Homemaking: Why It's Important for Teen Girls Too

           Today we have a special treat on the blog! Alicia A. Willis, published author and friend of mine, is here to talk to us about a super important topic: homemaking.

           If you think it's just for grandmas, this is definitely a post you will want to make time to read. 

           But first, let me introduce Alicia!

Alicia A. Willis is a homeschool graduate and an avid historian. From an early age she has had the desire to write family friendly, accurate books about the past. When not writing or doing endless historical research, she enjoys singing, being a church pianist, and teaching music. She and her husband live in Tennessee. She is author of Grace Triumphant, among other books.

1. What IS homemaking? Why is it important? 

           Home is a special word. It can mean anywhere—anywhere that family and friends are gathered or even just a temporary dwelling place one chooses to call home. Thus, homemaking is a special task, a privilege. It's important because the very idea of home doesn't exist without a homemaker, someone to brighten up a presence with all of the little things that make a place special and comforting.

2. What practical advice do you have for teen girls in this area?

           Learn everything you can now about caring for a home. Learn about organization, cooking, decorating, cleaning, and entertaining. Learn about the art of hospitality. All of those things—those little touches, graces, and tips—culminate and develop a person into a homemaker. 

3. What is your goal in homemaking?

           Making people feel welcome and comfortable is my goal as a homemaker (and this applies to my family first.) I think the art of homemaking is built on thinking of others. It's also built on delighting in the things God has given me to enjoy and unique way He gave me special likes, dislikes, and interests. If you think of homemaking as making other people comfortable and simply enjoying the place God gave you to live, you'll find you'll do more and more to brighten the special place you call home.

4. Is homemaking just for marriage? How do teen girls practice homemaking today?

           It's definitely for teen girls too! When I was a teenager, I shared a room with my sister. People often migrated to our room and just liked to sit and chat there. I received so many remarks on how quiet, peaceful, and fun it was to look at. You can do that too! Make whatever place you call your own a mini home. Make it a place of peace, quiet, and containing all of the 5 senses. Make sure all of the 5 senses convey a spirit of loveliness. Soft music, gentle scents, organization, and little touches of beauty (like flowers or a candle) can do wonders toward making your little space a mini home. After all, the spirit of home is not in a house, but in any place you choose to make it.

3. Do you enjoy homemaking? If so, what do you enjoy about it?

           I do. I love it! I particularly love making my home organized and smelling fresh and flowery! All-natural cleaning is fun for me, since I make my own laundry soap and cleaning sprays. I also love decorating in my own unique style (I'm something between Joanna Gaines, the Pioneer Woman, and a coffee/tea shop.) My favorite thing, though, is making the home comfortable for my husband and welcoming to my guests. I want their preferences and comfort to be above my own expectations of cleanliness or decorating. 

4. Any other pieces of advice in this area?

           Homemaking is a life-long art. It's developed by experience, reading, and looking closely at the comforts of others (and yourself!) Never stop studying or trying to make your little corner a home.

           Thanks for having me, Anna!

 I hope you enjoyed this interview! Take a minute to hop over to Alicia's blog and get to know her a bit more. Share in the comments any questions, thoughts, or stories! 

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11 Things Every Preteen Needs to Hear

A while back we had an awesome chat time on Instagram. The question was, “If you could give one piece of advice to a twelve-year-old girl as she is entering her teen years, what would you say?”

The responses were so good, I’ve decided to share them here.

About Self-Worth, Beauty, Insecurity

“Your self-worth isn’t a thermometer, it doesn’t go up and down based on your accomplishments or the approval of others. Truly know that your worth is in Christ because you are His perfect creation. Don’t fret; He has a perfect plan for you.”

“Don’t waste your time on drama and trying to please everyone.”

“God made you just the way you need to be.”

“Value yourself as a child of God.”

About Boys

“When crushes develop, don’t chase after the guy. When girls chase boys, they don’t get what they want. Instead, the guy needs to be the initiator and the girl is the responder. Don’t rush into a relationship. Wait on God’s timing and wait until you’re old enough.”

About God

“Put your focus entirely on the Lord. Strive to serve Him in every area of your life. Don’t look to clothes, boys, friends, etc. for your happiness. Jesus is the only thing that will bring you true lasting joy!”

“Keep God in mind throughout your day 24/7. Talk to Him like He’s your best friend, because He is! Read your Bible every day, morning and night. It’s better to read a little bit and make sure you fully understand it than to read a lot but not understand anything. Whatever trials you go through—persecution, friendships, boys, culture, body image, self-esteem, everything—understand that none of it matters. Live with an eternal perspective and live for the Lord.”

About Authority

“At this point in your life, I know it’s a struggle to relate to your mom, or any authority, but if you use these years right and submit to their authority in the future you’re going to have a deeper relationship with that person. The knowledge they have can be critical to helping you use these preteen years for their optimal benefit. Besides your relationship with God, the most important relationship right now is the relationship you have with your mom. She is the biggest tool to help you conquer the teen years ahead.”

About Habits/Routine

“Live each day like there’s no tomorrow. Don’t waste your time wishing you were older. You’ll be there soon enough! Live with abandon!”

“Live like Jesus loves you!”

“Develop habits of self-discipline. Learn to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). This can be applied to even getting up in the morning.Time management and discipline are surprisingly crucial to my walk with Christ because if my time management is poor or my self-discipline is poor, then what suffers is my time with the Lord.” 

What advice would you give to a preteen? What was the most helpful thing you heard as a preteen? What was your favorite piece of advice in this post? Share in the comments!

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An Open Letter to...My Sister

This is the first installment of the series entitled, "An Open Letter to...". If you would like to participate in this series, please visit the Guest Posting page!

Dear Sister,

There's a quote that says "there's no better friend than a sister." It's printed on Hallmark cards, and pillows, and art to hang on the walls. It's one of those clichés that you find when you do a Google search of "gifts for your sister" or "sister quotes." And, even though it's kind of cheesy and every sister in the world has heard it, I think it's true.

Sister, I've known you for your whole life, I've seen you grow up and develop some awesome character traits. You're so determined and strong-willed and responsible. Even at fifteen, I saw you exhibiting motherly characteristics and understanding things that were well beyond your years. 

I've been there through the good things in your life—I’m your number one fan, because I’m your older sister and I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. But I’ve also been through the hard things with you. There's no one else in this world who has experienced everything that you have, except me. Moving, our parent’s divorce, confusion—I know how you feel, because I feel those same things.

Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." We are sisters for a reason, we were born to love each other at ALL times (even those times when we were younger and we got on each other’s nerves), we were born to stand next to each other and stand up for one another and just be there when things were rough. 

I won't always have the words to say to comfort you, and I won't always be close enough to give you a hug, but I promise to always be available to listen to you, to pray for you, to cry with you and rejoice with you. Because you're not only my sister, but you're my dearest friend.

I want to say thank you—because you have taught me a lot. You are the first person I’ve loved more than myself, the person I was most sad about leaving when I went to college. You taught me responsibility and patience and how to laugh in the most ridiculous ways at the most ridiculous things. 

I hope you have learned from me as well, from my mistakes and my advice and the way I live my life. But what I hope you have learned the most is love. I want you to know and believe how loved you are, by so many people—our parents, me, friends, family. I want you to know and believe in the crazy good love of God. You are loved dearly, more than you can imagine.

I love you little sister.

Love,

   Brittanie

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