Helen Allingham
“Frodo was now safe in the Last Homely House east of the Sea. That house was, as Bilbo had long ago reported, ‘a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep, or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.’ Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear and sadness.”
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
As a lover of great literature, Rivondell, in Lord of the Rings, captivated my attention and Sarah’s and Joy’s attention. Picturing our home as a place that remembers all the great life from eras gone by and that captures its beauty, has been one of our goals, that has given us hours and years of collecting and crafting and nurturing over the years.
A library that holds all the great books of children’s literature and classics and great thinkers, biographies and writers is a must. And now, due to Clay’s kindness to move his office to the basement, I have our library as a tea room of sorts. With comfy chairs, a tea set, art and paintings from my background all over the walls, with candle light and music–it is a lovely getaway where I can share heart-to-heart with all in my wake.
A well-stocked kitchen with all sorts of home-made recipes crafted over years of testing, with all the holiday food; food for those who are ill; birthday fare; winter-cold-night soups and breads and all sorts of healthy variety in between.
Fireplaces where stories are told and ideas discussed and children are cuddled.
bedrooms with comfy chairs and piles of books in baskets to encourage reading and quiet times and of course candles galore.
Piano, guitars, drums, flute, dulcimer–all collected over the years–some more used than others, but all for practicing producing music of all sorts.
Games and book baskets and art books and cd’s and Pandora and dvd’s from all imaginings to instruct, inspire, soothe, comfort and to stoke the imagination.
Clusters of chairs, grouped together to encourage great and close conversations–rockers on the front porch; setees and big chairs on the back deck; gatherings of chairs in 2′s all over the house to make a close meeting and discipleship time for all who are there.
And of course a bookshelf in every room, with each child collecting his own library.
A suitable place for traditions celebrated and momentous occasions retold and the Bible read, over and over and over again–to remember Him and stories of faith and heroes and courage and holiness.
This is what I have had in my heart to shape–a home that breathes life and truth and love into all who would enter–
To make sure my home, for my family and friends, is indeed the last homely house and that all that has been excellent and worthwhile over the ages is celebrated in its walls–
because everyone needs a place to belong and a home where welcome is always fresh with all who cross the doorway.
As my children have now all left for college the most beautiful part of it is when they call to say ” I miss you and I want to come home and sleep in my own bed.” To which I say “I miss you too. Come home. The door is open.”
What a beautiful picture of home!
amen!
We desired that for our home….and have worked toward that end….
Thank you for your beautiful words….
How blessed many of us are to be able to afford to build up such collections of life’s memorabilia. And a tea room in which to reflect and converse – what a lovely thing!
Just a thought for the many families for whom finances are limited, or for whom space is tight (there’s not a lot of room for comfy bedroom chairs, or a bookshelf each when three children share the second bedroom), a single book thoughtfully chosen (with a beautiful book plate naming the owner on the front page), for each child on each birthday and each Christmas, a family game or puzzle (often available in the thrift store) at the beginning of winter, and a DVD movie purchased for the family each Christmas can build a surprisingly lovely ‘library’ of memories. Photographs of children curled up with favourite community library books, or playing with borrowed boardgames, can help retain memories when the owning the real thing is not possible.
Thank you, as always, Sally, for the reminder that ‘homely’ is important and that it needs to be created.
Thank you for these suggestions, Judy! Great ideas! Blessings to you, and of course, you too, Sally!
I second everything Judy has said.
I love the beautiful picture you illustrated with your words. Home is foundation for life, such a special place, but that place is mainly a place of the heart, inner things and connectedness.
Beautiful spaces can be simple, a jam jar for flowers on the kitchen sink always brightens my day. And a little candle light instead of the real fire, which I would love one day is just as good
Creating beauty for my family is my favourite part of homemaking.
Thank you for the warm space you provide here
Just this morning, as I was making my bed, I became newly convinced that it is not only OK, but desirable for a woman to be a nurturer of beauty. Honestly, this is something I have struggled with the past few years, as I’ve seen our culture become so very beauty obsessed. I think I reacted to that by denying the value of beauty and much regarding what you have written about here. That cultural obsession coupled with the wonderful move in Christendom towards reaching out to the poor, orphanded, outcast, etc., convinced me that leading a very simple, rudimentary life was the best, most godly route. I dislike this tendency in myself to vacillate between two extremes….. though I never let myself go there in action, my thoughts are tempted in that way.
So I have to smile at this sacred echo: the Lord gently prodding me that to tend to beauty is not a vain quest (it doesn’t have to be), but a gift to the world, our families, our friends, AND then this beautiful (no pun intended) post of yours.
It is inspiration to say the least!
Many blessings,
Kara
I LOVE this…thank you! I have just recently come across your blog and I’m reading your book, The Mom Walk. I so appreciate your amazing insight and words!! I’m a young momma of 3 beautiful kiddos under 3. yikes!! We weren’t really planning on that, but by God’s grace and encouraging/life breathing/Jesus filled blogs (like this!) I’m loving this journey of motherhood. When I read your writing my heart feels comfort, rest, and hope. I light my candles, drink my tea while my babies nap, and I am free to dream & pray. I”m once again reminded that my dreams of my home being a resting place filled with love, great food, rest, music, and laughter are possible!! My best friend & I are planning on coming to a Mom Heart Conference this year…can’t wait!! Just reading your vision for it made me feel more relaxed
. thanks again for your beautiful posts, books, and amazing wisdom.
What a beautiful soul you have dear Sally! Thank you for always taking the time to ponder and think so that you can encourage us Moms to do the same. Our homes are so much more lifegiving because of you!
xxoo Deb
We are only five weeks into our homeschooling adventure and your love for literature as a family has been inspirational over the years to me. It’s been a treat to see my dreams (many planted by your words) taking root and producing the fruit of sweet fellowship and learning together as a family.
Thank you!
Wise words indeed. Thank you for reminding me of my life-long privilege to build a legacy – one brick at a time – right here at home. Love & blessings from Texas!
I LOVE this! After the Bible, you have been my NUMBER one source of inspiration about creating a lovely, relaxing atmosphere in my home. In fact, I’m RIGHT now in the midst of some painting and reorganizing. I just kinda “shopped” within my home and found/repurpose/rearranged some of the items that we already have and it has been so lovely to see what is coming out of it! THANK YOU, SALLY!
This weary mama wants to come and curl up in your house for a while! What an inspiring vision you just set before me! I love your heart and your encouragement.
While I am thankful for our current, tiny, townhome, I am looking forward to re-creating this sacred space in a HOUSE for my family. We are putting in an offer on a house that would be wonderful. It is in God’s hands and we are praying it is in his plan for us to make a home out of this house.
I so so so enjoyed this post. You have inspired me to look at my home with new eyes.
For all kinds of reasons (too many to go on about here)…
Thanks for sharing this with us.