Creating Strong Family Cultures with TV host & author Ruth McKeaney
Kristine sits down with the incredibly inspiring and faith-filled Ruth McKeaney. Ruth is a wife, mom of five, the award-winning author of Hungry for Home, TV show host of At Home with Ruth McKeaney on Homeworthy, home restorer, and so much more! Ruth grew up in an environment marked by transitions. However, her strong family culture, centered around Christ, taught her that home is defined by family rather than a specific location. Carrying this lesson into her adult life, Ruth transitioned from a successful law career to flipping homes with her husband while raising their children. Ruth is passionate about being generous with both home and family and looks for opportunities to practice hospitality for friends and loved ones. She is full of practical wisdom in creating a strong family culture, hospitality, and traditions. Through Ruth’s book and TV show, Ruth shares how you can intentionally cultivate your home into a place of blessing and generosity for your family and all who come through your door. Ruth reminds us that home is not a dwelling; it’s being present right where you are and including those around you. Ruth shares her story as to how she got to where she is today, and she gives all glory to God! The McKeaneys' beautiful home in the Philadelphia area, called Hillside Farm, has been featured in countless magazines, media posts, and in Ruth’s TV show. We hope you enjoy Ruth’s amazing message! Merry Christmas!
Ruth says -
It's a lovely property with giant trees and rolling hills, an enormous barn, a chicken coup, and a constant stream of friends and family. Ruth’s passion is in small-group settings." Really? Write about my life at Hillside? I chuckled and put the idea in my back pocket, never expecting to take it out again. But, like a persistent seed, the idea refused to stay buried. Instead, it took root and sprouted straight up. And before I knew it, one page after another, a book was born. It took all of us working together. My daughters did the calligraphy and illustrations, and Bob cheered me on. Like Hillside, the book is a representation of Bob and me. We have flipped many homes, but Hillside is the apex of our rehab adventures.
For one year, we documented our life at the farm through words and photographs. In spring, we planted bulbs and threw garden parties. We gathered eggs and baked quiches. We celebrated new life and growth and all the color that comes with it. In summer, the fun and games went on from morning till night. Family and friends flowed in and out, and the BBQ never stopped. In autumn, we picked bushels of apples, baked crisps and pies, shut our garden down, and remembered why we are thankful for one another. In winter, as the snow covered the fields, we stayed warm inside with soups and stews and favorite books read by the fire. The monotony of the cold was broken by holiday parties and the promise of a new year. From our favorite traditions and time-earned wisdom, to family recipes, gardening ideas, and hosting tips, for one year, we captured what "home" means to us. It is our hope that you will feel at home in its pages and be encouraged to make your house a home for others as well.
You can connect with Ruth here:
Check out our Facebook page; find us on Instagram or send us an email at theonepebblepod@gmail.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube!
