Today’s blog post features a good friend and author Wendy Woolley Paul. She is a wife and mother of 3 kids with one more on the way soon! She loves baking and cooking and has written the following yummy books:
101 Gourmet Cake Bites (101 Gourmet Cookbooks)
101 Gourmet Cookies for Everyone
101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes
101 Gourmet Ice Cream Creations for Every Craving (101 Gourmet Cookbooks)
Check out some of the delicious-looking food she has created on her Facebook page! You can also learn about her gourmet recipes and upcoming sweet events on her web site.
Today Wendy shares with us “The Lost Art of Homemaking”:
I know what you are thinking. It’s the same thing I thought of too. A 1950’s housewife, with heels, pearls and a dress… and don’t forget the apron. She’s in her kitchen, dinner is almost ready, her house is nearly perfect… not a pillow or toy out of place. Her make up and hair are touched up, her kids are clean, clothes are matching and they are sitting quietly reading or playing with their siblings. She’s also made a batch of cookies to share with her neighbors, and pressed her husbands shirts for the week. Her pantry is stocked with canned fruits and vegetables from her garden. And fresh bread is cooling on the stove.
Are you tired yet? Maybe you’re feeling a bit guilty as I am? This woman has made her house appear in order. Perfect really. Which for me can be exhausting to think about. I may need to lie down and take a power nap to recover.
But this is how it used to be. Homemaking was a priority. There was time for it. It was done with a service minded heart. And it’s slowly being lost to our busy crazy lives.
Some of the distractions (and when I say distractions, they can be good things too) we face are carpools, work, play dates, sports practice and games. Manicures and lunch dates with girlfriends. Or trying to fit a date night in with our spouses. Even errands, exercise, crafting, and blogging. All of these things take us away from our homes, and take a lot of time. It can cause stress in our lives, and also give us pleasure.
So, what is the art of homemaking today? I believe in my heart, it’s almost the same. Homemaking is making your house a home. Filling it with love, devotion, fun, and happiness. Even cleanliness. Yes I said clean, But don’t stop reading just yet. Also, the most important part of the art of homemaking is in loving what we do. Because let’s be honest, it’s hard work. And it can get discouraging and takes a lot of time. And if we don’t love it, we won’t want to do it day after day.
With the time we spend on making our homes filled with love, devotion, fun, happiness and cleanliness, you would think that practice makes perfect?
I heard something that struck me a few weeks ago. It’s not about practice making things perfect. But practice making progress. This applies to the art of homemaking. For just a few hours at a time my house may be spotless. I can tell my kids I love them and give them a hug each day while I look into their eyes. I can have dinner made most nights. I can finish the laundry and put it away, only to begin again the next morning. I can play with my kids and make time for just my husband and me. I can make progress in the preserving the art of homemaking in my home. I can love what I do and realize that being a homemaker is a gift. And I am choosing to do my best. And to me that’s the art of homemaking. Making progress in something I love. Even if I don’t press my husbands shirts.
You can learn more about Wendy Woolley Paul at https://www.facebook.com/wendywoolleypaul
P.S. Remember this week’s special promotion on 40 Days with the Savior Book Bunch! You can get 5 copies for only $25! What a great Christmas gift to share with those you love!
