We've been away for a few days with the pastors of our church's spanish ministry.
It's been a rich time of refreshing and good fellowship,
but as inevitably happens, I'm a bit homesick.
Currently we're at the airport about to fly home.
(I'm such a homebody!)
Now that we've lived in our new to us home four months,
I'm beginning to know it,
its strengths, its weaknesses, its "personality",
and I'm beginning to fall in love with it.
Its walls have begun to absorb some of our memories,
family dinners with the kids and grandkids,
quiet evenings at home with just the two of us,
a few ladies gathered in the living room for a Bible study,
a full house on Thanksgiving,
our first Christmas celebrated there,
an impromptu New Year's Eve gathering,
grandkid sleepovers,
quiet times in prayer and Bible reading in my home office.
It's become HOME,
which is one of my favorite words and places.
I'm trying to listen to the personality of the house as I decorate.
Its style feels just a wee bit more formal than our former house,
a little more traditional and a little less cottage style.
There are more walls left bare, less tchotchkes and collectibles scattered here and there.
I'm enjoying less stuff and more simplicity.
I'm enjoying taking my time deciding what I want to change.
(New flooring, lighting and kitchen appliances were a no-brainer change that we made right away.
So was the fireplace transformation.
We turned it around in the wall, literally,
to face our living room instead of the family room turned large dining room.
We painted the oak fireplace surround white, and added a salvaged wood mantel.)
This is my simple January mantel.
Well, it's Friday, friends!
Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday
and
a safe and BLESSED weekend.
I love the simplicity of your decorations...and I love the wooden snowflakes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique way of putting it, but I agree each home does have different character and personality! Beautiful expressions to hear about your memories in the new house so far. I'm sure there will be many more made this year! Your winter mantle is perfect with that delicate snowflake!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie
I think you taking your time with the decorating is a wise choice and will save you having to change things later. I love the arch openings and your new mantle.
ReplyDeleteSo inviting.
ReplyDeleteYour home is always such a cozy, peaceful place. We have lived in our home for twenty-five years and it's telling me the time has come for change. Perhaps I need to pay deeper attention to 'her' personality - I'm sure I hear her telling me she's changed as much as I over the years! Welcome home, dear friend.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
I live in Canada on the east coast :) I read your blog daily, and have for a few years. I love your new home , and it looks beautiful and cozy. Love your heart , I too am counting my gifts daily in a gratitude journal. God bless. Joanne
ReplyDeleteLove all the changes you have already made. Yes, I think it does take a bit of time to get to know a new house to turn it into a home! Also, the way the news is everyday, I think we all are craving "simple simplicity".
ReplyDeleteAhhh, nothing like the safe comforts of home to block out all the crazy.
Be Blessed,
Addie
I LOVE your mantle decor! It's so simple yet so perfect.
ReplyDeleteLove your mantel. Absolutely beautiful. I will be featuring this tonight at my Winter Blues Wednesday party. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteSimple and beautiful. Your winter mantle is gorgeous. Thank you so much for linking up at Create • Share • Inspire. We hope to see you back this week!
ReplyDeleteAlicia