Warm Hearts at Home

"We must live for each other. We must gain each other's heart by giving just what we expect to receive...We must deny self and live for one another...Friendships in our own home, to be deep and true and heart-satisfying, must be formed by the patient knitting of soul to soul and the growing of life into life..."

~J.R. Miller, Home-Making p.151

Daily, my family works on building and strengthening friendships and making memories with each other. There are wonderful times of happiness, sharing, joy and giving. But we are terribly imperfect...resulting in times of disagreement, harsh words, misunderstandings and the like. We are each human...battling *self* constantly. Home is the place where we should be working even harder to bless and encourage those around us with kindness and nurturing words. Home should be a place of love and refuge. A safe place for all to find shelter from life's storms.

Loving speech should be the tone for the whole house...starting first with the parents and how they talk with each other and with the children. You will find, children will respond to each other in a way similar to how they see *us* conversing with those we love. Of course, they are naturally prone to be selfish...which can cause quarrels among the children. This is where parents must come in with firm, yet gentle, words to teach. Expect immediate obedience...for it is necessary for children to honor their parents (for wonderful wisdom on this, I encourage you to read The Mother at Home by John S.C. Abbott which you can purchase HERE or read online HERE.).

"The blessed influence of loving speech day after day and month after month is impossible to estimate. It is like the falling of warm spring sunshine and rain on the garden, causing lovely flowers to spring up in every nook and corner, and filling all the air with sweet fragrance. Only beauty and gentleness of character can come from such a home."

~J.R. Miller, Home-Making p.186

Do you eat supper around the table together...or do outside social events make it that you can't? Is your schedule over-loaded, not allowing for the simple (and important) ritual of dining around the table together each evening? Is there anything you can cut back on, to allow at least a few nights of this form of togetherness? You will be so glad you did. I will be reviewing a DVD from Franklin Springs called The Family Meal Table by Nancy Campbell, soon. I look forward to sharing *more* with you on why this tradition is such a benefit to the lives in a family!

"The table should be made the center of the social life of the household. There, all should appear at their best. Gloom should be banished. The conversation should be bright and sparkling."

~J.R. Miller, Home-Making p.187

The value of your home doesn't come from how much it cost or how many improvements you have done to it. It doesn't come from how many costly items you own or the money in your pocketbook. The home value comes from the hearts of the people who live inside. As mothers, our roles in nurturing and caring for those hearts is significant (for our husbands *and* our children...as well as our own!)! This is a difficult task...and I am striving (and oft times, failing), daily. But all we can do is try our best, consistently going back to God for His strength and wisdom...in His Word and through prayer!

I have some photos, here, of some simple moments and places around my home...nothing perfect or "impressive" according to the world's standards...but we *are* a family full of love, working daily to serve each other and live as selflessly as possible (a constant learning process). :)

Chris and Xavier, raking the yard after mowing...

The now-empty chicken coop and run...a soon-to-be home for our littlest chicks (and also, there is my Ruthie, aka: Ruthers)...

Jack-the-cat...always at my side while out and about outdoors...

Many liked the scripture rock my mom had in her garden. I wanted to share the one she had gotten me, years ago!

And, just a few photos from inside...

Jaxson, tuckered out after a long day...

I wanted to share with you also, before I go, about the fawn I mentioned HERE. A friend recently advised me on some of the proper things to do if you ever find a fawn. I found THIS site which has some great wisdom. It's a good thing to take a look over so if you find yourself in a similar situation, you will know the right steps to take!

Today, thankfully, the rain has come and is giving our vegetable garden a good drink! The children have spent time playing Legos and are now watching a movie. I have done some housework and have some dough rising. I have a dentist appointment, later, to see if we can figure out if this mouth pain is from my jaw or my left wisdom teeth (since I already had my right ones out). I am hoping we find some answers...this is just miserable! Thanks, so much for all the prayers!

I also wanted to tell you that I truly enjoy reading your comments and emails. I love when you share snippets about you and your life, memories or anything you want to share. Please never feel that you bother me by what you write....it is wonderful to *meet* you and learn more about friends!

Thank-you for stopping by to visit!

Warmly,

Katy

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."~Marie Beyon Ray