Vintage Family: In The Cold of Winter

 Home should always be a retreat for the soul,

 filled with uplifting beauty 

and the shelter of each other.

 As the temperatures drop outdoors,

all things Hygge flourish within our cabin walls.

  We are folks who adore bad weather.

  Life below zero is another wonderful excuse to nestle in a cozy blanket,

 hearty mugs of tea in hand, 

and enjoy the pleasure of reading aloud to the family an extra chapter or two. 

The sweetly cheerful scene of children engrossed in a good book, 

lunch bubbling away on the cook stove,

 an abundance of wool clothing displayed 

provides a wonderful sense of tranquility 

that floods my soul on these quiet, albeit cold days of winter, 

and never ceases to make me smile.

We try to keep life simple

 by making home a refuge and retreat for the soul,  

and forging a homelife filled with all that is good and inspiring and invigorating.

 These old fashioned ideals have found a comfortable place in our midst.      

I think the enduring classics of family life are the table, 

order in daily life, 

and reading aloud together. 

 The mainstay of this vintage family is our faith.

Our ever present standby to a vintage family life is valuing what we have.  

I have found that having a functional and nurturing routine helps keep us all moving forward together and helps to limit the chaos of family life. 

 By a nurturing routine,

 I mean one that invites warmth and a sense of belonging.

 The act of lighting candles quiets and warms a room, immediately bringing life.

 I always light a candle at the table before a meal, 

and another one gracing the coffee table in the living room each morning.

Candles are *my one weakness.* 

As we gather at the table for meals,

 and this act is so very important, even for those pb & j lunches, 

we have opportunity to inspire, encourage, uplift our family,

 and give them a sense of belonging to something greater than self-

of being part of a whole,

 and of being missed if they are not occupying their place.

The table too can be a tender place, 

holding a trove of treasures, not just for the appetite, but for the soul.

  By giving thanks, another old timey tradition, 

we take a moment to open eyes and heart wide to the beauty in everyday life.  

Each day is a gift,  and to me, it should be treated as such.

It is the consistency of these little moments, 

added up, that have the most value.

The power of routine

 is that it takes us the places we most want to go, need to go..

especially when our will power wanes, we weary and are tempted to slack.

  Routine, softer and more flexible than scheduling, gives us a gentle road map for our day.

It also provides us a time and place to nurture in the midst of school, lessons, 

and all we have going on a daily basis.

Our daily routine takes us thru morning time, schooling and then lunch.

  Afterward, a ramble through the woods, 

tea time, 

more reading aloud...

because...is there any better way to gather children up than a candle, a hot drink, and a good story? 

 I think not. 

 This tradition is the quintessential mark of our home life. 

 The power of a good story shared fosters kinship, at the very least.

 My most brilliant piece of parenting advice is such: 

 read aloud to your children every chance you get.

Any time of day, reading aloud fits the mark.

Before school?  What better way to inspire them to be on time for breakfast,

 than a fabulous story read aloud to them as they eat each morning?

Light a candle, ring a bell instead of yelling that breakfast is ready.

 Smile.

There is a favorite saying  that goes:

"Life is like a cup of tea...it's all in how you make it."

 I ache for the homes aplenty that have no sense of life giving in  them, 

where the mamas dread each day, each task, 

as if raising children well is not the most essential thing a body can do. 

Want a beautiful life?  Make one.

It can be done.

  It should be done.

There is a great sense of joy and peace that comes

 from the immense effort it takes to create and carry out

 a home life that is intentional about 

invigorating people to live heaven on earth.

I believe it is what we were made to do, 

which is why it is such a satisfying work.

Sally Clarkson put it well when she stated that,

 "Where there is vision for building godly generations in the home, 

there is God's grace and energy for the task."

Twilight fades, lights dim, bringing forth the hush of evening. 

(praise the Lord, how I need it!) 

A fresh snowfall kindles all the elements of winter comforts;

 flannel, a blazing fire, comfort food, and don't forget wool socks.... 

and we, being pulled snugly around the table once again

bow our heads as Father prays...

just like in the good old days.

Vintage Family

"Grandpa, tell me bout the good old days

Sometimes it feels like this world's gone crazy

And Grandpa, take me back to yesterday

When the line between right and wrong

Didn't seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay

And stand beside each other come what may?

Was a promise really something people kept

Not just something they would say then forget

Did families really bow their heads and pray

Did daddies really never go away?

Oh, Grandpa, tell me bout the good old days.

Grandpa, everything is changing fast

We call it progress, but I just don't know

And Grandpa, let's wander back into the past

And paint me the pictures of long ago"

- Jamie O'Hara,

 sung by Wynona Judd

I continue...

"Mom and Dad, tell me 'bout when you were raised.

How did you spend your days?

I need to know for certain!

My children, they are growing fast.

If this family is gonna last

we had better do things the old fashioned way."

Paint me those pictures of long ago.

Daddy, how I need to know.

It is an upstream swim in culture so dim,

We just can't go that way.

So tell me 'bout your childhood days.

Daddy, your wisdom has given us resolve.

We are gonna pray, work hard, and love.

We won't have video games in our home,

Or let our young children have a phone.

We will eat together at the table each day,

Go outside for walks and play.

You said, "Teach your boys to show respect,

Honor their elders, do an honest days work.

Show your daughters, to be gentle and kind,

Cheerful, like grandma and you'll do fine."

Oh, Daddy, thank you for sharing with us 

"bout the good old days."

Boy Mom, Morning Rituals, Starting the Day Right

The cold wet air of February awakened my senses early, 

too early.

Yet reluctant to leave that lovely deep sleep I had been enjoying, I lingered. 

 Not a morning person, to say the least. 

 My cheerful daughter popped her head in the room to see if I would like a cup of coffee, 

and I heard the stirrings of the children: 

someone making breakfast...oh yes, today would be Jim's day. 

 I could hear the muffled giggles and squeals from Olivia and Gabe

 along with a rhythmic bump on the wall....

so surmising they are swinging in the hammock with the cat. 

 The other boys are doing the outside chores:

 firewood, chickens and other animals, starting the generator,

 and they have noises too,

usually shooting and crashing sounds,

 because, in their minds, 

they are ever in a battle-

 saving the day as all around them danger and evils loom. 

 We have 5 boys, you  know...these boy noises

 have been an ever present part of our married life, which is now nearly 29 years. 

 These boys of ours may be wild men and warriors outdoors, 

but once they cross the threshold of our cabin, 

the boy noises cease, and they are now gentlemen,

 respecting mama's need for war to stay outside.

The clatter of dishes gets me up, finally.

  Someone is setting the table, breakfast will be soon.

  All the happy clamor of our morning routines are a joy to my soul.

  I light the candles, 

we say grace,

 eat together, 

Daddy reads the Bible,

 we sing a hymn.

  Its a little early for me to sing, but I warble out a joyful song and nobody seems to mind.

  The day has begun.

  Daddy is off to the office, the older children have their work and schooling.

  I, with the younger four, gather in the living room in front of the fire

 for our morning time together.  

Poetry, Americana, and Great Explorers enliven our minds

 and give me another chance at a cup of coffee before real brain activity begins. 

Though not a morning person,  our morning rituals,

the companionship, the cheerfulness all sings to my soul,

 stirring in my heart gratitude for God's goodness, for family, for another day. 

It is the sweet and gentle start I need.

They need.

 Soon, math, reading and Bible will be completed, 

and with lunch, I will send the boys,

 and girls too, 

outside for a few hours of boy noises before continuing our school day. 

 They will come tromping in wet, muddy, swaggering, 

boasting of their conquests as we have tea and goodies. 

 I will read to them The Willows In Winter for a good long while as they settle down.

 As afternoon wears on, and all subjects are accomplished, 

when the frig and the pantry have been thoroughly pillaged, 

light has faded

 and so the forging of knives,

 the tinkering on a truck,

 the slaying of would- be assailants has come to an end,

 then, our evening begins 

and talk of current events,

 future plans of what to be when they grow up,

 games of chess and checkers,

 dinner,

 then second dinner before bedtime, 

and thus ends our day.

 This boy mom expires early and sleeps hard.

Turns out, I am not much of a night person either. 

But, then too, raising boys is hard work.

 But isn't it so true that that which is so tiresomely accomplished is worth the most?  

I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

  All the dirt, mud, frogs, worms, stitches, noise, and exasperation, 

its worth all my whitening hair and then some.

 I love raising boys.

  I adore my sons, especially when they cook breakfast!

Back In The Land Of The Living

Well, Hello There!

Firstly, Thank you so much for all the kind and caring emails during my long absence!  

What an encouragement ya' all are!

Secondly, I have had a serious extended illness since July that has really, 

really been a difficult thing to live with and get anything beyond 

getting dressed each day a possibility. 

 But, Praise the Lord, 

I am back to feeling well, and so very, very grateful to have energy, vitality,

 and reasonably good health.

So, to catch up, everything has gone along fairly well, regardless. 

 The children and my dear husband have picked up where I left off, 

doing the cleaning, cooking, laundry and anything else necessary to keep the household functioning. Meanwhile, I was posted in a comfy chair only able to give encouragement and counsel.  

They did a remarkable job but are very glad to have mama back in the kitchen, 

taking walks, able to be out and about and physically functional!  

And my, have they grown in the last 6 months! 

 Jim passed me up in height around Christmas, Ben gaining on me rapidly. 

Olivia turned 5 (Ack!) - Gabe had his 7th birthday, 

Scott and Anna came for a visit with little Mary,
Shiloh is talking in full sentences,

We got a scruffy little puppy,
Brian and I both have more grey hair,

 and Rose is home from College. 

 Now that you know everything, here are some pics.

Ben is a regular at filling the soup pot

Jim shot the buck of a lifetime

Scott, Anna, and Mary visiting Idaho

John, Michelle and Shiloh bought a little farm just a few miles down the road

Rose and a sweet friend


building an igloo

too cute!!

Blessings to Ya' all,
with the promise it won't be months before another post!

Julianne