Western Press Vilifies Princess' Decision to Marry

I was looking at this story about a Japanese Princess who gave up her royal status to be married to a "common" man.


Here's what we found interesting:
If you read the Japanese report, it is very honoring and respectful. The writer actually wishes them well.

Yet, the western reporters sneer at the happy event.
If you look at anything western - be it BBC or ABC, the tone is sarcastic.

There is something to be said for manners - and the Japanese have some old traditionalist ways that are beautiful compared to the modern "progressive" mindset. Respect and good will just seem to permeate their every word. A very graceful people compared to the media over here.

First look at the Japanese Editorial and link:

Note especially the concluding paragraph, calling for decorum on behalf of the writer's fellow citizens.
EDITORIALS/ Princess Sayako weds
11/16/2005
Princess Sayako, the only daughter of the emperor and the empress, was to marry Yoshiki Kuroda, an employee of the Tokyo metropolitan government, on Tuesday.

The princess and Kuroda, who first met in their childhood, met again two and half years ago and have cherished their love ever since. We want to congratulate them on this occasion.

The marriage is the first for a female member of the imperial family since Princess Takako, the fifth daughter of Emperor Showa, wed 45 years ago.

According to imperial household tradition, formal ceremonies were held for Princess Sayako to exchange betrothal gifts and announce the date of the wedding.

But many things broke from tradition. Up until the marriage of Princess Takako, the emperor's daughters used to marry former members of the imperial family or men who had previously held titles of peerage. But Kuroda is neither of them, even though his distant relative is a former nobleman.

This is the first time for an emperor's daughter to marry an ordinary citizen.
When Princess Takako was married nearly half a century ago, Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun attended the wedding ceremony but did not attend the wedding reception. However, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were to attend both the ceremony and reception this time around.

Reportedly, Princess Sayako and Kuroda decided on their own the scale of the wedding reception and the people to invite. Their wedding ceremony plans were similar to those of ordinary citizens, by which the bride and bridegroom make a fresh start in their lives in front of close friends and family members.

Although the tradition in the imperial household is largely being followed, many among the public will welcome the wedding ceremony in which the princess's friendship with people close to her and the affection of her family members are valued.

In a ceremony to formally say farewell to the emperor and the empress, Princess Sayako said, "I am immensely grateful for being nurtured with profound love."

In response, the emperor and the empress told her to "build a happy family jointly" and wished her good health and fortune. Such words are normal expressions of affection between parents and their children in any family.

We hope Princess Sayako will be able to visit the Imperial Palace together with her family freely and have enough time to enjoy pleasant conversation with her parents, in the same way she has so far done. And no doubt the emperor and the empress will be overjoyed to frequently see their married daughter.

After Michiko was married to then Crown Prince Akihito, it was not easy for her to meet her parents. Only on certain days, such as Michiko's birthday, could her parents, Hidesaburo and Fumiko Shoda, visit the crown prince's residence.

After the acceptance by the ward office of the notification of her marriage, the princess was to officially part with her status of an imperial family member. She will become Sayako Kuroda, gaining a surname for the first time. She will have the right to vote and will be eligible for the pension program.

Although her life will undergo radical change from that of a princess to a homemaker, we hope she will take advantage of her experience working at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology.
If a female emperor is authorized through a revision of the Imperial House Law, which is currently under study, the emperor's daughters are likely to retain the status of imperial family members, even after their marriage.

Princess Sayako may become the last daughter of an emperor to leave the imperial family because of marriage. That is all the more reason the princess and Kuroda will be watched over closely by the public.

But the fact that Princess Sayako becomes Sayako Kuroda means that she will become a private citizen, and not a public figure. We should watch her and her spouse with moderation as they build their lives as ordinary citizens.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 15(IHT/Asahi: November 16,2005)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200511160091.html

Now look at this one from ABC (Typical of others.)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=1314771

I just can't believe that this lady would be so reviled for getting married! That woman who wrote the ABC artcle sure was bitter. The BBC thing was just as bad- they had a broadcast where they turned the former princess into a cartoon and danced her across the screen while proclaiming that she wouldn't have maids waiting on her hand and foot. I think the princess looks very sweet and happy with her decision. I was interested in all this because I didn't even know that japan still had a royal family. Here is some other video footage, under "princess no longer". I dont' know what commentary they have added, when we watched earlier it there wasn't any on there yet.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml

In view of what we all know about feminism, could these authors possibly be women? Or is it men who despise marriage because they might have to take care of families....I don't know. It is a mindset that is destroying our nation.

Modesty Matters

Written in 1956 -- Imagine yourself a resident of the 50's decade and read this. It is not so much about modesty, as it is about the deplorable masculinization of women's clothing and subsequently their disinterest in the home.

The Beauty of Restraint - Written by my daughter who grew up homeschooled -home discipled, and now is homeschooling and home discipling her own children. 

Hawaiian Libertarian

Summer Modesty - I wrote this to remind women that summer need not be a time of bareness, and that beautiful, loose,long  flowing clothing is quite a bit cooler than tight skimpy clothing.

Protecting Our Daughters With Appropriate Clothing - One of my most viewed articles on the good sense behind modesty.

Protecting Our Daughters - How could any father or mother in their right minds put their daughters in danger by allowing them to dress as hooks and lures to the worst elements of society? Most girls think that a predator's behaviour has nothing to do with the way a young girl dresses, but the Bible clearly states that you can be at fault too, when providing temptation or refusing to protect someone from harm.

Modest Active Wear - Don't buy the lie that women have to play volleyball in a string bikini, play tennis in a tutu, or golf in shorts. Women of the past managed to enjoy all kinds of activities without shedding their clothes as they do today.

The Deconstruction of Women's Clothing - In this post, I show how the casual clothing trend has eliminated parts such as sleeves, buttons, zippers, waistbands, collars, cuffs, and all kinds of pieces that made a garment dignified.

Modest Weddings - If you have ever attended a wedding where the clothing of the bride and her bridesmaids made you blush with embarrassment, you can understand the need for instruction on modesty in weddings.


Sunday's Breast- a writer for a prominent newspaper tells of his experience going to church and being confronted by more bare breasts and cleavage than in a bar.

Take The Modesty Quiz

Manners, Customs and Clothing

Blue-Jeans: The New Feminist Uniform?

Beauty Slideshow

Click on the title, or the link below, and go to a slideshow I've created. Although I'm not very good at this yet, I hope some day to be able to do a little online video. http://www.slideroll.com/publish.php?&s=7gx2v0qh&browse=1&start=0

A Peaceful Retreat, Part 1

This is such a multi-faceted subject, that I hardly know where to begin. To understand the elements of creating the peaceful retreat at home, I find that I must first educate the young women about its intricate value.

Why do young women shun the prospect of marriage, home, and family? Why is it boring to them? Why do they want to pursue careers instead? Why are they willing to endure the insufferable repitition of factory work, office politics, or industrial labor, instead?

I invited a young couple to my home once, for dinner. The young man was tired after a day's work at a paper mill, where he had also become responsible for a certain department and the employees. His wife stayed at home and educated their two children herself. She was also tired, but not as in need of encouragement as her husband. Because many of his co-workers were women, the subject turned to that of women working outside the home.

As he related to us his observations of the women in his department, his voice got louder and louder, and soon he began to shout.

"WHY OH WHY do they want to work, when they don't really have to?

" My job is hard and it is exhausting. If I could stay home, I would. So why won't the women stay home? There is less stress for them there. They function better there. Men need to come home to a real home that is a peaceful retreat. If the wife is gone all day, the home is anything but a retreat, for she can't put the atmosphere into it that makes it so.

" I can't understand why the women WANT to do this, when they can stay home. I don't LIKE going to work every day--why do they like it?"

Somewhere in all this ranting and raving, was some simple reasoning that always stuck in my mind. I have my own ideas about why women don't want to stay home, don't like it, are bored by it, and don't plan on becoming homemakers and leave the working world to the men. The first is education. Excuse me for daring to touch such a sacred entity, but there you have it.

While it is wonderful that women have the opportunity to be educated, to read and write and cipher, one thing I learned from homeschooling my own children, is that one has to be discerning about what one reads or listens to.

Learning and reading can be used for good, or for ill. That is basically the difference between government education and private education. Education can be a detriment to a girl's life, when it directs her into things that distract her from the things that should come second nature to her.If she spends four years in the University studying marketing, she isn't going to be inclined to be a homemaker. As the twig is bent, so the tree will grow.

Women naturally love the home, until they are trained out of it by education. Little girls play house, folding little blankets for their dolls, and playing with their little tea sets. If a girl spends many hours in college, she will either be shamed out of these early instincts or trained out of them. She will not come away from that experience more determined to have a lovely home, manage it, and guard it. She will not feel the challenge of having a good family and helping her husband in his life.

I know a woman who married a man who had nothing but a bicycle. Although she never pursued outside work, she helped her husband and encouraged him so much, that today he is one of the most successful farmers in the area that they live. He has modern barns, nicy shiny tractors and hay balers, his own gas station to fuel his farm machinery, and a brand new house with floor heating. If they chose to give it all up, they would still have enough to keep a small home and have future security. Her fulfillment was in forging a life together with him, raising their children, and pursuing her own talents. More about her, later.

For this reason, I find college education for girls very distracting, and very subversive. Sorry about that, girls, but those of you who have gone to college, let me ask you about your college days.

How much time did you spend at home, caring for it? How often did you show hospitality? Did you sew your own clothes? Did you dress femininely? How much time did you think about having a husband and how you would love and care for him? Did you dare even dream about it in the politically correct environment of the University? In however number of years you spent in that institution, was your importance based upon how you would lovingly decorate your home and how faithful you would be to your husband, or was value placed on your degree? Was your laundry caught up? Was your room clean? How often did you bathe or take a shower? Did tests and research papers take priority in your life? Did your college experience increase your yearning for a happy marriage, home, and a family of your own?Compare your education to the real life of home and family. How much of it really applies to the way you live in a home?

I spoke to a 40 year old woman the other day, who just came home from work, and is trying to adjust to managing her day at home and being a homemaker. She confessed to me that she would have been far better off to use all those years in college to learn how to run her home efficiently and learn to take care of her husband and children. Her years in college prepared her to work away from home; they did not prepare her for all the things that would confront her in homemaking. Homemaking is often mocked and scorned by the college elites.

She told me that when she was in high school and she was asked in a class what her plans for the future was, she said she wanted to be a wife and a mother. The teacher said, "You have to be something. Being a wife and a mother is not a viable career." Many a young girl, full of natural hopes and dreams about marriage, is humilated and discouraged by the educational "experts," and forfeit their right to have a beautiful life at home.

The other thing that prevents young women from pursuing marriage and homemaking as a career, is regulation. If they've gone to schools all their lives, they are used to getting up in the morning and going somewhere else. There, they are regulated by bells and time schedules which are imposed on them by someone else. They grow dependent on having someone else regulate their lives. The same thing happens at work. Life is regulated by hours, lunch breaks, shipments, order, and the like, and rewarded with paychecks.

Home is another matter. Instead of head knowledge, it requires heart. The heart is not something that is educated much in colleges. People are admired for their smarts, not for their hearts. We need to educate our girls not so much to earn a living but about good living. Peter Marshall, the US Senate Chaplain during the Truman presidency, said (http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/article_20.shtml)


It remained for the twentieth century, in the name of progress, in the name of tolerance, in the name of broadmindedness, in the name of freedom, to pull her down from her throne and try to make her like a man.
She wanted equality. For nineteen hundred years she had not been equal--she had been superior. But now, they said, she wanted equality, and in order to obtain it, she had to step down. And so it is, that in the name of broadminded tolerance, a man's vices have now become a woman's.

Twentieth-century tolerance has won for woman the right to become intoxicated, the right to have an alcoholic breath, the right to smoke, to work like a man to act like a man--for is she not man's equal? Today they call it "progress"...but tomorrow,oh, you Keepers of the Springs, they must be made to see that it is not progress.

No nation has ever made any progress in a downward direction. No people ever became great by lowering their standards. No people ever became good by adopting a looser morality.

It is not progress when the moral tone is lower than it was. It is not progress when purity is not as sweet.

It is not progress when womanhood has lost its fragrance. Whatever else it is, it is not progress!

We need Keepers of the Springs who will realize that what is socially correct may not be morally right. Our country needs today women who will lead us back to an old-fashioned morality, to an old fashioned decency, to an old fashioned purity and sweetness for the sake of the next generation, if for no other reason.


Girls going home to grandmother's house may sense that there is something different about these homes, but they think it might be because Grandma has old fashioned tea cups in a china cabinet. They don't realize that the peaceful retreat of Grandmother's house didn't get there by grandmother's education or her dedication to the business world, trying to climb to the top of the ladder. She came by it through diligent effort. It takes years and years of living at home, oberving how the family operates and watching their ways, in order to figure out how to create this peaceful retreat. Homemaking requires a woman to be self-motivated. There will be no bells, tests, paychecks, or special motivational meetings. Your education doesn't count, when it comes to creating a schedule that suits your family. No one is going to tell you when to get up in the morning, when to rearrange your furniture, and when to do the laundry. Home requires a completely different mindset. The way you approach the work at home is dependent upon your love for your family.

For those of you waiting to be lifted up into the glorious clouds of interior decorating, I'll post part 2 of the Peaceful Retreat, which includes some of the things that the woman that married the man with the bicycle, taught me. ;-)


"Aria byFirelight" by Judy Gibson

Developing Your Own Schedule

I've been asked to write something about developing schedules for home living.

Finding a schedule that suits you requires observation and experimentation. Think about your ways and your habits, and soon, you will notice a pattern. Some people like quietness in the morning, and others wake up gung-ho to go, with a raging appetite for breakfast. Each family has to adjust to their own needs. I was a breakfast person and enjoyed watching the sun rise but I discovered after trial and error that no one else wanted to get up and eat that early in the

Inexpensive Hospitality

Magazines and media make such a fuss over hospitality that it can seem to amount to oodles of trouble and leave the hostess discouraged and exhausted. Sometimes the thought of the preparation and expense of having someone over, just takes the enthusiasm and fun out of it.

In the process of showing hospitality, remember that it is the spirit, or attitude of the thing that is the most important. You love your guest and you want to do something special for her. She senses that in your warm greeting and the lack of awkwardness in showing her a place to sit and making her comfortable. "I'll be heating the tea water for a minute. Why don't you just have a look at some of these magazines and I'll be right back."

You can have a pile of the most exciting and inspiring books or magazines you can find, that will entertain her while you get last minute things done, or you can invite her to sit in the kitchen and keep you company. It is nice to talk to someone while you are doing repetitive jobs, anyway. I met one lady who kept a rocking chair in her kitchen just for that reason.

Once, I invited someone over, and my husband took off with the car before I could get everything I needed to complete the meal, so I really had to scramble to come up with something in a hurry. My guest said nothing while she was there, but after wards, sent me a gift certificate to a grocery store for some free food. That was so embarrassing. So, in trying to show hospitality "on the cheap" you have to be careful not to give any impression of poverty, or else they will feel sorry for you and turn down further invitations.

Another lady called my son and offered to buy me a heater, because she was cold when she came to visit. I had been so busy that I'd gotten rather warm, and hadn't thought that maybe she was cold, and did not turn on the heat. I was extremely embarrassed, and did all I could to convince her that I didn't need a heater, and didn't need help with my heating bill, but to this day I'm sure she thinks we are cold and starving.

So, in your attempts at hospitality on a budget, here are some of my suggestions. You have to make the table LOOK rich, with certain elements that appear to be swanky--such as anything that shines, is glittery (I've got a saying: "all that glitters is good."). Don't put frayed napkins on the table, and if you are going to splurge on one expensive item, get really nice napkins. Even the dollar store has better napkins than some discount stores. A rich looking centerpiece helps, also.

The menu can be rich, but you don't have to get the foods at an expensive store. Have one very expensive looking food--maybe the dessert can be the richest chocolate or vanilla concoction you can make, and then they won't notice that the rest is rather plain. The arrangement and the presentation is part of the expression of elegance. A mixture of long grain and wild rice can be displayed on a bed of fresh green lettuce leaves. Color contrast is important. Tablecloths and centerpieces give elegance, if they have an artistic or creative look. Look at the way food is displayed in pictures, and you can get some good ideas. For example, sometimes flowers can be put on the plate of sandwiches or scones, just to give it some color and interest.

We were invited to a woman's home who lived above a store, in a poorer area of the country, and all we had was a pizza made with a biscuit mix, but with her candles and placemats, and comfortable seating arrangment, it was an elegant meal and one of the best evenings we've ever experienced.

While I've had people over for dinners and main meals, I prefer to entertain Tea Party style, for the reason that the foods don't all have to be kept warm or gotten on the table all at the same time. You can serve anything at a tea party, only the food is usually presented in bite-style serving sizes.
People who don't drink caffeinated beverages can still enjoy tea parties, because there are no so many delicious herbal teas on the market, called "infusions" which can be anything from raspberry to lemon or mint.

The idea is to give the impression of being able to entertain, without making your guests guess that you've done it on a budget. Don't say things like:

"I would have served sauce on that dessert, but couldn't afford it. I'm on a budget." (Never admit you are poor--people might think you are mis-managing your money)

"I don't turn on the heat because I don't want to pay the high bill."

"Thanks for the compliment on the tablecloth and centerpiece. I bought them at the dollar store."

"I hope there are some leftovers for my husband when he gets home. I used up everything in the house to make this meal for you."

"I've been preparing food all day. I'm exhausted."

If you make remarks like these, your guests will feel guilty they are even eating and will put you on a list to receive food from the county food bank at Christmas.

To make your menu look rich, put gold or silver doilies on the plates on which to place their tea sandwiches and dessert tarts. Light voltives in cut-glass cups (both which come from dollar stores), which give the party a look of abundance -- but don't tell them that.

Out here in Oregon, people always offer to bring something. This is a good chance to say, "Oh that would be great. I forgot to buy the milk for the tea," or, "I just love your chocolate chip coookies. Would there be time for you to make some?" Be careful about being excessive in this, as people might say "Do you ever notice that Jill never supplies any of her own food at her lunches?" I prefer not to accept their offers, but have, on occasion, gone ahead and allowed them to bring their favorite dessert or hot dish.

The cleanliness and neatness and tasteful arrangements of accessories in the house go a long way to giving the appearance of being well supported. Be careful not to indicate poorness in any way, or intimate that your husband isn't a good provider. This is bad press for your family.

You can make little favors and gifts for your guests, but don't tell them you used the leftover paper seconds from your husband's office. The main thing is to appear to be well enough off to have people over. I'm sure the Pioneers invited people into their camp at night to enjoy what little they had, just for the fellowship and companionship that was mutually beneficial, rather than making excuses for the poor fare served.

Countryside Magazine (Nov.-Dec. 2005) has an amusing article you might get a kick out of:
"Principles of Successful Country Freeloading." It is available to read here http://warpedwoodturner.blogspot.com/

Menus to follow, so check back.

The Powerful Equation of Love

Love is a soothing ointment on the scars of life. I've seen hearts seemingly hardened like stone, soften in the application of love. There have been men who are so hostile that every contact with them seems like a war, when treated with love, the pickly bristle of hostility is removed. Like the sun shining on the rose, the fragrance of love makes the coldest heart open.

There is nothing more important than love, yet many parents spend more time and money trying to find the right college for their children, or hunting for the right job for themselves. Their supposition is that once a person is economically or socially sound, love will soon follow.

My belief is that love ought to be put first, and the external things will follow. For example, a mother will carefully show her son by example, inference, and command, how to do the right thing in any situation, no matter what the cost. When this kind of character is bred into him, and he ernestly strives to live the principles of honor, duty and nobility, the perfect job and the perfect wife will come to him.

Sadly, the world has it backwards. It believes that economics is the basis of all success and happiness and that love is an accident which strikes unexpectedly, and that those who do well financially, will have better relationships and stronger marriages.

Commitment is the basis of love, yet few people live this out, in today's divorce culture. When the many principles of love are applied, a person can get through any hardship in marriage. Some people leave their mates because of economical reasons. Others leave because their mate has changed and is no longer the person they married. Yet, commitment overrides these reasons. It seems easy to understand commitment in a job, where payment is given to the loyal employee. The job may be boring, and the company may have changed from the one they first knew 30 years ago, but people keep going to work. They rarely divorce their jobs on the same basis as they divorce their wives.

Even at work, there are presentations and video clips to inspire and encourage the employees to get along with other employees that they don't agree with. Work may be stressful, yet many people remain committed to it. Yet, at home, mates are often treated with less consideration.

We pride ourselves on having the freedom of choice, but sometimes forget that we can choose to love the person we married. Many a husband who has walked out on a marriage, has done so because he "wasn't in love" anymore. However, it is easier to "do" your way into loving someone (with good words, thoughtfulness, and kindness that you would extend even to a stranger) than to love your way into doing.

In previous centuries, mates were chosen by the families, and yet there was more faithfulness, commitment and endurance than there is today, with our free choice of mates. I've often listened to open ridicule of the families who help find mates for their children, and yet see these very scoffers failing their own marriages.

While I do think it is good to have the prospective partners agreeable to marrying each other, I do not think the decision should be left entirely up to the young couple. Marriage is too big a commitment to leave it up to inexperienced youth. The advice of parents and others is very much needed, since they see qualities and flaws that young people do not see. The decision to marry should be a combined effort of the family. Couples who have the approval and backing of their parents are more likely to have stress-free marriages.

I've seen the amazing transformation in love in many couples where the wife has learned to overlook a fault, and look to what her husband could be. Alicia Nash, in the book (can't remember the author at this point) about her husband, Nobel prize winner John Nash, said, when her husband was sufferring from mental illness, "I just try to remember what he was when I fell in love with him. He then becomes that man I married, and I become the woman who loves him."

After accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Economics, Nash himself said, "I have always thought mathematics was important, but I have made the most important discovery in my career and of my life, in the illogical equation of love. It is one thing to have a beautiful mind, but it is quite another to know a beautiful heart (referring to his wife)."

There were two young men in our congregation who were not attractive to women, nor did they attempt it. As they grew older, when young women came around asking if there were any eligible men, and these guys were mentioned, people would say, "Oh, they are just a couple of country hicks living with their parents." They were reserved, and rarely spoke to women. Many girls passed up the opportunity to offer love to these fellows, in return for the faithfulness, stability and security they could give them.

One day a woman came to me and was wanting to know if I could introduce her to one of these men, as she was looking for a companion. I called them up and told them that she had inquired after them. Their father knew her pretty well and had apprently "talked up" about her. After church when introductions were made, this man that she was interested in, became the life of the party, full of enthusiasm, laughing, etc. I'd never seen him looking better--he was all dressed up, shaven, hair cut, neat and clean. She was kind and loving in her demeanor, and he sensed it. He asked her to his home immediately, and they exchanged phone numbers. I had thought over the years that girls were overlooking this man because of flimsy surface impressions, and were missing out on a rich life with them out on their estate. The application of love...it can change people.

In the pioneer story, "Love's Enduring Promise," by Janette Oke (also made into a movie), Marty cautions her daughter not to judge a man by his looks, charm, wealth or popularity, but by his loyalty and endurance, qualties that would make him " still love you when you are old and gray." People change, of course, because that is the way life is. If we based our love on the way people changed, we wouldn't even love our own brothers and sisters or our best friends. Commitment and loyalty will see us through these changes, and keep love alive.

Today, the scene would be much different. Because of no-fault divorce laws (which are everything BUT 'no-fault'), couples aren't willing to ride over the rough spots of their marriage. Their commitment is shallow, and love is never learned by going through the dark valleys with someone. I will grant that there are legitimate reasons for divorce, but most of the time, the problems that excuse quick divorces, could be solved. The people in the Depression era survived marriage, as well as most WW I and WWII veterans. Just look at the longevity of those marriages, compared to today, and yet they sufferred far more. They had less pay, less security, fewer benefits and less communication. They had commitment that overrides every possible set back.

While it is true that people in marriage change, the commitment never should. Has your sister or your mother changed? Are they every out of sorts with life and disagreeable with you? Would you even dream of walking out and never seeing them again? One function of marriage and the family is to help each individual grow and mature spiritually by attention to the needs of others. We are all in this together, as they say. When a husband or wife goes through unpleasant changes, even if only one of the partners remains determinedly committed, the marriage can survive, and love can grow.

A Texas Supreme Court Judge said, prior to 1970, "If a couple knows they cannot get out of a marriage for any flimsy reason, they will try harder to get along and they will adjust and make life more pleasant for themselves." This is true. When you look at people trapped in elevators, you know they will do whatever they can to keep the situtation calm. They don't know how long they will be there, and their best side comes out. Somehow, in marriage, this has been forgotten.


Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

If we can understand this in the concept of Christian love, then we can apply it to marriage. When you aren't "in love" with your mate, treat him like a brother, a Christian in the church. In the church, we do not always "feel like" worshipping. Sometimes we are depressed or discouraged, but our commitment remains the same. The church members may have changed and some of them may not be exciting or growing like they should. Yet, our commitment remains the same, and we are faithful. We learn to be nice to people even when we do not know them well or are not "in love" with them. We can do the same in marriage, which is truly a love that will cover all faults.

The power of a stable marriage is the message it passes on to the rest of society. Neighbors and friends will be inspired by it. They will think, "Jim and Alice have been through this, and their marriage is still intact." Commitment is the bond that creates the feeling of love, not vice-versa. Yet, commitment is truly love in action.

What is the application of love? It is showing patience, kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness, and goodness. It is going the second mile. It is giving your cloak also. It is asking, "What is the most loving thing I can do in this situation?" It is treating the other person as though they were more important than yourself.

These things that create the composition of love - things like nobility, honor, honesty, and gentlenss, are part of the "good works"* the Bible speaks of. We are commanded to be rich in good works, and without them, we cannot become wise or understanding; we cannot mature. Working through troubles will make us stronger, better people. If you don't give up on your marriage in dark periods, you will be able to look back years later and be glad that you remained committed to the cause. Every marriage failure (divorce) is a blight on our nation, a breakdown of the church and the family, and everything that makes a country strong. You who say you are "patriotic," --did you know that saving your marriage is the most patriotic thing you can do?

When a runner enters a race, he does so because he is committed, and he loves the game. However even when the going gets tough, and even when he is so far behind that he knows he will not be the winner, he tries to finish the race. It is a matter of honor and of good character.

Can you imagine the crowd standing by the track, holding out bottles of enticing soft drinks and luring him to take his eyes off the goal; offering him comfort and ease and telling him not to endure; that he doesn't have to "put up" with the agony of the effort--especially since he isn't going to win first prize anyway? This is what our world is like when it says "you don't have to put up with this. It isn't worth it. You should quit."

I first understood this concept when I read Colossians 2: "...that no one may delude you with enticing words (persuasiveness of speech)...let no man beguile (rob) you of your reward..." vs. 4 and 18. It was then that I could imagine the athlete in competition, being distracted by his enemies so that he would fail in the game.

If you are being lured away from the prize of the high calling, you need to focus again on what is really worthwhile in life. If you divorce, you'll have a lifetime of his children, your children, our children, step grand-parents, plus, visitation schedules that will drive you crazy. The unhappiness you may be experiencing temporarily, will dim in comparison to the nightmare that is yet to come through divorce.

* Scriptures on "good works" for further study:

Matthew 5:26
Romans 13:3 (this will keep you out of the courts)
Ephesians 2:10
I Timothy 2:10
Titus 2:7
James 3:13

It is interesting to see how intricately connected "good works" are to "love."


The Susan Rios print can be purchased at http://www.cherishd.com/susanrios/catalog.shtml

I've enabled the comments, but you won't see them appear right away. They have to go through the moderator, which deletes spam posts. Please check back after you post.

See also "Here Because of Love" http://homeliving.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_archive.html

Suggestions for Decorating a Parlor in a Modest Home

In fitting up the parlor of such a cottage as this, good taste would seem to indicate that the carpet should be of small pattern, and rather quiet in color, so as to give an air of repose to the whole room.

The wood-work might be either stained and varnished, or painted in light, cheerful tints. The walls should be covered with a pretty, fanciful paper, harmonizing with the wood-work, and not large in pattern, or it would appear to decrease the size of the apartment.

The mantle-piece may be of wood, of some simple, tasteful design, corresponding with the rest of the room, and yet look far better than a cold, costly white marble affair, that will run away with much money to no purpose.

The centre-table should be a sensible, substantial piece of furniture, at which three or four people will be able to sit and read comfortably.

A well-made chintz-covered lounge, although a much more economical, and a far more comfortable piece of furniture than a modern rose-wood sofa, will be found to have an equally agreeable effect in the room.

Two or three tables of fanciful design and trifling expense, that can be moved wherever they may be wanted at a moment's notice, will give life and animation to such a parlor; and an easy-chair or two for tired visitors, besides the regular half dozen, will be found very acceptable.

Some pretty, simple engravings on the wall in neat frames, and an oil- painting or two, can be obtained at a very moderate cost. Pretty casts for the mantle-piece, or to be placed on brackets here and there on the walls, may be obtained for a mere trifle. I purchased one, for example, the other day, in New York, for twenty-five cents, full of grace, beauty, and artistic thought.

A bird-cage, or a basin of gold-fish, or a hanging backet for flowers, if there are any young girls in the family, will also help to give an air of vitality to the whole room, which should be the central point of attraction for all the inmates.

It is possible, however, if we lay much stress on these minor accessories, that some Mr. Blank may say, "This will never do. We can't have our girls fussing around with flowers, and birds, and gold-fish. They have their duties to perform, and their studies to attend to."

We will, therefore, stop here, merely venturing to remark, with all due deference, that although duties must, of course, be performed, yet innocent pleasures ought also to be encouraged, and that no study will insure so rich a reward to all concerned as the study of simple, quiet, domestic grace and elegance.

Notes by Sarah E. Mitchell: Calvert Vaux included the above comments on parlor decoration in his description of his design for "A Simple Suburban Cottage" (see sketch above). In that particular design, the parlor was to measure 15 feet 9 inches by 12 feet 6 inches. The house itself was two stories, with cellar below and attic above.

Text by Calvert Vaux, Villas and Cottages. A series of Designs Prepared for Execution in the United States, Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1857, pp. 110-111. Sketch is Design No. 1 (Vaux and Withers): A Simple Suburban Cottage from Calvert Vaux, Villas and Cottages. A series of Designs Prepared for Execution in the United States, Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1857, p. 108; Digital Editing by Sarah E. Mitchell.

Return to the Historic American Interior Design.
Go to the home page.

My comments: I like the fact that the furniture and decor is simple. When I think back to the families I've known, I am impressed with their willingness to share their homes and make others comfortable.

Things may not have matched perfectly, and they may not have been aware of any style or trend in decorating, but the house was their own, and they were proud of it. They loved it and were not afraid to display the art of their own children or the things they really liked. Neatness and cleanliness goes a long way into making a house beautiful;--not the impressiveness of the architecture or the furniture.In all, however, if one really wants to achieve the maximum enjoyment and contentment from home living, the inner sanctum of the home must be viewed with an artistic eye, looking for harmony, color, balance and theme.

Picture: "Time for Tea" by Judy Gibson. Look for more of her beautiful art at Allposters.com

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Soothing Paintings

I've got several subjects to write about but thought you might enjoy some more paintings by Susan Rios. These are from http://www.cherishd.com/susanrios/catalog.shtml

Counting Aright: Measure Birthdays by the Heart, by Mary Brooks Picken c.1920

When are we old? I know two women--one whose birthdays number seventy, the other, thirty-three. The seventy-year old one reads, studies, enjoys, goes when she can, delights in a new dress, has a host of friends, and is genuinely happy. And folks just make excuses to visit her because of her keen interest, her joy in good news, her mental alertness, and her whole-hearted friendship. The little school girl, the grandmother of eighty, the boy home from college, the new daddy, all go to see her for contact with that current of friendship that helps them to believe in themselves and stimulates within them a new interest that is joy in itself.

The woman of thirty-three is married, and has "enough to do without that."

What can we give our friends when we have shut all doors and put in storage all desire for progress? Nothing. Just nothing. And friends are entitled to more than that. Friendships, to remain permanent, must grow and thrive on interest in the new conversation, on growth in ideas, achievements, and mental alertness. But if we go mentally to sleep, we become parasites on our friends, and surely our friends have problems enough. We cannot carry them, and we have no right to expect them to carry us. And no matter how many birthdays we have, we can be made young again by a new realization that mind development, intelligence, and the ability to make progress are matters of interest, not age; of incentive, not years; and that we must build our own generating plant and work to achieve, to grow, to learn, to find good everywhere, to find delight in the every day."
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Another quote from Mary Brooks Picken" "A real gentlewoman never needs to tell you that she is a gentlewoman. Her presence speaks more convincingly than words."

Victorian Cowgirl

http://www.victoriancowgirl.com/gallery.htm I didn't forsee this blog becoming a clothing research site, but while we are on the subject, here's a wonderful place that someone sent me. I've worn clothing like this in the 80's, which was comfortable, versatile (could wear it anywhere, and at home), and durable. You can find patterns that are similar and make your own, or if you've got the money, order from here. http://www.victoriancowgirl.com/gallery.htm

Did I Mention We Were Having A New Drain Installed?

This saying immediately crossed my thoughts when I tried to change the subject recently, which was Emma's tactic to avoid hearing Mr. Kightley's explanation as to his jealousy of Frank Churchill. Click on the picture for a larger view. It looks like one of the scenes from the Miramax version of "Emma."

Besides being a great diversionary from unpleasant news or conversation, this comment applies to my current situation: the drain tub. We live in an older house that drains the washing machine water into a tub and then to a drain. The drain is apparently stuck up with a rock or some gravel from someone's pockets.

We have not had the time or the money to fix this problem (which is complicated), so we've been hauling the water outside by the bucket and putting it on a needed dry area of the land. After awhile both my husband and I noticed we had lost some weight and firmed up some flabby areas. Maybe we won't have a new drain installed for awhile ;-)

"All Dressed Up"

You've changed your life style and your attitute is improving. Your new way of dressing femininely in pretty skirts or dresses has given you an optimistic outlook on life. You wake up each day in love with life. You are just wearing a sturdy, practical cotton skirt, with a shirt and a vest; probably not something you would wear to church or a formal Tea. Then, someone says: "Why are you all dressed up?"

In past centuries, there have been three types of clothing: casual,(things you would wear when no on is around or when you are doing some dirty chore), semi-casual (something you would wear at home, in front of the family, when doing errands, --something that is decent and clean enough for going out into the public), and formal (something you would wear to a wedding). In short, ladies would have their nightgowns, their daywear and their formalwear. That seems uncomplicated enough for today and I see no reason to change it.



The idea was to match up the mode of dress, or the kind of clothing, to the kind of occasion (or the place) you were attending. The more formal the occasion,or the more elegant the facility, building, or home, the more formal the dress--get it?

Then, the home began being treated as though it were just a place to flop around casually, laying on the floor or sitting on top of the kitchen cabinet--who cared? The clothing began to match the casual attitudes, rather than the place or the occasion. People began to show up at weddings looking like they just surfed in from a beach party. I probably don't need to describe any other atrocious sights, as you can pretty much fill in the rest, after all you've seen of inappropriate dress in our society.

I saw things begin to change, in the 60's. I remember asking a 16 year old girl what she was going to wear to school (Years later I became a homeschooler) and she pointed to what she had on at the time--an old sweatshirt, denim cut-offs and tennis shoes. "Why should I dress up?" she asked.

When I became a homeschooler I decided to put a stop to all this nonsense. I saw kids at a very early age that were developing depression, attending the schools. We would dress up each day in semi-formal clothing. That is inbetween informal and formal, meaning not your pyjamas and not your prom dress, but clothing designed to help you work and play during a normal day. The boys wore button down shirts, sturdy pants of cotton duck and other masculine fabrics, and the daughter had skirts, blouses and vests. Mother got up in the morning and dressed up as though she was going somewhere.


I don't like changing clothes throughout the day, so I dress up well enough in the beginning, that I don't have to change into something "decent," as they say, to go to the grocery store or greet someone at the door. What I wear in the morning, has to serve me all day, so I have to be careful not to start out dressing too casually. I don't want to be embarrassed if someone comes to the door unexpectedly, or if I am suddenly needed to go somewhere in the public, so I just wear a skirt, which is appropriate for everything except climbing trees.

For years, I grew to expect the remarks of others, like, "Don't you ever wear jeans?" or "You'll have to wear something more casual if you want to come on this outing with us." Even on moving days, when we were packing up a truck, I managed to wear a skirt. What was I going to be doing, anyway, acrobatics and trampoline jumps?

I keep getting letters from women who love the feeling of wearing feminine clothing, but hate the remarks they are getting. I guess I failed to mention that it "comes with the territory." When you take a stand or turn in a different direction, you are going to get some resistance.

There are lots of elderly women who are able bodied and active, that spend tremendous amounts of money and time getting their hair clipped and coiffed, and their nails "done," who pay no attention to the rest of their appearance. They walk around in the "nursing home look" (jeans, tee shirt, reboks) revealing their unshapely bottems, and yet I wouldn't ever say to them (although I would DREAM of it) "Don't you EVER wear a dress?"

This is another painting by Susan Rios. I've got a collection of beautiful paintings by artists from the 1600's to the present, of women. Does any one think this painting would be more charming and appealing if the artist had painted her in the slop-chic that is fashionable today? Would "The Favor" by Edmund Blair Leighton, or "Waiting" by the same artist of the 1800's be such a favorite among moderns, if he had painted these women wearing jeans and tee shirts?

You might do a study of the history of jeans and pants on women. Pants come from the word "pantaloon" which was originally underwear. How did the garment known as underwear 100 years ago, become outerwear on women today? After you do some studying on the matter, you might not think jeans are so pretty. I found valuable information in looking up the Bible words "modest" and "apparel" to find their root meanings. Jeans and pants didn't match up with those definitions. As the rear end is the biggest part of the body, I think it best to disguise it. There are now garments like leggings and cuddle-duds, that you can wear under dresses, for warmth and comfort. If you do wear pants, you can make them more ladylike by wearing a longer top over them that covers the rear end.

In the comments I'll put some good replies to those remarks you get.

Did I Mention That We Were Having A New Drain Installed?

This quote from Jane Austen's "Emma" quickly came to mind the day the laundry room drain got plugged up and flooded. A wall covers access to that drain, and it would be quite a project to get to it. We know we have to do it, eventually, but for now, we've been taking the water out by bucketfuls, and walking a distance outside to dump the wash water and rinse water on thirsty plants and bushes.

A few days later both my husband and I noticed we were losing a little weight around the middle. My stomach was getting flatter and his arms were getting built up. This is really the only stressful excersise we get that targets strategic areas, so I think we'll keep the drain as it is. A rock must have fallen into it, from one of the grandson's trousers.

One Day Alone

Like most people, our lives have been a series of successes and setbacks. We just seem to get what we need, and where we want to be in life, and a new challenge comes along that uses up our resouces. We've gone from "car city" to a one-car family. As "Pa" said often in Little House on the Prairee, "No setback is without a small blessing, " (or something like that).

Since I'm the one that uses the car the least, I'm also the one who spends several days a week in isolation. I'm not alone in a neighborhoood, either; I'm far away from stores and friends. About 5 hours into the day on one of these "alone" days, I called my daughter, Lillibeth, and told her it was getting a little tiring being alone and that not one car had even driven by on the road to town. She replied, "Well, mother, you are always trying to research the Pioneers. All you have to do is pretend you are in Pioneer Days, when they spent so much time alone on the prairees. You can identify with them."

That perked me up for a few more hours, and I began to imagine all sorts of things. About three hours later, knowing I had yet another 6 hours before anyone came home (I'd given up trying to invite people over--just about everyone I knew was occupied or didnt' answer their phones--does anyone stay home these days???)--I called her again, and said rather darkly, "I've about had enough of this 'Pioneer Stuff"


The Pioneer, Civil War, or Elizabethan reenactments are great, but they are usually with a great crowd of people--in real life in those days, women spent many days alone. I'd like to challenge anyone who feels they have overloaded their minds and bodies with activities, to have a day alone, and catalog their emotions during this time. Although it might not be possible to be left completely alone in the woods, as many people have home duties and children about, just get as alone as you can.

When the "crunch time" comes where you think you can't stand it anymore and you want to scream, you aren't allowed to turn on the television or put in a movie; you can't call a friend unless it is for the purpose of sending out encouragement (you aren't allowed to complain.)

Famous stressed-out people spend thousands of dollars to go to monastaries to give their minds a rest. At home, it costs you nothing.

I found it interesting that after an intense period of anxiety and withdrawal symptoms,which I thought I would not survive, I was surprised when I came out of it into a kind of "light" with a clearer mind and a more active imagination, as well as a creative urge.

When I again met with "people," some of them said that I had "changed" and that being around me made them feel consolate and reassured, less nervous and wacked out about everything. When I had an overload of socialization, I felt I didn't like people as much!

I seem to be on this anit-socialization kick, not because I don't like people, but because I think we've been programmed from a very young age, for the wrong kind of socialization. We were gotten up and sent to school first thing in the morning to be with people we were forced to socialize with. After school was completed, we did the same thing, only we went to work to be with people we had not personally made friends with, either, and whom we were forced, once again to socialize with daily.

One of the reason people feel restless at home is because of the amount of socialization they partake in. Almost from the beginning of their lives, they are trained to get up in the morning and go somewhere else. If you want to get used to staying home, it takes awhile to get over the addiction of socialization and focus on the tasks at hand.

I was discussing this concept with someone, who replied, "Yes, but there are just some people who can't be alone." I think it is more likely that they've been conditioned not to be alone, and that they could be conditioned, by practice, to prefer more alone time. Some of us are indeed more sociable than others, that is a fact. What I am talking about is the value and the necessity of the human being being alone. We see time and time again throughout the Bible the people who spent time alone and the benefits of it.

One day alone can show a person how much needs to be done at home, or in self-improvement. When I was a teenager I attended a class for young ladies, in which we were given a "self-improvement" test. It contained a list of character qualities, both good and bad, (promptness, criticalness, cooperativeness, discernment, etc.) and we were supposed to write down the things we lacked in our lives, and then do a report on the word, such as "perseverance" or "endurance."

One day alone can help bring about some of this needed introspection, not to mention a chance to look around at the home and see things that need to be done. In a constant whirl of social activities, these things cannot be achieved. People that get too wrapped up in coming and going, can actually become afraid of being still, because they will have thoughts that come into their minds, that may be uncomfortable. Being alone means you have to face yourself and your God but it is essential if you want to have a healthy mind.

The one day alone is a perfect time to catch up on letters. After you really get in to writing letters, it casts the mind into a completely different realm. Anytime we serve others or get outside of ourselves and our problems, our minds become more balanced. Contrast this to what the worldly counsellors tell you: get inside of yourself and dwell on your problems. Today, those that practice that are still debilitated by their problems, and not living victorious lives. "After all, I'm only human," they say. Consider what an insulting remark this is. God created humankind in His image, as the Bible says, and we say, "after all I'm ONLY human?"

One day alone....let's try it.

Eliminating Unnecessary Pressures

I've noticed a tendency amongst younger women especially, to feel overwhelmed and under stress, even after they leave the working world and settle in to be home bodies, where a more relaxed life is expected.

I think what happens is that when your time is freed up from the stringent requirements of school or work, you tend to feel you have to fill it up with other things. People may impose on you, also. They think since you are home, you can do extra things.

If you want to eliminate the unnecessary stress, you have to also be careful about church things. I know it is nice when there is activity going on in the church, but many of the people who run here and there doing "church work" are neglecting their homes, neglecting their rest and their spiritual lives. Their minds are always in a whirl as they try to attend all the available classes and fellowships.

I'm writing this as a Ladies Bible class teacher of some years, and a children's Bible class teacher: don't feel guilty if you have to quit these programs for awhile. All that is required of you is stated clearly in the New Testament, and does not include many of the things that are going on. Real strength in religion and the church comes from within a person; from their reliance on the Lord, and from their praise, devotion and obedience to His word, not on a dozen programs that keep you going, going, going.

It is easy for me to feel depressed when only 6 people show up at the weekly Ladies Bible study, where we enjoy the fellowship and the smell of good food, but I have to stop and think that people come on a voluntary basis, not because they are required to. I know there is a clear command in the scriptues not to neglect the Lord's day assembly, and if the younger women can be there, it makes Christ happy and it helps the church. To put pressure on them to do more than that, would be unfair and unscriptural as well.

I found that once I, as a teacher, relaxed and didn't put pressure on people to do anything, some of these other activities during the week, became more appealing to them. Take a piece of string and lay it on the table. Give it a push from one end and see where it goes. People who feel obligated to do something from pressure, don't do it well or as creatively, bringing out their true talents and abilities, as they would if they were given a take it or leave it approach. People naturally do a better job at whatever they do if they do it because they have their heart in it, because it relaxes or encourages them, or because they feel they are contributing.

I remember when I was younger, and raising children and managing a house as well as church work, how it all began to feel mechanical and meaningless to me. Once I eliminated a lot of the running around and the non-required church activities, my mind became more stable. I think in many ways, feminism has entered into the minds of the women of the church. They think they must accomplish so much, and do so much for the church and the Lord, that they fall into bed unaccomplished and exhausted every night.

Bible studies during the week are lovely, but often impersonal compared to the ones you do all by yourself or with your family, where you get down to solving your real challenges and helping each other with theirs. So, don't feel you must attend everything. Just choose the ones you need, and eliminate the rest.

Looking back at past troubles when I was a lot younger, I managed to connect them to lack of rest and lack of time for reflection, too much verbal interaction with people, and too many social activities. It may not be so with everyone, but it is something worth examining. We ought to balance our social life with quietness and rest.

Social activities too, put a lot of stress on people. I was reading where some of the early settlers of Oregon used to have one final social activity at Harvest, because for the winter season they would be more confined to their homes. By spring, they were excited to get back into social activities. They were fortunate to be able to assemble just once a week for church services. Good works didn't have to be organized into committees and groups. (Inside each person is a built-in committee that knows how to do a good work all by themselves, without a group.) The women would naturally want to offer their help when someone was in need, a baby was born, or someone wanted to be taught something. One account of a preacher stated that when they saw each other on Sunday, there were many tears of rejoicing that "gave the scene a zest, a richness and a charm, which no tongue can tell, nor heart conceive, who has not been one of our number." (written in 1850)

The "zest" he wrote of goes flat and dull when we engage in too much socialization. We are much happier to see people when we haven't seen them in awhile. The hugs are tighter and the handshake firmer; the face lights up with more excitement and gratitude. It is lilke waiting to open a gift that you don't receive every day.


I'm not trying to discourage those who want to build up church memberships by their devotion to activities, good works, fellowships, etc. There are usually two types of people: those who are in a stage of life where they can be more active with church responsibilities, and those whose work at home occupies them. We shouldn't expect that every single lady in the church should come to the Ladies Bible Class, nor should we expect that every single lady in the church would have the same pressing responsibilities at home.As ladies grow older, they may have more time to do thngs that the younger women will not have until they themeselves are older.

Just like too much fat or sugar in our modern diets, resulting in extra weight, we also suffer from the modern malady of too much socialization, which puts unnecessary stress on our lives.

A little peace and quiet won't hurt.

"When He giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?" Job 34:29

"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.." Isaiah 30:15

Here is a truth that is good to know: It is just as scriptural to rest, as it is to work. It is good to take a fast from social things and let your mind rest.

How to Make the World Go Away

I got these refreshing notes in my inbox today:

I’m only twenty, but I very much enjoy “Homeliving Helper.” My mother works full-time. Her mother worked part-time. My family is by no means wealthy. Yet I long for the way of life the Bible has in mind, the way of life you lift up with your lovely articles and links. With so many vile things in the media every day, I am glad your blog is available, a haven of sorts. Cacophonic voices promoting filth and the degradation of the family seem to be everywhere; it is a treat to tune my ear to the calm, beauty, and humble reason of yours. May God continue to bless you in your comings and goings.

Sincerely,

Miss Kimberly Hettler

and

Dear Lady Lydia,

I wanted to pass on this link that has beautiful toys for little girls that can help them develop a love of homemaking. It is from Pottery Barn Kids:

http://ww1.potterybarnkids.com/index.cfm?src=thmaa%7Ccthmcipslgr%7Cda%7Crgift%5Cfthm%2Fhme&gnd=&cid=thmcipslgr&area=thm&age=&&curPage=all&prevpage=1

Blessings, Tracy

In response, I have this to say:

Have you ever felt so sick of the world breathing down your neck that you wanted to run away?
We all get sick of the constant onslaught of information trying to bend our minds. Even a "nice" movie ends up having an agenda and you want to scream because some "issue" is being presented instead of a nice love story with normal emotions.

I've had great success in shutting out the world by shutting off the media, including newspapers, magazines (watch those decorating magazines too--they often tell stereotypical, unresearched fibs about the past), radio and all film. No reading material but the Bible. I just shut down all artificial communication and go back to my pioneer roots. No lights, only candles, and no noise. No entertainment except to write a letter, sing loudly (and off tune if I like it), and look at only pretty things.Visit only natural country things and keep away from the shopping centers. If you have to go near them, go in only the stress-free zones with items that please you, and with soft music.

Take a fast from the world sometime and see what you feel like in a few days. You might go through some withdrawal symptoms but don't give up. It is really worth it to bring the love of life back into your heart.

Comments

If you'd like to make a helpful comment, I think you can click on my name and it will direct you to a convenient email address. I will post only what is helpful to our readers, and that which will uplift them spiritually and will aid them in successful homemaking and family life.

I don't know why some people waste their contrary comments on blogs they don't agree with, when they could get their own blog and post away to their heart's content.

Tea Set

In a Gift Store I spotted a cute idea: In a gift box was a mother-daugher devotional kit, containing a tea set called "Rose and Dot" with a devotional book and blank notebooks, along with pens.

This one is from http://www.familychristian.com/shop/product.asp?prodID=12126 and probably could be locatd in several different places on the web. The script on the cup and pot is "Let the beauty of our Lord be upon us." They are sold individually, so two regular sized cups could be purchased.