My Mother-in-law called me last night all excited about sharing with me this new website that she came across. I checked it out, and it’s SO COOL! There are TONS of great ideas on there from homemade cleaners, homemaking tips, organizing, frugal living, cooking, crafts, gardening… EVERYTHING that I am so into right now. It’s called TipNut.com, check it out!
Thanks so much to my friend Joy at A Joyful Keeper for sharing this website; now you can all read this book for FREE! And be sure to check out my book review if you missed it. Thanks Joy!
* Thanks to my friend Joy in Australia who just informed me that you can get a free copy of Henry to download and print at this website. So now you can all read it, for FREE! Thanks Joy!
Well, I’ve finally finished this book. It’s a pretty thin, paperback book. I vowed to read it in one night, but my eyelids had a different plan. I have to say that when I did finally put it down, and even throughout it, I was filled with sorrow and inspiration all at the same time.
The story is about the life of a man named Henry. The setting begins back in the ‘good old days’, before electricity and paved roads or even automobiles; when men farmed the land and gathered around the porch of the one local General Store swapping pocket knives and stories. Life was slow, and good. Henry and his wife Esther lived on the land that had been in Henry’s family for many generations, in the humble little home that had been passed down to him.
They were happy, content with life. Their young children were full of wonder and curiosity, and loved exploring the land and pretending wild adventures. In the evenings they would all gather together in a darkened room, lit softly by four oil lamps, one in each corner, and Henry would make up fantastic stories as the children sat wide-eyed leaning on his every word. Before tucking the children into bed, they would all gather around as Henry read to them from the Bible and they prayed. They lived simply, with only a few pairs of clothing each, which made washing day easy for Esther. They owed no man anything, and worked only to sustain themselves. It was a humble, fulfilling life, and they were very happy.
Then “progression” came to town. Modern “conveniences” were being pushed onto this family. First a paved road through town, then cars, electricity, indoor plumbing, telephones, insurance agents, household appliances, television, department stores and credit cards.
I don’t want to give away the whole story, but Henry suddenly finds himself trapped: a slave to that which was supposed to liberate him, he had “prospered into poverty”. These “conveniences” that were supposed to bring them “the good things in life” really ended up taking away all that they had enjoyed about life.
I would love to go into more detail; believe me, I could go on and on. But I really want to encourage you to find this book somewhere and read it yourself. I have to warn you though, it will make you reconsider all that you think is so valuable in your own life. Adelia told me that after her husband read this book was when he decided to quit his blue collar job and they began living off the land.
Before I read this book I found myself wondering how Adelia could live without such things as a steady income and the internet. I thought to myself, “Wow, if she only had the internet it would be so much easier for her to find recipes and herbal remedies than sorting through all of her books.” Well, now I completely understand why they have chosen to live this way. And I have to say that her way of living, humbly, simply, is becoming more and more appealing to me.
I’m sure I will have much more to say on this topic of living more simply in the posts to come. But since this is just supposed to be a book review I’ll leave it at that. I do hope that you are able to read this thought provoking novel. A forewarning though, the ending chapters of the book are a little overwhelming, and I dare say even fanatical (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). I could only swallow so much of the author’s venting, but the story itself is enough to get your wheels turning.
I hope that you are able to share this challenging book with me. I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve read the book. How were you inspired? How did you see yourself in this story?
The past three weeks I have been reading through a number of library books that I picked up on the subject of homemaking. Since I often feel that I know virtually nothing about homemaking and am trying to improve in this God-given role, I am on a hot pursuit to learn everything I can about it and have been devouring every book I can find on the topic.
I have found that is often hard to find good suggestions…even on the internet(!)…for good homemaking books. So…I thought I ought to do some quick reviews on these books for anyone who is looking for some good books on homemaking. So here they are!
Handbook for Christian Homemakers
This was probably my favorite book of the five as it was the most down-to-earth, balanced and practical book that I had read. Edith Kilgo opens the book by emphasizing that no homemaking method is right for everyone and therefore, homemakers should not be concerned with what “So-and-so” is doing, but should be doing what is best for her own family – to create her own style and her own plan (sounds good to me!). After reminding the reader that the house will never be completely spotless, that schedules will never be perfect, and that things get out-of-whack, she gives details on how to cut down on those things as much as possible and how to get your home running smoothly.
The Family Manager
At the onset of reading this book, I was taken aback by her approach to homemaking as something professional…almost corporate-like. I wasn’t sure that I liked that, but couldn’t put my finger on why. As I read on, I realized that her main point was that homemaking is no less of a responsibility than being the CEO of a large organization – it takes discipline, devotion, organization, time-management and…well, you know. Throughout the books she gives instruction on how to manage your home in every respect: food, cleaning, schedules, recreation, and so on.
The Stay-At-Home Mom
If you are wondering whether you should say goodbye to your 8-5 day job and become a stay-at-home mother, this book will motivate and inspire you to give your two week notice! Donna Otto does a wonderful job of explaining God’s call to the mother to disciple and care for her own children and to raise them up in the Lord (a task that no one could do as fervently and passionately as you could do). She really hones in on our ministry as mothers and encourages mothers to remember that “every glass of cool water” that we give to our children and “every scraped knee that we bandage”, we are doing it as if it were to Christ Himself and the Lord is well-pleased with that. She also gives wonderful advice on supporting your husband as a homemaker, being a mentor, managing your home, making money at home, and saving money at home.
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life
This is a book that I will be getting a copy of for myself. Deneice Schofield is an organizing genius (at least, I think so!) and teaches solid organization principles that will get your home into shape and set up for smoother sailing. Not only does she teach you sound organization principles, but packs the book full of practical ways to get your home, schedule, and family organized.
Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges
This is more of a resource book with step-by-steps on how to organize practically anything in your home that you can imagine. If you need to organize your closet, it’ll give you instructions on how to do that. In this book you’ll find how to organize each room in your home, your finances, time and home life. I found it to be a wonderful resource and can’t wait to organize some of the projects that I’ve been putting off!
Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God (see review here)
The Art of Homemaking (see review here)
I’ve seen other titles out there that I have not read yet, or been able to get my hands on, so if you’ve heard of or read any other good homemaking books, please comment!
Image from everystockphoto.com
Tags : homemaking books
After reading Passionate Housewives Desperate for God (see my book review here), I was able to get my hands on another book called The Art of Homemaking
Well, I found a copy…and I’m so glad I did!
While this book did not have the same soul-stirring, heart-warming, “go-get-em tiger” sort of feel that Passionate Housewives did, it did offer tons of practical advice on how to keep a home. It also gave me a clearer picture of what the everyday housewife of the 50’s and 60’s looked like (for example: the author even gives instructions to wipe the frost from the milk bottles once they have been delivered!) 
. This was very refreshing to me as I’ve often wondered how women of the past conducted themselves as homemakers on a day to day basis.
If you have any interest in gaining more knowledge in the area of homemaking, this is a must-read and I highly suggest getting a copy of your own.
You will also find plenty of illustrations and lists galore to help you on your way . I will personally be copying and formatting many of her lists to suit my every day needs. My husband and I went to the library this weekend, so there may be a few more book reviews (most likely more on homemaking…) some time in the future.
“The minimization of the homemaker’s role has been a priority of the feminist movement for decades…Hollywood would like for us to believe that a woman who stays home serving her husband and children is not joyful and content, but desperate…”
My generation is a generation of women who have been inculcated with the feminist agenda for almost five decades. We no longer have a clear picture of what a “homemaker” truly is (or is meant to be). Granted, many of us have the idea that 1.) she stays home, 2.) she takes care of her children, 3.) she provides meals and keeps her home clean, etc, but sadly, many young women do not have a living example of what an efficient, innovative, capable homemaker looks like, leaving us at a loss for practical footsteps to follow. I just read a quote of a young lady who said, “I am only 26, so I don’t really know what it was like to have mothers stay at home as the norm” [emphasis mine].
A little over a week ago, I was on the phone with my sister bemoaning the fact that I wish I had some sort of a manual…book…anything to tell me exactly how I should be carrying out my role as a homemaker.
Thankfully, about two days after speaking with my sister, the Lord crossed my path with this book…Passionate Housewives Desperate for God.
In response to the increasing requests from my generation for help, Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald spend a good portion of this book shedding light on the destructive confusion that the feminist movement has introduced into the family unit and, ultimately, into our culture and paint a beautiful picture of what Scripture says about God’s design for women.
Here are a few quotes from the book:
“Our culture now glorifies the “have-it-all” woman: you know, the one with the ultra-slim figure, power suit, perfect hair, successful career, beautiful home, and, on top of it all, the adoring husband and two perfect children. Problem is, that woman doesn’t really exist”
“One of the strange ironies of feminism is that it isn’t feminine. For several generations, women have been told they have to be more like men, adopting male occupations, mannerisms, and clothing…while women have pursued masculine traits, men have faced pressure to soften their maleness and adopt feminine traits.”
“Home is too important to be left to itself; it is something precious to be tended, cared for, kept, and yes, guarded. God has given women a sphere that is naturally and wonderfully their own to manage and wisely govern.”
“Even those of us moms who have chosen to go against the grain can still be filled by feminism’s lies. We can be lured by the insidious notion that being separated from our home and little ones is a good thing…”
“When we recognize and fully embrace our calling, we are finally free to truly enjoy it; we’re able to experience contentment in the uniqueness of our role and achieve overwhelming victory in our homes and lives!”
“The text of Scripture is straightforward and unequivocal: a woman’s duties are to be home-centered….As families shrink…we also see the breakdown of the family and the disintegration of the God-ordered home – yet too often we don’t see the connection…her ministry is her family…being a keeper at home is a holy mission….women are to passionately undertake it.”
Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald also provide practical and inspiring insights into topics such as daily quiet time for busy moms, praying in “prayer droplets”, help for sleep deprived mothers, self-inflicted “busy-ness”, pride, perfectionism, comparing oneself to others, humility in relationships with other women, older women teaching younger women, powerfully supporting our husbands, what a keeper of the home looks like, and many other helpful tips.
I walked away after finishing this book feeling inspired, refreshed and with a renewed zeal to pour myself, with all of the fervor that I can muster, into the incredible role that God has ordained for me. May His name be glorified and His gospel furthered by my role in the home as homemaker!
I was perusing some of my old journals and Bibles and came across some of the quotes that I had written down in the past. Unfortunately, I did not always write who said them so I cannot remember the exact sources of each quote. Nevertheless, here are a few…
“Worry is unbelief on display”
“No reserve. No retreat. No regret.” – William Borden
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
“The most valuable thing we can give the Lord is our faith. Nothing else will please Him. Yet, mankind is incurably suspicious of God. Only the Holy Spirit can remedy this – though not fully in this life.” – Dr. Mark Minnick
“How often do we risk everything to chase nothing?”
“Whatever keeps me from the Word of God, however harmless it may seem, is my enemy.”
“Keep your possessions in your hand rather than in your heart”
“Until we have seen ourselves as God sees us, we are not likely to be much disturbed over conditions around us as long as they do no get so far out of hand as to threaten our comfortable way of life.” – A.W. Tozer
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” – Jim Elliot
“You may be the only “Bible” someone ever reads. Will what they see point them to Christ?”
“View your pressures no longer as burdens but as a platform for His glorious sufficiency.” – Clarence W. Jones
“We are all missionaries…Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ.” – Eric Liddell
“With Thee, O my God, is no disappointment. I shall never have to regret that I have loved Thee too well.” – Henry Martyn
“One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime.” – Jim Elliot
which looks like a lot of fun! It includes things such as Knots & Stitches, Making a Cloth Covered Book, Secret Garden, and Friendship Bracelets (to name a few). So, if you have girls that love to get outside and have fun, or just love to do crafts, this may be something to check out!
My sweet husband handed me his $75 Barnes & Noble gift card that he received earlier this year and told me to order books for our son and a book for myself! I’m SO excited! Hello shopping, here we come!
Being a first time mom and having virtually no idea what books are good for babies, I began to surf the web in search of the top 10 favorite books for babies and came across this site.
Their top 10 book lists have been put together by their teaching staff who have fine-tuned their lists over years in the classrooms and have come up with these favorites.
So…here they are, the Top 10 “Books for Little Ones”
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 Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book  by Katz KISBN 0689834705 32 pp, Ages: 0-4, hardcover; A read-aloud book for little ones How many kisses does a tired baby need?  |
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 Goodnight Moon  by Margarret Wise BrownISBN 0694016756 34 pp, Ages: 1-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book Ages 18 mos.-5 yrs. Board book. The classic bedtime story for bedtime, naptime, or storytime. |
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 Grandfather Twilight  by Berger BISBN 0399209964 28 pp, Ages: 0-4, hardcover; A read-aloud book for little ones This is the story of Grandfather Twilight, who walks through the forest each night with a pearl from the strand in his treasure chest. As he walks to the sea the pearl grows larger and eventually tak… |
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 Guess How Much I Love You  by Mcbratney/JeramISBN 1564024733 32 pp, Ages: 2-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book With endearing watercolors that capture a deep and tender bond between the characters, Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, this book seeks to measure the immeasurable: the love between a paren… |
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 Just Like You  by Fearnley JISBN 0763613223 32 pp, Ages: 1-4, hardcover; A read-aloud book for little ones Making their way home one evening, Little Mouse and his mother see other baby animals and their parents, all settling down for the night. Daddy Frog claims he’ll jump as high as the sky and bring home… |
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 Kiss Good Night (Sam Books)  by Hest/JeramISBN 0763607800 32 pp, Ages: 1-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book Outside, the wind blows and the rain comes down. Inside, it is Sam’s bedtime. Mrs. Bear reads him a story, tucks him in, and brings him warm milk. “Are you read… |
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 Olivia  by Falconer IISBN 0689829531 40 pp, Ages: 2-7, hardcover; A read-aloud book for early readers Join Olivia in a typical day, if you can keep up with her. This irrepressible little pig lives life to the fullest whether it involves building sandcastles or designing artwork on the walls at home … |
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 Little Fur Family Fur Edition  by Brown/WilliamsISBN 0694000043 16 pp, Ages: 2-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book Published in 1946, this story of a little fur child’ s day in the woods ends when his parents sing him to sleep with a lovely bedtime song. This lasting favorite is now available in a redesigned edit… |
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 The Runaway Bunny  by Margaret Wise Brown/Clement HurdISBN 0060207655 48 pp, Ages: 2-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. But no matter how or where he decided to go, his mother was always there… for she loved her little bunny very much. |
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 Time for Bed  by Fox/DyerISBN 0152881832 28 pp, Ages: 2-5, hardcover; A read-aloud book Mem Fox’s simple verse and Jane Dyer’s warm, loving illustrations combine for a bedtime book that is sure to become a classic. The book begins as a human mother begins reading TIME FOR BED. On each … |
If you have any great book ideas that I should look into, please post them here!
