# Homemaker Portrait | Jessica Clark

An episode of [The Art of Home: A Podcast for Homemakers](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1557993655), 14 Oct 2026, 1 h 07 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1587457/episodes/19957278-homemaker-portrait-jessica-clark.mp3

Send me a text about this episode! I’m chatting with Jessica Clark of thelarklife.com and the Handmade Happiness Podcast, for our final homemaker portrait of the year. You may remember Jessica from our Quilting Deep Dive earlier this year. Well, she’s back to tell us her homemaking story today. Jessica and her family recently left everyone and everything they knew in South Texas to start a homestead in Missouri. The past year has been an exercise in faith and continually looking for God’s hand of blessing and providence when the hard parts of this big move had them questioning their decision. Jessica has learned so many lessons, not just in this recent move, but throughout her homemaking story she’s learned to be flexible, slow down to savor the everyday moments and to put people before tasks. SHOW NOTES All resources mentioned, including Jessica's signature dish recipe will be on the blog. Click the link below or go to theartofhomepodcast.com/blog and search "Jessica Clark". https://www.theartofhomepodcast.com/post/homemaker-portrait-jessica-clark-slowing-down-making-room-for-what-matters HOMEMAKER'S JOURNAL FALL/HOLIDAY 2026 NOW AVAILABLE! SEND US YOUR HOLIDAY QUESTIONS BY OCTOBER 26, 2026! click the link above to text me ⬆️ Get recipes, make friends & support The Art of Home! Leave your tip of $5 or more by October 31, 2026!! https://www.theartofhomepodcast.com/recipe Support the show HOMEMAKING RESOURCES • Homemaker's Journal, AoH Seasonal Magazine • Private Facebook Group, Homemaker Forum • JR Miller's Homemaking Study Guide SUPPORT & CONNECT • Review | Love The Podcast • Contact | Text/Voicemail-use the link at top of description | Website | Email • Follow | Follow The Podcast • Support | theartofhomepodcast.com/support DISCLOSURE • **Buy | as an Amazon affiliate, AoH receives a small commission at no extra cost to you when you use our links to purchase items we recommend • AI Content | Portions of this episode’s copy and/or show notes may have been drafted with the assistance of AI and then reviewed and edited by a human, Allison Weeks.

## Transcript

[1:13] Allison: Hello, homemakers, and welcome to the Art of Home podcast, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong.
[1:21] Allison: And I'm your host, Alison Weeks.
[1:23] Allison: I'm a wife, a mom, a granny, and I've been practicing the Art of Home since 1992.
[1:29] Allison: Welcome everybody.
[1:30] Allison: Whether you're new here or you have been around for a while, I'm so honored that you're going to trust me with some of your valuable time today, especially as we ramp up into the holiday season.
[1:40] Allison: We are going to hear a brand new interview from an In-the-Trenches homemaker today.
[1:45] Allison: But before we get to that, I have some updates and some listener mail for you.
[1:51] Allison: This is the part of the show where I share podcast news, updates on what I'm doing and loving in my own homemaking, and I share tips and answer questions sent in from all of you.
[2:02] Allison: This segment is brought to you by listeners who support the art of home through Buy Me a Coffee.
[2:06] Allison: Buy Me a Coffee is a virtual tip jar where you can show your appreciation and support for the show by giving a one-time tip or by becoming a Titus 2 Woman supporter and setting up a recurring tip of $5 per month.
[2:19] Allison: Titus2 Women supporters receive my undying gratitude and the occasional perk, such as a free digital version of our magazine Homemaker's Journal, free registration for the holiday recipe exchange, and other fun things.
[2:35] Allison: Whichever way you choose to give, I am grateful for your support.
[2:40] Allison: And speaking of Titus 2 women, I want to welcome Mary Taylor.
[2:44] Allison: She is a brand new Titus II Woman supporter of the Art of Home.
[2:47] Allison: Thank you so much, Mary.
[2:48] Allison: Y'all have been leaving some sweet comments on Spotify and sending text messages and emails, and I'm so, so very grateful every time that I hear from y'all.
[2:57] Allison: It means so much and it really helps motivate me to keep doing this work.
[3:02] Allison: You all enjoyed the fall ramble with Jessica and are sharing what you're kicking off your soup season with.
[3:08] Allison: Yeah, we did recommend a lot of books, so make sure you go back and check that one out.
[3:17] Allison: And then she says, and for kicking off the autumn season, I made my favorite hearty chicken dumpling stew.
[3:24] Allison: It is my go-to in this season.
[3:26] Allison: That stew sounds amazing, Tara.
[3:29] Allison: I think we need a recipe.
[3:30] Allison: Mary Taylor wants broccoli cheddar, but she was actually enjoying a bowl of Italian sausage veggie soup that she had just made when she was listening to The Fall Ramble, where we talked a lot about soup.
[3:42] Allison: Mary also shared that she doesn't mind most of the aging process.
[3:47] Allison: In fact, she loves the calmness and the thought process of being a seasoned woman.
[3:53] Allison: My age issue problem I do dislike, Mary says, is facial whiskers and that I don't notice them until I'm in public.
[4:02] Allison: I am right there with you, Mary.
[4:04] Allison: My husband and I have an agreement that he is required to discreetly point out any hairs that he sees on my chiny chin chin because they seem to sprout overnight.
[4:15] Allison: I mean, how did I not notice the inch-long black hair that was coming out of the middle of my chin?
[4:20] Allison: A lot of y'all were so excited to hear Melissa Austin Weeks on the show last Wednesday, and I was excited to host her and talk to her about all sorts of fun holiday hosting tips and ideas.
[4:33] Allison: If you missed it, be sure to go back and listen.
[4:35] Allison: She shared so many great nuggets that will be helpful for your hosting really any time of the year.
[4:42] Allison: Melissa's episode fit perfectly with last week's launch of the second installment of our magazine Homemaker's Journal.
[4:50] Allison: This latest issue is our fall holiday 2026 issue covering all things holiday hospitality.
[4:57] Allison: If you haven't gotten a copy yet, there is still plenty of time for it to arrive before the big rush of the holiday season.
[5:03] Allison: You will find lots of prep and planning inspiration, not just practically, but also for preparing your heart and your spirit.
[5:11] Allison: Go to homemakersjournal.com to get your copy.
[5:14] Allison: Print copies are just $15, which is a real bargain for the 74 gorgeous full color pages that you get packed with helpful and inspiring content.
[5:25] Allison: It would also make a great gift.
[5:27] Allison: And when you purchase the print, you can add on the digital for just $1.99, giving you instant access to the helpful content while you are waiting for that print version to arrive in your mailbox that you can take notes in and journal in and mark up and make it really yours.
[5:44] Allison: If you are an international customer, I'm sorry, uh there are only a few, a handful of countries who can get a copy of this paying local shipping only and not having to pay international shipping.
[5:56] Allison: Those are listed on the website.
[5:57] Allison: But all of you, no matter where you live in the world, can get a digital copy for just $12.
[6:04] Allison: And that is yours to download and keep forever and ever.
[6:08] Allison: You can even take it to a printer and print it out and have it bound in your own little magazine if you would like.
[6:14] Allison: In my corner of the world, we are still waiting for the Lord to bring the next owner of this home.
[6:22] Allison: Meanwhile, I have revolted a little bit against the minimalist staging, and I brought out a few of my fall things.
[6:31] Allison: And I might have smuggled back in a lamp or two from storage.
[6:35] Allison: I mean, we do have to live here after all.
[6:38] Allison: My home might be in a bit of a holding pattern, but the art of home is not.
[6:42] Allison: There is a lot going on between now and the end of the year.
[6:46] Allison: There's the magazine, of course, and the recipe exchange, and the launch of the extended advent study guide.
[6:53] Allison: I'll be talking more about those two last two things over the next couple of weeks.
[6:59] Allison: Be sure that you are on our mailing list to stay in the loop on registration dates, when things go on sale, and all of the things related to what's happening between now and the end of the year.
[7:12] Allison: You can go over to um theartofome podcast.com slash subscribe to get on that mailing list.
[7:19] Allison: But what I need your help with right now today is in compiling questions for a very special holiday homemaking QA episode I'm going to be doing with Jessica Fisher.
[7:30] Allison: Now, Jessica's going to be back next week for our holiday homemaking ramble.
[7:35] Allison: And then the following week, she and I will tackle your holiday homemaking questions and hopefully provide you with some ideas and some advice.
[7:44] Allison: So send in your questions, your awkward situations, or your cries for help about any and all things holiday homemaking related to contact at theartofhome podcast.com or just drop it in a comment on Spotify or send it to me in a text message using the link in this episode's description box, and we will try to answer on the episode.
[8:07] Allison: Okay, on to today's interview.
[8:10] Allison: For today's episode, I will be chatting with Jessica Clark of thelarklife.com and the Handmade Happiness Podcast for our final homemaker portrait of the year.
[8:22] Allison: Yes, it's the last one.
[8:24] Allison: You may remember Jessica from our deep dive on quilting earlier this year.
[8:29] Allison: Well, she is back to tell us her homemaking story today.
[8:33] Allison: Jessica and her family recently left everyone and everything that they knew in South Texas to start a homestead in Missouri.
[8:43] Allison: The past year has been an exercise in faith and continually looking to God's hand of blessing and providence when the hard parts of this big move had them questioning their decision.
[8:55] Allison: Jessica has learned so many lessons, not just in this recent move, but throughout her homemaking story.
[9:01] Allison: She has learned to be flexible, to slow down, to savor the everyday moments, and to put people before tasks.
[9:09] Allison: I will be back at the end with some closing thoughts in this episode's emoji.
[9:13] Allison: Whatever you are applying your hands to as you listen today, I know you will enjoy Jessica's story of home.
[9:20] Allison: Welcome to the Art of Home.
[9:23] Allison: I am here today for a special homemaker portrait of In the Trenches Homemaking mama, Jessica Clark.
[9:30] Allison: And you will recognize her voice because she's been on the show before.
[9:33] Allison: She came on earlier in the year and did a deep dive on quilting with us.
[9:37] Allison: But today we are going to hear her whole story of home, all about homemaking.
[9:42] Allison: And Jessica, uh, before we get into that story, why don't you just say hey to everybody?
[9:46] Allison: Tell us a little bit about who you are today.
[9:49] Jessica Clark: Awesome.
[9:49] Jessica Clark: Well, thank you so much for having me back.
[9:51] Jessica Clark: My name is Jessica Clark.
[9:53] Jessica Clark: I am a mom to four kids.
[9:55] Jessica Clark: My husband and I have been married for 21 years.
[9:58] Jessica Clark: Uh my kids range in age from I have a 17-year-old, a 14-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a six-year-old.
[10:06] Jessica Clark: So I've got uh a senior this year, which is very bittersweet, and I've got one in first grade.
[10:11] Jessica Clark: So we kind of cover all the age ranges there.
[10:14] Jessica Clark: I um most of my time as a homemaker, I have worked outside of the home.
[10:19] Jessica Clark: I have been uh a special education teacher in the public schools.
[10:24] Jessica Clark: I also spent about 10 years working in ministry on staff at a church.
[10:29] Jessica Clark: And then last year kind of took a step away from those things, and my family moved from South Texas to um southwest Missouri, where we have a five-acre homestead.
[10:40] Jessica Clark: We garden and raise our animals, and I now get to be home, homeschooling my kids and running a business.
[10:46] Jessica Clark: So I have uh the Lark Life is a business that I've started.
[10:49] Jessica Clark: I also write quilt patterns, design those things, and uh get to teach and share all over.
[10:57] Allison: You guys have a lot going on.
[10:59] Jessica Clark: We do.
[10:59] Jessica Clark: We do podcasts.
[11:02] Jessica Clark: Oh, yeah, the podcast I didn't.
[11:04] Jessica Clark: No.
[11:04] Jessica Clark: So then my husband and I, he also he helps smooth all the things.
[11:07] Jessica Clark: So we do a podcast together, Handmade Happiness, where we talk about uh family life, intentional living, like just slowing down and living life on purpose, uh, what that looks like for our family here.
[11:19] Allison: I love you guys.
[11:20] Allison: I love your podcast.
[11:21] Allison: I love listening to you guys back and forth.
[11:23] Allison: And it's just it's fun to he makes funny.
[11:27] Allison: It's funny, he gets funny.
[11:28] Allison: It's fun to hear that um husband and wife dynamic uh on the mic like that.
[11:32] Allison: And and you guys just share so honestly what what it's like to live on your homestead and do all the things that you do.
[11:39] Allison: So I definitely recommend that listeners go check that out.
[11:43] Allison: Um, okay, so I know we'll talk more about your homestead journey and all of that um as we go through your story here.
[11:49] Allison: So let's go back to the very beginning and tell me when did you first become a homemaker and did you bring any skills to the job?
[11:57] Jessica Clark: Yeah, so my husband and I got married in February of 2005.
[12:03] Jessica Clark: Um the I cannot believe it's been 21 years already.
[12:07] Jessica Clark: It's so crazy.
[12:08] Jessica Clark: Um, and uh I am very fortunate.
[12:12] Jessica Clark: My mother was a is a phenomenal homemaker.
[12:16] Jessica Clark: And so I came into our marriage um with lots of skills.
[12:21] Jessica Clark: Um my mom was always very organized uh and taught me how to keep an organized and clean house, how to keep up with family finances.
[12:30] Jessica Clark: Uh, she was an excellent cook, so I came in with with those skills as well.
[12:35] Jessica Clark: Um through all through college, I was the one that would gather all the friend group and prepare meals and we would sit down and eat together.
[12:42] Jessica Clark: So I brought all of those things into our marriage, uh, which was phenomenal.
[12:48] Allison: Yeah, that is a great legacy to have inherited.
[12:51] Allison: Um, and it's more and more rare, actually, when I hear when I get these stories, it's more rare that they had it had it modeled to them and that they were taught.
[13:00] Allison: Sometimes it's because they just it was there, but they were not um interested in learning.
[13:05] Allison: Right.
[13:06] Allison: So good for you for actually taking it all in from your mom, who was this great homemaker.
[13:13] Allison: Um, okay, let's talk about strengths and weaknesses.
[13:15] Allison: What would you say is your biggest homemaking strength?
[13:19] Jessica Clark: Um, I would definitely say it has to be hospitality.
[13:22] Jessica Clark: I love um bringing people into my home.
[13:26] Jessica Clark: We always have our doors open for people to come in.
[13:29] Jessica Clark: And I love feeding people.
[13:31] Jessica Clark: I love making good, delicious things and feeding people.
[13:33] Jessica Clark: So just having a space that is safe and comfortable and welcoming for people to come into and just rest.
[13:40] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[13:42] unknown: Yeah.
[13:42] Jessica Clark: Do you guys have acreage out where you are?
[13:44] Jessica Clark: Did you say?
[13:44] Jessica Clark: We do, yeah.
[13:45] Jessica Clark: So we're on five acres.
[13:46] Jessica Clark: Five.
[13:47] Jessica Clark: Okay.
[13:47] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[13:48] Jessica Clark: It's the biggest.
[13:48] Jessica Clark: We've always we've always lived in the suburbs in a little subdivision with neighbors.
[13:53] Jessica Clark: This is the first time we've lived a little further out and have the space, and it's wonderful.
[13:59] Allison: So you're a little more, you're a little more out in the country where you are now.
[14:03] Allison: Okay.
[14:04] Allison: Which I'm sure for some that might, I just I'm thinking about that as a draw for hospitality because not everybody has access to, you know, sort of that country environment and to be able to invite people over to that.
[14:15] Jessica Clark: It is.
[14:15] Jessica Clark: And people come over and get to walk around the garden and get to walk around and see the animals and just sit out on the back deck and watch the wild deer and the wild turkeys go by.
[14:26] Jessica Clark: And um, it's dreamy.
[14:28] Jessica Clark: It's really nice to be able to be in this space and be able to have people come and enjoy it with us.
[14:34] Allison: Uh-huh.
[14:34] Allison: That's so cool.
[14:35] Allison: Um, okay, so that's a strength of yours.
[14:38] Allison: What would you say is a weakness?
[14:42] Jessica Clark: So I am very, very task-oriented.
[14:46] Jessica Clark: I have a lot on my plate.
[14:48] Jessica Clark: Um, very busy person.
[14:49] Jessica Clark: I like to be busy and I like to work, but the downside of that is sometimes I can be so focused on the things that I'm doing that I forget to notice the people around me, whether it be my family or, you know, people that know me when I'm in the store and they'll say, Oh, I saw you the other day and I tried to stop you, but you didn't see me.
[15:09] Jessica Clark: You just kept on going.
[15:10] Jessica Clark: I get so focused on the, and I'm like, I am so sorry.
[15:14] Jessica Clark: I was not trying to be rude or avoid you.
[15:16] Jessica Clark: I literally just was focused and trying to get out.
[15:19] Jessica Clark: You were dialed in.
[15:20] Jessica Clark: Oh, yeah.
[15:21] Jessica Clark: And so I have to remind my, I mean, I'll be in the middle of something and my kids come up and start talking to me.
[15:26] Jessica Clark: And I will have to purposefully tell myself, press pause.
[15:32] Jessica Clark: This is more important, listen to what they're saying.
[15:35] Jessica Clark: Um, but I mean, I have moments all the time where I catch myself and I'm like, oh, I should have stopped and given my attention to this instead of my task that I was doing.
[15:45] Allison: Yes, I can totally relate to that.
[15:48] Allison: Um, who or what would you say has had a big influence on your homemaking?
[15:53] Jessica Clark: So for sure, my mom.
[15:54] Jessica Clark: I mentioned her a little bit already.
[15:56] Jessica Clark: Um, she's just a phenomenal human being.
[16:00] Jessica Clark: Um, so loving, so kind, so generous, uh, was always going above and beyond.
[16:06] Jessica Clark: I mean, I can't even count how many times she was up till all hours of the night, um, sewing costumes that I needed for school or, you know, making making things and helping us with the projects and things that we needed.
[16:18] Jessica Clark: Uh, she taught me so much about home and and how to make a space where people can come and feel uh welcome and encouraged.
[16:26] Jessica Clark: And then her mom, my nana, my nana also taught me so much.
[16:32] Jessica Clark: Um she was the same way and where she had a strength that I kind of lack that I'm trying to learn.
[16:39] Jessica Clark: She always had a house that was clean and tidy, always had food for people to eat.
[16:45] Jessica Clark: And when people showed up at the door, she was always willing to just sit down and talk and catch up on where you were and not, it didn't matter what she had going on that day.
[16:54] Jessica Clark: She was gonna stop and give you her time and attention.
[16:58] Allison: That's such a good skill.
[16:59] Allison: And yeah.
[17:00] Allison: So I think in our modern culture, it's very hard to cultivate.
[17:05] Allison: Yes, yeah.
[17:07] Allison: All right.
[17:08] Allison: Let me talk about expectations with you.
[17:11] Allison: I love to hear about this subject.
[17:13] Allison: What were you surprised by in homemaking?
[17:17] Allison: Just something either good or bad or both that you did not expect.
[17:21] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[17:22] Jessica Clark: So when we first got married, I was teaching, and my husband actually, when we got married, he transitioned into his job as a police officer.
[17:32] Jessica Clark: And his schedule was all over the place.
[17:34] Jessica Clark: And so I had these ideas going into our marriage of us coming home from work, making dinner together, and sitting at the table and enjoying these meals.
[17:43] Jessica Clark: And his schedule did not allow for that.
[17:45] Jessica Clark: He worked at night for a long time.
[17:49] Jessica Clark: And so I kind of had to get over some of those things.
[17:53] Jessica Clark: Our first Thanksgiving, our first Christmas, we were not together because he was working and I was home.
[17:59] Jessica Clark: Um, and so just kind of learning to be flexible about some of those things, that we could still have this wonderful relationship and have quality time.
[18:09] Jessica Clark: We could eat together, we could celebrate the moments and do the things, but maybe just not on the time frame that I originally had anticipated.
[18:17] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[18:18] Jessica Clark: Um, and that was hard at at first, but again, I just having to embrace that and recognize that it was okay and just be flexible and move on.
[18:29] Allison: So yeah.
[18:31] Allison: Yeah.
[18:32] Allison: So what's something that over the years an expectation that you have had to let go of?
[18:40] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[18:40] Jessica Clark: So again, my mom always had our house beautiful.
[18:46] Jessica Clark: I mean, it was always so tidy and clean.
[18:49] Jessica Clark: Um and I remember my girls when they were little.
[18:53] Jessica Clark: I always had the house so nice.
[18:55] Jessica Clark: And when my first two uh were born, um, I had a three-year-old daughter and a newborn daughter.
[19:02] Jessica Clark: And then as they grew, so I had toddlers and things all at the same time.
[19:06] Jessica Clark: And I was still trying to keep the house the way it had been before there had been two little people crawling around the house.
[19:15] Jessica Clark: And one day I I remember going around, um, and I was literally following the girls around, picking up behind them as they were playing.
[19:25] Jessica Clark: And the Holy Spirit stopped me and was like, Hey, do you want them to remember a mom who is more worried about the house being clean, or do you want them to remember a mom who sat down and had fun and laughed and played with them?
[19:37] Jessica Clark: And I was like, ouch.
[19:39] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[19:40] Jessica Clark: So I I at that that day, that was it.
[19:44] Jessica Clark: I would let go of this need to have everything in a place and have everything clean.
[19:50] Jessica Clark: And instead of the cleanliness of my house being the most important thing, the environment, the memories, the moments that we made together, just having fun and building relationships took priority over that.
[20:03] Jessica Clark: Um, and so, but that was definitely something that I had to be checked on and I had to let go of.
[20:09] Jessica Clark: And so again, I we do the best.
[20:11] Jessica Clark: Now there's four of them, and um, it there's always a mess.
[20:16] Jessica Clark: We're home all day sharing the same space.
[20:18] Jessica Clark: And so it feels like we can clean and clean and clean, and it's still there's things out of place.
[20:25] Jessica Clark: Um, and I've just had to come to the place where I'm okay with that.
[20:30] Allison: Yes, yes.
[20:31] Allison: I think that's a huge um part of homeschooling that that is maybe not talked about enough um is the fact that you you're living full time in your space 24-7.
[20:44] Allison: Yes.
[20:45] Allison: All of you.
[20:45] Allison: Yes.
[20:46] Allison: And that's a lot.
[20:48] Allison: I mean that is a lot.
[20:49] Allison: That's a lot of life happening.
[20:51] Jessica Clark: It's a lot of wear and tear on the space.
[20:54] Jessica Clark: Exactly.
[20:55] Allison: Um, and you know, if you if everybody leaves during the day for work or school or whatever, you can tidy in the morning and then it will stay tidy, you know, all day long.
[21:04] Allison: Um, and then you tidy before you go to bed or whatever.
[21:08] Allison: But it it's like you said, you can clean and clean and clean and constantly be picking up, but because you're always there all the time, living life, it's never going to just be perfectly tidy and stay that way for very long at all.
[21:21] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[21:22] unknown: Yeah.
[21:22] Jessica Clark: So and so I I had to let go of that.
[21:25] Jessica Clark: And honestly, it's been okay.
[21:27] unknown: Yes.
[21:27] Jessica Clark: Um, because my kids are happy you know, they know it's okay that they can get their things out and they can play and have fun, and it'll be all right.
[21:36] Jessica Clark: They don't have this crazy mom over their shoulder, like breathing down their neck for them to pick it all up.
[21:43] Allison: Yeah, yeah, that's a good realization to have.
[21:46] Allison: So, um, okay, we're on the subject of kids.
[21:49] Allison: So let's talk a little bit more about parenting.
[21:51] Allison: And how did the addition of your children challenge and enrich your homemaking?
[21:57] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[21:57] Jessica Clark: So my husband and I always talk about how when we got married, we realized that we had been selfish people before.
[22:06] Jessica Clark: Um, because before you're married, it's all about, you know, what you want to watch, what you want to eat, what you want to do.
[22:12] Jessica Clark: And now you get married and that there's two people.
[22:15] Jessica Clark: But when it was just him and I, you get used to that give and take and putting the other person's preferences first.
[22:22] Jessica Clark: And yeah, so that works.
[22:24] Jessica Clark: And then the kids come along and there's this whole nother level.
[22:29] Jessica Clark: Um, because they just need things all the time, right?
[22:34] Jessica Clark: And and they're not necessarily putting your preferences first.
[22:37] Jessica Clark: Um, so they're not having to basically die to the things that I want.
[22:44] Jessica Clark: And that the most important thing isn't, you know, what I want to watch, what I want to eat, what I want to do, um, but it's what can I do to to serve my family.
[22:55] Jessica Clark: And so that's been kind of the biggest challenge and learning curve, but also has been the the best.
[23:03] Jessica Clark: Um, because it it it stretches you and grows you uh so much.
[23:10] Allison: Yeah.
[23:10] Allison: It helps you learn really what it means to live like Christ, you know, the way that He calls us to live.
[23:19] Jessica Clark: Right.
[23:19] Jessica Clark: That you're loving them over yourself.
[23:23] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[23:24] Jessica Clark: We get to practice that.
[23:25] Jessica Clark: Which is very countercultural, right?
[23:28] Jessica Clark: It's not what we hear everybody talking about all the time, but um, it is a way to to practice those things.
[23:35] Allison: Yeah.
[23:35] Allison: So how do you encourage the kids?
[23:37] Allison: Because it's not all about just pouring yourself out in service and letting them, you know, do whatever they want.
[23:43] Allison: We are we are also going to model to them how to serve because one day they're gonna be the mom or the dad and they're gonna be the ones pouring into their family.
[23:52] Jessica Clark: So yeah, we want to teach them.
[23:54] Jessica Clark: So how do you guys do that?
[23:55] Jessica Clark: Absolutely.
[23:56] Jessica Clark: So our kids have always had chores to do, and it's looked different in different seasons, different ages.
[24:03] Jessica Clark: Um, you know, they started very simple when they were younger, but I started my girls when they were toddlers.
[24:09] Jessica Clark: If they could walk and pick up things, we were gonna pick up things.
[24:13] Jessica Clark: Um, now, with the ages that they are, they all have learned how to do their own laundry.
[24:21] Jessica Clark: The six-year-old still gets help, but the others they can do laundry.
[24:25] Jessica Clark: They all know how to sweep and mop the floors, they all are responsible for dishes certain days of the week.
[24:32] Jessica Clark: Um, they know how to wash bedding and remake their bed, you know, all of the things that it takes to kind of run our house and keep our house going.
[24:42] Jessica Clark: They are responsible for those things at different times.
[24:45] Jessica Clark: And um the thing that we hear a lot, and we have this, we've had this conversation with all of our kids.
[24:52] Jessica Clark: Uh, I'll ask them to go do something or clean something, and oh, but that's not my mess.
[24:57] Jessica Clark: I didn't do that.
[24:58] Jessica Clark: Somebody else did that.
[25:00] Jessica Clark: And I'm like, Oh yeah, yeah, that's my whole life every single day.
[25:03] Jessica Clark: Like all of these things I'm doing, it's for you guys.
[25:06] Jessica Clark: And so, yes, I understand that that wasn't you didn't directly cause that, but we work together in our family and we help each other out.
[25:14] Jessica Clark: And this is how you can help our family right now.
[25:17] Jessica Clark: Um, they also all learn to cook, they all get to be with me in the kitchen.
[25:22] Jessica Clark: Um, and that again started when they were very young.
[25:26] Jessica Clark: When it seems like when they're young toddlers, early elementary age, they are super excited to just be in the kitchen doing all the things with you.
[25:35] Allison: Yes.
[25:36] Jessica Clark: Um, and so I made a point to include them all when they were young.
[25:40] Jessica Clark: And now as they've grown, they just continue to be in the kitchen.
[25:45] Jessica Clark: They, my 11-year-old son, he's an amazing cook.
[25:48] Jessica Clark: So he has made us some fabulous dinners completely from scratch.
[25:53] Jessica Clark: Um, my daughters, my 14 and 17-year-old, they they bake and they cook meals for us from time to time.
[25:59] Jessica Clark: And so just inviting them into those things, um, which again, sometimes that means it takes longer, it's gonna be messier.
[26:09] Jessica Clark: Um, it's I could do it faster and neater, but it's more important that they know how to do those things.
[26:15] Jessica Clark: And I've told them all one day you're gonna have your own house and I'm gonna come to visit you and I want it to smell nice and be clean, and I want to be able to eat delicious food when I come sit at your table.
[26:25] Jessica Clark: And so teaching them all of those things so that they have the skills that they need when they have their own homes.
[26:31] Allison: Absolutely, definitely.
[26:33] Allison: So, what are some practical steps that you take um to set and keep priorities?
[26:39] Allison: Because you have a busy household, you're running a business, you're doing a lot, you're educating the kids at home.
[26:45] Allison: Um, you got a lot going on.
[26:47] Allison: So, what are some things you guys do as a family and then maybe you individually?
[26:51] Jessica Clark: Yeah, and this last year especially has been a challenge with this.
[26:55] Jessica Clark: Um, and so I literally have had to intentionally set a time that says, okay, this, it doesn't matter what else still needs to be done, because let's be honest, there's always gonna be more work that needs to be done.
[27:11] Jessica Clark: Um, it doesn't matter what's still left on the to-do list.
[27:14] Jessica Clark: Um, at this time, I'm gonna stop so that I have time to go on a walk outside or read or sit and drink a cup of hot tea.
[27:23] Jessica Clark: Like, and if I don't intentionally basically set that time for that and put the other things aside, it doesn't happen.
[27:33] Jessica Clark: Um, so for me, I've just had to set that time and then realize it's okay.
[27:39] Jessica Clark: And I don't have to feel guilty about taking that time to go on the walk or to sit and drink the tea and read.
[27:44] Jessica Clark: I can do those things because that's the time that I have for that.
[27:50] Allison: It sounds like you're more inclined.
[27:52] Allison: Well, and you already said you are a task-oriented person and you can, you know, kind of lose sight of the people.
[27:57] Allison: And but in answering that question, it sounds like you have the most trouble keeping the priority of like rest and you know, stopping the work and doing the other things is more of an issue for you.
[28:11] Jessica Clark: It seems like it was easier when when I did work away from home and when the kids were younger and bedtime looked a little bit different, you would have that earlier bedtime and then you would have that few minutes to tidy, that quick tidy in the evening, and then it was like, okay, we're done for the day.
[28:28] Allison: Yes.
[28:28] Jessica Clark: Um, running your own business from home, there's always more to do.
[28:32] Jessica Clark: So, in addition to the house stuff, there's all the business stuff that happens.
[28:37] Jessica Clark: And so I just have to tell myself, you know, this can wait till tomorrow.
[28:41] Jessica Clark: And yes, the kids might still be up, but I'm I'm done with these jobs for the day, and it's time to sit and rest, to sit and play a game with them, to do something, you know, um, where we're making memories together and not just working.
[28:57] Allison: Mm-hmm.
[28:57] Allison: Yeah.
[28:58] Allison: How do your how do you and your husband sort of coordinate with one another um on a regular basis?
[29:03] Allison: Do you guys do a shared calendar or something like that?
[29:06] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[29:06] Jessica Clark: So we, especially as our girls have gotten older.
[29:09] Jessica Clark: So my my two older ones, their schedules are crazy now too.
[29:14] Jessica Clark: Um, so we have a family calendar, everybody kind of knows the big things that are going on, and then we can kind of talk through those things and plan through the week.
[29:23] Jessica Clark: And he's really good about checking in with me in the mornings and in the evenings, just like, hey, what can I do for you today?
[29:30] Jessica Clark: Or what can I do for you tomorrow?
[29:31] Jessica Clark: What do you need help with?
[29:33] Jessica Clark: Um, so that I have that time to be able to just rest.
[29:39] Allison: Yeah, yeah, for sure.
[29:41] Allison: So, how do you maintain a healthy relationship with media, social media?
[29:47] Allison: But I like to just lump everything together here.
[29:49] Allison: Um, your phone technology and just kind of media in general.
[29:56] Jessica Clark: So um my kids don't have any of that stuff.
[30:00] Jessica Clark: Okay.
[30:01] Jessica Clark: And I mostly just use mine for business.
[30:04] Jessica Clark: So I have like an allotted time that I'm using those things.
[30:08] Jessica Clark: I am I've never really been one to spend a lot of time on my phone.
[30:13] Jessica Clark: Um, in fact, my husband jokes sometimes because I don't always have it on me and I don't always answer when he calls.
[30:19] Jessica Clark: And he's like, why am I paying for this if I can't get a hold of you when I'm looking for you?
[30:24] Jessica Clark: Um so for me, it's not I and I I don't know.
[30:28] Jessica Clark: I'm not one to just sit and scroll because I would rather be outside in the garden or doing something else.
[30:34] Jessica Clark: Um, so that hasn't been a huge challenge for me.
[30:39] Jessica Clark: I I I again I set that time when I'm working during certain working hours where I'm scheduling posts out in advance so that I'm not having to do it on the fly.
[30:50] Jessica Clark: And I check in, you know, maybe once a day quickly to just see if there's new things to respond to, but um not really on my phone a lot.
[30:59] Jessica Clark: And then helping our our older two, they now have a phone, but they don't have any of the apps and things that kind of suck you in and kind of trying to lead by an example and showing them how to use those things responsibly so that they don't end up in that place.
[31:19] Allison: Definitely.
[31:21] Allison: Um, okay, let's talk about temptations and challenges for a minute.
[31:25] Allison: Okay.
[31:25] Allison: So which of these temptations have you struggled with the most and what is God teaching you through that?
[31:32] Allison: A, comparison to other women homemakers, B, I'm just a homemaker, I'm not getting paid.
[31:39] Allison: This is not a real job, or C, superwoman trying to do all the things.
[31:43] Jessica Clark: I bet you can't guess.
[31:45] Jessica Clark: Um, so definitely the superwoman thing.
[31:50] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[31:51] Jessica Clark: And uh my husband does a really good job of keeping me in check with this, and he will he knows.
[31:58] Jessica Clark: And so he'll just, he'll tell me, he'll even use that word.
[32:00] Jessica Clark: He'll say, You don't have to be superwoman.
[32:03] Jessica Clark: You don't have to do it all.
[32:04] Jessica Clark: Like, tell me what, tell me what we need to do.
[32:06] Jessica Clark: He's like, We have four kids, tell me what the kids can help us with.
[32:09] Jessica Clark: What can I help you with?
[32:11] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[32:11] Jessica Clark: Um, so that helps keep me in check because that is definitely I I would just do it all myself.
[32:19] Allison: Yeah.
[32:20] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[32:20] Jessica Clark: Um, because sometimes, for whatever reason, in our brain, we tell ourselves that's just faster and easier, but it's not really good for anybody.
[32:29] Allison: No, it's not.
[32:30] Allison: No, it's not.
[32:31] Allison: What a gift that you have your husband uh there to keep you in check and and be very practical about it.
[32:36] Allison: I love that.
[32:36] Allison: Um, okay, so I always ask this question about special challenges because it runs the gamut with with guests.
[32:44] Allison: They face all kinds of different challenges, and you never know who's listening that might this might resonate with.
[32:49] Allison: So, is there a special challenge that you have faced in your homemaking journey that you would like to share with us?
[32:57] Allison: And I would love to hear how did you work through it and what could what did God teach you?
[33:01] Jessica Clark: Yeah, so for me in particular, uh, when our daughters were born, when my first daughter was born, I had such a desire to be able to be home with her.
[33:13] Jessica Clark: Um, but I was working and we needed the income that I had to make the bills and to be able to do all the things.
[33:20] Jessica Clark: So in that season, I wasn't able to be home.
[33:24] Jessica Clark: And when our second was born, we looked at all of the numbers, we looked at the things, and we figured out by the time we paid for the daycare and some of the other things, all the expenses associated with me working outside of the home.
[33:39] Jessica Clark: Um, I was able to do some tutoring in the evenings and do some other things from home that enabled me to be home with them.
[33:47] Jessica Clark: So when my second born was born, I was able to come home for a couple of years.
[33:53] Jessica Clark: And I, it was just um such a sweet and beautiful time that we had together while they were so young.
[34:00] Jessica Clark: And then um God kind of called me to step back out into the position when I took the job working for the church.
[34:11] Jessica Clark: And that was a full-time, it was a large church, it was a full-time 40 hours a week.
[34:18] Jessica Clark: Girls had to be in daycare and in school, and we had our two sons while we were there too.
[34:23] Jessica Clark: Um so again, in that season, it was wonderful and beautiful, but there were times when I just wanted to be home with my family.
[34:33] Jessica Clark: Um, and so now this last year, being able to come home, um starting the business, doing the things from home, I have been busier and worked harder than I've ever worked in my entire life.
[34:47] Jessica Clark: Um, because again, we still need some income from me.
[34:51] Jessica Clark: My husband's income doesn't cover all of the things.
[34:54] Jessica Clark: Um, but despite all of that, it has been so worth it to be able to be home with them, to have the time.
[35:02] Jessica Clark: Um, it was one of those things that had been in my heart for so long.
[35:05] Jessica Clark: And I kept thinking like, well, one day, one day.
[35:10] Allison: Yeah.
[35:11] Jessica Clark: And kept praying.
[35:12] Jessica Clark: And then again, my daughter now she's a senior.
[35:15] Jessica Clark: And so realizing I'm almost out of days to to have with her.
[35:20] Jessica Clark: And so I've been so thankful for the opportunity to be able to be be at home with them.
[35:26] Jessica Clark: But again, it has not been this has probably been the hardest year ever.
[35:32] Allison: Um well, you guys moved last year, right?
[35:36] Allison: You moved to from South Texas to uh Missouri, correct?
[35:41] Allison: Is it Missouri?
[35:42] Jessica Clark: Yeah, yeah.
[35:43] Allison: And and moved it to this five-acre homestead.
[35:45] Allison: And that's a lot of change in one year.
[35:47] Allison: So let me a lot.
[35:48] Allison: Let me get the timeline right.
[35:49] Allison: Were you still working at the the church when you made that move?
[35:53] Allison: Like, did you leave that job?
[35:54] Allison: And then this so this is a lot of newness.
[35:56] Jessica Clark: It was a lot of new.
[35:57] Jessica Clark: And again, struggling with this question of my husband and I had talked about it.
[36:03] Jessica Clark: I mean, this was like three years before the move.
[36:06] Jessica Clark: We're already like, okay, we're feeling like God is transitioning us, that things are changing, that the time is coming for us to make this shift.
[36:15] Jessica Clark: Watching my daughter enter high school and knowing that kind of days were numbered and time was limited.
[36:20] Jessica Clark: And yeah.
[36:21] Jessica Clark: So trying to even figure out like, is it okay for me to leave this ministry job where I'm I'm doing great, my family's thriving, I'm able to help so many people, but my heart is to be home with my own family, my own kids while they're there.
[36:38] Jessica Clark: Um, and so it was a lot.
[36:41] Jessica Clark: So again, we left um that church that we had been connected to.
[36:46] Jessica Clark: Um, we had family there, my parents, my my brother and his family, his kids.
[36:52] Jessica Clark: Um, we moved to a place where we knew nobody.
[36:56] Jessica Clark: Okay, why?
[36:58] Jessica Clark: Why why did you do that?
[37:00] Jessica Clark: Because we my husband and I had sat down and we talked through if if we could live anywhere, if we could do this and do and it would look like whatever we wanted it to look like, where where would we go?
[37:14] Jessica Clark: What kind of things would be important to us?
[37:16] Jessica Clark: And here where we landed, it checked all of the boxes and we came for a visit and we prayed and we were like, Lord, if this is what you're telling, like this is crazy, what we're doing is crazy.
[37:28] Jessica Clark: Um, but if this is where you're leading us, like just give us a piece, let it feel like home when we go there.
[37:34] Jessica Clark: And we came for a visit and he made it feel like home.
[37:39] Jessica Clark: We wanted, we were so excited to come back.
[37:42] Jessica Clark: And then we brought the kids and they were equally excited.
[37:46] Jessica Clark: And, you know, he led us to find this house and this property.
[37:49] Jessica Clark: And um, so all of the things just kind of fell into place, and we knew this is where he was leading us to.
[37:57] Jessica Clark: And again, I think so many times we think because God is in the middle of it, that it's gonna be easy.
[38:05] Jessica Clark: But that has not been the case.
[38:08] Jessica Clark: It's been really, really hard.
[38:10] Jessica Clark: Um, because we're building community from scratch and we're we're trying to make all those new connections and and doing a lot of things.
[38:19] Jessica Clark: And but in the middle of the hard, seeing his goodness and his faithfulness and just the reminders that we are exactly where we're supposed to be has been so good.
[38:31] Jessica Clark: And then again, watching the kids when you think about moving teenagers from a place that they've been for 10 years and they're have their friends established and all of the things, and for them even to be excited to come and then to thrive in the year that we've been here, yeah, it's just been phenomenal.
[38:52] Allison: So that's a that is amazing.
[38:54] Allison: Hard.
[38:54] Allison: Did you?
[38:57] Allison: I mean, it sounds like the kids were on board, and it is crazy.
[39:01] Allison: Like when you say it out loud, it's like crazy, we're gonna leave everything and go to this new place.
[39:05] Jessica Clark: Um and I can't tell you how many times this year I looked at my husband and I was like, did we do the wrong thing?
[39:11] Jessica Clark: Like this is crazy.
[39:13] Jessica Clark: Um, because there, and again, there's hard moments and there's times where you're questioning like, was that the right choice to make?
[39:22] Jessica Clark: But um in the middle of all of that, we have seen God's favor and his goodness, and yeah, um again, watching the family thriving.
[39:34] Allison: Okay.
[39:34] Allison: Did you get pushback from other like friends or family members that you left behind, or was it they were pretty supportive?
[39:42] Allison: Um there was there was a little bit of pushback, like, uh, are you sure?
[39:47] Jessica Clark: What are you doing?
[39:48] Jessica Clark: What uh this is crazy.
[39:49] Jessica Clark: Um I mean, that would be my reaction as a as a mom, a grandma, you know, like what it was, you know, the questions of are you just tired?
[39:58] Jessica Clark: Are you burnt out?
[39:59] Jessica Clark: Like, is this really what's happening?
[40:00] Jessica Clark: You know, what's what's going on?
[40:02] Jessica Clark: Um, but the closer we got to it, and then now that we've been here for the year and people have been able to see kind of God working and all of the things, um ever I think everybody understands now.
[40:17] Jessica Clark: Yeah, it's still hard because you know, we're not close to family like we were.
[40:21] Jessica Clark: So we're having to to travel and we're not getting to see them as often.
[40:25] Jessica Clark: So that's been a hard thing.
[40:27] Jessica Clark: That's been part of something that we had to sacrifice when we made the choice to come here.
[40:31] Allison: But yeah, yeah, yeah.
[40:33] Allison: I know, I know.
[40:34] Allison: We we we did that in our in our lifetime too.
[40:37] Allison: And that that was that was hard.
[40:39] Allison: Um, but there's been there's things that that come along with, you know, you move away from your family and you do sacrifice that sort of growing up down the street from grandma um, you know, environment, but you get other things in return um when the Lord leads you to those places.
[40:56] Allison: And and I'm sure we could talk about that for a long time.
[40:59] Allison: Um But your kids, when they so did you say you're homeschooling right now?
[41:04] Allison: Is that what you said?
[41:05] Jessica Clark: Yes.
[41:05] Jessica Clark: Okay, so we are that was that was another change.
[41:07] Jessica Clark: But that was another change.
[41:08] Jessica Clark: And so again, we had talked to the kids about all of these things.
[41:11] Jessica Clark: My husband and I, we were like, if we're gonna do this, this is a family thing.
[41:15] Jessica Clark: This affects everybody, not just us.
[41:17] Jessica Clark: So we talked to them about what we were thinking about, what we were praying about.
[41:21] Jessica Clark: They got to come on the trip and kind of they looked for houses with us so that they could pick the new place where we were gonna live.
[41:27] Jessica Clark: And um, we had talked about homeschooling that brief little season when I was home when my girls were young.
[41:34] Jessica Clark: I started homeschooling my my uh firstborn.
[41:39] Jessica Clark: And so she already knew what that was all about.
[41:43] Jessica Clark: She was very sad when we went back to work and I wasn't able to homeschool her.
[41:47] Jessica Clark: So they were all really looking forward to to that.
[41:51] Jessica Clark: And again, it was a big transition.
[41:53] Jessica Clark: There was a lot of change, there was a lot of growing pains last year.
[41:56] Jessica Clark: Um, but they were all excited about it.
[42:00] Jessica Clark: And then again, coming, coming into it with some pretty strong reasons why we had made those decisions and kind of keeping those whys at the forefront of what we were doing helped kind of guide us through all of those growing pains last year.
[42:17] Allison: Yeah.
[42:17] Allison: I as you're talking, and I'm thinking about um an episode of your podcast I had listened to a little while back when you were giving it like a garden update and talking about how the garden this year is so different, like it had just exploded with growth, and you have so much stuff um compared to your first year when you guys were there, and I can just see a parallel there with your family.
[42:42] Jessica Clark: Oh, yeah.
[42:42] Jessica Clark: And it it is it's been wild.
[42:45] Jessica Clark: Um just thinking about where we were a year ago and where we are today, it is just unbelievable.
[42:53] Allison: Yeah.
[42:54] Allison: That's so cool.
[42:55] Allison: That's uh what a great testimony to God's faithfulness and something that could be really scary.
[43:00] Allison: Um, but you guys took the leap and you've seen lots of fruits.
[43:04] Jessica Clark: We're still like walking through it.
[43:05] Jessica Clark: It still has its scary moments fresh, yeah.
[43:07] Jessica Clark: But again, kind of holding on to those moments where you do see his hand in his favor and his goodness and being like, okay, we're gonna just keep going because we know he's here.
[43:19] Allison: Yeah, that's awesome.
[43:20] Allison: Okay, let's talk about hospitality for a minute.
[43:22] Allison: So, what's a practical way that you like to show hospitality through your homemaking?
[43:27] Jessica Clark: Yeah, so um, especially this year, it has been so fun to be able to walk over to my neighbors' houses with baskets of produce from our garden to be able to share those things, to have friends come over and just let them pick from whatever's ready out of the garden.
[43:43] Jessica Clark: And then we also like to bake.
[43:45] Jessica Clark: We do a ton of baking at our house, so sharing baked goods with neighbors and friends.
[43:51] Jessica Clark: And then we love having people come over and just be at our house.
[43:57] Jessica Clark: Um, I we love to feed people, we love to just have again have that place where people can come, we can have a game night or just sit on the back deck and visit.
[44:06] Jessica Clark: And so um kind of just making time.
[44:11] Jessica Clark: In our previous season when we were on staff at the church, we had so many people that we wanted to be able to do that with, but the timing, the schedule just was so busy and it didn't really allow for it.
[44:24] Jessica Clark: And that was another one of those motivating reasons we were like, our heart is to invite people in, and we're not having time to do that.
[44:33] Jessica Clark: And so being here, now we had to start, we didn't know anybody.
[44:36] Jessica Clark: So it's like, okay, well, let's just start inviting people and building some community by by letting people in.
[44:44] Allison: Yes.
[44:45] Allison: And I love that you mentioned um at the top of that answer the baskets of produce and the baked goods to the neighbors, because I was just editing your article for Homemaker's Journal.
[44:57] Allison: This is exactly what you write about in um the latest issue of Homemaker's Journal.
[45:02] Allison: So I'll link that down in the description box so people can go check that out.
[45:06] Allison: But that hospitality is not just inviting people in, but it's it you can extend.
[45:11] Allison: It outward and and you you write about that in that article about doing it through delivering handmade things, whether it's garden produce or baked goods or whatever.
[45:20] Jessica Clark: And another story I just thought about.
[45:21] Jessica Clark: So we just had an event.
[45:23] Jessica Clark: Um, there was a a homestead expo locally about an hour from us.
[45:27] Jessica Clark: And so we went to set up and I, in addition to some of the quilting and things, I make um soaps and salves and aromatherapy pillows, things with herbs that we grow in the garden.
[45:39] Jessica Clark: And so I took these things to sell and share.
[45:42] Jessica Clark: And I had a lady come in my booth and she started during our conversation, it came up, she was just diagnosed with cancer and is going to have surgery in the next few weeks.
[45:55] Jessica Clark: And so I got to talk with her and encourage her and pray with her, but also I got to take these things that I had made that I knew would be healing and helpful for her.
[46:08] Jessica Clark: Um and she was like, Well, what do you recommend?
[46:11] Jessica Clark: Because this is my situation.
[46:12] Jessica Clark: And so I start, you know, pulling some things and then to be able to just hand it to her and be like, you know, this is my gift to you so that you know, you know, you're seen and you're not alone.
[46:23] Jessica Clark: And when you take these things and you're using them, just know that you're in our thoughts and prayers and um being able to do those kind of things.
[46:31] Jessica Clark: I that's I love making things so that I am able to turn around and give them to people like that.
[46:39] Allison: Yes.
[46:40] Allison: So what a great story.
[46:42] Allison: I love that.
[46:43] Allison: Okay, I have some rapid fire questions for you.
[46:45] Allison: You ready?
[46:46] Jessica Clark: Yes.
[46:47] Allison: All right, tell me about your biggest homemaking fail.
[46:50] Jessica Clark: Yeah, this one I knew exactly what I was gonna tell you.
[46:53] Jessica Clark: Okay.
[46:53] Jessica Clark: Um, the within the first few months that my husband and I had been married, I was looking for new recipe ideas and I found one in a magazine, and I made the recipe and pulled it out of the oven, and we sat down to eat.
[47:09] Jessica Clark: It was this um baked fish dish that had feta cheese and greens, and I mean it looked good in the picture.
[47:18] Jessica Clark: It sounded good in the recipe.
[47:20] Jessica Clark: I made this and I pulled it out, and it was the biggest, soupiest mess.
[47:25] Jessica Clark: It was so gross.
[47:26] Jessica Clark: And we both we took a first bite and we just looked at each other and we were like, we are not eating this.
[47:32] Jessica Clark: And he was like, it's not your fault, it's just, you know.
[47:36] Jessica Clark: So since then I've learned to pay a little more attention to recipes to kind of know if it's gonna be a good one that's gonna work out right or not.
[47:44] Jessica Clark: Sometimes you can tell just by looking through and like, I don't think this is gonna work out the way they are telling me it's gonna work out.
[47:51] Jessica Clark: Um, but that was, I think that's the one meal that I made that we threw away.
[47:59] Jessica Clark: We just did something else that night.
[48:00] Jessica Clark: And it's the one time that if this question ever gets asked, you know, people ask something about, well, have you ever made something?
[48:06] Jessica Clark: It's that's the one that we go back to every time.
[48:10] Allison: The soupy fish.
[48:11] Allison: Yeah.
[48:12] Allison: And you that raises a really great point.
[48:14] Allison: What you just said.
[48:15] Allison: I want to repeat that.
[48:16] Allison: Um, especially for the novice cooks out there who are listening, that not every recipe is trustworthy.
[48:23] Jessica Clark: Right.
[48:24] Jessica Clark: Especially in the age of AI now.
[48:27] Allison: Yes, yes.
[48:27] Allison: Just because it's printed in a magazine or on a website doesn't mean that it was tested.
[48:32] Allison: Um, it doesn't necessarily mean it could just be that it that they left out a step.
[48:37] Allison: Yeah.
[48:38] Allison: Or it could be that it's just not a very well-written recipe.
[48:41] Allison: So if it goes bad like that, it's not necessarily your it doesn't mean you're a bad cook.
[48:46] Jessica Clark: Exactly.
[48:47] Allison: You just need to try again.
[48:48] Allison: Exactly.
[48:49] Allison: And you learn over time through experience.
[48:51] Allison: Like you learn all of the things when you read a recipe, you can go, yeah, but I wouldn't do it that way because it's gonna be soupy.
[48:58] Allison: Maybe there was too much, you know, water from the greens released in the fish.
[49:01] Allison: Oh, for sure.
[49:02] Jessica Clark: And it was like the fish was too wet, the greens were too wet, the cheese was too wet, everything was adding everything moisture to the dish, and it was just bound to be messy and gross.
[49:11] Allison: And that's the kind of thing that you learn the more you cook, and you can spot that, and then you just save yourself the trouble and don't even make that recipe.
[49:18] Jessica Clark: So yeah.
[49:19] Allison: Good one, good one.
[49:20] Allison: Okay, tell me about a recent homemaking win.
[49:23] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[49:24] Jessica Clark: So um again, this year has been hard, but watching my kids thrive.
[49:31] Jessica Clark: So my 14-year-old, um, now that she's homeschooled, has more time for sewing.
[49:36] Jessica Clark: We had bought her a machine a few years ago, and she's watched me sew for years.
[49:40] Jessica Clark: Um, but she's really taken off with it.
[49:43] Jessica Clark: So just in this year, I mean, she's made quilts for herself, for her friends, she's made bags, she's making her own clothes.
[49:50] Jessica Clark: Um, she has just done phenomenally and watching her do that, she's baking for a local business.
[49:59] Jessica Clark: And they come back to me with such great compliments about how organized she is and how all the things she's making are so delicious.
[50:08] Jessica Clark: They're basically giving her free reign to be like, what do you want to make today?
[50:12] Jessica Clark: And she's trying out these new recipes and figuring out.
[50:15] Jessica Clark: Um, so watching her do well, my again, watching my 11-year-old son who's a new little cook in our house and seeing his confidence as he's doing these things, those have been huge wins for me and make me go, okay, this is worth the heart.
[50:31] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[50:32] Allison: Yes, yeah, that's so good.
[50:34] Allison: I love that.
[50:35] Allison: All right, tell me about a homemaking product or resource that you are loving right now.
[50:40] Jessica Clark: Yeah, there's so many.
[50:42] Jessica Clark: You can't do more than one.
[50:43] Jessica Clark: No, I I did write down just one because I was like, let me just um so last a year ago, my husband bought me a mock mill grain mill.
[50:55] Allison: Oh, nice.
[50:56] Jessica Clark: We do all fresh milk flour now, and that has been the biggest and best change in our kitchen.
[51:03] Jessica Clark: Um, my kids are learning to bake with the fresh milk flour now too.
[51:06] Jessica Clark: Just the flavor and the nutrition that you get out of that.
[51:09] Jessica Clark: And um it has been it's the hardest working tool in my kitchen.
[51:15] Jessica Clark: And I love it so much.
[51:16] Allison: Yeah.
[51:17] Allison: That's good to hear because they are an investment.
[51:19] Allison: So what's a good tip that you have?
[51:21] Allison: Maybe something you've learned in using it over the last year, you know, if maybe someone who's thinking about getting it or who just got one, what's a good tip for using it?
[51:30] Jessica Clark: Get to talk to people all the time about it.
[51:31] Jessica Clark: Um, because I'm such a like pro fresh milled flour now that we're doing flour evangelists.
[51:38] Jessica Clark: And a lot of people try it and they struggle with it because it doesn't work the same way that regular store-bought flour does.
[51:45] Jessica Clark: Um, so the biggest things that I've learned is just you have to give the flour time to hydrate.
[51:53] Jessica Clark: Okay.
[51:53] Jessica Clark: Um, so like when you mix your muffins or whatever it is, you need to let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes to let the flour really absorb the moisture because it has the brand, the whole, the hole on that grain is there.
[52:08] Jessica Clark: So it's got a lot of harder parts to that flour.
[52:11] Jessica Clark: So it takes a little bit more time for um it to absorb the moisture.
[52:15] Jessica Clark: And then also um trying to develop the gluten in bread to make your bread rise and have the nice crumb and everything that people look for takes a little bit more time.
[52:25] Jessica Clark: You have to knead the dough longer to make that happen.
[52:29] Jessica Clark: Um, but once you figure it out, it is superior in every way.
[52:36] Allison: Yeah.
[52:36] Allison: Yeah.
[52:37] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[52:38] Allison: That's cool.
[52:39] Allison: That's exciting.
[52:39] Allison: Okay, well, thanks for those tips.
[52:41] Allison: That's great.
[52:42] Allison: Um, all right, now I have a separate question about tips.
[52:44] Allison: A favorite homemaking hack or tip.
[52:47] Jessica Clark: Yes.
[52:48] Jessica Clark: So with our, we've always been busy, a busy family.
[52:52] Jessica Clark: So something I've done kind of from the beginning when we started having kids.
[52:56] Jessica Clark: I make a meal plan, um, at least with like a basic idea of what are we going to be eating on the days of this week.
[53:04] Jessica Clark: And that way, um, if something needs to be pulled out of the freezer to be defrosted or whatever, I have that on my radar.
[53:12] Jessica Clark: And when it comes time to prepare, I know if I need to put something in the crock pot in the morning or what my plan, you know, when four or five o'clock hits, I'm not panicking trying to figure out what is for dinner.
[53:24] Jessica Clark: Um, and then the other thing is because days don't always go as planned, I try to keep some ingredients for fast, quick, easy things so that if my original plan just isn't gonna work because we don't have time for it that night, we can throw together some quick bean burritos or you know, pizzas.
[53:44] Jessica Clark: We make pizza crust, and so we always have sauce and stuff on hand so that we can throw together something quick and easy um to feed everybody without having to go through the drive-thru or yes, you know.
[53:57] Allison: Yes, that's a great tip.
[53:58] Allison: Have a plan and then have a back, an easy backup.
[54:01] Allison: An easy backup, yeah.
[54:03] Allison: Because we all know those things happen and they do.
[54:05] Allison: They do.
[54:06] Allison: Do you make your pizza crust ahead of time and freeze them, or do you just make them oh okay?
[54:10] Jessica Clark: Yeah, I'm both both ways.
[54:11] Jessica Clark: I mean, we can put together the pizza crust in 10 or 15 minutes.
[54:15] Allison: So when you do that, when you freeze it, do you par bake it?
[54:17] Allison: Do you bake it a little bit?
[54:19] Allison: Or do you just freeze the dough?
[54:21] Jessica Clark: Yeah, so you can freeze the dough ball, but then you have to give it time to thaw out.
[54:26] Jessica Clark: So that doesn't always work.
[54:27] Jessica Clark: So that if you kind of flatten it so it's already in the shape of your crust, it thaws much more quickly.
[54:32] Jessica Clark: So you can basically put your toppings and cool.
[54:36] Allison: And then what's the best way to um wrap it or like put to put it in the freezer to prevent freezer burn?
[54:42] Allison: Do you wrap it with saran wrap or something?
[54:44] Jessica Clark: Yeah, you can just wrap it with plastic.
[54:45] Jessica Clark: If you're you can put parchment so that it doesn't stick and then but the plastic keeps it airtight.
[54:51] Allison: Okay.
[54:51] Allison: Good to know.
[54:52] Allison: Good to know.
[54:53] Allison: Yeah.
[54:53] Allison: All right, tell me about your signature dish.
[54:56] Jessica Clark: Yeah, I I had to think about this.
[54:58] Jessica Clark: I I was like, okay, what would other people say with signature dishes?
[55:02] Jessica Clark: So I I came up with two.
[55:04] Jessica Clark: I couldn't narrow it down to just the one.
[55:06] Jessica Clark: So if I were to ask like my family, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, um, they would talk about the yeast dinner rolls that I make.
[55:16] Jessica Clark: That I was taught this recipe by my nana uh that I mentioned earlier.
[55:21] Jessica Clark: When I was in middle school, she taught me how to make these yeast rolls.
[55:25] Jessica Clark: Uh, and you can use them for dinner rolls or you can turn them into sweet like cinnamon rolls or whatever.
[55:31] Jessica Clark: So that's kind of been a staple recipe my whole life, and really what got me into baking things from scratch.
[55:38] Allison: Nice.
[55:39] Jessica Clark: Um, so that's one.
[55:40] Jessica Clark: And anytime we have a family meal together, um, she always made those.
[55:45] Jessica Clark: And since she's passed, I'm the one who always makes them.
[55:49] Jessica Clark: And so people are sad if those don't make it on the table.
[55:52] Jessica Clark: Uh-huh.
[55:53] Jessica Clark: And then if I were to ask my husband and my kids, they would say chip soup, which is what we call our chicken tortilla soup.
[56:02] Jessica Clark: So it's chip soup.
[56:04] Jessica Clark: I like it.
[56:04] Jessica Clark: Um, it's inspired by Papacito's uh chicken tortilla soup.
[56:09] Jessica Clark: Um, it's got lots of fresh veggies.
[56:12] Jessica Clark: We put corn in squash and carrots, and then it's got the chicken.
[56:15] Jessica Clark: It's a great way for my kids to eat the vegetables.
[56:18] Jessica Clark: Get some veggies, yeah.
[56:19] Jessica Clark: Um, because it just tastes like the flavorful broth that you make the soup in.
[56:22] Jessica Clark: And then we fry um corn tortilla strips that they top the soup with.
[56:27] Jessica Clark: That's why they call it chip soup because it's got chips on top of it.
[56:31] Allison: Yeah, yeah.
[56:32] Jessica Clark: Yeah.
[56:32] Jessica Clark: But it's a chicken tortilla soup, and that's one of their favorites.
[56:35] Jessica Clark: And again, we make it a lot because it's a good way for them to get their veggies in a way that they don't mind.
[56:41] Allison: Yeah, I love chicken tortilla soup.
[56:42] Allison: Okay, are these are these secret recipes or can you share them?
[56:45] Allison: No, I'll share them for sure.
[56:47] Allison: Awesome.
[56:47] Allison: Yeah, awesome.
[56:48] Allison: Very good.
[56:49] Allison: I'm excited.
[56:49] Allison: I always love to get a good yeast in a roll recipe, those are always really handy to have.
[56:55] Allison: Okay, let's talk about the art of home.
[56:57] Allison: Yeah.
[56:58] Allison: How do you see homemaking as an art and where do you find beauty in it?
[57:03] Jessica Clark: So I love that as a homemaker, I get to express my own creativity and personality.
[57:12] Jessica Clark: And all of the things that I'm passionate about kind of come out in my homemaking, um, that I get to do things and make my favorite things to be able to share with my family and and friends.
[57:24] Jessica Clark: And so for me, that's the beauty and the art of it is that it's all my own, that it doesn't look like anybody else's necessarily.
[57:32] Jessica Clark: Um, that it's kind of got my stamp on it, and that I can um share the things that I love with the people that I love.
[57:43] Allison: So, what is something about homemaking that you are thankful for?
[57:49] Jessica Clark: I am super thankful.
[57:51] Jessica Clark: Um, I don't know if this exactly answers the question, but this is what I wrote down.
[57:56] Jessica Clark: Okay.
[57:57] Jessica Clark: Uh super thankful for my husband and all of his support.
[58:01] Jessica Clark: And like, I could not do what I do, and I could not be the homemaker that I am without him and all of the support that he gives.
[58:11] Jessica Clark: And not only are they learning, my kids aren't just learning from watching me and the things that I do, but they're learning so much watching him and how he is in our home and the things that he brings to the table.
[58:23] Jessica Clark: So um, being able to make our home together and do this.
[58:27] Jessica Clark: I mean, I know I'm the homemaker, but he is equally a part of what we're building and doing together.
[58:34] Allison: So absolutely.
[58:35] Allison: You are making a home together, you, him, and your kids.
[58:39] Allison: It's a group effort.
[58:40] Allison: So I love that answer.
[58:41] Allison: I think that's a great answer.
[58:43] Allison: All right, we're gonna do a little Titus Two moment here before we close.
[58:47] Allison: And first, let's talk to the older women.
[58:49] Allison: How can the older women help your generation of homemakers thrive in their practice of the art of home?
[58:55] Allison: What do you want them to understand about your experience and and how can they come alongside and help you?
[59:01] Jessica Clark: So for me, I love hearing people's stories.
[59:05] Jessica Clark: So tell me your story.
[59:07] Jessica Clark: I loved when my when my Nana would share stories from her younger days.
[59:13] Jessica Clark: Uh, and some were good and some were bad.
[59:15] Jessica Clark: Um, but hearing all of those parts and just it it humanized her to me.
[59:23] Jessica Clark: So uh, you know, because we we look up to our mothers, to our grandmothers, and I think we kind of in our eyes, they're sometimes these superhuman people and then we keep on a pedestal.
[59:34] Jessica Clark: But hearing her stories um made her human and relatable to me, where I was like, oh, we are the same.
[59:43] Jessica Clark: Um so tell me tell me your story, and um that way I can learn from your experiences uh and the things that you have walked through and the things that you have done.
[1:00:00] Allison: Yeah, I love that.
[1:00:01] Allison: That's why I do this show.
[1:00:02] Allison: Yeah, exactly that.
[1:00:04] Allison: So let's talk to the younger women.
[1:00:06] Allison: What is a word of wisdom, uh advice or warning that you would give to those younger homemakers coming behind you?
[1:00:15] Jessica Clark: I say this with um much caution because I remember in my younger days, sometimes hearing this would aggravate me a little bit.
[1:00:25] Jessica Clark: But being where I am now, I understand it a little more.
[1:00:31] Jessica Clark: Um, something that we are so passionate about in our house is slowing down and being very intentional and purposeful with our decisions and not just letting life happen to us, but living life on purpose.
[1:00:46] Jessica Clark: And so um for the younger ones, it can be a whirlwind.
[1:00:52] Jessica Clark: Um, and I'm still in the middle of the whirlwind sometimes to myself, but reminding myself to slow down and savor the little moments and enjoy the moments because the time goes by so fast.
[1:01:06] Jessica Clark: I look at pictures of my kids and I have memories of those moments and I hear their voice at that age and you know, remember some of the things that they do.
[1:01:15] Jessica Clark: And I cannot believe that my oldest is a senior and is gonna be graduating.
[1:01:21] Jessica Clark: Like it really does happen so fast.
[1:01:24] Jessica Clark: And I remember when I was a new mom, um, I was so ready for them to just grow and like move to the next stage because you want them to hit those developmental marks.
[1:01:36] Jessica Clark: And so I feel like when I was a new mom, I was rushing my kids to grow up.
[1:01:41] Jessica Clark: And now as they've gotten older, I'm like begging them to slow down.
[1:01:44] Jessica Clark: No doubt.
[1:01:45] Jessica Clark: I know.
[1:01:46] Jessica Clark: So I know it can be a lot in the moment, but just to really slow down and savor those the the good in the middle of the hard, find find the good and savor those things.
[1:01:57] Allison: Amen.
[1:01:57] Allison: I completely agree.
[1:01:59] Allison: That's a great word.
[1:02:00] Allison: So, how can uh listeners connect with you?
[1:02:03] Allison: You've got so much to offer.
[1:02:05] Allison: Maybe tell us like what's what's on offer right now.
[1:02:08] Allison: What do you think um from your content that would be most helpful for the listeners of the Art of Home?
[1:02:12] Allison: And then tell us how to connect with you.
[1:02:14] Jessica Clark: Yeah, so we've talked about our podcast.
[1:02:16] Jessica Clark: My husband and I have the Handmade Happiness Podcast.
[1:02:19] Jessica Clark: You can find us on Apple Podcast and Spotify.
[1:02:22] Jessica Clark: Uh, we're also on YouTube, and we post episodes every week where we're just sharing um what's happening seasonally, what's going on here with our family.
[1:02:31] Jessica Clark: Sometimes it's related to homeschool, sometimes it's related to gardening, sometimes it's just family life and learning how to slow down and kind of meet the rhythms of the season.
[1:02:42] Jessica Clark: Um so you can find us there, Handmade Happiness.
[1:02:45] Jessica Clark: I post videos on YouTube.
[1:02:47] Jessica Clark: Some are sewing tutorials, some are garden uh kind of tours and teaching you how to grow and can and preserve some of your own food.
[1:02:57] Jessica Clark: Um, so we're on YouTube at the LarkLife, and our website is thelarklife.com.
[1:03:02] Jessica Clark: I sell fabric and patterns and all the handmade skincare things that I make are there.
[1:03:07] Jessica Clark: I have a blog where I post recipes and um gardening tips and sewing tips.
[1:03:15] Jessica Clark: Everything is kind of on there.
[1:03:16] Jessica Clark: And then the biggest kind of newest thing for us, we have uh I'm released a course back in August, foundations and quilting.
[1:03:24] Jessica Clark: Um, it's a 16-week course uh that I designed for homeschool students.
[1:03:29] Jessica Clark: And so I have a lot of homeschool students doing it, but I also have a lot of moms and just adults that are going through the course because they want to learn how to quilt as well.
[1:03:38] Jessica Clark: And the response so far has been phenomenal.
[1:03:40] Jessica Clark: People are doing incredibly well, and um, it's fun each week kind of seeing their progress as they go through the course.
[1:03:47] Jessica Clark: So that also is on our website at thelarklife.com.
[1:03:50] Allison: Okay.
[1:03:51] Allison: And that's so wonderful.
[1:03:52] Allison: We will put, I'm so glad that it's doing well.
[1:03:54] Allison: That's awesome.
[1:03:54] Allison: Because you were just about to launch that the last time that you were on the show.
[1:03:57] Allison: So and now it's a real thing.
[1:03:59] Jessica Clark: It's there.
[1:04:00] Allison: Yes, really there.
[1:04:01] Allison: And we'll put all those links down in the description box.
[1:04:04] Allison: Thank you, Jessica, for being here and sharing all about lunch.
[1:04:07] Allison: It's always fun talking with you.
[1:04:09] Allison: Oh, I appreciate that.
[1:04:11] Allison: Thank you for listening to this homemaker portrait of Jessica Clark, the last one of this year.
[1:04:19] Allison: I hope that you have been inspired and encouraged with at least one idea that you can implement into your own homemaking today.
[1:04:28] Allison: One of my favorite moments in this interview was when Jessica talked about setting a daily quitting time for herself.
[1:04:35] Allison: This has come up before on the podcast, but it it always bears repeating.
[1:04:40] Allison: And you don't have to have a small business for this to apply to you.
[1:04:44] Allison: I think, especially for homemakers, this can be a real problem.
[1:04:48] Allison: We don't get to leave our work at an office and then come home.
[1:04:52] Allison: Our work is always with us.
[1:04:54] Allison: And you might even be leaving one job at an office and then coming home to this job.
[1:04:59] Allison: It is so important to set for yourself a clock, a clock out time every single day.
[1:05:04] Allison: Time, like Jessica said, to give yourself permission to cease work for the day and rest.
[1:05:10] Allison: Take a walk, take a bath, play a game with your kids, or just be.
[1:05:15] Allison: I know the lines can be a bit blurred for homemakers in this area.
[1:05:20] Allison: I mean, someone has to make dinner, right?
[1:05:22] Allison: And then it has to be cleaned up.
[1:05:24] Allison: But find what works for you to put some kind of time boundaries around your work in the home.
[1:05:30] Allison: Let's make this episode's emoji a timer.
[1:05:33] Allison: Drop one in a comment, email, or text message and tell me how you implement and honor a daily quitting time.
[1:05:42] Allison: I look forward to hearing and sharing your ideas.
[1:05:46] Allison: If you have found value in this episode, please share, follow, rate, and review the show.
[1:05:53] Allison: And if you'd like to contribute to operating costs, leave us a tip over at buymeacoffee.com slash theartofome.
[1:05:59] Allison: Don't forget to send in your holiday homemaking questions and conundrons for Jessica and I to tackle on the QA episode.
[1:06:08] Allison: I will need those by October 26th.
[1:06:10] Allison: That is all for this final homemaker portrait of 2026.
[1:06:14] Allison: I will be back next week with Jessica and our holiday ramble.
[1:06:18] Allison: Until then, keep practicing your art of making a home.

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