Whimsy is…

I have stopped visiting some of my favorite homemaking sites. It was hard for me to come to that conclusion because they are great sites. But I really noticed that it fostered a lot of discontent in my heart. DH has asked me to make building the business with him my priority after the children and before the house. I would love (I think anyway) to live a life fully at home, but it is not possible right now. I am living a life fully with my family. I consider myself a good homemaker (even if we’re not always at HOME) but a pretty rotten housekeeper. Does that make any sense?

I always hate it when people post coments on those sites about how they should be more supportive of women who are outside the home. I don’t agree. The point is to support women who are at home full time. If it doesn’t mesh with my life, I first need to check and see if God is convicting me. If not, then I need to reconsider if they are of value to me.

So I liken myself a little more like the Pioneer woman. I’m sure they missed their nice houses and way of life that they left behind. I’m sure there were days they wished they could be baking a cake instead of helping to build a homestead. It would have probably been unwise for them to spend all their time reading about their old life back in the East and making them unhappy with their new life. So I am making the choice to fully live the life I have. Not spending energy pining away after a life that isn’t mine anymore.

I knew when I married DH this was his vision for our family. He was raised that way. His father farmed and owned a chainsaw shop. His grandfather farmed and owned the local sale barn. He remembers spending lots of time at the sale barn “helping” when he was a child.

It’s only been really hard on me this last year. We expanded our operation and moved to a shop 20 minutes from our house. DMIL is helping me balance and of course God has been doing some pretty serious convicting of my heart.

God pointed out that I was spending quite a bit of time at the shop wishing I was at home. Reading homemaking sites etc. He pointed out to me that if I would fully devote myself to my duties when I am there (educating the children and running the office) I would be much more efficient and could get more done in less time. I’m also making a conscious effort to leave work at the shop and not bring it home. When I am here I am fully devoted to our home (or trying to be)

DMIL helped me figure out what DH needed from me most. She helped me see that if I got there half an hour earlier and really devoted myself while I was there, I could get out of there 3 hours earlier in the evening. We figured out that if I am there on time, every morning, he doesn’t growl when I want to leave early. She’s also helping me with meal planning so that I can serve a homecooked meal at the shop every day. (OK - most days)

Of course I can’t forget the most important thing. Spending time with God every morning. I ask Him to help me see my priorities clearly and to give me Grace. I can’t begin to explain how much of a difference that makes!

The benefits are clearly there if I take time to see them.

See…
DH and kids working on a lawnmower…

C and B working on a secret project…