Blogging, Real Life, and Truth Windows

In a straw bale home, it is common to have a truth window.  It is a small section of wall, sometimes ornately framed or decorated, that is left unplastered to show people the straw that lies beneath. 

It's a peak into the truth about that home.

I don't have a straw bale home, but I do want this post to serve as a bit of a truth window.  I want to give my readers a peak into our home. 

This blog is called Imperfect Homemaking for a reason.  I believe that homemaking is a glorious profession, and that those of us with the privilege of serving at home can and should embrace it as the blessing it is.  I believe that our husbands should be able to come home from work, look around, and believe we've done something productive with our day.  But I also believe that our homes are places to live out real life.  Real homes are filled with milk spills and temper tantrums, unwashed dishes and piles of laundry waiting to be folded.  I don't want a clean home at the expense of an authentic life. 

I've been struggling with the purpose and identity of this blog for a while now.  Ever since I started blogging, I've been receiving comments about my homemaking from people in blogland as well as those in the real world.  They say things that leave me uncomfortable and wondering if I am accomplishing my goal.  They seem to think I have it all together, that my house is always clean, calm and orderly.  That if they were to drop by at any moment it would always look like the pictures on my blog.  And this just isn't the case.

I never meant to give anybody that impression.

I am an imperfect homemaker.

So as I was washing some dishes this morning, I was contemplating this blog and whether or not to continue.   It occurred to me to get my camera and show you what my house looks like right now, and to resist the temptation to just put a few things away first or straighten the couch cushions.

It's not a pig sty.  If you called right now to tell me you would be visiting in 20 minutes, I could probably have it pretty clean by the time you got here.  With 30 minutes notice, I could probably have a tray of cookies in the oven too. But it isn't spotless either.  We are in the middle of living life in this house and it shows.

So if you have somehow gotten the impression that I am some sort of super-mom who's house is always clean and the kids are perfectly groomed and that I manage to do it all while growing twins and somehow still have energy left over to whip up a pie, that just isn't the case.  When I give advice on how to keep a home, it is with the absolute awareness that sometimes things just don't happen like that, and that although a clean and inviting  home is important, it is not all that matters.

What we are is a happy family living a blessed life in a lovely little home that we thank God for every single day.  And we are seriously imperfect.

Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, you should know that I am totally still wearing my pajamas...