Helllloooooo!
I missed you! I missed blogging! I missed decorating!
Sorry, a *little* excited….;)
We had such a great summer, and I’m glad I took the break. Really glad. It was good for my kids, and good for me, too. Made me realize just how much I love all this crafty-decorating-blogging-biz and it’s rejuvenated me to come back with all I’ve got.
I picked up a paintbrush yesterday and it felt soooooo good. I’m working on eleventy-billion-and-one projects for the basement and since they’re all getting done simultaneously, NONE of them are complete and therefore NONE of them are bloggable. Think I just made up a word…I like it.
ANYwho…please forgive me for being all over the place in this post. It’s been a while. And like I said, I’m just a *little* excited to be back;)
I picked up the most amazing book this summer and I mean, you have to read it. You just have to. If you don’t, we can’t even talk. Kidding, of course, you know I’ll never turn my back on you, but trust me. It’s fantastic. I posted this pic on my Instagram page a week or so ago…
…and proclaimed my love for it. For her. For her message. SO much resonated with me and I feel like I could have written parts word for word. But there was so much more that taught me incredible lessons. Life changing stuff, I tell you. It’s all about embracing imperfections, finding beauty in the everyday. It’s by Myquillyn Smith, aka “The Nester.” It’s a beautiful, beautiful book.
Yesterday, the kids went back to school. And funnily enough, the kids hopped on the bus and my car just TOOK ME TO MARSHALLS. I swear. It was like I had no control. And I spotted this pillow. I know I would’ve bought it even before reading this book, but since I did, I feel like it spoke to me even more.
The pillow says “There is no place like home.”
I mean, that about sums up everything, huh?
That’s the whole vibe I’m shooting for in this little house of mine. Of ours. For us to feel safe, feel loved, miss it when we’re away, and feel so at peace when we return.
So naturally, in the cart it went. Again, I had no control.
It fit perfectly all snug on our entry bench.
And the craziest thing happened this evening. The kids were outside playing, and I was about to start dinner. I usually mumble grumpily under my breath when I pass this bench. It’s our “plopping place” if you will. Currently there’s a stack of library books to return, with a couple birthday thank-you cards left to write. There are two old baskets that have seen better days, overflowing with each and every shoe our family owns. And of course, since it’s far too easy to place shoes IN SAID BASKETS, there’s always at least one pair sitting on the floor beside them. A soccer ball, a water bottle. That’s what I saw when I looked over at that entry bench.
But do you know what else I saw, thanks to Myquillyn Smith?
I saw lives being lived. And loved. And happy. I saw a busy family of five who is in such a neat season of our lives.
These are all signs of us – our little family – being in this house.
So instead of mumbling under my breath something about “WHYCAN’TTHEYJUSTPUTTHEIRTHINGSAWAY?? ISITREALLYTHATHARD???”
I, hand to God, saw beauty. I saw our home in all it’s crazy glory.
And there really is no place like it, messes and all.
Said so eloquently!
Thanks, Nancy!
Welcome back, and well said. I will have to look around my house and see if I can notice the beauty:)
Thank you, Heather! I bet you will:)
Beauty abounds here as well! I’ve got this one on my library hold list now, thanks Liz 🙂
you will LOVE it, Ang!
It is wonderful isn’t it. As a mom to a 20 year old and a 17 year old eek!!! I often have to remind myself of some of my favorite lyrics…you’re going to miss this. You’re going to want this day back….
I can’t even listen to that song, Pat!!! 😉 I know we’ll blink and be where you are, and I totally believe those lyrics…so hard and wonderful at the same time, watching them grow.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Karen!
You’re BAAACCKKK! I haven’t known what to do without you all summer. Been stalking the blog for updates! 😉 Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve!
hahaha! You’re the best:) Thanks for missing me, I missed you too!!
Yes! I agree there’s no place like home.I been checking every day to see if you were back…. so glad!!!