Friday, June 13, 2008

Days Gone By

I am so fascinated by the past. I am especially interested in the lives of women. How wives and mamas lived, what they wore, and how they cared for their families.
My two favorite periods of time are the pioneer times (the Laura Ingalls Wilder in me) and the 1940's, particularly during WWII.
I am drawn to the pioneer times by the wonderful "Little House" books that we read daily in our home, the "Love Comes Softly" series of books and movies that I adore, and a sense that these simpler times, though hard, were so full of joy.
My love of the 1940's has come from my paternal grandma. She was a young bride during the onset of WWII. My grandfather did not go to war because of vision problems. (Praise God). My dad was born in 1944. My grandpa, a talented carpenter, built their first tiny home stick by stick, as used supplies became available, because building materials were so hard to come by. My sweet grandma still lives in that home today, although they did make it bigger as their family grew. I have heard so many stories from my grandma about the war, the rationing, the shortages, but all along she was just so grateful to have her little family and her little home.


I recently borrowed a sweet movie from the library called, "The Magic of Ordinary Days". It is a Hallmark movie and for the most part is family suitable. If you decide to watch it please preview it before letting your children watch the beginning, as it may raise questions. The rest of the movie I would say is just fine. The other series is "1940's house", a PBS series that shows the war from a British families point of view. It is very fascinating how they recreated the whole house just like the 40's.
I realize that overall these two periods of time were full of hard times. But families found joy. The circumstances forced people to be simple in their lives. They (hopefully) had all that they needed, and that was enough. Families made due. What is the old saying, "Use it up-wear it out-make it do!". I am also so interested in how we have come to this place as a society where we are so into overabundance, and that we feel entitled to live this way. How did it come to this?

All in all, I am so grateful to be living when I do, with our medical technology and advancements. We can learn so much though from how others have lived before us. That is ultimately what draws me to the past.

Have a very blessed weekend. After a week of rain we finally have sun! YAY!
In God's Love, Tami

5 comments:

  1. Hi Tami,

    Good to hear from you. The pioneer days fascinate me too. Though, if I think hard enough I am too lazy to live back then :o) You had to grow, make and build pretty much everything for yourself.

    I have been thinking much about simplifying more. Also how to aviod getting suck into "the rat race".....of the church not just the world.

    The sun is nice....finally!
    I don't think I have ever been so chilly in June.

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  2. Hi!
    Just wanted to let you know that I just added you to my favorite blogs list.

    Come and see me soon!

    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  3. Tami...so true that those times have so much to teach us today. I also often wonder how we have arrived at this place in our modern lives, where there is seemingly a 'score' to keep and 'stuff' to acquire.

    I just have to check out the PBS 1940's House, I love the other similar series by PBS...I'm gonna hop over to my library website and put it on hold now :)

    Oh, by the way, I tagged you for a meme...check out my post...no pressure, if you want to join in, feel free!

    Have a wonderful week!
    Sandra

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  4. I too love the things of days gone by. I really valued your thoughts concerning how we consume so much in this country and do it with a sense of entitlement.
    Thank you for sharing!

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  5. Oh how I LOVE the "Love Comes Softly" series as well as "Little House" and the "Walton's." To me there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a cozy throw, a hot cup of cocoa and watching these shows (even if they are on DVD or reruns.)

    The life style they lived is so neat to watch. it really makes me think of how blessed we are to have what we have. But it also shows me that I take too much for granted and need to slow down and savor things more.

    Loving your blog...it's so refreshing. Definitely have you bookmarked!

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