In My Romanticizing Life Era
In a world that feels rushed and hurried, I want to be in the slow and steady. In a world full of convenience items and store bought, I want more of the #homemade and the thrifted. In a world with more plastic and paper, I want the old porcelain and rusty.
It’s okay to romanticize life by bringing back the ways of the yesteryears and to embrace the joy of home. Use the pretty dishes, set the table, wear the pretty dresses and bake the fresh bread, all “just because.” We don’t need fancy holidays or important dinner guests in order to break out the fancier dishes or fabric napkins. My girls truly enjoy setting the table with our “fancy” napkins and dishes. It’s been a treat to them and while we do not do this every night, we are starting to do it more and more. In our home dinner together happens for nearly every meal, only with the exception of a few sports nights we may not ALL be together, but most of us are. Dinner together without devices is a must.
I’m also in a season of wanting to embrace my femininity and head back to the ways of beautiful dresses and floral patterns. It’s not that I don’t love a good pair or jeans or a cute pair of shorts during the summer, but I find something uniquely captivating about embracing life and our regular day from a beautiful outfit, such as a floral dress or top. There’s something “old” about it and it reminds me of a time where women were modest, feminine and stylish, yet also tended to all of their duties in the home and the yard. A beautiful dress didn’t hinder their day in the garden or in the kitchen. I’m realizing more and more that when I keep my dress on for the day or wear pieces that feel more feminine, I feel prettier and much more put together; I suppose Ma Ingalls knew what she was doing! And in today’s times when there’s a war on women, we should embrace our beautiful femininity and show the world a true, God fearing, modest and virtuous woman.
I also think there is something to be said about learning life skills and traditions that were once a staple in the past. Everything from baking bread to canning garden produce and building a fire, to making your own cleaners or apothecary, these traditions are important. When the traditions are no longer passed down, the skills are lost and we begin to rely too heavily on convenience and the system. There’s something powerful about learning new skills that feed or take care of your family in all seasons. While sometimes I struggle to involve my kids for sake of peace and quiet, I know that involving them in the process means that they are learning valuable life skills.
So I think we should embrace more meals together and read more old books over devices. Grow the gardens, attend the church services and sit on the front porch just to rest. Use the pretty dishes and indulge in the fresh baked bread or cookies. Pick all the flowers and fill all the vases. Sing all the hymns and play all the records. Watch all the sunsets with bare feet in the yard. Have all the bare foot babies and teach them all the ways of the past. Even when the calendar may be full and we have all the activities, slow down enough to rest within the haven of home. Bring back the traditions of the past, and teach all the life skills to our children.
Because I don’t know about you, but I kinda think they had things more figured out way back when, on finding a peace and beauty in the slow and steady. Romanticize life in a way that promotes peace and joy and embrace the home and all of your unique and priceless traditions and roles within it. If there was ever a woman I wanted to romanticize my life similar to, it would be that of the Proverbs 31 woman (and maybe Ma Ingalls too).
Cheers to embracing the feminine touch that the Lord blessed us with to tend to our homes, our families and to exude beauty to all around us.
JMJ+
Sasha