Finding My Why: The Heart Behind Charleston Homemaker

I am writing this from our kitchen table. The tumble of laundry serenades me in the background along with inter-mitten beeps from the baby monitor that is looking over Emery while he naps.

It’s a typical morning. As soon as he goes down to nap, I try to check off as many to-do’s from my list as possible.

This morning includes a daunting to-do: Push past the doubts to explain the heart behind Charleston Homemaker and why I’m crafting this space into existence.

I’m bursting with hopeful expectation that these words will find the right eyes. That these thoughts and ideas have left my head for good reason as I send them forth into the world. That every tear I’ve shed will be redeemed as hope for another new momma out there. That my seemingly crazy ideas will be just the spark a family needs to find a little happy in their home.

But the fear?

Oh yes, the fear and doubts keep popping up.

But in the process of writing them out, getting them out of the darkness and into the light, I realized that underneath each doubt and fear lies my “why”.

My “why” for this space is to flip doubt on its head.

Doubt 1: There are already so many voices out there, you don’t need to add to the clutter.

True. We are surrounded by a ton of noise and it seems like everyone has already said everything that needs to be said.

But why didn’t those voices enter my life when I needed their words the most? Maybe the voices did come across my ears, but why didn’t I connect with them? Maybe there’s one more woman just like me who needs to hear things the same way I do.

Doubt 2: You haven’t even been a homemaker for three years, let alone a mom for two! What makes you an expert??

Nope. I sure don’t have it all figured out, but God has taught me in my few short years that we don’t have to have it all figured out to make an impact. I’ve sat back in quiet as a shy introvert for far too long. I’ve suppressed the nudges and gifts and dreams he has given me because of fear. I’m tired of living in fear – fear of failure, fear of judgement, fear of falling short. I’m ready to live outside my head and see these ideas come to fruition and pass them on to you.

Doubt 3: You know you’re going to be held to a level of perfection if you start talking about this stuff.

The world doesn’t need another perfect woman, perfect home, perfectly behaved child or perfect blog. The world needs real. Real, raw truth to set us FREE from the need to live up to perfection.

I was not a perfect picture of “new baby bliss” when Emery was born and I did my best to hide that from fear of judgement.

I don’t like cleaning or doing laundry and I have to try really really hard to keep from hoarding. But, I do like making a happy home for my family.

I’m not very good at remembering to post on Instagram every day or to take pretty staged pictures or even to take my own advice. However, I am going to pray over every word that I do remember to post in hopes that it meets you right where you are.

Doubt 4: You don’t have time to do any of this!

I don’t have time NOT to do this. Our days our numbered and the years are short.

It’s time to be obedient.

…

Welcome to day one of Charleston Homemaker. I hope this little slice (really it’s more of a smidge at this point) of the internet is a breath of fresh air in our busy days. Between schedules and work and chores and family dynamics, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and tired. Oh so tired.

Amidst all that, there are countless ways to bring a little more happy into your home everyday.

I’m here to explore and learn and dig deep into the doubts that hold us captive from fully living out our every day.

From motherhood to community, home design to DIY projects and everything in between – making a happy home doesn’t have to be hard or expensive or a grandiose show.

Life’s greatest joys are found in little moments, baby steps and messy projects that don’t work out as we plan.

I’ll be diving into the messy stuff soon, but for now just know that each of you are a part of my “why” and I am so thankful you are here.

Wondering why I’m bringing back the word “homemaker”? Check it out here.

• 

• 

•