The rhythm of home life.

It's amazing how I have changed. When I was younger, I craved adventure and world travel. Now, at the "ripe old age" of 32, I find that my perspective has changed completely. Theoretically, I would still like to visit many places in this big world, but for the most part, I am happiest at home.

I truly love going about my daily routine of childcare, homeschooling, laundry, cooking, crafting, and working on the family business...it's all here, all at home, in this house filled with love, where we are together. It's comforting and familiar and I feel that I am right where I belong.

The children "doing school" in the morning.

Lately, especially, since our family business has been very busy with the holiday season, I have felt so grateful to have a daily rhythm to our home life. I find it immensely helpful to have a routine to our days. I never sat down and wrote down a schedule; it's just a pattern that gradually developed over time. I enjoy following the same routine every day, trying my best to weave the unexpected happenings into our regular domestic activities. Without a routine to start with, I imagine our days would quickly get very chaotic.

Vegetable soup and grilled cheese for lunch.

I really never thought when I was a young thing filled with wanderlust, that tasks such as hanging laundry, cooking food, adding and subtracting apples with a 5 year old, or even sweeping the floor could bring me such satisfaction. But most days, as long as I can manage to stay on track with my tasks, I do feel satisfied in my work.

Jasper playing in Daddy's sawdust.

What I like the most about our home life is that with Chris currently working full time on our family business, and with the children being homeschooled, we are always together. I feel so blessed that when the children are young, we have this time to be with each other. Although  we are living in the city, and not on our dream homestead, I still feel that we have a very good life, and it's getting better all the time. Because really, nothing matters so much as being together.

Comments

[~Andrea~]

Laura, That's so true. Being together is all that matters. In the end, all we have is our memories. I think you're making very good ones.

[Citysister]

Just think about a dinner table 20 yrs from now with the kids telling stories about life as it is right now...all together and happily living life to the fullest.

[Liz]

My husband was laid off a couple months ago, too. And while the money part is stressful, I totally love having him home -- and so does my daughter. All together is how families should be. It's a little strange that this "unemployed" time is the most stressful, the most relaxing, the most productive, and the most fun time that my little family has had.

[Plain and Joyful Living]

Hi Laura,
So glad that you wrote about the blessings.. sometimes I need to do this too and when I do, I know it is all worth it.
Warm wishes, Tonya