Homemaking Lesson

This morning after we woke up and had some breakfast, Autumn wanted to work on her Valentine’s for her class.  I sat w/ her and watched while she wrote her name in all the “From” spots.  She kept writing her letters too big and they wouldn’t all fit in the small space, but she did good and I’m proud of her.

We had some lunch and then got ready for church.  Sacrament was good and we had our ward conference.  In YW, Pres. Jones was in our class along w/ the Stake YW President and Stake YW Secretary!  No pressure to give a good lesson or anything.  LOL!  Actually, I think it went pretty well and I hope the girls learned something.  I am posting my lesson outline below in case anyone else has to teach the same lesson and could use some ideas.  The YW manuals we have to teach from are great starting points, but have some really old and cheesy stories.  So, I took most of my lesson from the scriptures and church talks.

After church, we went to Mom & Dad’s and had some dinner and relaxed for a while.  Then at 6:30 I had to leave to go back to the Church for our Single Adult fireside.  We had 4 speakers that got 15 minutes each to talk to us about how they make, track, and accomplish goals.  I am not a goals person, but I actually learned a lot and really really enjoyed what they had to say.  They are very successful and spiritual people and we had an incredible turn out.

Afterwards, we had refreshments and Pete had brought all the stuff for strawberry shortcake including homemade strawberry jam.  It was incredibly good and everyone raved about what a great evening it was.  Pete had used real dishes, instead of plastic utensils and paper plates so him and Nancy and I were at the church until 8:45 doing dishes.  But, the whole night was a huge success and I’m so thankful it went well.

I went back to Mom & Dad’s and got Autumn and we came home and I put her right to bed and then tidied up the house and called it a night myself.

HOMEMAKING LESSON

Opening Quote
“Homemaking, as I view it, falls into two major divisions: homemaking and housekeeping. Homemaking takes into account the spiritual values: love, peace, tranquility, harmony among family members, security. It makes of a place of residence a spot to which family members can retire from a confused and troubled world and find understanding and rejuvenation. Its character is quietness; it evidences good taste, culture, and refinement. Men, women, and children alike have their individual contributions to make to good home and family life, and each shares in its benefits.

“Housekeeping involves the work of keeping a house clean, orderly, and well managed. This includes financial management, failure in which often becomes a source of family friction” (Belle S. Spafford, A Woman’s Reach [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974], pp. 24–25).

Mary & Martha
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

· Queen of the Castle (physical housekeeping, cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc)

· Lioness of the Lair (spiritual making a home, faith, prayer, scripture study, etc)

o “Women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her…nothing really powerful happens in a home or a family if the lioness doesn’t care about it or invest in it.” ~Julie B Beck (BYU Women’s Conf, April 29, 2010)

· Discuss how a place of residence can be their own room at home, a dorm room or apartment when they are out on their own, etc. It doesn’t just have to be a “house”

· Talk about how the Lord has given us a blueprint to build a house here & in the eternities

D&C 109:08-09
8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

9 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High—

· “Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby we could wisely and properly build a house to personally occupy throughout eternity? Such a house would meet the building code outlined in Matthew – even a house built “upon a rock,” a house capable of withstanding the rains of adversity, the floods of opposition, and the winds of doubt everywhere present in our challenging world.” ~Thomas S. Monson (Building Your Eternal Home, Ensign Oct 1999).

· Of the 7 houses listed, which goes in which category?

PRAYER (Lioness)
FASTING (Both)
FAITH (Lioness)
LEARNING (Both)
ORDER (Both)
GLORY (Both)
OF GOD (Both)

Explain that a home that is orderly and well cared for and that invites the Spirit of the Lord builds confidence and pride in the people who live there. They feel more comfortable and peaceful. It is also a place where their faith and testimony can grow. Such a home requires the efforts of everyone who lives there and reflects the concern that family members have for each other. It is a home that evidences industry and hard work.

Discussion Q: How can skills such as money management or food preparation be important in creating a home where the spirit of God can dwell?

Discussion Q: Even though you don’t yet manage a home of your own, you are still a homemaker and can still improve the atmosphere of your home. How can you be a homemaker in your home now?

Writing Q: What are some rules/things in your home that you cherish now that you want to carry over into your own home?

Writing Q: What are some rules/things in your home now that you would want to change in your own home?

SHARING

“Then the Lord, even our building inspector, may say to us, as He said when He appeared to Solomon, a builder of another day: ‘I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually (1 Kings 9:3)’” ~Thomas S. Monson (Building Your Eternal Home, Ensign Oct 1999).

IF THERE IS TIME:
Hallmarks of a Happy Home
“Slowly but surely we face the truth: We are responsible for the home we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of haven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live influence not only the success of our earthly journey; they mark the way to our eternal goals.

Happy homes come in a variety of appearances. Some feature large families with father, mother, brothers, and sisters living together in a spirit of love. Others consist of a single parent with one or two children, while other homes have but one occupant. There are, however, identifying features which are to be found in a happy home, whatever the number or description of its family members.

1. Pattern of Prayer

a. Prayer is the passport to spiritual power.

2. Library of Learning

a. As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, ‘I want to follow my dad,’ or ‘I want to be like my mother?’ Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield the contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book.

3. Legacy of Love

a. Choose your love, love your choice.

4. Treasury of Testimony

a. ‘The first and foremost opportunity for teaching in the Church lies in the home. A true Mormon home is one in which if Christ should chance to enter, He would be please to linger and to rest.’ ~President David O. McKay

i. What are we doing to ensure that our homes meet this description?

My brothers and sisters, let us determine, whatever our circumstance, to make of our houses happy homes. Let us open wide the windows of our hearts, that each family member may feel welcome and ‘at home’. Let us open also the doors of our very souls, that the dear Christ may enter. Remember His promise: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.’ (Rev. 3:20)”