Memories for February: She Created a Home!

We are in full Valentine's Day preparation mode here...and yes, it is the night before!  Somehow, it kind of snuck up on us.  We had lofty plans for homemade things this year...last year it was all I could do to get my very pregnant self to survive the day.  So this year, we tried to make up for it...pictures to come tomorrow...not all went as planned but everyone has gone to bed relatively happy, so I count that as a success!

For today's memory, I wanted to share the memories I have of my mom "creating a home."  When I was in college, I had some wonderful friends who would come and stay at my house during breaks or long weekends.  I remember one close friend always telling me that she "loved the way my house felt."  I have thought often about her comment....because I too "loved the way my house felt".

I am sure there were many reasons for this feeling, but I am thinking specifically tonight of all that my mom did to cultivate a feeling of peace, happiness and joy in our home.  Some of the things that she did seemed so simple at the time and yet they really made an impact.

My mom often had beautiful music playing in the background...on Sundays it was always church music, on other days it was jazz or FM100...to this day when I hear some of those old classic songs (think Bee Gees and Chicago), I am just right back home again.

My mom cooked delicious simple meals...and we ALWAYS ate dinner together around the table.  If someone was at a practice or something, we went ahead without them and left their plate there until they came home and ate.  Some of my favorite dishes included her trademark spaghetti (which I still make today!), lasagna, and chicken noodle soup.  I loved coming home after a long day and smelling whatever it was that she had cooking.

(Katy eating Mom's famous spaghetti)

My mom was almost always home when we got home from school...and I loved that.  She usually had a snack for us, and it was such a good opportunity to just chat for a few minutes.

(The first day of school in 1982)

My mom would straighten up the house before my dad came home from work...that may sound a little strange to some...it certainly was not because he expected or demanded it....my mom just knew that it was more pleasant to come home when you didn't have to trip over things as you came in the door.

My mom kept our home neat and clean...it's funny because I can remember her saying that she didn't feel like she was very good at "keeping house"...and yet I don't ever remember the house being really messy...I'm sure it was at times but she seemed to have a really good system for keeping it all functioning...wish she could give me some pointers.

 (Above, my sister Melissa helps with vacuuming.  Below, Mel and me in the clothes hamper)

My mom was quick to forgive...she was not perfect and she was sometimes a bit of a "yeller" when it came to disciplining...she and I could especially lock horns over certain issues...but my mom was always quick to apologize and move on...she didn't pout or let things fester...we would have it out and then it would be over and she would smother me with hugs and kisses.

She certainly understood that it is the mother who sets the mood for the home...some days I wish that wasn't the case...some days I just want to be honory and short-tempered and snappy and lazy....but then I think of my mom and I think of our house...and I put myself ahead 20 years or so...and I can only hope that one of my children looking back might say, "I loved the way my house felt."