Allison

Hello, homemakers. Welcome to the Art of Home Podcast, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong, and I am your host for today. My name is Alison Weeks. I am a wife, a mom, a granny. I have been practicing the Art of Home since 1992. Welcome everybody, whether you are brand new here or you have been listening since the beginning or somewhere in between. I'm so glad that you're here and I am honored that you're gonna trust me with some of your valuable time today, especially as we're getting really close to back to school time, so I know you're busy. And we are going to hear a brand new interview from a seasoned homemaker of 46 years. But before we get to that, I have some updates 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 all of you. 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 Art of Home by giving a one-time tip or by becoming a Titus 2 Woman monthly 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 a free digital version of our magazine, Homemaker's Journal, and free registration for the holiday recipe exchange and other fun things. Whichever way you choose to give, I am very grateful for your support. In homemaking news, I'm preparing for our summer camping trip where we will take homemaking on the road. I love having these weeks of minimal homemaking throughout the year. When you're keeping a home in less than 300 square feet, there's not a whole lot to do. We keep our meal prep easy. We do lots of grilling outside, which helps us avoid heating up the kitchen in the camper, and it keeps dishes to a minimum. One of my favorite improvements for the camper that I did this past year is a small footprint toaster oven air fryer thing. So if you heard my homemaker portrait last week where Hannah interviewed me, you know how much I love my toaster oven. So I really valued adding one to our camper, but I couldn't do the same model because it's too big. It had to be one that had a very small footprint because counter space is at a minimum in a camper. So the one that I bought is perfect for two people. It takes very little space on the countertop and it air fries like a dream. I will link that for you in the show notes in case you're in the market for one. I will also link the Breville that I talked about on my interview with Hannah in case you have room for something bigger. In Art of Home News, I apologize again for not having an episode for you this past Monday, but I will be bringing you a creator spotlight series beginning on Monday for the next several Mondays. Um and next week I'm gonna start with one of my favorite writers on all things home, Christy Purifoy. In these short interviews that I'm calling Creator Spotlight interviews, I will ask the creator some of our classic homemaker portrait questions, and then I will dive into what they specifically have to offer the homemaking community through their creative content. It's gonna be really good. I know um it'll be helpful for you, and I hope maybe you find some new creators through this series. The fall holiday magazine is coming along beautifully. Mark your calendars for pre-sale beginning September 1st. And as I mentioned last week, send me your best go-to hosting recipes. I might publish it as part of our reader contribution section in this upcoming issue. So, whatever is your go-to recipe that you always pull out of your back pocket when company is coming because you know it's going to come together without fail, that's what I want to hear from you. Make sure that you include all the ingredients and all the steps, and it must be an original recipe. But remember my rule, which is five or more significant tweaks to somebody else's recipe, and you can then call it your own. Deadline to submit your recipe is August 7th. Please only submit one recipe. Send it to magazine at theartofome podcast.com or click the link in the show notes to submit. You are welcome to send a photo. I may or may not be able to publish that. Now, on to today's interview. Today I am joined by Rhonda Wax, a pastor's wife, mother of four, grandmother of 14, and a lifelong homemaker whose heart for hospitality shines through every season of her story. Rhonda shares about building a warm and welcoming home, learning to loosen the grip of perfectionism. I know we will all be able to identify with that, and finding worship even in the ordinary tasks of the day. We also talk about Sabbath rhythms, a creative and I would say brilliant way to teach children stewardship and the beautiful legacy she is leaving through prayer-filled Bibles for her grandchildren. This is a conversation full of wisdom, practical encouragement, and a gentle reminder that homemaking is not about creating a perfect picture, but about making a safe and loving place where people can be known, nourished, and pointed to Christ. I will be back at the end with some closing thoughts and this episode's emoji. Whatever you are applying your hands to as you listen today, I know you will enjoy Rhonda's story of home. Welcome to the Art of Home. I'm here with seasoned homemaker Rhonda Wax, who was nominated by former guest Georgetta Christensen. And she has been keeping a home for 46 years. I am very excited to talk with you, Rhonda, today. But before we get into the background of how you got started as a homemaker, why don't you just say hey to everybody and tell us a little bit about who you are today?

SPEAKER_00

I'm Rhonda Wax, and I'm really glad to be with you all today. Um, glad to be with you, Allison. Uh I she's right. I'm 46 years as of August 2nd. Um currently I am, I don't have any children at home, obviously. Um, but or maybe that's not obvious. I don't know. I know people are getting a lot of rebound kids. Um, but um it's my husband and myself. We are very involved in a church. My husband is pastor. It started as a church plant, and I'm also um I own a travel franchise. So I work out of my home doing that as well. And you have some grandkids?

Allison

A whole passel is what Georgetta said.

SPEAKER_00

14. 14, four children and 14. They were productive. Yes, they were. Oh that is happy.

Allison

I bet it's really loud at your house when everybody is there. It's pretty crazy. It's wonderful crazy. Yes, good crazy, good crazy. And I love this that you have a travel agency. So, where is the favorite place that you've ever traveled to?

SPEAKER_00

Oh, Israel, probably. Israel. Do you send a lot of people to Israel with your agency? I really don't uh through my agency. Um, I've sent some, but um Israel, you know, people are a little nervous about Israel a lot of times, you know, rightly so.

Allison

Sure, sure, exactly. Have you been? Um, did you go with a group or did you design your own trip? Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Uh we actually went with Charlie Dyer. Um he um I'm not sure if well, he's retired now. Um, but um yeah, he was at Moody when my daughter was at Moody, he was pro host there.

Allison

So um anyway. Great. Okay, I have great memories of listening to we used to live outside of Chicago for many years. And so when my kids were little, and so as a young mom, I listened to a lot of Moody radio. That was kind of constantly on in the kitchen during the day. Okay, so let's go back to the beginning of your story. When did you first become a homemaker? And did you have any skills?

SPEAKER_00

Well, I guess I became a homemaker when I married my sweetheart, August 2nd, 1980. Uh, I guess my skills, I did enjoy cooking. My mother was really good to help me learn how to cook. And uh, we're southern cooks, probably, you know. I said um I tell people it's really good. You know, it may uh not be good for your heart, but it really tastes good. It tastes good. Yeah. But um, so I guess probably that would have been my and I, you know, I I enjoy cleaning. I enjoy a clean house. Um so I enjoy those aspects of those years of early marriage.

Allison

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

What would you say is the quintessential southern dish? Oh my goodness. Um, well, probably I mean, my kids would say they love my roast beef and they love mashed potatoes and cornbread and fried okra and yummy, yummy, yummy. All the yum, yeah, all the good stuff. All the yumps. Yes, cornbread dressing. Yeah. There's a lot of goods.

Allison

Southern cooking is like such a unique, well, it's it's uniquely regional because it depends on where in the south you are. And I learned that when I married my husband, who his people came from like um lower Alabama in North Florida on the panhandle. And so lots of fried cornbread and greens and peas and you know, all that kind of food. Whereas I grew up in a different part. Um, well, I kind of grew up there, but my family, all of my roots are from Louisiana. So that is a totally different cuisine. Um, and I had to learn when we got married, I had to learn that whole how to cook that Southern style. Um, and I love it now. I mean, the Southern Living Cookbook is like my favorite thing that I own in my kitchen. I love it. Yeah. Okay. So besides your mom, uh, or you if you want to talk more about your mom, who or what would you say has had a big impact or a big influence on your homemaking?

SPEAKER_00

I loved um, we did a curriculum several years ago called Growing Kids God's Way. And there's a lot of good things in there as far as with children. I guess I'm switching gears there. Sure. Um, but I I did. I, you know, people say, do you like everything about that curriculum? Probably not, but you know, it's always you take the good, right? You take the good things from anything that you study or read. Um, and that was helpful with child rearing. Um, I mean, just I don't know, good books. I think marriage, um, things on marriage is is really good as a foundation for my homemaking. Um not sure if I'm answering your question correctly.

Allison

Absolutely. Yeah, we are definitely influenced by people and by that's why I say who or what, because you may have had a lot of people will answer this question with, like, you know, my grandmas or my aunt or you know, a relative that impacted them in a way that they wanted to emulate or sometimes not emulate. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00

Well, my mother would definitely be that person because she was um is such a godly woman and um had her morning quiet time every morning. And I can remember thinking, hmm, I probably shouldn't do that because she's praying for me. I mean, you know, I can remember that sometimes the prayers of my mother and my grandparents did impact my my reactions to things, and I didn't want to disappoint them. And my my father as well, but my mother, as far as the homemaking side of it, had a whole lot more impact. But she was a wonderful homemaker, wonderful cook. I still don't know how she did all that she did. Did you have a big family?

Allison

Did you come from a big family?

SPEAKER_00

For uh three other brothers, so it was it was a bustling family, too.

Allison

Yeah, a lot going on. Yeah, yeah. So um what would you say is your greatest homemaking strength?

SPEAKER_00

Um probably hospitality. Okay. I enjoy um having people in my home. I enjoy making food for people. It's kind of my love language. I enjoy um, I enjoy decorating. I designed our home 23 years ago and we built it. Yes. And I I had to take it to a draftsman to get the roof lines right, but I drew the actual plan. I mean, where every outlet went and everything. It was kind of crazy. But I enjoyed that so much. I thought I've missed my calling. I should have been an architect. Yes, I'm just so impressed. Yeah. How did you check this off did you check the stuff in the library or how did you even know how to start with that project? Well, I just I love to look at house plans. And I I got that big, huge graph paper that you can buy. And I sat down and just started, and I really worked on this house probably for eight years, just messing with it. You know, it was kind of like a fun thing to pull out and play with. But it was um, I knew by at that point we had built two other homes. I kind of knew what I needed, right? Because you, you know, you and of course you don't ever build a perfect house, right? That waits for us in heaven. But um, it was fun, you know, to do. And um, at that point I knew what I needed and where I needed it.

Allison

That's so cool. What a cool experience. So, what would you say is your one of your biggest homemaking weaknesses?

SPEAKER_00

Um, perfectionism. I struggle with that because I'm striving too much, you know, to do, you know, I want the Norman Rockwell picture of Thanksgiving and it never looks like that, right? Right. It never, my my table never looks my my turkey never looks that good, much less my table. But um, yeah, sometimes I realize that I have to lower my expectations and let things go that don't matter so much. I can leave that cup in the sink tonight and it won't, you know, change my life.

Allison

Absolutely. Absolutely. That's a very common answer of perfectionism. You know, and the thing, the other thing about the Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving, if you don't know what we're talking about, listeners, go Google that and you'll see that image and you'll know what we're talking, you'll recognize it right away. The whole everybody's gathered around, and you know, I I guess it's maybe mom or grandma brings this beautiful perfect turkey on a platter. And I'm like, we always carve it before we bring it to the table. So ours never looks like that, just practically speaking. Right. Oh, so true. Yeah. Okay. Well, you just mentioned expectations. Uh, so let's go there a little bit more and push into that. Um, what surprised you most about homemaking? E something either good or bad, just something that you did not expect.

SPEAKER_00

I think just the fatigue. You know, um, I I when you're when you're young and energetic, you just feel kind of, you know, invincible, like I can do it all. And the reality is as those children come, you know, the things that were easier when you didn't have the children aren't quite as easy. And then with each child, it gets more strenuous. And ours came in not super close. They were all born within 10 years or eight years, I guess. So that's close enough, you know. Four and four four and eight years is a lot. And um, so you know, with the nursing and the pregnancies and you know, all the things, and still wanting to keep that perfect house and you know, do all the things right, keep the clothes nice and keep the children looking good. And, you know, there's just a lot of pressure, isn't there, for moms?

Allison

Oh, absolutely. And you're so physically depleted uh when you're in that stage of of yes having babies um every couple of years like that. It's definitely something has to give. You cannot oh yeah, you just cannot do all of it.

SPEAKER_00

No, yeah.

Allison

Um, so okay, so special challenges. Um, is there a particular challenge that you might want to share with the audience? Something you faced in your in your long homemaking journey that um really helped to to transform you and something a lot, maybe a lesson that the Lord taught you, whether it was financial struggles or infertility, it runs the gamut of the things that people share here. But what would you like to share with the audience?

SPEAKER_00

Well, um my father was um a diabetic and had some heart failure and and was on dialysis for several years. And my mom was still trying to work at the time. And so I remember I still had kids in car seats, but I would need to get my dad to dialysis and back and that sort of thing. And just, you know, realizing what's important, you know, and that you have to be there for the people who need you when they need you. It's not convenient, it's sometimes difficult, but you know, you just press on. Um, so that would have been definitely one of my challenges. My husband was um, of course, we we bought um the family business and he worked in that family business for 12 years before we bought it. So we were very tied to the business from the get-go. And um, so and that was a busy, you know, that was a busy and and hard thing, you know, to run a company. And um, so I felt like I needed to do as much as I could to take things off his plate so that you know when he came home it was an oasis and not, you know, a circus. Because he needed that, he needed that, you know, to recharge and refuel. And he also, he's just a very ambitious guy, and he, you know, he's the Lord has used him in so many ways. But one of the ways was he was very involved in in our local politics, and so and he did a great job um, you know, for eight years doing that, but that requires fundraisers, attending, you know, neighborhood meetings and all of this while, you know, trying to keep the family.

Allison

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And so there was a lot I had a lot of involvement in that. And then he's always taught Sunday school even when before he became a pastor. And so we've been extremely in a you know involved in the church our whole life and um in many areas of ministry. He taught Sunday school, he was chairman of deacons. I mean, he he did so many, he wore a lot of hats at church too. So and um, so yeah, it it's it's been a busy life, but I've always looked at my role as I want to do him good all the days of his life, as the proverbs say, and not evil. So I want to lighten his load when I can. And sometimes it's hard to do if you've got a really busy guy that wants to, you know, change the world, right? Yeah, it sounds like he's super high capacity, like he is, you can do a lot. Type A all the way, and uh just he can get more done than anybody I know. And but I felt like sometimes the I was chasing the you know, I was the caboose at the end of the train, trying to keep up, you know, with all that he was wanting to do.

Allison

Okay, you mentioned how much you love hospitality, you feel like it's one of your strengths. So um, we're gonna move into talking about hospitality and personal growth here. Um, how did you first I want to talk about kids? So, how did you invite your kids into participation in the homemaking, in the hospitality, in all of the things home related?

SPEAKER_00

Well, um, I I would ask for help. Yes. Um good for you. Yes, and um actually I think our youngest was six when we decided that they needed to be doing their own laundry. And so um he was the tail end of that, but he was able to do his laundry when he was six, and he can iron the best tablecloth to this day. I mean, when I have a tablecloth to iron, I have to call on my Weston, you know, because he's he can iron. And he learned really young how to do that. But it was just, um, of course, back then we were ironing more. Now, who irons, right?

unknown

Right.

SPEAKER_00

I used to spend a lot of time ironing, but um uh anyway, I you know, I include included the children, loved, you know, help help me peel potatoes and cut chop vegetables and all the things, set the table, you know, help us do the cleanup. So yeah, they were very involved in our in our lives and all those things in the hospitality. That's good.

Allison

So um, what is a practical way that you like to show hospitality through your homemaking?

SPEAKER_00

Well, like we are, I'm a pastor's wife, right? Uh we try to always have people in our home, you know. Every member of the church, I think, has probably been in our home. And that's something that we really strive to do. Um, and it takes time, it's not all done quickly, you know, you just do it as you can. But um, when someone becomes a member of our church, we definitely always want to invite them into our home. Something magic happens when you have people in your home. It's Just there's a different layer of intimacy that comes with that. Whereas if you just go grab a meal together, which that's good too, yeah. But it's there's something different about having people in your home. There's a warmth that you don't experience. And you can talk more freely as well. You know, sometimes you'll have people, we'll have people in our home from our church, and maybe there's a problem in their life, and it's not easy to discuss at a restaurant, right? Because you're the waitress might come right then, you know. Yeah. So it's um, yeah. So it's things like that.

Allison

I agree. I think there is a a different level of comfort when you're in somebody's home and um and can be more free and open with your discussion. Do you generally host people for meals? Is that kind of your go-to hosting show?

SPEAKER_00

It really is. Yeah. Um, but I have some meals that are that I have that have kind of got down to an art, you know, a fast. I'm a recipe follower. I'm not uh a gourmet by any stretch. Yeah, and I don't mind shortcuts, whatever they are, I'm good with it. Um, so it's not about the food, it's about the fellowship. But the food is just a great way to bring people to fellowship.

Allison

Absolutely. I agree 100%. So you are a busy lady, you've got a business that you're running, you're a pastor's wife, you got a busy family with lots of grandkids. And how what are some of the things that you do to set your priorities and then to keep them in order?

SPEAKER_00

Oh, that is, I think that is a constant struggle, you know. Um, I try to read my Bible the first thing. I mean, when I first wake up, I try to do that because I know that I need time with the Lord before I begin my day. Um and I I fail at that sometimes. There'll be an early meeting or something out of the ordinary. It's not like, and I don't feel like I'm, you know, I'm not I'm not judging if you can't do that. There were periods in our life that I couldn't do that when I had a newborn. I had to find different ways because it just didn't work always. But if I can, as a senior citizen now, I get the discount. It's great. There are some benefits. Um, but you know, that is something that I try to do immediately. And then I like to plan my day. I really have worked hard at learning to take a Sabbath. That's been a real hard thing for me. And Sundays are not always the easiest day. I get about a half a day of Sabbath on Sundays, but um, because I'm working, you know, I'm I'm on at church, right? I'm not in a place where I can rest by any means. But um, I really try to not do work on Sunday. What means travel business, that means go to the grocery, those sort of things. I try to really give the Lord his day and keep him because, you know, what a gift that the Lord gave us the Sabbath. It's beautiful, you know, and that we don't partake of that gift. I've just cheated myself, you know, from a good thing from God in not doing that. But if I I find that if I rest, truly rest on Sunday afternoons, it is just so much better for me, you know. And it may not be Sunday, somebody may have to do it a different day. Um and that's okay too, you know. I I think there you just have to set aside time for rest and reflection and not be peddled to the middle every minute of every day. Um, but that's a struggle. I mean, it is a constant struggle. I'm always trying to figure out how to do things more effectively, um, not waste time. Yeah, you know, time management is something I pray about regularly. It's that I'll manage my time better because I'm always trying to improve that. That's that perfectionism thing coming out in me, you know. And I'll never, I'll never attain it, but it's something that I strive for, you know. Exactly.

Allison

And I think we have to continually be bringing it before the Lord because our our schedule is always changing and the demands on our time are changing depending on the season that we're in and what's going on. Like talking about your husband, he may have a real busy season for a time that he needs more help from you. And um, your business might have a busy season where you're gonna have to devote more time to that. So I think it's a constant. I like to think of my schedule as just holding it very open-handedly rather than because my nature, type A, like I get a system and I want to stick with that system until I die.

SPEAKER_00

Right. And I have a problem that I do sit down on on Sunday nights and just try to kind of order my week. Just look at it, actually relaxes me to do that. Um, because I need to look ahead and see now what do we have this week and what so Sunday night is kind of my time to do that, and I feel better about everything if I have that that I can go through it, you know, in my to-do list. Um, my husband teases me that my to-do list is always too long, and so I feel defeated a lot because I don't finish it, but he says it's too long to start with. You know better that you can't possibly get that much done today. So I have a tendency to have to back off and say, you're right, I I don't, I can't do all that.

Allison

So yes, that is some good wisdom right there. So, what does your homemaking look like in the season that you're in right now? Um, how are you still challenging yourself to grow and learn as a homemaker?

SPEAKER_00

As a homemaker, you know, I have we are at this situation in our lives because I do work now. Um, and I didn't work for so many years, but I do have uh someone who comes and helps me clean every two weeks, which is a huge help. Yeah. Um, but my homemaking now is mostly it seems hospitality, you know, it seems like I'm constantly having people in. Um, just like I mean, two weeks ago, I had just a friend who was um a former member of our church who came and she just stayed three nights with us and we got two days' notice, you know, and that's okay. But it's you know, I've been very open about having people stay here too. And so um, but yeah, it's it's a busy life, always, always busy, but definitely hospitality is still at the forefront of what I do, I think.

Allison

Yeah, well, and that makes sense too for being a pastor's wife and just the way that your your life is set up. Um but it is something you have to be intentional about, I think, and make sure that you're making time for that because it can get pushed to the margins and just pushed out of your schedule.

SPEAKER_00

Absolutely. And you know, thankfully, we don't iron shirts like we used to. I mean, I used to learn. Oh, I know. I remember the pinpoint Oxford days where, you know, we had to, oh my goodness, it required starch in the whole nine yards. And um, and I and I can remember I would like you listen to Moody or Fan Focus on the family, and I would use that as a time to pray. I would pray over whoever's shoulders I was what shirts I was ironing, you know. And um, you know, it you can even those hard and arduous tasks, you can turn those into times of worship, times for prayer. And that's something I've tried to do. Even when you're making food and there's no if nobody is with you, it can be a time where you can just pray. You know, you don't have to be always just in your closet thinking only of that. You can be prayerful with him. Absolutely. Uh thankfully.

Allison

Well, one before we move away from this section, I want to give you an opportunity to talk about this really cool thing that I feel like is is part of homemaking and where you are right now. And it is also a priority thing. Your grandchildren are a priority. Passing on a spiritual heritage is a priority for you. So tell us about what you're doing with your Bibles. Um, that's going to be a gift for them.

SPEAKER_00

Well, this is just a neat thing that that I believe the Lord, it was not my idea. I heard someone else doing it. I usually all my best ideas are copied. But um I take um one of the through the Bible in a year, you know, there's several different ones you can choose from, and I've chosen different ones. And I will, but I try to always find a Bible with very wide margins. And I just read it. That is what I do the first thing in the morning is read that particular um my my I just go through the Bible in a year. That's my normal, you know, protocol. And I have done it four years now. This is my fourth year, um, three and a half, I guess, then um, and I'm doing it for each grandchild. I have 14 grandchildren, so I'm hoping the Lord gives me 11 more, how many more years I need uh to finish this task that I really want to do. But it's an opportunity to pray over that particular child. And as I'm reading the scriptures, I'm writing notes. It's like a love note to them because I write things to them. Um, I'm praying this for you, that you will be this or that or whatever we have. I just was in Proverbs in Psalm uh Proverbs 31, and I just was writing to my precious Joseph, who I'm uh working on his Bible this year, and I said, I pray that God will give you this kind of wife. And you know, and then I um just you know, it's my I'm not a theologian, and I tell my children, your your uncle is a theologian, I'm not. But I I definitely have my thoughts about what I think the Lord is saying, and I have actually written to the side, I have no idea what this means. Do you need to somebody, you know? I love that. Be honest, exactly. And um, and if I'm struggling with something, I will write that in there. I am asking the Lord to help me in this area, and I'll ask him to help you too in case you need help, you know. So it's a very, it's very simple. Yeah. Um, it's not um, like I said, it's not super theological, I'm sure. But as I see or have a precious understanding of something that the Lord has given me, I obviously write that down. What a treasure. And I had thought about doing, you know, do I give it to them right away?

Allison

When are you gonna give it to them? That's what I wanted to know.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, well, I actually have just I I wasn't gonna, I thought, well, I'll just save them and I'll let them have them when I pass. And uh nobody thought that was a good idea. So um I thought, you know, we don't know when they need it, right? So let's just give it to them when I'm finished. And so, and the sweetest thing is my the first one was my son, my oldest son's son was the first one, and he he got tears in his eyes when I gave it to him. And he's not a crier, and so that blessed my heart, you know, and um and he he loves it and he has read through it. And in fact, he read through it the following year, and then my granddaughter, the second one, she also did that, and she made her own notes and she said, I'm gonna pass this to my child. Oh, you know, I so it's just neat how you know they've received it beautifully. Yeah, and um, I don't know, you know, you never know with the child. Are they gonna put it on the shelf? And it's okay if they do, because when the Lord is ready, when they're ready, but it'll be there. They're ready, it will be there for them, and it'll be a gift that I hope they treasure. I've treasured the time. It's been as good for me, it will be for them, I can assure you.

Allison

Yes. Uh, what a wonderful, what a wonderful gift for everybody involved. Thank you for telling us about that. I know a lot of people are thinking, okay, I'm gonna go get a Bible. I'll try to link. I actually mine is um the one that I use, it's a CSB and it has wide margins like that. So maybe I can get a couple links of your some of the favorite ones that you've used, and we can put those in the show notes so people know what we're talking about. But because it is really helpful to have those wide spaces on the side to make these little notes to them. So okay, I have some rapid fire questions for you about homemaking. You can tell me a story or you can just give me a short answer if you want. It's totally up to you. Um, what would you say is a memorable homemaking fail?

SPEAKER_00

You know, I wanted to think of a really good one because I've I mean, I have huge homemaking fails all the time, of course. Everybody does, right? Um, I couldn't think of anything in particular though. I remember when I when I you gave me these notes, so you might have to pass on that one until I can think of something. I don't know. I I went back thinking, I'll come back to that because I want it to be a really good one. Yes. Um, but I yeah, I understand. I will tell you, yes, I do remember when homemaking fail. Okay, it was on Christmas Day one year, and I was just kind of at the end. I mean, do you ever get like that? Just like I have had it. These kids, I've had it with this whole bunch. And I had to get in my car and drive around the block on Christmas Day. I'm ashamed to say. Oh, I don't nobody knew what I was feeling, but I just thought I'm going to suffocate if I don't get out of here for just a minute, you know. I guess that's a fail. I don't know. Because, you know, you just can't always be joyful. And I I just remember feeling like, man, I can't believe I'm doing this on Christmas Day. You know, I wasn't gone long, and I don't honestly think I was that missed. They were playing with their toys. They were younger, but I just it was one of those moments I had to walk away, you know, just to have a minute.

Allison

Yep, yep. Well, that's a good one. That's a good one. Okay, how about a memorable homemaking achievement?

SPEAKER_00

Well, one of the things that we did with our children, we decided that we would take we we sat down and figured out how much is their tuition, how much do we spend on clothes, let's go back through credit card receipts and things and see what we're spending, haircuts, you know, the youth activities, everything that we could think of. And we decided we were going to give them an allowance. And so what we did, we gave them this large bunch of money, and they were so like, wow, we have hit the jackpot, you know. And then we told them, but this is what you have to do with it. And so we made them pay us for the tuition so that we could pay the tuition, and we allowed them to pay all of those things. Everything they do had to come out of their own allowance, which is not really, I guess you could call an allowance, but we had them first they had to tithe and then they had to have some for savings. But we helped them with envelopes learn how to manage their money. And in doing that, it became so apparent to us that it had been a real accomplishment because we had given them money for haircuts. And my oldest son immediately decided, or second son, I guess, decided, I'm getting a set of clippers. You can get those for and he would found a pair of Oster hair clippers and he went and bought those so that he could save his money. Uh and they cut each other's hair. I mean, it was insane. But the things that they would do, the the lengths that they would go to be able to hang on to some of that money, and lunch money was included in that for cafeteria lunches. But if they made it from home, they didn't have to pay. So they got real inventive about that. And they just started to realize, hey, this costs money, you know, in their tuition. I think they realized they went to a Christian school. They really understood, wow, this is a lot of money that we're paying. And so there's just they understood a little more of the value. And it was also great when I'd be shopping with my daughter because she was my little clothes horse, you know, and she'd go, Oh, mom, I want this, I want that. And oh, it's darling, can you afford it? And I always put it back on her. Are you able to get it? And so that just helped them to understand. And to this day, they I really am proud of that with all of them. They really do well to manage their money well. And I think the Lord used that to help them early because this was really early. Um, in their in their, I mean, they were in elementary school.

Allison

Okay, that was my question.

SPEAKER_00

How old were they when you started? Some of them were in elementary school, some would have been teenagers. But I mean, I can't remember exactly the year that started, but um, you know, it it was it was a funny thing, like I say, at first, because we gave them this big bunch of money and they think, oh my goodness. And then they realized, oh wow, this is not so easy, you know.

Allison

Yeah. So practically speaking, and this is a fabulous idea. Practically speaking, where did they where was this money kept? Like you put it in the envelopes, and was there a a place that all of it lived in the house?

SPEAKER_00

You know, I wish I could remember that. Okay. I I know we had envelopes. I think the tuition we actually had them write us a check. I can't remember. And we did a bank deposit. You know, I know the bank was involved too, but I don't remember every detail. But obviously for lunch money and things like that, they had envelopes. But, you know, it's been it's been a while. My youngest now has been married 12 years, you know, 13 years. So um it's it's been a while since we did all that. But it was just a great exercise, you know, for them.

Allison

Yes, I think that is just a wonderful, wonderful idea. Um, thank you for sharing that. Okay, what is a favorite homemaking hack or tip that you would like to share?

SPEAKER_00

I like to make my dinner right after breakfast. And that was a good thing, especially when I had children. But, you know, peel the potatoes and set them in cold water. Do what anything that I could do in advance, whether it's putting it in the crock pot or whatever, as much of my meal prep as I could get done right after the dishes were picked up from breakfast and the kids were off to school. That's when I wanted to do it. First of all, my energy level was higher. And secondly, it wasn't four o'clock when everybody's starving and their blood sugar's low and they're cranky and they're, you know, and then I'm like, oh my gosh, I need to think about dinner, you know. And um, it just was a real help to keep the house running smoothly. And I also like to set the table then. So I didn't do that every day, but I did it often and it helped, you know. Um, it helped to do that. Just any pre-planning that you can do as a mom, it's amazing. And it seemed like I'm already in the kitchen, why not get it going? That kind of thing, you know. You know, you still have to obviously do some things at the last minute, but if the bulk of it is taking care of the chopping and the different things like that, it really helps. That would be probably one of the things that to me is extremely practical, but it just works.

Allison

It oh, that's a great tip. Absolutely. What's a homemaking tool or product that you cannot live without?

SPEAKER_00

Who my crock pot and my kitchen aid mixer would be two that I don't think I can survive without.

Allison

Yep. Um, I love my kitchen aid mixer. I'm not I'm not a huge crock pot person. Um uh, but my kitchen aid mixer, that's uh that was given to me when we got married by my husband's grandmother, and it has been through the wars and it is still going strong.

SPEAKER_00

I love it.

Allison

Yeah. Okay. What what's your signature dish? You love to cook, but is there one that you could pick that you feel like this is what I'm known for?

SPEAKER_00

I'm probably known for my cornbread dressing. That's a you know, and I don't make it a ton. I might make it two or three times in a year, but mostly at Thanksgiving. That's the big time I have it.

Allison

Okay. So do you uh and we've I have talked many times on this show about the difference between dressing and stuffing. So the audience should know. Yes. Um, but when you make your cornbread cornbread dressing, do you use um like drippings from the turkey or do you use chicken broth? What do you use typically?

SPEAKER_00

Um my dressing, it depends if I have some from the, but I normally make my dressing in advance. Again, that that kind of thing. I make it the day before and have it in there. Um, I use usually the canned broth because of that. Um, but certainly if I make it the same day, I would use the dressing from the turkey. Um but yeah, I make it with cornbread. Yes, I make a pone of I make a whole pan of in a in a cast iron skillet of cornbread, and I use that along with breadcrumbs with my own. I I you know make my own breadcrumbs.

Allison

Okay. Okay. So breadcrumbs along with it. That's interesting because that's not super common. Um, but I imagine that helps with the texture too. That's probably brings in.

SPEAKER_00

It's a really good bread dressing. Yeah. I I get lots of reviews on that from family members, and you know, it's it's a good recipe.

Allison

When you make it ahead, do you um do you just assemble it and put it in the refrigerant and bake it then the next day? Okay, so you don't bake it ahead, you assemble it ahead. It was like I would think it would dry out. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Because that second day cornbread dressing needs like extra gravy and cranberry on it when you have the leftovers because it's a little on the dry side. Yes.

SPEAKER_00

So is this a secret recipe or could you share it with us? Oh no, I'm happy to. I'd be happy to. Is that something you want me to pass you to? I'm happy to do that.

Allison

I will get I will get up with you and we will get a copy of that uh to share. So that would be wonderful. Um, yeah, because we're we're closing in on the second half of the year here when it's going to be time to think about holiday meals and stuff. So I'm sure the listeners would love to have a copy of that. 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_00

Oh, well, I do think it's an art. Um, I love to I love the dick decorating part of it. I love to make a home feel warm and cozy and and beautiful. Um I like I've said, I really wanted my home to be an oasis, not just for my husband, but for my children. I wanted them to know it was their safe place. And, you know, they I could I remember when I would be picking them up at school. They went to a Christian school in our town, and I could tell almost by first glance, you know, what kind of day they had had, how they were holding how their little shoulders were hanging or if they were, you know, and you know, when you know your children, and I just wanted them to feel like you are fine when you're here, you know. And um, that's a good feeling for kids. So to me, that is an art to be able to communicate that to them. And yeah, and you know, obviously good meals are a way to show love as well and fix their favorite things and all of that. What's one thing about homemaking that you're thankful for? Oh my goodness, that I was able to be with my children. My husband and I decided early on, if we needed to live in a house trailer for the rest of our lives, we we spent our couple of, we had that. We we stayed about 18 months, I think we lived in a house trailer, but we had decided that, you know, that's not obviously the best option. I mean, I'm thinking of tornado land here, you know, that's not where you want to be in a tornado. But if if that would enable us to to have me at home and him being the breadwinner, that it would be worth it to us to have less. And I think we just laid that before the Lord and said, this is we're willing to do that if that's what it is going to be, it's gonna be required, you know. And uh, but the Lord blessed us in spite of that, and he's given us a lovely home that's not, you know, on it's not a trailer, exactly, with you know, all the things that go with that. And I it's a great option, let me tell you, when you when you need it to be in um, and some of you may still be in a in a trailer, and that's okay. Um, but we we just decided that we would not be as materialistic and not have to have the things in order to make those um to make that an option for me because in our society now it's really difficult. People have to be very frugal in order, and I was frugal. I carried my calculator with me, my little hand calculator when those came out, which by the way came out I think when I was an early homemaker. And I can remember being at the grocery store and having to put things back because I had exceeded my limit, you know, and I had a very strict budget I had to stay within, and I had to get really creative.

Allison

Yes, absolutely. Um, that's a good word. Well, before we close, I like to um speak to the women who are listening, those younger women coming behind you. What's a word of advice or encouragement that you would give them? Just something that you would like them to take away from this conversation to encourage them.

SPEAKER_00

Um love your love your husband. Love him first and foremost. He's he he is the family unit was established on your wedding day, and the children are um are great additions, but they um hopefully will go and and make their own family, right? They're gonna multiply. And you you really have to focus on him and make sure that you don't put the children above him. And I see the tendency is to do that because they're helpless, they need me, you know, and he's okay. You know, that's kind of how we sometimes feel. But I think um, if you make him the number, if the king of his castle, the number one in your home, um, first of all, that communicates a great deal to your children and it gives them a great level of security if they see that you all are committed to each other. I remember one time my oldest son told me, Mom, I love it when you and dad drink your coffee in front of the fireplace, because we kind of went through a phase where we did that. I can't drink coffee at night anymore, but we did that at when we were younger. We were so tired, it didn't matter what we did. We we were gonna sleep. Um, but I remember those nights that we would, as soon as the kids would all get in bed, I'd go make a pot of coffee and we'd sit and drink coffee. And I said, Well, why do you why do you like that? Because I thought that was such an interesting comment that he would make. And he said, It just makes me feel really cozy. And I thought, what he's really communicating, I think, you know, um, was I feel secure, absolutely because I see you love each other and you enjoy being together. And I really have a very uh strong feeling about putting kids to bed. Don't let them stay up as late as you stay up. Yeah, those early bedtimes probably help a marriage more than you realize. And they need to sleep and they need to understand that mom and dad have time, that we need to have mom and dad time too. So those things help me.

Allison

Yes, those are great words of wisdom. Thank you so much for sharing that. And thank you for being here today, Rhonda, and sharing all about your story of home. I have enjoyed it very much, and we have hopped from one platform to another, but praise the Lord, we got through it. Yes, yes, yes. I appreciate your time and and your openness and sharing all about your story. Thank you so much. Thank you. I feel privileged to do it. You're welcome. Thank you for joining me today for this homemaker portrait of Rhonda Wax. I pray that you have been inspired and encouraged by this amazing testimony of faithful homemaking over 46 years. Besides the obvious theme of hospitality running through Rhonda's story of home, I hope you noticed the theme of a legacy of discipleship. Rhonda was deeply influenced and shaped by her mother's example and prayers. She actively sought ways to disciple her own children and open their home for others to be welcomed in and experience the life-changing presence of Christ through hospitality. And Rhonda is continuing to build a legacy of discipleship with every Bible love letter she gives to her grandchildren. When I think of legacy, I think of trees. They produce fruit that produce seeds, which produce more trees that produce more fruit on and on to eternity. So let's make this episode's emoji a tree. Drop one in a text message, comment, or email, and let me know how you are intentionally leaving a legacy in your homemaking, or how have you been on the receiving end of a homemaker's legacy. I look forward to hearing from you. I want to thank Rhonda again for sharing her story of home with us. And thank you, Georgetta Christensen, for nominating Rhonda. All of the resources mentioned, including Rhonda's famous cornbread dressing recipe, will be in the show notes on the blog. Go to theartofome podcast.com slash blog and search Rhonda Wax or click the link in the description. If you found value in today's episode, please share with another homemaker. Subscribe and leave us a review on your listening app. And to support the ministry financially, head over to buymeacoffee.comslash the Artof Home. That's all for this episode. Don't forget to send me your go-to hosting recipe by August 7th. I will be back next week with all new content on Monday and Wednesday. Until then, keep practicing your art of making a home.