Making a House a Home ~ Building a Refuge

Webster's defines refuge as a "shelter (a.k.a. something that covers, protects or defends) or protection from danger or difficulty". Other definitions include "a person or thing that gives shelter, help, or comfort" and "a place of safety; shelter; safe retreat". I was amazed as I thought about this! Part of my job as homemaker is to create a place my family feels secure, safe, and comfortable.

The old saying of "It's a jungle out there!" just about sums it up. It's harried and busy, and sometimes harsh and unkind. Our family needs a place to recuperate from a long day, and that place is home.

On a particular stressful day, my husband staggered in the front door, saying, "I knew if I could just get home, everything would be all right." Our home became that place of refuge for him. He needed the restful, calming atmosphere to unwind and refresh himself.

Even though we are a homeschooling family and my children are at home most of the time, I still need to create a place of refuge for them. A counselor reported that "a secure home life tends to reduce frustration and uneasiness in a child's life, and it gives them the ability to cope with pressures more effectively".

Oh, to build a home that strengthen/renews my family ~ to set up a place where hearts are renewed and souls are refreshed! What an amazing opportunity we're given as homemakers!

Making a House a Home ~ Creating an Atmosphere

We all know this verse in Proverbs ~ "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands." Have you ever wondered ~ like me ~ what does it mean, exactly?

The verb "to build" actually means to make and to set up a house. This doesn't just imply the physical structure and upkeep of the house, but also to the family. That got me to thinking ~ how much more do I spend my time building (the upkeep) my house instead of building (nurturing) my family?

"Although the Hebrew word for "house" and "home" is the same, "home" is the preferred word here. This verse... speaks of home building; the knitting together of family and the day-by-day routine of creating a happy and comfortable place for a family to live." (Robert Alden)

I am the one who sets the mood and maintains the atmosphere inside my home. To be wise, like the verse above challenges, I have to diligently and purposefully create that atmosphere. I can't just hope it will happen on its own.

In her book "A Woman After God's Own Heart", Elizabeth George states that creating the atmosphere in our home is like using your thermostat to regulate the temperature inside your home. As the home manager, we are that thermostat, and we have the responsibility to set the ideal, comfortable temperature for our family.

Do I want the atmosphere to be warm, cheerful, loving, positive, and constructive? Then I must get my heart temperature right first! How can I possibly give away what I don't possess? Choosing to get up earlier to spend time alone with the Lord will help me to cultivate a heart like His.

Now, I have to "go to work to maintain the comfort in my home." Mrs. George writes, "If things start to get hot (hot words, hot tempers, hot emotions), I {must} set about to bring in cooling, soothing words ("a soft answer turns away wrath" ~ Proverbs 15:1) and words of peace ("the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" ~ James 3:18).

Likewise, if things start to cool off (cold hearts, cold feet, cold shoulders), I {must} go to work giving a good word which makes hearts glad (Proverbs 12:25), remembering that "a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: (Proverbs 15:13) and that "he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15)."

Even through life's many challenges, my prayer is that God will give me the heart, wisdom and the words to create a healthy atmosphere in my home!

What is a Homemaker?

I've not posted in a while, because, quite frankly, I haven't really had the desire to. It was just one more thing on my never-ending "to do" list. Besides, I felt as if I'd gotten away from the main idea of this blog, which was to encourage my fellow sisters who are homemakers.

That got me thinking ~ what exactly is a homemaker, anyway? A homemaker is more than just a stay-at-home mom or the wife who takes care of her house by keeping it clean and organized. Yes, those things obviously come into play, but it's so much more than that. I want to not only make my house a home, but I want to love it and those I care for.

Beginning tomorrow, I want to share practical as well as spiritual ideas for homemaking.

Also, since I homeschool my three kiddos, I've decided to begin a new blog devoted to their schooling. It's called The Homeschooler's Haven. The link is in my sidebar under "Places I Visit". Feel free to stop by sometime!

Happy New Year!

Can you even believe it's 2011? I remember when, as a teenager, I couldn't fathom the year 2000 ~ Why, I'd be 32 years old! That seemed to be SO far away ~ so far removed from where I was ~ yet here we are, eleven years later, no less!

Happy 2011! Time for resolutions, time for new directions, time for change. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for my family in the coming year and how we will grow ~ hopefully closer to one another as we strive to move closer to our Savior!

My Absolute ~ Favorite ~ Bread Recipe

A good friend of mine gave me this recipe for bread many years ago. It's also known as "Tupper Dough", a bread dough that you make in a large Tupperware bowl. Without further ado, here it is! :)

Ingredients:

9 c. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 c. milk
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1-1/2 c. cool water
4 eggs, beaten
2 packages dry yeast (not rapid rise)
2 sticks butter, melted

Directions:

Measure out 9 cups flour into large bowl. Make a well in the center. Meanwhile, scald milk and add sugar and salt. Stir to dissolve. Add in cool water and eggs. Pour into well of flour, and sprinkle dry yeast on top. Let sit in warm place for 1 hour.

Pour in melted butter and stir well to combine. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until dough is a firm ball. Let sit in a tub of warm water (I usually fill my sink with hot tap water halfway up the outside of the bowl) for 30 minutes. Punch down dough and let rise another 30 minutes.

Form into rolls or loaves and let rise another 30 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden. Brush tops with butter.

For cinnamon rolls, roll out dough and sprinkle with brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Add chopped pecans if desired. Slice, place in pan, and let rise/bake as suggested above. Frost with cream cheese icing!

Cream Cheese Icing:

6 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 c. softened butter (no substitutes, please!)
2 t. vanilla
4-1/2 to 4-3/4 c. sifted powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add in 2 cups of powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in enough powdered sugar to make frosting spreading consistency.

* Both of these recipes can be halved if necessary. *

It's Almost Christmas!

My goodness, sisters, it's almost halfway through December, and only a week and a half before Christmas! Where has the time gone?

I've been reminded these past couple of weeks to savor the days we have, for we'll never get those moments again. My grandmother passed away November 28th ~ the day after she turned 93 ~ she was fortunate to still be able to think clearly and was, in reality, healthy as all get out. Her body was just tired and worn. I tried to imagine what it would be like to have been able to have all those years of life. What a gift! 93 years ~ 34,690 days ~ 832,560 hours ~ 49,953,600 minutes ~ 3,126,216,000 seconds/moments that affected the lives of so many people!

On the other side of the coin, Preschooler turned four on December 11th ~ just seems like yesterday she was a tiny baby ~ now she's singing scripture songs, writing her name (On her pink walls with a blue sharpie pen!) and learning cheers for her latest gig, an Upward cheerleader. She's completely adorable, fearless, funny, smart and absolutely precious ~ and I'm completely smitten with her!

I'm reminded that because of Jesus, we are given an abundant life, and as Christians, we should live our lives to the fullest! That said, I ask myself ~ how am I using the moments I have left in my life that will affect the lives of others ~ especially my husband and children?

An old song sums it up well, I think ~

It matters so little how much you may own.
The places you've been, or the people you've known.
For it all comes to nothing when placed at His feet,
It's nothing to Jesus,
Just memories to keep.

You may take all the treasures from far away lands,
Take all the riches you can hold in your hands.
And take all the pleasures your money can buy,
But what will you have when it's your time to die?

Only one life, so soon it will pass,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one chance to do His will,
So give to Jesus all your days,
It's the only life that pays
When you recall, you've had but one life.

Simply Farmhouse Chicken

Just tried this new recipe and all three kiddos loved it ~ 3 thumbs up! Super easy & very tasty!


Preheat oven to 350.

2 bone-in chicken breasts, with skin
olive oil
salt & pepper
1 T butter
1 medium onion, diced
4 celery ribs, diced
4 T butter
4 T flour
2 c. milk
1 pkg. chicken-flavored stuffing mix, prepared according to directions

Spray baking sheet with PAM. Place chicken breasts on baking sheet and drizzle olive oil over the tops. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Roast chicken breasts for 30-40 minutes or until juices run clear.
While chicken is roasting, make stuffing mix and set aside to cool. Saute onions and celery in 1 T of butter until translucent and softened. Transfer to a bowl. In same saucepan, melt 4 T butter and add in flour to make a roux. Cook for about 1 minute, then add in milk. Cook until thickened.
Once chicken is roasted, pull back the skin and cut out the meat. Cut into bite-sized chunks. Add to white sauce, along with onion/celery mixture. Season to taste.
Pour chicken mixture into greased 8x8 square pan. Top with prepared stuffing. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.


* I got the idea of roasting chicken from Ina Garten, aka "The Barefoot Contessa". Roasting the chicken this way makes it SO flavorful & juicy ~ it's worth the extra trouble!