We opened the can of worms. We allowed ourselves to dream of living elsewhere. it looked like it might even turn out how we thought but then it didn’t. How to put the worms back… you can’t.

For the entirety of our marriage ( nearly 10 years) we have lived in our tiny 800 square foot home. It started out spacious enough for 2. Over these 10 years however, we have become 5. Not so spacious anymore but we have figured out how to fit. I guess playing Tetris through high school may have actual been a benefit.

We’ve been waiting for the right time frame to make the next move for our family. It looked like it was that time and everything started to fall into place. Until it didn’t. All the doors seemed to slam shut and God seemed to tell us “Stay put… for now.” We knew it was all for a reason and are thankful for the Lord’s clear guidance. But… I started dreaming. Add in other life events and disappointments, I’ve been finding it really difficult to find contentment back in my tiny home and fulfilling my homemaker role in it. Oh the worms…

I don’t need sunbursts or marble halls… I just want you. – Anne of Green Gables

Here are some things I’ve been doing to try and get back into the groove.

Sometimes I just need to take care of what I have. A good cleaning, purging, or rearranging can make any space feel fresh and rejuvenating again. I’m a strong believer that because as a homemaker I’m in the house most of the time it should be a pleasant place to be. Both in looks and mood.

Focus on corners and little areas that you can make cozy and beautiful for you. It doesn’t have to be much. A little plant here, some thrifted treasure there, and maybe the odd family heirloom or gift from someone special. These things can make all the difference especially if a full house makeover is out of reach at the moment. Our houses do not need to be social media perfect to be a wonderful home. It’s allowed to have imperfections, broken parts, and outdated pieces. After all we as humans are allowed to have these things. It adds character and charm. St

Make a plan or a list. Writing down a few key things I need or want to accomplish in the day helps me stay focused. Having a plan for supper is also a big help. Just knowing that there is a plan takes a lot of the mental load off of those more challenging days. Planning rest time or time to do something relaxing can help me get through the day. Sometimes you just need to recharge before you carrying on with what’s before you.

Setting the tone with music, podcasts, what I’m seeing on social media goes a long way. What we take in will influence what we put out. Ensuring you take the time to fit in Bible reading will make all the difference also. It does NOT have to be an entire hour sat in complete silence. That will never happen with children around. Anything is better than nothing. Even just listening to an audio Bible can be enough to help you through this season or day. Just because it might not look conventional or how someone else insists it should be, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Do what works for you so you have time with the Lord.

I need to remember my childhood dream is exactly where I am now. I always wanted to raise my children and take care of my home. I need to remember not to squander this time. It’s so easy to get distracted by the messes, the work, the mundane parts of it all. Lets not forget to seek out the joy filled parts of homemaking.

Connect with other women. The Bible encourages us in this. Yet even with all our social media platforms, homemaking and motherhood can feel very isolating. Invite someone over. Met up with someone. Send a message. Write a card. Call someone. Remember if you’re feeling lonely, someone else is also feeling exactly the same.

When nothing else seems to work, focus on someone else. There is one guarantee this world has, someone else always has it worse than you. Make a meal for someone, offer to watch someone’s kiddos, or run errands for them. It doesn’t even have to be someone outside your household. Just do something for someone else. A lot of the time our bad mood or funk is because we are focused on ourselves. Remove the focus from ourselves and suddenly the doom and gloom clouds begin to part.

The dishes will always need doing, the messes will still be made, supper will always need cooking. However, the promise is each day can be beautiful and glorious when we put our efforts of homemaking, to serve our families and most importantly our Lord.