I’m constantly amazed and inspired at how incredible women are these days. We raise children, hold jobs, run businesses, give service, volunteer, exercise and everything else in between, all while the main bulk of running a household, raising and growing children is still a vital part of our role. 
I’m proud of my gender’s progress, but sometimes, the lover of old things in me longs for a simpler lifestyle. I’m talking about the pioneer woman of the 1800’s. She knew her roles, worked hard and slept soundly at night knowing exactly what needed to happen the next day. She didn’t have a thousand errands to run, and soccer games to attend, or waste late night hours on Instragram! (I’m so guilty of this… I’m currently writing this at 1:00 in the morning!)  

No, her roles were vital. Skipping a chore could lead to serious consequences, even death! For example, failing to dust or wash my windows simply means things are just a little dustier that day… or month! I get my milk from the store, and clean my toilets once a week! And procrastination at those things doesn’t affect anyone too badly. But if the frontier’s woman didn’t pick the veggies before the storm she risked starvation for her family! If she didn’t milk the cow, it would stop giving milk… And not collecting water from the well just wasn’t an option. 

Do you ever wonder what their lives really were like? 

Maybe that’s why I love old things. Furniture and items that survived that time period connect us to the people that worked hard for their families. For their children, and their children’s children. 

For us! 

And I like to think that they watch over us. That they are our silent cheerleaders carrying us through the tough days, thrilling over the triumphs and hoping for our future! 

I love the Chinese proverb that says, “To forget one’s ancestors is to be a book without a source. A tree without a root.”

Russell M. Nelson said, “When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves.”
I kind of love the idea of being a part of something greater than myself! 

So I’m going to keep on hunting for old things! Because the antiques and treasures help me feel just a little closer to the amazing people that came before me. 

What old things make you feel connected to your ancestors? 

Finally, can you believe the amazing chippy goodness on this old table? I spotted it during a reunion at my aunt’s farm and begged to take a pic! It’s over 100 years old and has handmade nails! It belonged to my Uncle’s Grandmother! A truly strong, single mother who raised 4 amazing children on her own! Just Amazing!