I am chatting with seasoned homemaker, Jen Thayer, about her experience keeping a home for the past 25 years with her husband Dan and their 9 children! Jen is a homeschooling mom with 3 special needs kid, 2 of which are internationally adopted. We talk about how these children are an integral part of their unique family culture, bringing challenges and blessings Jen never expected but thanks God for every day. We cover all the usual ground of beginnings, influences, challenges, fails, wins and favs, and we bond over our love of literature and the need for a family library.
SHOW NOTES
EPISODE CHAPTERS
Welcome, Allison's Update: Recent Breakfast Favorites
Meet Jen, Beginnings & Influences: The Redeeming Influence of Grandma
Expectations & Practical Advice for Big Family Living
Temptations & Challenges: How to Love Families with Special Needs Kids
Homemaking & Parenting: A Pack-n-Play Laundry Prison
Hospitality: Do What You Can with Who God Brings
Q&A: Fails, Wins, Tips and Favorites
The Art of Home & Titus 2 Advice: Watch Your Words, Put Your Phone on a Shelf
Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
ALLISON'S UPDATE: Recent Breakfast Favorites
JEN'S FAVORITES
Hack or Tip
Large family living, homeschooling and a small home all have necessitated that Jen keep things tidy in the main living areas. She says that keeping the floor picked up and the kitchen table cleared makes things much easier on everyone.
She also highly recommends meal planning, however, she encourages homemakers to keep things simple. "Meals don't have to be extravagant," Jen reminds us, "learn to be content with what you can provide for your family."
Product or Resource
Jen's favorite tool is her vacuum cleaner, but what she really could not live without in her home is their family library. I whole-heartedly agree! Good books are essential to a home. We will be talking more about this in future, so stay tuned.
Signature Dish
While she couldn't really think of a signature savory dish or go-to dinner, Jen said she always has fresh cookies available. Here is her recipe for classic sugar cookies.
Be sure to set aside some extra sugar besides the 1 cup in the recipe for dipping the glass you will flatten the dough balls with.
If you forget to set your butter out ahead of time, try this hot glass butter-softening trick. Pour very hot water into a tall glass and let it sit for a few minutes. Pour water out of the glass down the drain. Stand your butter on its end. Now take your hot, empty glass and place it, upside down over the stick of butter, kind of like you're putting a cover over it. Allow the glass to remain over the butter for several minutes until cool. The heat from the glass will soften the butter without melting it like a microwave would.
OTHER NOTES:
More Episodes on Special Needs:
Watch Your Words:
Put Your Phone on a Shelf:
Favorite analog tools-subscribe to Homemaker Happy Mail for more details. For future reference, go to The Art of Home Blog and search "analog tools"
PODCAST NEWS
WRITE FOR THE ART OF HOME
We are currently accepting submissions for Homemaker Happy Mail. Guidelines, Topics and Deadlines are detailed on our Write For Us page. Click below.
SUBSCRIPE TO HOMEMAKER HAPPY MAIL
A free weekly newsletter providing you with even more homemaking encouragement and inspiration.
Extended show notes with top takeaways and bonus resources
First to Know Podcast News
Early Access to Guest Application/Nomination Opportunities
Homemaker Articles with Inspiration and Practical Suggestions for Your Practice of The Art of Home
Support The Art of Home
Do you love The Art of Home Podcast and our free resources? You can say thanks with a one-time tip or you can become a Titus 2 Woman monthly supporter.
Visit our page at buymeacoffe.com/theartofhome for more info.
Before choosing, you always need to compare and evaluate alternatives, don't you think? And on the example of hormonal trauma, everything has already been done for you here, for example - https://ways2well.com/blog/stem-cells-or-exosomes-which-is-better-for-regenerative-therapy explains very simply what is the best treatment!