How I became a Homemaker

I suppose we should begin with the definition of what a homemaker truly is. In my short and sweet definition, I would say a homemaker is a manager of the home. This can include all things from caring for the home, cooking, and child rearing. Being a homemaker, or even a stay at home mom for that matter was never really on my radar. However, God certainly had other plans for my life. And so my story begins…

My husband, Jon, and I were what you would likely refer to as high school sweethearts. Although there were some not so sweet moments at times (more on that story another time). I went to college for music education and voice and took my first job as an elementary music teacher. I loved and adored teaching. I completed my master’s degree in education in a year while I taught full-time. Two years into teaching I had our first son. He went to a wonderful child development center within walking distance of the school I taught at and I experienced the “best of both worlds” (or at least that’s what I outwardly said).

Less than 2 years later baby number two arrived, then baby #3, and then I was pregnant with number #4. I remember sitting up late one night with my husband and feeling anxiety roll all over me at the prospect of trying to balance four little ones under 5 and a full-time teaching position. Jon looked me straight in the eyes and said calmly, “so why don’t you just stay home?”

You see, secretly in the depths of my heart I longed to stay home with my children. That desire grew in me beginning when my second child was born but I suppressed it because I believed it to be unattainable. Honestly, I didn’t want to give up my career when I could technically have and enjoy both. There was also the dark cloud of financial concerns. But the reality is, the Lord was growing that desire in me. In fact, the more I grew in the Lord, the deeper the desire came but I never once mentioned it to Jon. My husband’s words came as a true affirmation that the Lord was definitely working here and so I obeyed his calling for my life. It was a huge leap of faith, because remember that financial concern I mentioned? Well, on paper the numbers NEVER worked out. However, we grow to learn that many things that we thought were so essential before, didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.  

I can’t even express the amount of growth, tears, laughter, joy, frustration, and any other emotion you could stick in there I’ve experienced as a stay at home mom. The pivotal point came when I discovered the role of a homemaker. I didn’t have to look far for that influence. My Grandma was an amazing example of what a homemaker is. It has been a growth experience with much refining and God is still certainly refining me now. True wisdom is from the Lord and in building our homes we should be seeking Him first and knowledge of others second. I have not arrived but I certainly have a passion for sharing knowledge with others pertaining to the subject of both homemaking and homeschooling. 

Many years ago I began a hobby blog. In the past few years that hobby blog led me to begin a YouTube channel, and now I am officially launching my website. I hate to even call it “my website.” I truly view it “open handedly.” It is the Lord’s, it is yours, and my hope is that it will encourage and provide resources. I want this feel like home. Like you could grab a cup of coffee, chat about The Lord, recipes, homeschool, and life. I would love to invite you in. May this be just as much your place as “mine.”  

 

³By wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4