- Jan 10, 2018
Oh, blasted New Year’s traditions we get ourselves into of our own free will. Since Eric and I have been married, we’ve kept a little notebook to write in at the end of every year. We list events of the previous year, including a smattering of disasters but mostly accomplishments–hard things we overcame, reasons to be a bit proud, and remembrances of how God has been faithful to us.
This year was different. Glancing through the previous years’ submissions, a dazed feeling came over me, and I could only think of one “thing,” one “accomplishment” for this year. Baby, baby, baby. It was the year of Talitha.
This thought overwhelmed me for a few seconds, but then I remembered the intense and even painful love that flooded our lives since the birth of little T-Rose. I thought of the many days at home with her, but also our many road trips and even our recent trot across the globe to visit Guam and Hawaii. I thought of the dedication and determination I’ve gathered (with help from God, friends/mentors, and my husband) to deal with baby blues, to walk confidently in my “different” body, and to eat healthy while watching the scale descend at a numbingly slow pace.
As with so many things, there seems to be a rather jolting pendulum swing when it comes to perceptions of motherhood. One says motherhood means that your old life and any semblance of order and regular ol’ beauty is gone. Embrace the mom bun, leggings, and giant t-shirts every day and everywhere. Showers are optional for this mama. The other says that motherhood doesn’t have to touch you very much at all. Your child is a cute, albeit expensive, accessory. Like a poodle, only not.
While I don’t pretend to know the answers of what the “ideal mother” looks like, I know these extreme views of her are flawed. Yes, we must figure out at each stage and with each consecutive child how to keep our personal and professional dreams afloat and fit in a semi-regular shower, but while death to self does (and should) occur, we must not lose ourselves and our zest for this fabulous and short life. So for me, 2017 was a year of growth, a year of love, and yes, it was the year of Talitha Rose. How blessed am I? Her smile, which she gives liberally, undoes me, and I am so grateful to be her one and only mama. Here’s to a new year full of thankfulness, determination, contentment, and lots of baby snuggles.
Photo Credit: Creationfoto Photography by Barbara Sanders
- Nov 28, 2017
My husband and I live in an 810 square foot home. On Guam we lived in a 250 square foot studio apartment. Yes, you read that correctly. We basically did the island thing in a sardine can with a tile floor and windows. It’s a miracle we did not smother to death. Only kidding.
As I was thinking about home decor and my notions about what to have and not to have in the home, I thought it would be apropos to start with our philosophy of the home in general. Now, this is what’s currently working for us, with only one child, and we are all about visiting our friends/family with large houses and will one day most likely upsize (bring on some glorious space, a-men).
For now, we love being as debt-free as possible. We believe in living beneath our means and have found that doing so actually opens up life’s possibilities quite a bit, whether that means extra travel, being able to help others, or save for that ever-impending rainy day. Our two biggest challenges have been storage and hosting–well, other than the top challenge which has been to stop apologizing for our home or making fun of it in a way that appears self-deprecating but is really prideful, because we want people to know that we could have a larger house, blah blah blah.
Storage: Eric built some storage units, we utilize our attic, and we don’t buy very much stuff.
Hosting: We have most events during decent weather outdoors (cue giant table in our yard, a campfire, and twinkle lights). OR we comfort ourselves with the notion that most people on the planet have homes smaller than ours, so it’s okay to ask people to get cozy.
We want our home to be a welcoming place of peace–a refuge where guests can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. We want our home to be stimulating with interesting artwork, books, and conversation. We want our home to have tasty treats where our guests won’t feel hungry for anything except the Lord, if they don’t know Him. A few weeks ago I was looking for a hashtag (which I barely use) to describe this concept, and I found #smallhousebigdoor. Apparently it’s some building unit in Korea, but I still like it for our home–it’s a small place, but we hope to bless many.
Here’s to happy homemaking, whatever that looks like for you!
- Nov 5, 2017
If home holds small wonders, we are more likely to believe in the big ones.
I tend to categorize homes–not by size, but by character, the charming little details that speak of both its history and the history of the family inhabiting it. Sure, some of us are natural decorators and some of us avoid Home Depot’s paint section because there are just too. many. decisions. And that’s okay. The character of a home, while it can be found partially in things like high ceilings, crown moulding, and antique fireplaces, is more about the investment and care given it from those who shelter there.
Growing up I loved the The Little House book by Virginia Lee Burton. It’s this beautiful story personifying the little house and it tells of all she goes through with the life around her and inside of her. Whenever I see a house that is abused or neglected, I think of that story, and I feel a bit sad. A home is a gift and should be cherished.
Travel is currently quite the buzzword and tends to be excessively glorified. I, too, have been caught up in wanderlust and photos of all the beautiful places with all the beautiful people traipsing through them. To be fair, the pendulum can swing both ways. Case in point: the empire that is Chip and Joanna Gaines. Seriously, Magnolia is like Martha Stewart and your favorite, most down-to-earth uncle had a baby. You just can’t help but love them! So sweet, hilarious, and inspirational. Side note: Eric and I read The Magnolia Story out loud together and both laughed and made some better habits because of it.
While we can easily get caught up in all the beautiful stuff in all the beautiful houses, we must remember that home should not be a mini museum to display grandeur (or shiplap), but a place of rest and rejuvenation for those living in it and those who visit. The goal is to thoughtfully line your home with pieces that inspire and delight you. Let’s keep exploring and making home our very favorite place to be.
