Hello, homemakers and Welcome to season six of the art of home podcast, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong. I'm your host Allison weeks. I'm a wife and a mom to four grown kids. And I've been practicing the art of home for 30 years, while we wrapped up Season Five last month with our big birthday episode. And thank you to everyone who contributed their homemaking tips. It was so fun to hear all of your voices and your fantastic tips. I've already even been implementing many of them. I'm really, really looking forward to season six. We have a great lineup of homemaker portraits of women of all stages of homemaking, as well as a fabulous two part deep dive into the art of sewing. Today, I am so excited to present to you our very first newbie homemaker portrait. Now a newbie would be one who is five years or less into her homemaking journey. And some of you might be skeptical, but I encourage you to listen with an open mind. We all have something to learn from other people no matter where we are in life. And I will tell you that today's guest, Christine Shamberger is young. But God has given her wisdom beyond her years. She's one of my favorite people to hang out and chat with. We are both podcast junkies and Bible nerds. And our conversation almost always makes its way around to food. This is a delightful interview rich with thoughtful reflections about the sacredness of home. And Christine openly shares what God is teaching her about desires through the reality of infertility. It is my honor to share with you Christine's story of home. I'm here with my friend Christine Shamberger. And she is our first newbie that we're interviewing. I'm the first one you are excited. Yes. So Christine, before we go to the beginning of your story, why don't you tell us a little bit about Christine today?
Christine:Cool. I'm Christine. It's my name. I've been married for it'll be five years in April. That we? Yeah, yeah. Super exciting. We made it. Not really. That's a joke. Yeah, and I work I work at I work at our church, and I get to serve women. And it's a privilege and an honor to be in the equip ministry and to do discipleship ministry and Bible study and teach and write and do lots of different things. And so it, it has, it's hard, but it's a good hard, it's a privilege to be able to serve those women. So. So that's what I get to do. And we are in the midst of remodeling our home and making it our own. We just recently put a big porch on the back of the house. And so we've enjoyed getting to invite people to come and sit on our porch and enjoy the trees. We do live in the city. But we do have some pretty big trees. So there's one in particular that's quite large back there. And so that's, that's really nice. So we just hung lights in the back to I see. So it looks to me. Yeah, that's kind of what we give our time to is we both work and remodel our home and have people over for dinner and Yeah, awesome. That's our life. Very good. Yeah.
Allison:Okay, so let's go back to the beginning. When did you first become a homemaker? And when you did, did you have any skills?
Christine:That I was talking to Luke about this question last night? Because I feel like it's hard. It's hard for me to answer that. And I feel like I have to go all the way back to being like 13, okay, and my dad saying, Hey, your mom is 40 something years old, and she's going to have another baby. And she's, she can't, I'm not going to let her lift a finger. And so the four of us were tasked with cooking and cleaning. And we were homeschooled. And so it was obviously a lot easier to do that. And so we did all of that. And so I feel like in a lot of ways the training for it started then where it was just this expectation that that you kind of do what needs to be done in the home to keep it running and feed everyone and do all that stuff. So I feel like that's where it started. But I lived from 19 until I got married at 28. I pretty much lived on my own. There's a couple of years in there where I floated back home and left again. And so I feel like I've always had like a home making sense. And maybe I think that's growing up in the family that I grew up in but but then living on my own. I just remember Yeah, just cooking meals for myself and taking care of things and so so that's why it's a hard question to answer but, but I would say I would say in the last three years I've gotten more organized without making I'll put it that way more more intentional with certain things. But yeah, but I guess that's not really a clear answer.
Allison:But no, that's, that's totally fine. So what would you say would be the biggest difference between sort of the homemaking you did as a teenager, and then as a young person unmarried versus moving in and sharing a home with your husband?
Christine:Yeah, I think that I think the the unity, the team effort of it, I think, obviously changes. Maybe his preferences were versus before where it was, like, I just did it the way that I want to do it. And then there are certain things that Luke has preference about and so, so I think that was probably one thing that change, but I think the effort to, for it to be for, for something greater than myself, I think became different once once I got married, where it was like it was for it was not just for Luke, but it was also for the other people that like we're being invited in because naturally, you get married, and that involves that invites more people into your life. And sure, I think that that was a big difference. And so thinking differently about how the horse homes organized and how like the food that's like prepped and ready and you know, things like that. So that it it's a place that can house and feed and be available to different people and a larger number of people. Yeah, well, it's also an extrovert so so that kind of comes with like came with the territory was marrying friends and
Allison:and you're not an extrovert?
Christine:I'm not No, not at all. I I think ministry and being married to I'm married to has grown my extroverted Ness, maybe like I've learned to kind of lean into that a little bit. or adopt some of that, but naturally, no, I'm 100% introvert, I like my space and quiet and alone time. Yeah.
Allison:So what are you struggle with the most as a homemaker you alluded to getting better organized in the last few years. But are there any other things that you had? Like kind of a steep learning curve for?
Christine:Um, it's a good question. I feel like, this is silly. But like, I guess it's not silly. But like meal prepping is not something that I ever really did. But I feel like that's something in the last couple of years that I've realized, like, Oh, this is so helpful to not just like for quality of food and like efficiency of being able to cook but even like, mentally and emotionally, to have something like that I don't have to think about with working because we both were Yeah. And so just that like alleviating that pressure, in my mind has been so helpful. And that was a learning curve to be able to think forward. And I'm still not there. There's still a lot of progress I'd like to make in that area, but be able to think ahead. And to think through like, how are we going to like feed ourselves this week. It's like one of the things that keeps you alive. So it's like kind of important. It's like food, water Jesus, like, I mean, those are kind of essentials. And so to be more intentional with that, I think, I think has been challenging with our schedule, and you know, the busyness of life, but I think it's important and it's something that I'd like to continue to grow in, what's your favorite meal prep meal to make, like your go to me go well, for breakfast, it's, they're called superhero muffins. And they're from this cookbook called run fast, eat slow. And the cookbooks designed for runners for athletes, which I'm not a runner, and I wouldn't consider myself an athlete at all. But it's just really like nutritionists really good food, that that you can like meal prep really easily with or freeze and so there's these superhero muffins that are packed with like carrots and apples and nuts and oats and almond flour. And they're just like really, really good. And so that has been a huge like, I make at least a double batch on Sundays. Awesome pretty much every Sunday freeze them and freeze half of them are about half and then eat off them for the week. And then just kind of keep doing that. And so there's like 20 Something variations of these muffins. They're awesome. My friend Kelly told me about these books. She calls them the cold books, because she follows them like a cold and now I follow them like but they're the best. I mean, there's three cookbooks out now and I just Yeah, so I cook from those a lot. There's a salad that a kale salad that I make a lot that lasts like for five or six days and it has Pharaoh in it and Parmesan cheese and no Yeah, and it's awesome. I like all of those. Yeah, it's an amazing salad. So I make that a little bit but
Allison:let me ask you a question. Do you massage the kale?
Christine:I do. Okay, I do massage the kale because if you don't massage the kale, it just grows and it feels gross in your mouth and you can't like you can't hardly digest No Yeah, it's terrible. You have to massage your kale people who can't know it important. It's super important and they say that in the cookbook so they know what's up. Yeah. Good down massager, kale, olive oil.
Allison:Do it a little bit of salt. Yes. Because that gives it something to makes it abrasive. Yeah, like, that's good. Yeah, just a little bit.
Christine:Yeah, that makes sense. There's salt in the salad dressing I use because I make my own salad dressing. But yeah, but just just a tiny bit. That's a tip that I didn't know.
Allison:There you go. Thank you. You're welcome to helpful. All right, we're gonna talk a little bit about expectations. What are some things that have surprised you about keeping a home things good or bad? Something you didn't expect?
Christine:I think the fact that my husband doesn't like to clean. I shouldn't say that. That's probably not very nice. He just well, he really doesn't. He doesn't like do dishes. And he doesn't like to clean. And so I think I've, I had expectations on myself. And I thought he would help with some of that. And he's just doesn't like to clean, but he helps in other ways. So that's terrible. I shouldn't have said that. He, he takes care of the cars and the lawn and like all of the things that need fixing,
Allison:he is a servant minded person. Yes, we will just put that out there for the world. He is a servant, Luke is great.
Christine:he is great. He's awesome. He just doesn't like to clean. And so living in a 700 square foot apartment is like that's like, you clean that thing in two hours. It's incredible. And so I've had like, I expected to be able to maintain that level of cleanliness, and then to my house, like more than double are about double that size. And it's not, you can't do that. And so I've had to learn to like schedule it out, like over like the weeks, you know, so that I'm not like, only cleaning on my day off or my days off, you know? Yeah. Because otherwise I would be I would just be cleaning for 12 hours, and maybe even lower your standards and lower my standards. Yeah, that and that's what I worked at. I worked in a cafeteria and I kind of cleaned and was in housekeeping at a big like Christian organization. And, and so I, I was on a team that took care of like all the buildings on campus. And so I learned how to clean like, immaculately I mean, it was like, UPS, it was absurd. It was a little extreme. And so I've like health department. Yeah, well, yes. Your Tyria Yeah, you know, people are coming and they're staying there. And they're eating the food, like you want it to be clean. So it's not bad. But but I've had to come down off that a little bit. Because it's a little unrealistic for you know, someone who's working full time and yeah, likes to do fun things, you know? Well, yeah, exactly.
Allison:Okay. So what other unrealistic expectation did you have to let go of for the well being of yourself and your marriage?
Christine:I think just I again, I said it already, but doing it all, I mean, the amount of times that Luke has had to come to me and say, like, you need to ask me for help. I think like, even down to cooking, I'm very independent, self sufficient. So I really would do it all, I would do it all. If it was up to me, I would do it all. And I would run myself into the ground. And I have done that. And so I think it's that realizing that no, you actually need help. Like you need help to maintain this home, you need help to maintain, like, marriage and relationships with just like da you know, like, Of course you do. And so there there's been a lot of humbling experiences where Luke has like spoken in and said, Hey, like, you need to ask me for help. Like, you can't, you can't do all of this. You can work full time and cook the meal and clean the house for the family that's coming over and like I but I don't know that you need help. Yes, you say it. Yeah. And so I think realizing that the expectation I had for myself of like, managing the environment. One was unhealthy, and two is unrealistic. For for what I'm capable. I'm limited. I'm a limited human being shocking. I know. And so I think that was that was a huge one. And that's still something I'm trying to learn. I mean, even yesterday, I was like, I'm coming off like being sick. And I'm like cleaning the house. Why am I doing this got sick and I'm like, walking around, like cleaning the house. And I just had to like sit down and like read a book. Because it's something it's not the spirit. That's prompting that like something else is going on? Yeah, it's expectation of others or people or right, the party we're having this weekend for my, for my niece, you know, and like, all of these things that like are coming into play. Yeah, it's like no, like, that's not like God asked me to do those things. No.
Allison:And that's a really good that's a really good point that we need to make a distinction between the expectations that we have placed upon ourselves and what we think other people expect of us right or expect to find when they walk in our door.
Christine:right that it's going to reflect poorly like if the house or the floor is dirty, that is somehow gonna reflect back on me. So what it's like it doesn't matter.
Allison:Nobody's looking at your floor.
Christine:No, nobody is and besides is a concrete floor like hides dirt so well.
Allison:It's actually I looked at your floor when I walked in because it's the subfloor that was underneath the carpet that you guys ripped up the the laminate flooring?
Christine:Yeah, right. Yeah.
Allison:So it goes with your sort of, I don't know, how would you describe your house? Industrial? Modern, modern industrial? Yeah. With a little bit of like, mid century retro stuff thrown in.
Christine:Yeah, traditional.
Allison:And some antique,
Christine:let's use all the words
Allison:It's very ecclectic. Yeah. And, and so the floor totally goes. Yeah. And it hides dirt really well, it's perfect.
Christine:Yeah, yeah, it's good. I love it.
Allison:Okay, how about priorities? So we've sort of touched on this a little bit, but what are some practical steps that you take besides meal planning and prepping? What are some practical steps you take to keep your priorities in order? First of all, understanding what your priorities need to be, of course, like God, marriage, but then what are some things that you do practically to sort of keep things from getting out of order?
Christine:Yeah, I think one of the things that I've realized in the last like couple years is the things that I'm I'm doing, I want to be able to attach to a value. And that's been so helpful to think through priorities, like we, you know, we talked about the floor being dirty, like, if I asked if I prayed and asked the Lord for this, that this house would be a place of peace and rest. For people when they come in, then, then if I'm so stuck on the floor, being clean that like it keeps me from actually inviting people through my door that I've missed, I've misplaced my priorities, like and they're not, it's no longer attached to the value that like, I want to live out of, which is hospitality. And yeah, giving people a place of rest and all of these things. And so I think, in the moments where I can feel the wheels turning of like, oh, my gosh, these people are coming over and like, the house is a mess, or like, I can't get a meal, I can't get a good enough meal together. I have to take a step back and be like, No, what's my priority? Well, my priority is like the people over the clean floor. Like it's the community and the relationships over like,
Allison:the food, a really great, you know, artisan meal.
Christine:right. Exactly. Which I love. Don't get me wrong, oh, kale salad, you know, homemade bread. I love it. But, but it's that it's that and it's walking with the Lord. I mean, it's like, it's being mindful of like, no, like the Lord's present here, dirty floors and all like, and he's not going to be any more absent or near whether your floors are clean or not. Right, or the toilets dirty. You know, like, he's still, he's, he has a and he has a higher priority, like he desires that his people would be fed physically and spiritually. And so if I can be a means of that. Sure. And if I That means people are walking on dirty floors, then. Yeah, then. So So I guess that's not very practical. But I guess that's like, that's more like prayer, like that's a prayer.
Allison:Well, I think the practical to me where the practicality comes in, because we've actually talked about this on the show before we did a organization series. And we talked about, the whole first episode was about the heart behind the organization. So we wanted to address the heart first. And one of the steps was assessing what your values are, and letting that inform you, as you go through your things and decide what you're going to keep what you're gonna give away, you know, all of that can. We want our we don't want to serve our stuff, we want our stuff to serve us and our homes to serve us and the people that come in here. So and it's really helpful if you are very clear about what your kind of top five or six values are. Because that's gonna, that's going to direct all the decisions that you make, whether you recognize it or not. So it's good to be aware of that and let that sort of navigate help you navigate through your priorities. That's really smart. Is that something that you and Luke do together ever? Talking about values?
Christine:Yeah, for sure. I mean, even like, at the beginning of the year, we were praying and asking the Lord like to really make us like single minded and single focus, like, what do you want us to give ourselves to this year? Like, what is that? What is that going to look like? Especially together, you know, uh, being, you know, having our own jobs and not being having kids and kind of we're really good at doing our own thing, in some ways in our life kind of accommodates that. And I mean that in like, the healthiest sense, not like in an unhealthy way. And so we but we just felt this longing for like, what are we going to unify together? What are we going to give ourselves to? And one of the things was like having someone over for dinner at least once a week. Just anyone, someone, just someone we know, a new friend, an old friend, and just feeding people and just getting around the table for a couple hours and just spending time together. And so that's been one I think, I guess that's speaking to the value of like something we haven't done in the last couple of years that we're trying to get back to is just being really consistent with having people in our home and being intentional to invite people in so. Yeah, so we definitely talked through those values and, and things that are priorities for us and how, again, we told we asked, the Lord said, Hey, like, we want a house, and it's going to be your house like, this is your space and your house. And so we just want to use it for your glory. Yeah. And so for we we just want to be really intentional that that we're actually doing that. So yeah, we definitely talk about it, for sure.
Allison:Yeah. Cool. What about social media? I like to ask your generation, how do you deal with social media? Do you even engage at all? And if you do, how do you maintain a healthy relationship?
Christine:I so I don't know if this is healthy. But the end of last year, I, I feel like I closed a chapter in my life last year. And part of that was just like getting off social media where I was like, I'm done. Like, I can't do this. Like there's too much comparison. And there's too much like grief associated with certain parts of it. And I just was like, I can't I can't do it. So I just deleted the app completely. I kept my account but deleted the app. And so for about like, a month or so I didn't even check it. I was just like, I'm out like, I'm done with this, like, specifically Instagram, I think. Because Facebook marketplace is just too good to give up. So I haven't done that. But um, but yeah, so and I now check it on my computer. And I'll look and just kind of a lot of the restaurants that we live in San Antonio don't have websites, they're just on Instagram. And so there are there things about it that like I've kept, but I found that it was it was just bringing up like things that were not contributing to like, relationship with Jesus like, yeah, it was it was actually distracting and tearing down more than anything. And that's the fault of it's not the fault of anyone posting on Instagram. So Instagrams fault, but the my interaction with it was not edifying. And so I had to take a step back, and just kind of, so that's kind of what I've done. I wouldn't say that I've just like, I'm not completely disengaged from it. But I have, I have taken out my phone on top of the fact that I haven't updated my phone in probably like, two years or so. Because I'm convinced that it's just gonna crash as soon as I updated. It will Yeah. And so a lot of my apps have slowly stopped working. And so Instagram is like one of those that just like, I don't think really works very well anymore. So that was also part of the reason why I was like, Alright, I'm done. So that's kind of my relationship with social media. I guess it's a little rocky, it's not. Okay. Probably super healthy yet. But I'm trying to figure out like what that is, and because I think it's a great tool. I think it can be. Yeah, and you would know, I mean, it's just like it's it's a great tool. It's just I think, for me in this season, it's been really difficult to have a have a consistent diet of it.
Allison:Yeah, no, I get it. Totally. That's that's a fair answer. Well, what speaking of temptations, let's talk about some challenges and temptations. Okay, I'm going to give you three options and tell me which one of these you most identify with. Okay.comparing to other women.I'm just doing homemaking here. This is not valuable work, because it's just scrubbing floors or scrubbing toilets. Or I'm Superwoman. I'm trying to do all the things.
Christine:Yeah. Probably the first and the last, but mostly the first. Okay, the comparative comparison. Yeah. Yeah. Just feeling like yeah, the comparison to other people in my, my age and life stage that are, are really doing the things that I wish I was doing. And that's really where the social media thing came in, where it's like the comparison of like, I'm not, in some ways, I'm not enough. Because I'm not I've got the home and I've got the space and I've got the ability, but there's like no children, and there's no raising and there's no nurturing of children going on. And so I think it's definitely like a comparison. Yeah, thing for sure has been the temptation, right that I've had to fight against, because then it devalues who I am in Christ. Yeah, I'm devaluing myself, because I am not those things.
Allison:Right. Yeah. Which leads us into the next question, which is about challenging situations. Yeah. And your homemaking. And so you want to talk a little bit about
Christine:Yeah, you know, I already said it. But we bought this house and we just said, Lord, like, fill it, like, fill it with people. Fill it with life and goodness, and we want it to be a place that's fruitful. And I think the last three years we saw that in a very singular like way, like if children like we expected it to be filled with children. And the Lord hasn't done that. He's filled it with, with community and friends and I mean in abundance, you know and family. And so that in that way I see like some redemption that I see the answer to the prayer. Yeah, and that's some redemption. But definitely the most challenging thing I think of, of homemaking. And really, I would, I mean, in our marriage so far has been just the reality of infertility of just like, like that. It's not for this present moment, which is the only moment that I have right now. That's not a reality for us. Like, they're not they're like, the, the rooms aren't filled, you know. And so it's been extremely challenging to, to rework my really, it's expectation, it's like reworking, okay, what, what is this for? And having that crisis of feeling like, none of this matters. this is meaningless, then, like, what is this even for? Like, if, if it's not being filled with something that's so good and righteous and holy and biblical? Like, why am I doing this? I should just live in a van. What's the point? You know, which is still not out of the question and might happen, so maybe that'll be for another episode, where you interview me and my van, just kidding. Um, but But yeah, I mean, just because that's what I see. And that's the desire of my heart. Right. I mean, that's, that's an it's a good desire. Oh, yeah. And it's such a good desire, similar to, like, the single woman desiring to be married, you know, like, it's such a good and holy desire. But I think I've, I've, yeah, it's been super challenging to wrestle with the Lord. Yeah. Of, of with that reality of like, you know, and really taking the situation and the reality and, and God's character and trying to figure out, like, how do these two things go together? Because if my if I relied on my circumstances, it wouldn't, it doesn't on the surface, speak to the goodness of God, or the provision of God or the kindness of God, on the surface, but if you go deeper, obviously, and that's, that's, if, as I go deeper, even even in the last three months, six months, I've gone deeper, and I've I'm seeing more of like the kindness of God and the provision of God, I wouldn't say that I'm, like, fully there. There's still a lot of grief to process. Yeah. But I but yeah, I think I think that's definitely been the most challenging.
Allison:So if someone's listening, and they're working through that, right now, they're in the middle of an infertility journey, what would be like a word of advice that you would give them to direct them towards kind of the path that you're walking?
Christine:I think, I think realizing that there's a difference between the desire of my heart and the plans, and the the goals that I have, if that makes sense. I think I've thought, the desire of my heart for children, because the Lord's not giving it the desire must be wrong. And realizing that that's
Allison:That's a great word. And I think that's applicable not the case. But the desire is actually really good. And the Lord gave it to me. And just because he isn't providing that right now, in this time in this season, is not in any indication that the desire is sinful or bad, because Definitely not. But for a lot of different situations where we find I but I have realized that the plans that I've made and the dreams that I've had, are not what the Lord has, for me. Those aren't the plans that he has, and they have become idols, those plans have become greater than the present moment. And ourselves disappointed in something, an outcome that we that's idolatry. Yeah. Because the present moment is all I have. And so if I'm living in this hypothetical future with these plans in these dreams, I'm giving up and I'm sacrificing the present moment. And so I've had to repent of of that. And so I think, I think the encouragement that I wish I weren't expecting. It'd be, Yeah, it is really easy to to maybe would have had to see that sooner that the desire of my heart is not something to, to, to hide, or to bury, or to try and get over. But but something to give to the Lord daily every day. But what does need to be kind of put in the ground and really, like, have the funeral for and grieve are the the plans make those plans into an idol. Just kind of hold on to it and and the dreams. Because they're not greater than what the Lord has. And so I think that's been, that's been a huge thing that I've had to process through is the difference between those two. shake our fist at God and say, "why?"
Christine:Yeah, it can only happen in this way. This is the only way that I want the desire of my heart to be answered. And the Lord. I mean, he's so much greater than that. And he sees so much greater. And, and yeah, I mean, I could go on and on about value and worth and you know, and it's funny because I
Allison:Yeah. That's a really great truth. So thanks for before I got married, I would say all the time, like when I was single and you know that my a woman's worth is not tied to like being married. And I preached that gospel, like, everywhere I went because I, you know, growing up in the church and being homeschooled, and like, in that environment, there was this expectation of marriage and like, that's what you do. And, and, and I loved I mean, I loved the idea I, in my mind, it was like, oh, yeah, like, I would like to get married one day, but it was the it was almost the like, idolatry part of it treally bothered me as if my worth and value was only in if I was married. And I'm, I'm having to eat that truth now. Yeah. And wrestle with that, because it's the same thing with with having children where it's like, I've had to rewire my thought life of like, no, like, my worth, and my value. And what I'm building in this home is not any less valuable, because there's no children here. Like, it's not, but that's hard to swallow. Because unlike marriage, like I even from even from a young age, it was like, like kids were I loved kids. I love kids, like I wanted children. And so more than wanting a husband, which obviously, not that I wanted one without the other. But I even said if I'm not married by this age, like I'll adopt a child, you know, and that was kind of what I'd said. And so having to re really rework, like, all of that has just been such a I mean, it's been a two three year process of realizing that, that that's not the right way to think about my life and not and that I'm my value isn't tied to, to what I do, but specifically with like being a mother. sharing. Appreciate it. All right, we're going to talk about hospitality.
Christine:Yay.
Allison:I know, this is a subject that you love. And I can't wait to hear your answers.
Christine:Can we pause for a second. I think, Luke, I just saw him outside, so I think he's waiting to come in.
Allison:He can come in. We will allow him to come in. I wanted to ask you, did you make that baby plant off of that plant? Or that's not the same?
Christine:No, it's not. no, it's the same plant. It's just a different type. I think. I think that one's a burgundy rubber plant. And this is just a regular rubber plant. Okay, but I bought one of those and I killed it very quickly. And so I bought another one because that makes a lot of sense.
Allison:Well, I've tried that with if, yes, you're in good company.
Christine:Yeah. I like to kill plants. That's one of my other hobbies. I don't like to it just happened.
Allison:I don't have the greenest of thumbs inside. I do pretty good outside.
Christine:Yeah, I don't do good. I don't do great. But that's me being critical of myself. When people look at my house, and they're like, Well, you have plants alive. So yeah, you're doing something
Allison:Yeah, I see one, two, three...I see a bunch. Yeah, there's one over there.
Christine:Yeah, yeah, there's a few. There's more in the corner, too. And I've kept so I've kept some alive. I moved them too much. Because I get like creative and like I want to like decorate the house differently. So I move the plants different places, and then they get sad and freaked out because they're like, Why are you moving me? And then they die. That's so it's me. I forget that they're living things need stability.
Allison:That is...boy we could unpack that.
Christine:we could. there's a lot there. There's no spiritual like truth there that we could talk about, I think.
Allison:We will get back to Christine's story in just a few minutes. Right now it's time for historical homemaker hits. This is the part of the podcast where we highlight some of the helpful and not so helpful hints doled out to homemakers throughout history. Today's hints come from the art of homemaking in city and country in mansion and cottage by Margaret Sangster published in 1898. Do you often use a side or garage door entrance to your home? Well, Margaret has some advice regarding the Care and Keeping of this often neglected entryway. The careful housekeeper is very particular about her back door. That of course is not an evidence to the public gaze as is the front door and she of careless habit nature. indisposed to exertion does not mind whether that part of her domain which comes only under the eye of her family is trim and well ordered or the reverse. One may set the stamp of capability and niceness exactly by looking at a person's back door where one finds a general air of disarray about the backyard where odds and ends from the kitchen refuse of various kinds. loose papers and the flotsam and jetsam of the house are allowed to accumulate around the back steps it is a sign manual of inefficiency on the part of her who is Queen of the house. Interesting take Margaret. So what do you think? Do our entryways front door or back door? Tell what kind of homemakers? We are? Do you put effort into creating a lovely entry where only your family will see it? Or do you reserve those niceties just for the guest entry? Do you try and create a welcoming and orderly entrance where you and your family come in and out every single day. This reminds me of the homemaker portrait of Terry hall where we talked about creating a good launching and landing pad in the home. Having a well ordered and beautiful place to come in and out of the home is a mark of a good homemaker. It speaks of thoughtful intentionality. The entryway is the first glimpse of our home that guests see and it is the first welcome home that we and our family members receive every single day. I want to take as much care and creating a beautiful welcome for my family as I do for my guests. I put a wreath on the side door every season. There's a sturdy welcome mat which I hope people will remember to wipe their feet on and there's no doorbell at the garage entry but I recently put a lovely brass B shaped knocker on the door for the friends who are comfortable coming in through the side door but they still want to knock first. so we've been talking a lot about food in this interview and meal prepping in particular. Well, Margaret was way ahead of the trend touting the benefits of prepping ahead, particularly breakfast. “ A good deal of the breakfast can be arranged for the night before where one does her own work. Oatmeal, for instance, is the better for being soaked over night in water….All cereals are the better for very thorough cooking. It is a mistake to suppose, whatever the labels and packages may tell you, that either wheat or oatmeal or Indian meal may be cooked to advantage in a few minutes. They all need a rather slow and leisurely cooking to bring out their best qualities. Coffee may be ground and placed ready for the morning; potato cakes may be made and set aside; and eggs in any form are quickly cooked. If there is to be a hash for breakfast it is always best to prepare it the night before. So much of a man’s comfort and health depends on his having a good start for the day, that the wife should always feel it incumbent upon her to have his morning meal ready for him so that he need not be too much hurried and obliged to swallow it in frantic haste, and then rush wildly to his train or the place of his work for the day. On the other hand, the man himself, father, husband, brother or son, owes it to the women of the household to get up when he is called, if not before.” Hmmmmm, I’m not quite sure what I want to say about that. I do believe that a good breakfast is very important. It refuels us after our nightly fast and sets us up for making healthy choices for the rest of the day. As the homemaker, and the one who does the meal planning and grocery shopping, it’s up to me to stock the pantry and fridge with good, easy to prepare breakfast options. It is not up to me, however, to force my family to eat breakfast. I have at least 2 members , my husband included, who do not like to eat first thing in the morning. Aside from holidays and Saturday morning pancakes, breakfast for our family has always been a self-serve occasion with mom making sure there are ingredients available and training the kids in how to prepare said ingredients. Well that’s all for today’s historical homemaker hints. As always, please remember these hints are for entertainment purposes only and we leave it up to you, the listener, to determine the safety and soundness of this advice. And now, back to Christine’s story. Okay, well let's move into hospital. Okay, great. So, what is a practical way that you show hospitality?
Christine:Well, I think I already said it just I mean, even making kind of the rule and the expectation of like one one family or person or group of people in the home once a week, yes, that's that's one way that I think practically that we want to show hospitality and hold ourselves accountable to actually living out that value. And thinking ahead enough to say, on this day, we're gonna invite this person and but I think another way and I was even thinking about this like, again with the meal planning thing. When spontaneity comes in, someone's like, Hey, you want to come over Luke, Luke's very spontaneous, I'm not as spontaneous. He's like, Hey, you want to have these people over tonight? One thing I've tried to do is have like food in the house that's ready to be like, cooked like enough for six people, however many people and so that there's enough Yeah, to feed people or even leftovers like making enough yeah, for the next few days. So that if someone drops by, we have food to feed them. And so yeah, so I think that's like a practical thing that I've been, again, working towards doing more of where there's, like, I got it, I have friends of ours give us a deep freeze. And that's been like, so helpful, because there's more space for meal planning and having those things just readily available to, to throw burgers on the grill or to you know, there's these meatballs and like, cookbook, the cookbook that I mentioned, okay, that are amazing. And so I just, again, I stole all this from my friend Kelly, I shouldn't she she shouldn't be sitting here, not me, because she's the one that does all this. But just make a bunch of meatballs and freeze them. And then you can just
Allison:Meatballs are great to freeze. Yeah, yeah. And then the ones you buy in the store have all kinds of stuff.
Christine:Yeah. And that's the thing. It's very good. I don't, I don't want to do the prepackaged stuff. Like that's not that's again, not in line with my values. When I want to feed people. I don't want to just feed people, I want to feed people food that nourishes them, and doesn't deplete them with like, nasty stuff that, right? It's gonna like give you cancer or something, you know.
Allison:But it's good. Because if you're going to have that value, then that means you have to plan ahead. Right. Yeah. And you have to be prepared for that. Yeah. So yeah. And there is no shame in giving people leftovers. Totally, and that's, again, talking about expectations. That's something that I've had to like. Which truly comes from like, yeah, just like how I grew up in the, in the best way of like, having grandparents that were just so hospitable. I mean, my grandmother, just like, you know, just went all out. Like, she would just invite people over for after church, and like it was their house was constantly full of people. And there was always food. Sometimes there wasn't enough food, but she was going to figure out how to, like put together something. Yeah. And my parents kind of carried that on and then kind of pass that down to us of just that spirit of hospitality that any and all are welcome to come and eat at the table. That's really great. And so, yeah, so I think but I think the leftover thing, like it's not good enough. It's that like expectation. Yeah. So I've had to like, come down off that and be like, no, it is it is good. And people will eat your leftovers.
Christine:Oh my gosh, you're changing my life. Totally and do
Allison:They will. Leftovers and soup. Mm hmm. I love to have this because I love soup. I love making soup. soup when I'm showing hospitality to a large group of And then if it's just you and you just want like a people especially but then, because I freeze a lot of soup. Well, I freeze all my broth, and then I'll freeze a lot of soup, which should do you know about Souper cubes? No, it's souper s o u p er. Okay. Souper, super good. Okay. Yeah. So they're like this, you know, they're healthy sort of rubbery. Yeah, stuff. Yeah. And they are, they are what they come in different sizes. I have the original one. It's like one cup size. And you pour your soup or your broth, you can actually even put like little bit of soup, you just take out one cube and you put it food in there. They have a great website where they show you how to use their product. And anyway, they're fantastic. in a sauce pan on the on the oven.
Christine:I totally could have used that when I was sick. Because I'm put the broth or the soup in there. I put them in the
Allison:And that's a really good point, because I keep I do big batches of chicken broth in my instant pot. Yeah. And I'll freezer, and I let it freeze and it freezes into a solid cube. get like, I don't know, a bunch of super cubes out of that. Wow. And so then all you'd have to do is just flip it over and Probably eight out of one batch. And then I have eight cups of of really good quality broth in the freezer at all times. So if push it out. That's incredible. It's so great. And then I take somebody's sick, I just pull that out. So then heat that up.
Christine:Is the Instant Pot worth it? I know you're the those and I wrap them in a little bit of butcher paper to interviewer here, but I this is something that's been plaguing me for a while. Is it worth it? Should I get one? keep them from getting freezer burn. Yeah. And then just throw If you have the space, it's really nice to have for making them in the freezer. quick meals. And honestly, I mainly use mine for broth, because I can just I can throw in a frozen chicken carcass. Yeah. Which is usually what I do. Yeah, because I'll pick a chicken right I'll put the carcass in the freezer and then when I have enough carcass or bones or whatever, then I'll make my my stock. And it's I can do it in about an hour. Now it's not going to be as gelatinous as if you do the really like two day long process, but I don't have time for all that. Yeah, it's still better than using a canned. Yeah, product like It tastes better. Yeah, I'm sure. Yeah. It makes to me it makes all the difference in when you make homemade soup. Yeah, because I'm not a fan of like the carton stuff. And there's some really good bone broth you can buy on the market, but they're like, $8 Oh, I know. They're so expensive, you know, for like, 10 ounces or something. Yeah. So for me, because I do so much broth. It's worth it. But I have the real estate for it. I have a lot of space. I have a lot of storage space. And that's what's kept me back. Yeah, because I'm somewhat. I'm not a minimalist, but I aspire to be more of a minimalist. Yeah. And if there's not space in the closet or on a shelf, like I'm either have to get rid of something, right or I'm not getting it. Like that's just the rule like yeah, because I'm not gonna have cabinets that are like stuff is falling out of them. Because there's so much stuff in there. Like, I'm just not going to do that.
Allison:Yeah, I okay. I'm thinking it's probably not worth it for you.
Christine:All right. Thanks for your expert opinion, because I have a crock pot that I use quite a bit. And I've actually done bone broth in a crock pot. I've had to like restart it. many hours. Yes, but it takes a long time. And so I was like, yeah, anyway
Allison:you can also make yogurt in your crock pot.
Christine:Yes. Well in a crock pot? Oh, I didn't know that. I knew in an instant pot you could but you can in your crock pot, too?
Allison:You can and I'm gonna have to give you my recipe.
Christine:Yes, please do. That would be amazing.
Allison:I mean, I always strain it afterwards. So it'll be thick. But if you like runny yogurt, just if you like it runny or if you're going to use it in like a smoothie or something. Because when you strain it you get like all this whey. Yeah. Which you can use the whey when you make bread, in place of water you can use the whey.
Christine:oh my gosh, you're blowing my mind right now. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting. So many tips and tricks!
Allison:Okay, I'll give you my 101 class on crock pot yogurt making.
Christine:Okay, something else about hospitality? Yes. Before you put it because I looked at my candle beside you. There's a candle. Okay. Again, my friend. She's been I need to send her a thank you note she has changed my life. Same friend. They started lighting a candlelight dinner. And so when we have people over we light a candle and it just creates like just such a nice
Allison:Do you like say a prayer or you just?
Christine:we usually read out of every moment holy is what we usually do the table blessings from the first book volume one. And so that's usually what we do except Thursdays blessing because Luke doesn't like when it says birds that warble their worship I think is the line that you just like, for some reason doesn't like that line. So the Thursday ones sometimes they'll pray if someone's over on a Thursday but um, but yeah, so we usually light a candle and and that's just been like a fun. I mean, I don't know if it means anything to anyone else. But for me, it feels really meaningful. Just to like have a candle, it feels special like that. It's like this is a special gathering. Like even if it's the most mundane normal thing.
Allison:We have candles on our dining table, that if we sit at the table I'll light the candles.
Christine:Yeah, yeah. So that's nice. Yeah.
Allison:Well, really quickly. Before we move on from hospitality. I know that you guys have done some long term hospitality in your home. We have having people stay with us long term. Yes. Yeah. How was that?
Christine:So I think out of it'll be four years, this summer that we've lived in this house. And out of that time, I think we've only lived in this house by ourselves, maybe like nine months or so out of that time. So we've had when we first moved in, we had a friend of ours live here. And he was in between housing and had this situation. And so he lived here for a few months. And then shortly after another friend of ours moved in. And then about four months later, my sister moved in. And so for almost for about a year, we had two people renting rooms. And then my sister lived here for two years. And then we had six months when no one was here. And then my sister and brother in law and niece moved in for six months. And so yeah, we've had this house has been very full. Yeah, with lots of people and it's been so fun. What you prayed for it is what we prayed for. And that's like part of the like, the it makes it so much more meaningful. Like man like the Lord is like he's not withholding anything from us. But he's actually been super generous to give us family and people that maybe we wouldn't even have you know, people that aren't biological family and then closeness with actual family that we didn't have beforehand. Just with my sisters and brother and lon and even my niece of like it's just it was a unique season of you know, none of my other sisters got to experience like that special. Yeah, time with her for that six months where we saw her every night and said goodnight to her and get to play and you know, and so it was Yeah, so it's been that's been so fun. Honestly, it's more strange to not have people living here then it was to have people living here. Sure. So we, I, my counselor, I was telling her about how my sister and brother in law were moving out. And she was like, Okay, well, it'd be a good season of you guys like living just the two of you, we'll see how long it lasts. It's like, oh, you know me. So I don't know, like how long it'll be before someone else moves in. But yeah, that's been, it's been such a joy. It's been so much fun. We've loved having the, the noise and the in and out and the different people that come with those that have come with those people that like, wouldn't have been in our home. Otherwise, you know, my sister works in a ministry with international students. And so we had a bunch of international students in here. And it was just like, those people never would have come through our door if it weren't for my sister and what she does, and the fact that she was here, and so it's just like, yeah, it was such a blessing to to host people that like, I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to host so that's really cool.
Allison:Yeah, that's a really unique way to build community.
Christine:Yeah, yeah. It was super fun. It was awesome. I loved it. I still Yeah, I want to do it again. So anyone out there? I'm just kidding. This is not a call for a roommate. No, yeah, no, definitely not. We'll just trust God. Exactly.
Allison:Okay. All right. So I have some quick questions for you. Okay. What's your biggest homemaking fail so far?
Christine:I tried to make sourdough like everyone else during the pandemic, and that was I tried twice and it was an epic fail. It was so bad.
Allison:What just it just didn't work?
Christine:It just was dense and, like bad. It was so bad and it tastes bad. And so I don't know what I did. But that was a fail. Luke says that I don't have any homemaking fields, but oh, it's being really sweet. So yeah, but the sourdough is definitely. Okay. Definitely a fail. Okay. Pretty big. I don't know. That's kind of a silly one.
Allison:No, it's not know your limits. You know,
Christine:don't don't try making sourdough Christine. You know that beer bread stuff and like the the artisan like, Dutch oven bread like I can get away with that. Okay, those are pretty easy, but give me sourdough? No.
Allison:Sourdough is, I think it's challenging. It's not it's an Yeah. Okay. We'll move on. How about a recent homemaking win? your son
Christine:homemaking when? Oh, see, this is where you're you're seeing like my tendencies here because I'm more likely to be critical of myself and talk about like my wins something I'm working on. I'm recent homemaking wins. I think I feel like the bathroom is a win. I think that's my win. Yeah, um, that we did that fast in and it was a lot Fast and Furious, but we remodeled it and got it done. And, and so I would say that I'm really happy with how it turned out. There are things about the kitchen that I look at, and I'm like, probably would have done that differently if I had thought it through a little bit longer. But the bathroom I'm like really satisfied with I feel like that was a win. That was a good remodel. I'm happy with it.
Allison:Even though you had to get different tile that
Christine:even though I had to get different tile that I was not expecting and totally go out of my comfort zone. It was really good. And I'm gonna do that. Yeah. Okay.
Allison:What about a homemaking product or resource that you're loving right now?
Christine:I think that I already mentioned the run fast cookbooks. That's it. That's one. I really love my blender. Oh, my blender. I have a Vitamix. Yeah, and I make like smoothies and pesto and sauces. And like that blender is like that's a workhorse. It is. It is a workhorse. They're amazing. They're I don't know why like people don't talk more about the value specifically of a Vitamix blender. This is not an ad. There's no promotion going on,
Allison:we're not sponsored.
Christine:Allison's not sponsored by them. But um, but yeah, Vitamix are like those things are beasts.
Allison:They are I think they're worth they're an investment but they're totally worth it. And you can get like a refurbished one that's legit refurbished, not like when you got off of Craigslist. Yeah, but I know you can buy. There's a word for it. They're like, refurbished on Amazon. And they're whatever. Yeah, so yeah. Okay.
Christine:And you actually got we got ours on Craigslist. Yeah, there's like 200 bucks for this Vitamix? And
Allison:Oh, did you? so there you go. The other thing I will say about my newest like a like thing. Yes. Is we got a Ryobi like handheld vacuum. Okay. And if you have stairs like nobody wants to lug a vacuum up and down the stairs and you said it earlier my stairs are steep they are that RYOBI vacuum is like a lifesaver. It's like a stick vacuum or like a like a like a handheld handheld one with it takes the ryobi batteries on the end of it and it's just like it's so powerful and it just like gets stuff and it's so nice for like spills in the stairs. Because lugging, like I said like in the vacuum of the stairs is not fun. It is not fun. No, no. I just graduated from a corded vacuum you know, which is what I always had. Yeah. I did I now have the cordless Stick Vacuum thing. And I love it. Yeah. Because I don't have any carpet. Right. I mean, I have rugs but no carpet. Yeah. And so I don't need anything super heavy duty. Yeah. But man, it's so nice to not have to lug the cord Yeah. all over the house and keep it lightweight to Yes, it's very lightweight. That's awesome. It's really nice in mind the stick comes off and it becomes as an attachment. So that it becomes a handheld. Oh, that's awesome. It's pretty great. Wow. Okay, so how about what is your best homemaking tip or hack and it doesn't have to be original from you. But like what's a tip or a hack that you love?
Christine:It's a tip or a hack that I love. Oh, so a lot of the recipes that I that I make whether it's sweet potato waffles or the sweet potato biscuits or the there's lots of different recipes where pureed sweet potatoes is a requirement and nobody wants can sweet potato, because that's gross, disgusting. So just boiling like a ton of sweet potatoes and keeping them in the freezer. You can just pull them out. And I might
Allison:and you could use souper cubes for that!
Christine:I could! Oh my gosh. Because I like measure it out and put it in plastic bags. Yes. And this right on
Allison:it's measured already for you.
Christine:Oh my gosh. See you are making my hack even better. Wow, I love this. Yeah, so that's been one thing that I've tried to do. So having like, and I guess that goes with like having like ingredients ready and prepped like that like all my Smoothie Ingredients, whether it's like steamed cauliflower, or fruit or spinach or all of that stuff is in the freezer, like the hemp seeds, like everything I have in my freezer so that I can just like pull it out and make a smoothie or pull out the sweet potatoes and make waffles on a Saturday morning when one of our friends decides he's going to come over, you know, and I can just make waffles quickly. So yeah, having those like key things like ready to go to be able to make stuff has been because then it's like more enjoyable. Like someone's like, Oh, hey, I'm gonna drop by and you're like, Oh man, like anything to make for these people. And they're coming over. And so to have some of those key things in places it makes it makes hosting and having hospitality even more enjoyable.
Allison:So I agree. Very good tip. Thank you. Okay, we're going to talk about the art of home How do you see homemaking as an art?
Christine:Well, I always go back to in Revelation, I think
it's 19:22. The the, the marriage of the sub marriage supper of the Lamb. Yeah, I'm not saying that, right. Am I saying? Yes, yes, that's correct. Um, and so just like, it being an art is like, there's a sacredness to like home, there's a sacredness to space, and to cultivating like space, and having people at your table. Like, there's just something so sacred and such a picture of, of Christ, I think of, of hospitality and bringing people in, so I think, you know, I want to make things beautiful. Like, why wouldn't if you're gonna have something like, why wouldn't it be beautiful? Like, why wouldn't you? This sacred thing that God's given of home and place and table like, wouldn't you want it to be beautiful? If it if it does have sacred like, and holy value? Yeah. And so I think I think that's kind of where my mind goes, which is why like antiques and like, finding pieces that are meaningful, and like working on our home, and like making it a place that's restful and peaceful, I think is so important, because there is there's an art and a sacredness to hear words like this is so meaningful. Yeah. And so. So yeah, I guess that's, that's what I would say.
Allison:Yeah, that's great answer. I really liked that answer. Yeah. Why do you think gratitude is important? In the home? And how have you seen gratitude improve your experience in the home?
Christine:I think one thing Luke and I do often is we'll just like, be in the house and be like, wow, like, I'm just like, so thankful for like this home and this space, like, yeah, we just feel somewhat like undeserving that God would give us like, you know, this place and it's not like it's this while you're sitting in it. It's not like it's, you know, it's built in 87. It's like a fairly cookie cutter home, but for us, it's like, man, love but the Lord would give us like, such a good gift in this home. And I feel like that's such a it's a it's a safeguard against like covetousness desiring maybe something bigger or better, or, you know, yeah, fill in the blank. And so I think that gratitude that that we have for this home, it just it's a it draws us closer to the Lord. Yeah. To have a sense of gratitude for for the home and for each other and the people that walk through is, it just is it's yeah, I hope that makes sense. I like it's an incomplete thought, but. But yeah, so yeah, I guess that's it.
Allison:Okay. How can older women, help your generation thrive in their practice of the art of home? What's something that you wish that they knew about your experience?
Christine:I feel like I thought this when I was single, and I think I still think it be even being married without kids, where I, I had a desire to be invited into, like, married people and people with kids in their homes as a single person. And I think even still, as we've, we've felt the like, yeah, it's just different. You know, and I think it's, and it's not anyone's fault or criticism. But I think older women or women that are in a different life season, or farther down the road, or whatever you want to say, inviting, inviting people like myself, or even single people into their home, to help them fold laundry, or, you know, deal with kids or cook a meal. I think that's one thing that I wish that I had been a recipient of more of as single but even now as, as married without kids. Because we don't have we don't experience the noise and the chaos and like the crazy, and there's a lack there because of that, you know, like we feel it's too quiet. Often. There's there's echo, you know, like there's not enough noise to fill the house. So to go to a place where there's noise and where there's chaos and movement, and people and conversation is just so meaningful for us. And so I think that would be something that I wish older or Yeah, different season on like saw.
Allison:Yeah, I love that you brought that up. Because I wouldn't, I don't think they would think that. I think they would think the opposite. Like they don't want to come here. It's loud. And like kid crud everywhere.
Christine:And my kid just like pooped on the floor. And you know, yeah, for sure. And we have a few friends that where that's okay. Right. Like, there's that it's known. And we go over there. And you know, but I think in general, yeah, that is the kind of like the thought process.
Allison:But even the older older women, you know, those of us who are almost grandparents, and you know....I'm not almost a grandparent, let me just say that. Nobody's having a baby. But I mean, I'm that age. I wouldn't think to like, bring necessarily to bring in someone younger to just come hang out with me. And yeah, let's cook dinner together or whatever.
Christine:and I think, yeah, I mean, even this conversation is proof of like, the huge benefit that's there for those of us that are younger, because there's so much to learn, like, I don't I don't like I don't know. Yeah, you know, I'm still trying to figure it out. And so for those women that are farther along down the road, it's just so I think there's just so much benefit. And it goes both ways.
Allison:Exactly. And there's a desire there. I think that's probably the biggest thing. And this comes up a lot in the conversations that I have, where you hear the older women say, well, they don't really need anything from me, you know, like, they seem to have it together, or I have nothing to offer. Yeah, is pretty much the common answer. And the younger woman are like, No, we need you. We want to hear from you. Yeah. And that's the model that Paul set for us, right? Yeah, in Titus to say, Yeah, you guys, like, get together and talk and do things together. And that was a lot more common, you know, 100 years ago, and the way that communities are set up, and not so much anymore, and that's part of the reason why I started this podcast was to give the women listening, just a little taste of what that might be like, but then to encourage them, don't let it stop with listening to this podcast, right? Like, this is just a taste. Go find those women in your community, whether you're the older or the younger, right, either way, go find them and have community and be together and learn from one
Christine:Yeah, I mean, that's the point of the Body of Christ another. is that we build each other up, and we all have our limitedness and our short sightedness, whether it's age or experience or right, you know, and so, so I think just being community with people that are not in your life season, being with women that have have different experiences is just so valuable, because I don't know what it's like to be approaching not that you are but you know, approaching like, like, I've potentially have grandkids in the next 5-10 years, you know, I mean, that's like, that's a whole different thing. And so, from in me on this side, it's like, there's, there's stuff that people younger than me, or even people older than me that maybe don't know what this is like. And so, it's just I think, and yeah, it's just we get a fuller picture of who God is when we when we put ourselves in the spaces to see what other people's experience in life and yeah, it's like, yeah,
Allison:absolutely. I totally agree. What advice would you give to a younger woman coming behind you? As she may be is entering into her first year of marriage? Or maybe she's not single girl and she's not married at this point in her life, maybe she's still in high school. What would you tell her?
Christine:Um, well, for I feel like I would say two different things. For those groups of people, I think for the young person that single and unmarried and I think I, even though I had some of the tools to, like, cultivate home, I didn't necessarily think that I was in a season that I could fully embrace some of those things because I wasn't married. Yeah. And I, there are certain things I wish that, you know, little things that I wish that I would have invested more in. And so for that person, I think it's like, go for it, you know, like, have, you know, have the regular, like dinner parties and have people come and stay with you? And yeah, heck, buy the house, if you can, you know, like, things like that, where it's like, go and do it, like, and find the girls to live with you or not, or whatever, you know. And I wish I would have done that. Yeah, sooner than I did. And then for the, for the newly married younger than me, I feel like let people help you. I think that's one thing that I wish I would have realized sooner. That you know, when someone comes over, and they're here for a meal, like, like, let them cut up the vegetables, yes. Like, let them take the bread out of the oven, like, help let them go get the drinks that are in the drink, fridge in the garage, whatever it is, you know, like, let them set the table like actually give them that's part of hospitality. I feel like I learned that from Rosaria Butterfield of just like, give, give people ownership like within your home that they have a place and they have like a task and a responsibility, something to contribute. And that's part of hospitality. Hospitality isn't like making sure everything's clean and put together and the meals cooked and dinners, the dishes are done. Like so that when people walk in, you just put it on the table. Like that's not hospitality.
Allison:That's entertaining.
Christine:Yes, that's a show. That's not real. And so instead of doing that, like when people come over, yeah, give them don't just ask them to bring something but when they get here, actually involve them in the process of like preparation of a meal or setting the table, even if it's warming up leftovers like no, I love that. And so that's what we do as family. Right, exactly. We want to invite them into that experience by the time that they're in our home. Yeah, yeah. And it doesn't have to be children or biological family to be a part of that. And I think it's more meaning it's, and I've really seen it through one of our friends. He, he always wants to do the dishes. And for like, years, I just like fought him. I was like, No, don't do the dishes, you know, like, I, I can do the dishes. But he would just do them. And I got to this place of like man like this blesses him to be able to serve in my home in this way. And so why would How could I deny and keep that blessing from him when it's something he wants to do? And it helps me Yeah, because I don't want to do the dishes. So it's a gift for me. And so I'm denying like this gift. Yeah. And so that he taught me a lot just through that, like, that act of service of like doing the dishes, or it was like, man, like, No, this is the I'm being prideful by thinking that I have to do all this. And I'm making it about me. Yeah. And not about the people that are coming into my home. And so that was a humbling experience letting Kyle do the dishes where I was like, This is good. This is teaching me so
Allison:that's really good advice. Let people help you. I like that a lot. Yeah. Well, thank you very much. Thank you for sharing.
Christine:This was so fun.
Allison:It was fun. I enjoyed it.
Christine:I'll see you next time in my van. I'm just kidding. That's, that's a joke.
Allison:Thank you so much for listening to this homemaker portrait of Christine Shamberger. So what did you think of our first newbie portrait? We would love to hear your feedback. What was your favorite question? What part of Christine's story did you most identify with? Are there other questions that you would like me to ask our guests? Podcasting is great for so many reasons. But one negative to podcasting is that for the most part, it's a one way conversation. Unlike an Instagram post or a YouTube video, the audience cannot directly leave comments on the episodes. So until the time that that sort of thing is invented. Here are some of the ways that we can have a conversation. You can comment on one of the IG posts related to this episode. You can send us a direct message on Instagram. You can send us an email, or we now have a permanent voicemail link set up on our website for you to contact us anytime. Just go to the art of home podcast.com/contact, where you will find a form that you can send a written message on. And then right next to that is a link to leave us a voicemail. It works the same way that the voicemail link for our birthday episode worked. If you did that, you'll know, it'll be easy for you, you'll know exactly what to do. But if you didn't get a chance to do that, for the birthday episode, it's very, very simple. The most important thing to remember is make sure whatever device you're using to do this, and it should work on any device, a phone, a laptop, an iPad, just make sure your microphone is enabled, because obviously, the microphone needs to be on for you to be able to record a voicemail. So I'm always wanting to improve the show and bring more meaningful, impactful content to homemakers everywhere who are listening. So please get in touch. Let me know what you love what you'd like to hear more of let me know if there's questions I'm not asking that you would like for me to ask. That's how several of the questions have been added to our repertoire of questions that we ask is they were suggestions from you guys. If you have found some value from this episode, would you consider giving the show some love in one or more of the following ways. Number one, share the episode with a homemaker that you know who could use some encouragement, this is the most important thing you can do to help grow this show. Number two, leave us an honest rating and review wherever you're listening. And number three, you can leave us a tip in our virtual Tip Jar buy me a coffee, there's a link in the show notes or go to buy me a coffee.com/the art of home. You can leave us a coffee and valuing $5 $10 or $15. Your financial support helps us offset the cost of producing this podcast and all of our free resources. So thank you so much. links and more info about all of the fun things that we discussed in Christine's interview are down in the show notes as well as all the places you can find us online. So come say hi over on Instagram and Facebook. We would love to hang out with you there. Well that wraps up this episode of The Art of home podcast. Remember we are now doing a weekly episode release. So we will be back next Wednesday with part one of our deep dive into the art of sewing and how we can apply that to our homemaking. Until then keep practicing your art of making a home