time preparing a fresh dessert.

I realize that not every day works like a clock, and I’m not suggesting it will! In our home, I usually do well in homeschooling, but laundry or meal preparations suffer. Or vice-versa. But it is worthwhile to plan for, and strive for, a proper dinnertime as many nights a week, as I can manage. And certainly, when eaten together as a family (without the TV!), even sandwiches can offer nourishment. Try adding a pitcher of lemonade, and watch the children light up! Or I may toss a fruit salad together, rather than serving a side of potato chips.

Take the time, for meal time!