Allison

Hello, homemakers. Welcome to the Art of Home, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong. I'm your host, Allison Weeks. I'm a wife, a mom, a granny, and I've been practicing the art of home since 1992. Welcome to all of you listeners, whether you're new here or you have been around for a while. I'm honored that you're gonna trust me with some of your valuable time today. We are going to hear a brand new interview from an In the Trenches homemaker. But before we get to that, I have some updates and listener mail for you. This is the part of the show where I share podcast news, updates on what I'm doing and loving in my own homemaking, and I share tips and answer questions sent in from you all. This segment is brought to you by listeners who support the art of home through Buy Me a Coffee. Buy Me a Coffee is a virtual tip jar where you can show your appreciation and support for the show by giving a one-time tip or by becoming a Titus 2 Women supporter and setting up a recurring tip of $5 per month. Titus 2 Women supporters receive my undying gratitude and the occasional perk, such as free digital version of our magazine Homemaker's Journal, free registration for the holiday recipe exchange, and other fun things. Whichever way you choose to give, I'm grateful for your support. Well, I'm back from the beach and happy to say that the first annual Week's Week was a smashing success. Eleven adults, a two-year-old, a three and a half-year-old, and a golden retriever lived together in relative harmony for a solid week. We laughed, the kids cried a little, we played games, tracked mountains of beach sand into the house, and we ate some really delicious food in the first annual top chef dinner competition. Let the record show that our middle son Liam won top chef all by himself with only a little bit of help from mom and dad serving as sous-chefs. Five of the seven nights, one family or adult was responsible for cooking dinner. Each night we rated the meal anonymously on scorecards. I collected and held the scorecards, which were tallied at the end of the week to determine the winner. It was a fierce but friendly competition with only two points between first and second place. We are already thinking about how we can improve the competition for next year. After a week at the beach, it has taken multiple days to get back on track with my homemaking, but slowly things are shaping up. I am also thrilled to be harvesting a decent crop of figs from our fig tree, which was propagated from my grandmother's tree. This is my grandmother who passed away in January of this year. So it is a particularly sweet blessing to be getting so many figs from her tree. She was famous for her fig preserves, but she wasn't going to be investing a small fortune in mason jars every season. So she would say, if you bring me the jars, I will fill them up for you. She learned all things about figs from her mother, who made one of my favorite treats that I've never quite been able to replicate: fig turnovers. It's sort of a hand pie made of a sweet pastry dough stuffed full of her famous fig preserves. I might have to try my hand at creating my own version with my fig bounty. We'll see. I will let you know how they come out. In the meantime, I will definitely share the recipe for my grandmother's fig muffins. They are legendary. I will put that in the show notes on the blog. I received this sweet message from Chloe in North Georgia about our magazine, Homemaker's Journal. I just received my homemaker's journal in the mail. It has been much anticipated. This is such a joy to look through, and all the photos included are lovely, included our wonderful homemaker encouragements and delights. Thank you so much for creating this publication. It is simply lovely. It was my absolute pleasure, Chloe. So much so that I am going to do it again. Preparations for issue number two, the fall holiday issue, are underway. I have a fantastic team of writers tackling some excellent topics that will encourage and inspire you to not just survive the holiday season, but thrive through intentional homemaking and hospitality from the first pumpkin spice latte to the final lid placed on your Christmas decor storage boxes. I will be sharing more about what is coming in that issue over the next few weeks. For now, mark your calendar for the pre-sale that begins on September 1st. So you can have that new issue in your hands on or very near the official launch day of October the 6th. Afraid you might forget about the presale? Never fear. Sign up for our mailing list and you will receive reminders. The link is in the show notes or go to the Artof Home Podcast.com slash subscribe. Now on to today's interview. We discuss how the Lord is using the ordinary work of the home to shape her expectations, her priorities, and her faith. We talk about how to raise kids who notice and anticipate the needs of others, and how creating a home is a way to proclaim what we believe about our hope laid up in heaven, to emulate God who gives hope to the hopeless and welcomes the lonely and broken into an eternal home with Him. I will be back at the end with some closing reminders in this episode's emoji. Whatever you are applying your hands to as you listen today, I know you will enjoy Kara's story of home. Welcome to the Art of Home. I'm here with Kara Garris and in the trenches, homemaking mama, homeschooler. I cannot wait to hear all about Kara's story of home. She was nominated by her mom. Um, but before we go into all of that, Kara, why don't you say hi to everybody? Tell us a little bit about who you are today.

SPEAKER_02

Um my name is Kara, and I live in central Oklahoma in the OKC area with my husband, Jeff. And this year we will have been married 17 years, and we have five kiddos. Our oldest is 14 and our youngest is six. And as you said, we homeschool. Um, my husband owns his own business, so he's super busy with that, but um, it's all good, all good things. And we so I help him with that when I can. We are really involved with our church, like teaching Sunday school, um, leading a small group, and then we are part of a team that does a weekly Bible study in a large government housing apartment complex. And we are actually modeled after Mission Arlington. I don't know if you're familiar with that ministry. Um yeah, so our pastor worked there for a while and he wanted to plant a similar church in South O'Keefe. So there's a lot of like um apartment ministry that our church does. Yeah, so we stay busy with that, and then obviously our kids all have their own desires and interests. So we're like coaching soccer and like taking them to practices and trying to learn how to play the violin, or well, they're like trying to learn how to play the violin, and we're like driving them to that. So we have a lot of good work to do with our hands, so yeah, you are truly in the trenches for sure.

Allison

Yes. Um kiddos 14 to 6. What's the breakdown, boys and girls? Yeah, so I have three boys and two girls.

SPEAKER_02

So it goes boy, boy, girl, boy, girl.

Allison

Boy, boy, girl, boy, girl. Yes. Okay. Oh my goodness. Well, at least at least that girl got a sister.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, but then we went for that final ultrasound. My husband was like, no pressure, but this has to be a girl.

unknown

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

She said, I have too many brothers. So we're like, I'm sorry.

Allison

Yeah, yeah. We we were really thinking maybe we'll do that last because we had a girl and then three boys.

SPEAKER_00

Uh-huh.

Allison

And we were like, oh, we would love for her to have a sister. But after three boys in a row, I was just like, I just don't know if I can do it. I don't think I have any more girls left in me. Yeah. Oh, well, I'm happy for you. That's awesome. Okay, let's go back to the beginning. And I would love to know when did you first become a homemaker and did you bring any skills with you?

SPEAKER_02

Oh goodness. So I lived with people in college on and off, but I think looking back, I was probably like their horror story of a roommate because I like didn't know how to do anything. And so when I got married, I realized everything I hadn't been doing. So I honestly didn't bring a lot of practical skills into homemaking. Um, I because I so I was born in the 80s, but growing up in the 90s, we just had like the typical 90s home where both parents worked and the kids did all the things. And occasionally I would like wash dishes, but I I really didn't have a lot of skills like cooking, cleaning, or anything. Um but my parents, we didn't have a lot of money growing up, so they always just learned how to do everything themselves. And they never complained. Like my parents don't complain. And um, I think those are probably the skills I brought into homemaking was like I can learn how to do anything. Like that's I I can figure it out. And then also like nothing is really worth complaining about. Like, just if it's in front of you to do it, just do it. And so those were my skills I brought into homemaking.

Allison

Those are excellent skills because even if, like you said, even if you don't have the skill that you need, if you have a good attitude about it and you can figure it out.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, 100%.

Allison

Yeah, totally, especially in this day and age with YouTube and the internet. I mean, I was in a similar, you know, I had some skills, but there were some big gaps um in certain areas. And so, and I I know I've said this before, but back in my day, if I needed to figure out a skill, I went to the library.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, the library. Or you asked a friend.

Allison

Or you asked a friend, exactly. Yes, yes, and that's still a very good way to go about it, I would say.

SPEAKER_02

For sure.

Allison

Okay, what would you say is your biggest homemaking strength right now?

SPEAKER_02

So I think just that I can learn how to do in most things, not anything, but yeah, I don't think I need to be going into like masonry, but I can I can figure out how to do most things. And um honestly, I'm really I'm pretty laid back almost to a fault, but I I do have the mentality that we'll figure it out, it'll be fine. So yeah, that's probably my biggest strength. My husband says I'm like extreme type B.

Allison

I was just gonna say, are you a type B?

SPEAKER_02

Very much, very much so.

Allison

That's funny. That reminds me, I think it was Abigail Dodds who said she was she was out there representing all the type B homemakers.

SPEAKER_02

We are out there, which not on Instagram.

Allison

That's right. That's just too much type A required to keep up with that business.

SPEAKER_02

For sure.

Allison

Um, that's a good strength though. That's really good. Now, what about your weakness? Is it that you might be too type B or is it something else?

SPEAKER_02

100%. So I am very I have the mentality of it'll probably work out. And if if you talk to any of my friends, they're like, yes, and you shouldn't be that way. Because you can only go so long, like not cleaning your bathroom before it's like a perilous situation. Yes. So yeah, I there's some good that comes with it'll probably work out, but it it oftentimes does not serve me. So that's for sure my weakness.

Allison

Yeah, perilous bathroom situations uh are exponentially greater when you have three boys too.

SPEAKER_02

So with terrible aim, I think. Yes, maybe uh I don't know. I'm like, do we need to have like a training session on this? My husband's like, they'll they'll just figure it out.

Allison

I tried that and eventually, eventually they got it. But I it was a it was a conundrum for me for quite a long time because I was an only child, so I didn't grow up with brothers, obviously. Um, I have some half siblings, but they're way younger than me. So that whole, yeah, that whole non not aiming thing was really difficult uh to get over. But um we did, we made it. Okay, so who uh would you say has had a big influence on your homemaking?

SPEAKER_02

Um honestly, right now in my current season, it's friends. Like I'm I have plenty of friends who really strive to be excellent in everything they do, so I can just be encouraged and challenged by them. And when I first uh becoming a believer was shortly before I got married. So I feel like I had a lot of new input at the same time. And people recommended um like Elizabeth Elliott, and uh so I read a lot of things by her and listened to a lot of her things, and then um I'm a big reader, so honestly, even in fiction, I feel like I'm always being influenced by people like Barmy and Little Women. I'm like, she's the best. Or um I've recently learned the little house books are apparently controversial, but Ma Ingalls, I'm like, she was, oh my word, she's like sweeping a dugout. Like I can get over myself. I'm like Mama Kit Devloor when I don't feel like it or whatever. So I I feel like I'm always pulling from different areas, but yeah, friends and books, and yeah, yeah, for sure.

Allison

Those are great, great influences. Um okay, expectations. What are some things that surprised you about homemaking? Good or bad, just what did you not expect?

SPEAKER_02

I think because I grew up not really contributing much to the running of a household, I had the mindset that it's probably really easy because I'm like, what do you need to know to wipe off a counter? You know? Or uh so with that though, I also so I didn't realize how challenging it would be, but I also didn't realize how rewarding it could be. So when I started learning what could all go into that and taking it seriously and seeing it as a worthy endeavor, I remember reading Tim Keller's book, it's like every good endeavor, I think is the name of it. Yeah. And I was like, no, just applying this to homemaking. Like this is a good endeavor, and I can thank the Lord while I do it, and then it becomes like a holy act I'm doing.

Allison

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

And there were, and then with a rewarding piece. I remember a few years ago when I got really into making bread, I like opened the back door and I was like, hey guys, the bread is ready. And all my kids cheered and I was like, that's just so sweet and rewarding that like I have learned how to do this thing that I never knew how to do. Yeah. And now my kids are cheering to get to eat warm bread. So yeah, I think just the challenging and rewarding pieces were most surprising to me.

Allison

Yeah, for sure. What's a what's an expectation you you just had to let go of?

SPEAKER_02

So I think since I became a believer shortly before getting married, and then we didn't have kids for a couple of years, just that's when the Lord brought us kids. I had this really I'm a very idealistic person. So I had this idea of what our family would look like. And this was in like the 20 teens, like we got married in 2009. So and my oldest was born in 2012. And it felt like every family around me had like really outwardly compliant children, and all the husbands played guitar and would be like, Do you remember this, babe? Just in my little circles. I don't know, but like all the husbands played guitar and would like lead hymns with their swath of children every night. And I was like, hey, hey, that can be us. And my husband's like, it cannot be us. We're not those people. So I think I just had to let go of like, we're just not gonna look like everybody else. And we are a family that like sins really boldly, and we like cannot begin to try to be embarrassed by said sin out in public. So I've just had to like let go of a lot over the years and be like, this is what the Lord has given me. And yeah, we are not, this is not who we are.

Allison

Oh my gosh, that is hysterical. Well, look, as someone who had the guitar playing fit, not only husband, but I play guitar and then all of our boys play guitar, made we also sin very boldly.

SPEAKER_00

So that isn't the secret.

Allison

No, that is not the secret. So yeah, and even those that look outwardly compliant, I guarantee you they've got their own stuff happening behind closed doors.

SPEAKER_02

So for sure. But I in my heart of hearts, I was like, if we can just look put together.

Allison

I know it's so attractive on the outside. Absolutely. That's a great point, though. And I know that that has come up before with other guests to just that whole comparison thing and thinking it's holiness looks a certain way. And I think that's a big trap we can fall into, especially today with Instagram and all that kind of stuff. So that's a good warning. Thank you. All right, parenting. We're kind of headed in that direction, so let's go there. How did the edition of your children challenge and how did it enrich your homemaking?

SPEAKER_02

So having children really expanded my vision of what home could be. I don't think I had any kind of theology of home before we had kids. And suddenly it's like, oh, we're responsible for discipling these eternal souls. So when we were thinking about what kind of adults do we hope and pray they'll be, then it's like you start working backward and it's like, oh, well, what kind of home did those adults grow up in?

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And so then I had to thankfully, because we could make those decisions outside of an emotional moment. Now when I walk through our tiny house and five kids are being creative in different areas, that looks like a wreck. Yeah. But I'm like, no, we wanted to give them the opportunity to be creative. So it's challenging in the sense of, like I said in the previous question, I can't control their behavior. I can't like protect them from everything that they could encounter. But it's so enriching because I don't know that I would have, I think I would have been really narrow-minded about what home could look like if it weren't so much a part of how we wanted to disciple our kids.

Allison

Yes, yes. I love that you, well, you said two things there that I really like. The working backwards, like saying, okay, this is our goal. What is our what is our goal? What do we want for our kids? And then working backward from that and saying, well, what kind of home did those adults grow up in? And then I think that's such a valuable exercise that probably should be revisited like every year and tweaked, you know, as the child develops, because then you get to know each child and you realize they have different strengths, different weaknesses, and then your approach needs to change as you as you see who they're developing and becoming. But then also that piece that you said, I I didn't quite catch exactly how you said it, but basically, like because you did that work on the front end and you have a clear values-driven goal in mind, you're less likely to react with emotion in the moment. Did I hear that correct?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. Cause I think there's always going to be opportunities to be reactive. And so if you can outside of the moment have a good plan, or at least, like you were saying, like a values-driven decision.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So because there's always going to be on good and bad, like there will be really great opportunities that pop up. And it's like, well, because our family does that weekly Bible study. You know what I mean? And we want to do that together. It's like you can't, we can't say yes to that other really good thing. And I'm, and even you're really disappointed. So yeah, yeah, I think I'm my husband is more that way. So I'm thankful that God gave me him.

Allison

Yes. Is he more type A? Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. But he's being sanctified by being married to me. For sure.

Allison

It's probably better that a type A and B get together rather than like two type B's that you might not get ever accomplish anything.

SPEAKER_02

Right. I could see the danger in two type Bs, but two type A's, I'm like, you guys are getting stuff done. So I'm like, that could be good.

Allison

Yeah, for sure. Um, okay, so how do you encourage your kids to participate in homemaking? Because they are definitely at the ages where they can be very hands on. So, what are some of the things that you do to help encourage them to be a part of the homemaking?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So one of the things when we were thinking about what kind of adults that we hoped our kids would. Grow to be. It was kids who notice and can jump in and anticipate a need. So since they were little, they've always had like little jobs they did alongside us. And also we wanted them to be adults who could make a meal because I could not. So uh my 14-year-old now has several meals he can make. And when I have to run a kid to soccer practice, I'm like, can you stay home and make lasagna? And he's like, Yes, I'd love to. So um just training them in different skills and like cleaning a bathroom, all those sorts of things, and they rotate through jobs, just like really practical stuff. But also like with homemaking, um, trying to let them have the fun jobs too.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So because I found myself being like, Well, I need to make this pie or whatever. And it's like, could you wash the dishes afterward? And I'm like, Oh, I think we're to the point where we need to swap. Yeah. Like you know, making the pie and I'm washing the dishes because it wouldn't be fun just to grow up as like the scolery maid, you know what I mean? Exactly. But never got to do the fun thing or whatever. Yeah. So yeah, yeah.

Allison

That is such a great perspective. Yes. Do your kids have, like you said, your son can make lasagna. I mean, do is that sort of his specialty? Do they have certain dishes that are their signatures?

SPEAKER_02

Uh so usually it's like whatever their favorite meal is, they're more excited to learn how to make. So he loves lasagna. So he makes that. And then um, my other kids are really into breakfast foods. So on Saturday morning, they'll get up and make like biscuits and gravy and eggs or pancakes or whatever. So um, we usually start with like their favorite foods, and then like tacos are super easy. Yeah. So it's just like easier meals. Just so I'm like, you're not gonna starve. And you can bless people in the future.

Allison

Your roommates and other people. Yes.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. Like they've like made food for families at our church.

Allison

Like that.

SPEAKER_02

I'm just like, this is a blessing. And then they go with us to drop it off.

Allison

And so I love that.

SPEAKER_02

I love that. Yeah, just let them do them.

Allison

Let them do the meal train meal. That is such a good idea. Love that.

SPEAKER_02

Well, they they wanted to, and I'm thankful they wanted to, because I don't know if I would have thought of it on my own.

Allison

Yeah, I well, I wouldn't have. That's a great, that's great. Those are excellent. Um, okay, priorities. So you have a lot going on over there. So what are some practical steps that you take to help you set and keep your priorities, keep first things first and in the right order?

SPEAKER_02

Um, I get up early.

Allison

I get up really early.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, what's early?

Allison

Like how early?

SPEAKER_02

Like 5 15. Okay. So yeah, like it's not like before I feel like before 5 a.m. It's just insulting. Yeah. But I can do it. And there have been seasons where my husband had to leave really early for work. And I was like, oh, 45 is hard. 445. Yeah. But yeah, so like 5.15, 5.30. Um, just like exercising, reading my Bible, because I found if I let those slip, it's like not a lot of days before I'm feeling it. Yeah. In other areas. Um and then like my husband and I, because our year very much is seasonal dependent on kid activities, whenever the kids aren't as in many things, we try to be really intentional with our time. Like he and I getting together and spending more time together, and then um lots of intentional time with the kids. So I think we just like I was saying earlier, we have to look at it outside of the season going in. Like we're already looking at next fall is gonna be really busy. So we're like, oh, what anchors can we put in our week now to protect our time so that at the end of that season we're not like, who are you? you know, and not it's been three months since we've had a real conversation or whatever.

Allison

So yeah. So you're already looking towards the fall to put anchors in. And what do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_02

Like date nights or uh yeah, so we try to keep a Sabbath from like Saturday night to Sunday night. So we typically say no to a lot of things on Sunday afternoons, which is obviously if like a really good friend has a baby shower, I will try to make that happen. But most of the time we're saying no. Um and yeah, so like seeing when my parents are available to come hang out with the kids. So yeah, we can go on date nights and just getting those on the calendar now. Yeah. And we have to do the same thing during the holidays because your time will just get taken from you. So just blocking out like a Saturday in December. And it's like no matter what comes up, like we this is the day our family is going to do this special thing that we do every year or whatever. Otherwise, we get into January and we're like, oh, we didn't decorate a single or whatever. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So yeah, that's we just have to do it way in advance. Otherwise, I start to feel a little sweaty thinking about it.

Allison

That's a one that's a really wonderful practice. That's something that we when we got to that stage where we just had four kids with a lot going on and homeschool schedules and my husband's travel schedule, we would do that. We would look out to the next, you know, maybe we would do like six months at a time and think because we were always living far from family too. So we always had to factor in when are we gonna go see, when are we gonna go to Florida and go visit everybody? Um and work that in and then kind of build the rest of the six months around that. Um, so I love this idea too of having your Sabbath, getting that date night set, and go ahead and reserve your childcare, whether that's your parents or whoever is your usual babysitter. And even if it's three, four months out, I mean, you might as well do it. And yeah, and it's kind of set. That's those are great practices.

SPEAKER_02

So with you all doing that and knowing that you didn't have family close, did you guys have to get creative with prioritizing your marriage? And I feel like the season of like nobody's driving, yeah. Everybody can do stuff is like kind of a crazy season. So in that season, how did you guys do that?

Allison

Yeah, it was it was hard, it was really challenging. I mean, we had strong church community everywhere that we lived, and that was, I mean, I would start looking at churches before we ever moved to a new city because that was the top priority because that was our that was our family since we weren't gonna have any any family. And so, friends, we I did a lot of babysitter swapping with friends who had kids the same age. We would just I'll watch your kids this night, you watch my kids, you know, this night. We would do that. Uh, a couple of older ladies um in the church who I befriended, you know, we just became close and they were kind of surrogate grandmas, and they would step in and help, you know, if I was gonna go have another baby, because I I was I was always having babies where we didn't have family. So where am I gonna put the other kids? Um yeah, and so friends would step in and help out. But yeah, I mean my church family was really the the um they were our lifeline and support for that sort of thing for sure. Yeah, good question. That's awesome. Yeah. Um, okay, so let's talk about media. I love to talk about media with your generation. What's your thoughts on media? Um, I do have social media written on the question, but I kind of like to do a broad overview. You know, what how do you feel about media in general? What's the role that it plays in your life personally, and how are you managing it with your kids?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. At first I thought when I read this question, like, oh, I don't really do anything, but that's not true. I started talking to my husband about it. He's like, no, we do a lot. So like like to be to talk to our kids about it. Um, so I haven't been on like Instagram or Facebook or anything like that for about six years. I have like a good reads account to keep track of the books I'm reading. And like we occasional, like we use YouTube for like workout videos and things like that. Um, but I bought we bought a brick about a year ago um because I noticed whenever like the temperature was rising in the house, that was when I was like, I should read this long form news article. Now is the right time to get caught up on Supreme Court briefings, which makes no sense that that would be less stressful. But that's that's where my heart went. And it was nice since getting the brick because I had a really like a visible thing I was doing in front of the kids. And I got to where I was like processing aloud in front of them, like, I think I'm not being very focused on what's important. So I think I need to break my phone now. Like just and and the more we started saying those things aloud in front of them, they started noticing it in other people. And we could have really good conversations because we weren't saying it like in a condescending, I'm holier than the person who is on their phone all the time. But just like being honest, like these are really addictive. Like my phone is keeps drawing me away from the things that I want to prioritize. So I'm gonna go ahead and brick it because it's really hard for me to not look at it. Have you guys noticed it's hard to not look at screens and they're like, yes, you know, and then we'll go like last week I went with my older two boys on a mission trip to Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas, and they do um, they send teams out to their where they have recurring Bible studies, they'll send youth groups out to do like a little kind of like a VBS at the apartment complexes. So we went and did a few of those. And my boys would notice, like, oh, the kids who bring phones with them to Bible study, it's really hard to engage with them. I'm like, yeah, remember, they're really addicting and it's hard to get off of them. And having good conversations, like, why do you think parents would send their kids with phones? And like, oh, well, maybe because there's only one parent in that home, it's really hard for them to do everything they need to do if the kids are not on a phone. I'm like, yeah. So I think that's sort of how we're handling media. Yeah. Um, I my oldest has like a dumb flip phone that he forgets about 80% of the time because he started rapping soccer. So he'll be like out at the fields all day and he needs to call us or whatever, but then he forgets he has it and it like lives in my closet. But um, yeah, that's kind of what we're doing. I my husband is on social media for his work. Okay. And so they know that, like that he uses it as marketing. Um, so we just have a lot of like I feel like we say the things we're thinking out loud a lot to help the kids know how we're working through it. And and and I don't want to like demonize or vilify the phone. So I'll even say things like, I'm so thankful that we have audible so we can listen to audiobooks in the car or whatever. So trying to like highlight that it can be used in a positive way, but it is also addictive. So I don't know, we're still learning.

Allison

Oh, but I love this uh verbalization of the thought pro are you naturally um a verbal processor? Yes, okay, yeah, because for those of us who aren't, you know, that wouldn't even occur to me to do that, but that's a great exercise um in letting your kids into the inner monologue of of what's happening up here and how you're actually thinking through um the relationship that you personally want to have with this device. So that well done. That's excellent. Now on the brick, that is an app, correct?

SPEAKER_02

Well, yes. So you download an app, but there's also a physical little square and it has a magnet on it, so you can put it on the fridge. Okay. I send mine with my husband to work because I have no self-control. But you just like tap your phone to it and it make it can make your phone as locked down as you choose.

Allison

You do the settings for that. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and it has different modes. So I have like a mode that's when we're homeschooling. Okay. Is basically just a phone and um like I can only call or do GPS or Audible. Okay. Because we have some school books on Audible. Sure. And then we have like a weekend, I have like a weekend mode that prevents my reading of long-form news articles. And but I can like text still. So yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's really it's a neat thing. Um they go in sales, they have like Black Friday sales and stuff.

Allison

So okay. And it is it an ongoing, um, like a subscription that you do ongoing, or is it a one-time fee?

SPEAKER_02

It's a one-time fee. Okay. You buy the brick and you download the app and the app and that's it. Doesn't cost. Yeah.

Allison

Okay. It's good. That's good to know. That's really, that's really good. It sounds like that has been a helpful tool for you guys.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, yes. I I've recommended it to other people, and they some of them it's really been helpful for, but I think it just depends on what you need.

Allison

Yeah. Okay. That's good to know. Thanks for sharing that. Um, okay, temptations and challenges. So which of the these temptations have you struggled with the most? And what is God teaching you through this? Choice number one, comparison to other women, other homemakers. Number two, I'm just a homemaker, I'm not getting paid. This is not a real job. Or number three, superwoman trying to do all the things.

SPEAKER_02

Um for sure the comparison when um and not even in the sense of like it's I was thinking through this, and it's more of like I see another mom who is like really gifted or has a um like the Lord has worked in that specific mom in a different way. And I'm like, why can't I be more patient like she is? Or I'll see a mom doing a lot of really cool things with their kids, and I'm like, man, I should be able to do all those things too. And um, or even like there have been seasons where because we have a smaller home that I've been like, man, if if we had a house like this mom has or this woman has, yeah, I could host so much more or I could do so much more. But um the way God has been teaching me through that is I think I know that Bonhoeffer says, like, we need like my friend sees the gospel in me more than I do. So we need our friends to believe the gospel for us. And I think we often overlook the ways God is working in us, but we can see it really clearly in other people and the way God is blessing other people. So I think what the Lord is teaching me is that I can call out those things to my friends, not necessarily the bigger house piece, but like I just love how patient you are. And that often helps me to put like a hard stop on any envy I could have, like just celebrating like a good thing I see in somebody else and um thanking God for that gift in them and asking him to grow that same attribute in me. But also like remembering like there's probably a lot of work he's done in me that I'm just not aware of, and we all have different circumstances, you know. Like if a if a family has one child, it's gonna look a lot different from having several or whatever, and everybody has different griefs and struggles. So yeah, that's how he's been working through me, or not not through me. Well, yeah, teaching me. Teaching you, working through you. Yeah, teaching me.

Allison

Yeah, I love that. I love that. I think it's very um, yes, it's very tempting to see that thing in envy rather than speak. Uh it reminds me of um the verse that says, you know, weep with those who weep and be joyful with those who are joyful rather than being uh envious of their joy um or coveting whatever that thing is that's bringing them joy, being able to just speak um praise, you know, on their behalf that God is doing that in their life is really a good safeguard against an envious heart. So that's a really excellent practice from a verbal processor again.

SPEAKER_02

So I take it you're not a verbal processor, but I married one.

Allison

I'm married to one.

SPEAKER_02

I was not a verbal processor, it's like gotten me in so much trouble over the years.

Allison

Yeah, but we have our problems too, because we tend to like we hide it, and nobody really quite knows what we're thinking, um, including you know our husbands. But um we we have after you know over 30 years, we've got that system figured out mostly.

SPEAKER_02

That's good.

Allison

Um, okay, what special challenges have you faced in your homemaking journey? Maybe you can tell us about one and how did you work through it and and grow and adapt?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Um, so when my husband and I got married, because of his, he he had a kind of a tough childhood, and that led to him acting out in his teen years that caused some legal trouble. So when we first got married, we were paying off my student loans and paying off uh some debts he had incurred from that. And so we just always were living really tight. And I think I always in the back of my mind was like, someday we'll be able to use both of these incomes and that'll fix all of our problems or whatever. And then because we had been using my entire income to get out of debt and living off his income, when I found out I was pregnant, my husband was like, Great, we already know how to live off one income. I was like, that is great. That is great. But then it was like, oh, okay, so I can be, I can like white knuckle it and be content a little longer. And it was always like someday, it was I always felt like someday when we have more money, we'll that'll solve all of our problems. And then um, like my husband worked up in his company and was doing really well, and then like three months after our fourth child was born, he lost his job. So then it was like a reset again. But I was really thankful that through all those years, for whatever reason, even as a verbal processor, God had really convicted me to not talk to people about it. Like I really wanted to honor Jeff, and I didn't want it to seem like anything he was doing was like wrong, or I was disappointed in him or anything like that. So I was able to take a lot of that to the Lord, and he worked a lot through me in um one, I could rely on God and I truly could learn to be content no matter like the size of our home or how much income we have, or feeling like, oh man, we're both, you know, like I'm turning 40 this year. We should, should be further along in the American dream or whatever.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And um so yeah, it's that was that's typically been the struggle that I've like worked, had to work through the most, had been convicted of the most. And now like trying to what I'm learning now is helping my kids process that because they have friends with big houses or friends with huge yards or whatever, and being like, yeah, we can pray for those things, but we can also trust that like if God doesn't withhold good from those who walk up rightly, that being in this home is good for it's good for us. Yeah, and it's glorifying to him. And how how can we then serve others through this home? How can we have people over? How can we um be a blessing to our neighbors? Um so yeah, I feel like that's that's a perennial thing I'm working through.

Allison

Yeah, that's good. Did you feel like you were most tempted? Because you said, you know, as a verbal processor, you you maybe had the temptation to speak about it, but then you felt God telling you not to. What were you most tempted to speak about? To like ask for advice or to vent or a little bit of both?

SPEAKER_02

I think probably a little bit of both. I'm not a big venter just because of my parents, I wasn't allowed to. So I think I probably would have been saying things like please pray that we get a raise or something like that. Like finding a way to mention it. And also like that has been a sin struggle of mine for the last 17 years or whatever, and also growing up without a lot of money. And um I think just believing the lie that that would somehow make me sinless. I'm not sure. Like if I had a bigger home, my kids wouldn't fight or do you know what I mean? Yeah, like silly things like that. And and I think I probably would have been tempted to share veiled prayer requests, maybe that's so good.

Allison

Yeah. With others.

SPEAKER_02

And I I'm just really thankful God didn't let me do that.

Allison

Yeah. I I asked the question because I just think that this is a pretty common, whatever the topic, whether it's fine, you know, because you're struggling financially or you know, if the addiction's involved or a difficult in-law relationship, whatever it is with our marriage, we can definitely be tempted to speak things. I'm thinking about the walled garden imagery that J.R. Miller talks about in his book, Homemaking, that I've done this this study on in the past. And he talks about how that relationship is a wall, it's like a walled garden, and you're it's sacred. And there's certain things that don't need to leave that garden, you know. And there's and there's like people that don't get to come in to that. That's you and his space only. And I think we can be tempted for sure. I know I have been in the past tempted to speak things that really only belong in that garden and between us and God, and to let God work that out in my heart and his heart, and not like you said, do sort of a well, this is a prayer request. Yes. Um, because that's that's a big temptation for a lot of people. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Well, and I think I also I have this unhealthy fear that I'm always working through that like other people know things about me that I haven't I don't know yet. And so I think I also wanted to be like, listen, I know that I am aware, yes, yes, just so you. No, I'm not blinded to this. But yeah. Yeah. Well, go ahead. I was gonna say, and God has been so faithful to us and provided so much. So I like we are great. We're in a great spite spot.

Allison

And yeah. Yeah. I think giving into that temptation, it really just opens the door to um, well, it's it can it can be like super disrespectful to your husband and to the Lord. Like, you know, opening that up because it you feel like it's gonna make you feel better to speak that out to your friends for whatever reason, either to justify yourself, you know, to be like, I'm aware that we have this situation, or ask for quote unquote prayer or whatever it is you are crossing. I just feel like you it's really easy to cross a line there where it becomes disrespectful um to your husband and to the Lord. So that's a really that's a really good um lesson that you've learned through that. Okay, I want to talk about hospitality. Yay! Yay! So you're in a small home with a big family.

SPEAKER_02

Yes.

Allison

So tell me uh what are some practical ways that you like to show hospitality through your homemaking in your small home?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, um, so when Jeff and I first got married, we were felt really led to move into this specific apartment complex. And this was before we were at our church, we are now, and we were like, we're gonna be in this low-income apartment complex, and we are going to have people over one night a week and we're gonna feed them into a Bible study. And it was it felt a little bit easier then because everybody coming had the same apartment. Like the, you know what I mean? Like the ground was level. Yeah. And so it felt really easy then. And then it was like when we started moving out of that, I was so used to having people over. And it was really important to both of us that I realized, like, oh, there are different hindrances whenever you're having somebody from a different, you know, maybe socioeconomic status or whatever into your home. And I just I just decided early on, like, we can bless people in our home. Like it doesn't matter what size our home is, it's like how they feel when they're here. And so um at this point, practical ways we show hospitality. I think what makes it hard at this season is just having busy kids and busy lives. But we have told our kids they have permission on Sunday mornings to look around and try to be curious. And if they notice somebody who they they think we should have over based on whatever reason that they have, we do. And they check with us first. And then they're like, we wouldn't invite, like, they just had a baby and they've started coming back. I bet, I bet they're not able to do a lot. Let's have them over. We can play with the kids, and you can talk to them, they'll get a chance to talk. Or this new guy that's single, he probably doesn't get invited over a lot or whatever. And so that's practically how we're currently trying to show hospitality to people, and yeah, like it's super fun. I love we love having people over and yeah.

Allison

I love that your kids, and you said this, this was a goal you had for them was that they noticed they were that they would be people who notice um and are ready to meet meet a need, and that is exactly what's happening right there on Sundays. What a great practice! Do you have sort of a standard because it sounds like this is very random, you never quite know like who's gonna be coming. Do you have a standard go-to Sunday meal?

SPEAKER_02

Um, so we usually most of the people that get invited over don't have any kind of dietary restrictions. So we usually do just like a lasagna because I know my kids will eat it cheerfully and it can make a lot. Like I'll make like multiple lasagnas, or we'll do like a pulled pork.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And with sides, because I'm like, I try to hit things that I think most people will like.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So like soup and bread. Can't go wrong with soup and bread.

Allison

Soup and bread. Yeah, yeah. Cause that's I I think logistically, a lot of people have a hard time thinking, well, I that sounds awesome, Kara. I would love to be able to just go to church and then invite somebody to come home with us, but when do I make the meal? Like how when when do you do that?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So usually we ask them to come for dinner. So I do have like an afternoon stretch. Yeah, okay. Yeah, I think lunch would be, I would have had to have thought about it that morning. Cause there are some weeks that like they ask the person that they wanted and they're like, oh, let's do next Sunday instead, because it doesn't work for them.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

But yeah, we we try to always have ingredients for like multiple easy meals around. And everybody kind of knows all hands on deck. We're having people over. Yeah, we know our roles, and yeah, it's it's more of a machine than it used to be.

unknown

Yeah.

Allison

No, that's great. I love though. I love that you are doing it for dinner. Some people can do it for lunch, like they are that organized that they put something in the crock pot before they leave, and that's great. Yeah, I was never able to figure that out. Um, okay, very good. Let's do some rapid fire questions. Yeah. Biggest homemaking fails so far.

SPEAKER_02

So having come into a marriage with not a lot of practical skills, I have ruined so many articles of clothing. I have like burned so many chicken breasts. Like, there's so many, like every area I have ruined. But I was cracking up because uh you had somebody on a recent episode and she told the story about like the police thinking her car had been broken into. Like, we had that happen to us like two years ago. Like the police bang on our door in the middle of the night. They're like, the back of your van is open and there's like papers and clothing everywhere. And it was like in the heart of soccer season. So I'm like, listen, we have like snacks and water bottles, and we're like, no, that is just who we are, the people. So like they scare us out of bed and we go out there and they're like, Yeah, it looks like they went through everything. And we're like, no, this is just our family. This is just this was a soccer weekend. We had like four games. Like, this is just who we are. So I thought that was funny that somebody else had had that same experience. But yeah, I mean, I've probably ruined everything you can ruin because I learned things the hard way.

Allison

And you're still going.

SPEAKER_02

So still, still somehow, yeah, charging along.

Allison

All right, tell me about a recent homemaking win. A recent homemaking win.

SPEAKER_02

Um this is actually really hard because I don't have a ton of them. Oh, my son does laundry. Yes, do the laundry. My older two boys, they handle laundry for us, and that feels like a major homemaking win for my family.

Allison

That's a huge win. So they do the lot, they're not just their laundry, they do everybody's.

SPEAKER_02

All the laundry, yes.

Allison

That is amazing.

SPEAKER_02

They have it split up uh over the week. And yeah, my two oldest boys, I mean, like we will, I'll like throw a load in, move stamp over as I notice it, but they they do the laundry. Congratulations. So, yeah, if anybody just has like little kids, like you could there's a future. It's coming. Kids could be doing your laundry. It's possible.

Allison

I love it. That's a great that is a win. Okay, tell me about a homemaking product or resource you are loving right now.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, so for years I was always in search of a really good rug. And because we live in a small house that doesn't have a lot of natural lighting, we also try to keep everything like white and light colors. And so we went through so many rugs, and I finally broke down and bought a ruggable. And that is like my favorite thing. We wash it like once or twice a week. Yes. So it's a ruggable rug.

Allison

Ruggable rugs.

SPEAKER_02

Is it a pretty big rug? Yeah, we have a big area rug in our living room, but like we have two dogs, we have like dirty kids. And so it's we it's light color kids.

Allison

So it's light colored because you said you like to keep things light. And the thing about ruggables is it's like it comes with like a pad, correct? And then it has like a topper, and that topper is much thinner, and that's the part you can put in the wash.

SPEAKER_02

Yep, just throw it in the wash. And I I know some people are like iffy on the dryer, but I put them in the dryer on low heat for like an hour, and it it's we've washed that thing like sometimes two or three times a week.

Allison

So that is really good to know.

SPEAKER_02

Um, I'm sorry, what?

Allison

I said I should leave a review of being like, yes, you should torture this rug. You absolutely should. Because I was wondering about the bigger. I thought, you know, if I have like a little runner or like a little, you know, four by five, four by three or whatever, little rugs, I can see putting that in the wash, but like a larger area rug, and you're saying that that does just fine.

SPEAKER_02

Yep. Yep, just fine. Yep, it's it's been great for our family.

Allison

Good to know. All right, favorite homemaking hack or tip?

SPEAKER_02

Teach your kids to do laundry. Amen. Yeah. Well, I mean, not just that, but like, I don't know. I feel like taking the time to train our kids to do things, and and also I feel like a lot of tourists I see, I'm like, that's not actually super helpful. Like, I I don't know. So my oldest daughter now, she deep cleans our bathrooms once a week. Like, and that's her job, and she does it really cheerfully, and and like she takes pictures afterwards and sends them to my mom, and like she's very proud of it. Yeah. So how old is she? She's 10. Okay.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

Allison

Yeah. Yeah. So what is the difference between that and the like you said, you don't think a chore most chore charts are not helpful. Is it because they're too like like do this one thing and this one thing rather than like teaching them a whole job?

SPEAKER_02

Or I in my opinion, I feel like a lot of the chore charts I found, they weren't the things that I couldn't do easily. Uh so I feel like the things that often got neglected, like one of my sons, he cleans our garage once a week. And we like we lit we legitimately needed that done. Yeah. So we just had to look at our house and be like, what are the things that in busy seasons we're missing? Um, and those were the jobs I had to take the time to train them to do well. Cause it felt like I can anybody can run the vacuum really quickly, but like when we're going a million different places, I needed to know once a week the bathroom is getting cleaned really well. Yeah. So those are, yeah, that's my advice.

Allison

I love that. Take it, take the approach of what do you does your family need in this season? So, like a busy soccer season, it might be nice to have somebody clean the car out once a week.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. So the police don't think it got broken into exactly.

Allison

And that nice little full circle moment right there. Okay, tell me about your signature dish.

SPEAKER_02

Well, so when you say signature dish, do you mean like the thing I take places or the thing that my family loves? What do you mean?

Allison

Either one. Like, what do you feel like you're kind of known for, maybe with your family or what whatever you would like to share?

SPEAKER_02

Okay, okay. Well, I typically do take lasagna and chocolate chip cookies everywhere. Okay. Um, but at home, everybody's really into fish tacos right now. So that has been what we have been making a lot lately, and it's everybody likes it. And we have very few meals that like everybody is super happy to eat. So right now it's fish tacos.

Allison

What what kind of fish do you use?

SPEAKER_02

It's just tilapia. It's like Natasha's kitchen or something like that, is the website. And I just Googled it and several months ago and we started making it, and the kids are like, these are so good. Can you buy more fish next time? And I'm like, sure.

Allison

Do you um is it a recipe that has like a because a lot of fish tacos it you do like a slaw to go with it?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, so I it we put the cabbage on it, but it has like a a yogurt, I think it's yogurt and mayonnaise sauce that you put with it. And then um, yeah, that's what that's what we need to do.

Allison

That is a link on another website that we can link to. But I'm curious about your lasagna and your chocolate chip cookies. Is your go-to meal train meal? Is that what I heard you say?

SPEAKER_00

Yes.

Allison

That's really good. I love the practice of having a go-to meal train meal because that way when the meal train email shows up in your you know inbox, you don't have to think, oh, what am I gonna make? Like you already know.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, the decision is made and I sign up right away.

Allison

Okay. Do you go go ahead?

SPEAKER_02

I was gonna say, so I've not like waiting and then I'm like, oh, that's like five pastas in a row. Now I need to come up with something else.

Allison

That is such a good point because everybody always puts Italian down. So yeah, you need to get your your Italian in there right away.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. Yes, I need to do it first. And I always have sourdough I can bring because I make it all the time. Oh, that's yeah, that's an easy thing. I can always think I grab.

Allison

Is your lasagna recipe like an original for your family?

SPEAKER_02

Kind of. It started out as the pioneer woman's recipe, but she uses a ton of meat. And um, we sub out the beef for ground turkey. And I put, I don't do as much meat, and we grate like zucchini, lots of zucchini, and peppers. And um, my son, my oldest son, has a vegetable garden. So we kind of just grab whatever is doing well from there. And um, or in the winter, like I'll go to the store obviously and get these things, but we hide a lot of veggies in it.

Allison

No, I love that. That's really good. Is it a recipe that is like could you write it down for us, maybe?

SPEAKER_02

And uh you're asking me as a type B person.

Allison

But yeah, no, I I totally could, but it'll be like maybe brainstorm with your thing that's on sale at the store.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, grab those veggies.

Allison

That's okay. It can be a template, a template that we can mix and I could totally do that. Okay, that would be great. I love it. And yeah, Pioneer Woman, her husband's a rancher, so yeah, she she has an endless supply of meat.

SPEAKER_02

I know. Yeah, yeah. I can't do as much of meat. I'm like, at this economy, you want steak?

Allison

Like I know, exactly. But I love the idea of hiding the veggies in there. So if we could get some form of that recipe, that would be amazing.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, if I can do that.

Allison

Okay, let's talk about the art of home. How do you see homemaking as an art and where do you find beauty in it?

SPEAKER_02

So I love going to somebody else's house and it just looks like their family. Like we used to be in a co-op with a family that the husband could play a bunch of instruments and they were just like hanging up on the wall. So I think of it as an art in that it is an expression of how God made you and and bringing your kids alongside that, like who your kids are, like the things they like, the art. Like I have a um Henry Owassa tanner print of the Annunciation hanging in my kitchen because I love it so much. And I'm like, it's probably kind of weird to have an advent painting hanging up while you're like, I love it. But that I I love going to other people's houses and seeing like what they chose to put up or like little knickknacks that they've inherited or whatever. Like that's that's how it is an art. I see it as an art. And then finding beauty in it. I think so. Our child ministry in like a really rough part of town, and um so the struggles of our society are really on display every week. And so I see like there's a lot of homelessness and addiction. And um, you know, I think the Surgeon General has said we have a loneliness epidemic so many years in a row. And I think about like creating a home is like a way to proclaim what we believe about our hope laid up in heaven, yeah. And being willing to like bring people into that and and saying, like, you belong here, like you are loved here. Cause I think there's just a catastrophic loss of relationship everywhere you look. Yeah. And I just I think it's just a picture of what heaven will be like. And I, you know, we think about that when we are like having people over when we even when we get a Bible study, like we're taking that with us and just like we are bringing the art of home with us everywhere we go and getting to show people like God puts the lonely people in a home. He puts the brokenhearted in a home. And um maybe you're not in like a nuclear family or you have broken relationships with your nuclear family, but the family of God, we can you know bring you into the fold, and we would love to have you. And yeah, that's what I love about home. I love that.

Allison

Let's talk to the other ladies who are listening. Um, well, you're in the middle, so let's talk first to the older women, those in the generations after you. What is something that they can do for your generation to come alongside and help you guys in your practice of the art of home?

SPEAKER_02

I think it feels like whenever I talk to older women, they give so many caveats. Like, like I I think they've lived a left enough life to not be super confident. And I I appreciate the humility, but I'm also like, so tell me what not to do. Yeah. I'm totally fine with that. I think, and and it might seem like we know it all, or we have, you know, we can look it up on YouTube or whatever, but nothing replaces an in-real life person who can look in your eyes and be like, I see God has wired you this way, or I see this sin you're struggling with, and here's my wisdom for your and discernment for your specific situation.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And I think I don't want them to, I guess I would just be like, you're not replaceable with YouTube. Like you have so much wisdom and value and discernment, and we desperately need it.

Allison

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

So that would be my my request.

Allison

I love it. You are not replaceable with YouTube. Um okay, how about the younger women? What is a word of advice or encouragement uh that you would give to those who who are coming behind you?

SPEAKER_02

I think on the flip side, when I was younger and probably still now, and I'm just blind to it, but I did think I knew everything. So I think in a kind and gentle way, I would say you don't know everything, and not everything can be found on the internet. And like just spend some time with women of different generations. Like, just they may not know the latest techie things or whatever or pop culture stuff, but just value their experiences, even if you might have made different choices, like listen to them, value them. Cause I can remember like most of my grandparents had passed away before I got to the age where I would really appreciate the stories they were sharing. Yeah. It's like so much of it was wasted on me because I just was so arrogant. And I'm like, just sit with older women, please. Just listen, not me necessarily, but just listen to them, ask them questions, like yeah.

Allison

Oh, that's such a great way to approach it. And I like the comparison of sitting with your grandparents because that is completely 100% true. I was the same way, like I just did not appreciate those stories soon enough. Um, and so approach an older woman the way you might approach your grandmother, and or you might not think to do this, but we're telling you to do this. You don't necessarily have to come at them with an issue that you're trying to solve, but maybe just sit down and say, tell me your story. Like ask them some of these questions that we that I ask on the show, you know, whatever, whatever might be, and then listen to what they say and ask follow-up questions and think about okay, what can I learn from my situation from what they're sharing? I think that's an invaluable, it's an invaluable skill to be able to listen to other people tell their story and then draw a relationship between the, you know, yourselves that way. So I highly recommend everybody give it a try.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, that's a good point to you. I I didn't even think about that. People typically do go searching for wisdom for a specific skill. But usually, like I was saying in reading classics, like you when you learn about somebody's life, it impacts you. Maybe they didn't say anything about the 14-year-old who's struggling with whatever you're trying to work through with them, but just their life experience is just so encouraging and challenging. Because I mean, I'm like, I wish I would have asked my grandparents what living through World War II was like and rationing and you know what I mean? Yeah, but I didn't, I didn't, and they totally lived through that. But they were just like my silly grandparents who I went to all the you know what I mean? Yes. And now I'm like, man, what was that like?

Allison

I know, I know, yeah. So if you still have older relatives out there, listeners, go ask them questions, sit down and listen to their stories. Um it's well, well worth your time. Absolutely. Well, Kara, this has been such a great conversation. I have loved chatting with you today. Thank you for sharing all about home and and everything that God is teaching you there.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, thanks for having me.

Allison

You're welcome. Thank you for listening to this homemaker portrait of Kara Gerras. I hope you have been encouraged and inspired to proclaim the hope we have in Christ through your homemaking, to cultivate kids who notice and anticipate needs, to carry the welcome of home wherever you go, and extend God's invitation of grace to the lost, broken, and lonely. Kara's type B homemaking style is refreshing to a type A only child like me. What about you? Are you a type B we'll figure it out kind of homemaker like Kara or a type A, we will have a plan homemaker? Drop an A or a B in a comment, text, or email and tell me how your type shows up in your homemaking, for better or worse. Use the link in the episode description in your podcast player to send me a text or a voicemail. I want to thank Cara again for sharing her story of home with us. If you found value in this episode, please share it with a homemaker you know who could use some encouragement for her own practice of the art of home. You can also support the show by leaving a rating and a review on your podcast app. And you can give over at buymeacoffee.com/slash theartofome if you want to say thanks with your spare change. Check out the show notes on the blog for my grandmother's fig muffin recipe and links and notes to the resources Kara and I discussed today, including her signature dish lasagna. And be sure to mark your calendar for September 1st when pre-sale opens for the fall holiday issue of Homemaker's Journal. That's all for this episode. I will be back on Monday with another article from the first issue of Homemaker's Journal, and on Wednesday with my deep dive on sentimental decorating with Britney Shepard. Until then, keep practicing your art of making a home.