Habits for a Sacred Home Appendix
Appendix
Families who purchased the audiobook can use this template (or this editable one on Canva) to create their own Family Rule of Life. You can also read the acknowledgments and learn more about Jennifer.
Your Family Rule
Below, write in the statements you developed at the end of each chapter—the practices your family will adopt for each habit to create your own family rule.
Habits of Work:
Habits of Stewardship:
Habits of Prayer:
Habits of Order:
Habits of Simplicity:
Habits of Stability:
Habits of Hospitality:
Habits of Community:
Acknowledgments
The Peaceful Press and Restoration Home community of mothers, with their enthusiasm and bravery, have made the early morning writing sessions a joyful sacrifice. Hearing stories of how the trajectory of their families changed because of my work has infused me with strength when I felt the tug to give up my writing in favor of more time in nature with my children. As I think of each one of you diligently loving your children despite what is happening in the world, and keeping your homes and communities with such faithfulness, I’m inspired in my own journey. Your labor is not in vain.
Beloved Peaceful Press team, Emelie Pepito, Kristin Dahman, Angie Warren, Sadie Davis, Beth Ann Menger, and Brianna Rodriguez, you lighten my load so I can add book writing to curriculum creating. Your creativity and ingenuity make the Peaceful Press resources beautiful and lifegiving and it’s an honor to partner with you in empowering homeschool families to love their children well.
Thank you, Ingrid Beck, for your insight and support. Having your advocacy and talent to help me navigate book publishing has been an incredible blessing.
To the team at Bethany House including Jennifer Dukes Lee, Stephanie Smith, Rebecca Schriner, and Sharon Hodge, it’s been so much fun to work with you all. You are insightful and kind, and we share a love of God and prayer that makes publishing with you a dream. I love being part of the Bethany House family.
My Wild + Free friends have opened my world to new perspectives and so much fun. I’ve loved learning from Leah Boden, Greta Eskridge, Rea Berg, Betsy Larkin, Amber O’Neal Johnston, Leslie Martino, Erin Loechner, Elsie Iudicello, Richele Baburina, Tina Ingold, Jenni Dowling, Julie Bogart, Stephanie Beaty and so many others. You are amazing women, and I’m delighted to be your friend. I’m so grateful to Ainsley Arment for inviting me into this magical community; so many of my best memories have been with you, whether it was kayaking down the Brazos River after Wild + Free Wimberley, snuggling in the hotel lobby after countless conferences, or eating beautiful lunches with my heroes, friendship with you has been a delight.
Sally Clarkson, a chapter in this book could have been written about you. Your faithfulness to continue highlighting the sacred work of motherhood has encouraged so many, and I’m grateful that in a world where older women often give up on Titus 2 mentorship, you continue to love and serve. I’m honored to be your friend.
Amy Hughes, thanks for being a gentle, loving presence in my life.
To Ginny Yurich, your sparkling personality has been a wonder to behold, and your generosity and calm are life-changing. I’m so glad we are friends.
Rachel Kovac, thank you for deep conversations, thoughtful questions, and your beautiful presence. I’ve learned so much from you, everything you do is infused with love, and I’m honored to know you.
To Cindy Rollins, your willingness to be honest about the struggles of motherhood and yet hopeful about the importance of our work has impacted me deeply. Thank you for helping me keep going even when it’s hard.
Cristina Ecklund, I love watching the way you beautify your surroundings and raise your children with hope and faith. Your excitement about this project has been an inspiration.
To my Voxer friends Kate Crocco, Erin Cox, Cindy West, and Alicia Hutchinson. Thanks for bearing my burdens, sharing yours, and being models of motherhood and business. I’m so glad we are friends.
To my Rooted Home sisters, Brittany White, Aimee Kirk, Camille Fielder, Jessica Wilson, Stephanie Frediani, and Whitney Byrd, you are all so lovely and inspiring. I have hope for the world as I see the ways you are transforming our small corner of it.
To Melissa Wingo, thank you for helping me process these ideas through our weekly walks, and for challenging me when my tinfoil hat gets too big. I am so grateful for you.
To my sisters, Jacqueline Lostritto, Jody Kniesel, Tammi Gyori, and LeeAnn Gyori. You are wonderful mothers to many. You glorify God through your work and encourage me with your love.
To my parents, John and Rosalind Gyori, I’m so inspired by the ways you have exhibited great faith and virtue. Your diligence and grit have made your children capable and given me hope for the world.
To my children, Emelie, Eden, Elias, Ethan, Emmett, Ella, and Ezra, I love being your mom. You are all so beautiful and thoughtful, and I’m so proud of the ways you pursue God. You inspire me, and I’m so thankful that we get to grow together.
To Karina, thank you for being such a good friend to my son. You are a gift from God.
To my granddaughter Sylvia, I love you; you are precious to me.
To my husband, Scott. I love the way you pray, and I’m so thankful for your commitment to God and to your family. I’m so happy I get to spend my life with you.
I’m so grateful to you, God. The gift of your presence continues to empower me to love even when it is hard, and to be faithful even when the world is chaotic. Thank you for the comfort of your Word, and for the beauty of creation, and for your constant love and grace. I’m so glad I get to be your child and spend eternity with you.
Jennifer Pepito is the host of the Restoration Home podcast, author of Mothering by the Book, and the founder of The Peaceful Press (ThePeacefulPress.com). Jennifer is on a mission to help moms overcome fear and live with wonder and purpose, and her homeschool curriculum empowers this through heroic stories, heartwarming poetry, and engaging life skills development. Her resources help create joyful memories among families, which lead to deeper connections and lasting relationships. Jennifer’s writing has been featured in several online and print journals, including Wild + Free, Commonplace Quarterly, and Home Educating Family. She hosted the Wild + Free podcast for seven years and has made guest appearances on other popular podcasts such as 1000 Hours Outside, At Home with Sally, and Read Aloud Revival. Jennifer lives with her beloved family in the mountains, where she enjoys reading aloud, working in her garden, and watching the sunset.
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