The Blue House :: Week 1

Sunset view from the front door this week.

 

By God’s grace, the move went very smoothly. Nevertheless, it was still stressful. Of course, that was to be expected.

We’ve made more progress than I had imagined, but as I predicted, I still felt/feel overwhelmed by how much there is still to do.  Obviously right now my mind is constantly occupied with thoughts of how to improve this home, things to do, things we need, etc., etc. The other morning I read in Luke, “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (17:33) I don’t know how to do this. I feel like I’m trying to create a life - one I’ve pictured in my head and one I feel God has inspired me to, yet I keep leaving Him out.

And while I still don’t know how to practically apply this to my life, I received some basic instruction on how to live in 1 Peter 3:10-11: “For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.’” Shocker: this is something I really need to work on right now.

It all goes back to love: loving others and loving Christ by seeking Him and trusting in Him. I don’t need some grand act to “lose my life”; I simply need to be faithful in the little things.

This week I hope to do some real cleaning, organize our closet and the laundry room, get back into routines with the kids, and trust God for the strength to do what I can, and let go of the rest.

While I work, I pray I can keep this quote in mind: “Work with vigilance, simply and naturally, without anxiety, with joy and happiness, with a good disposition. And then divine grace will come.” St. Porphyrious, Wounded by Love pg 144

Here's review of the progress. I'm sure you'll be able to tell, but just in case, the first picture is the before, the second is after. :)

 

 

 

We've made an entry way on the side of the living room.

 

 

My desk in the sun room. Needs some decluttering!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In case you were thinking we were unpacked. Nope!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids' bedroom

When we first moved here, this room was our bedroom. You can see a picture of it in my last room post here. Since we moved the kids in this summer, it has changed a little. We didn't have the couch in there at first, but it's been a good addition. All the decorations I made or (most of them) printed off from The Handmade Home. Didn't spend a dime! And.... I know it shows, but they're just kids. They don't care and it's good enough for me. (But, I do plan on buying some nice baskets for their clothes instead of diaper boxes, etc.) It's pretty dark in there, but I do it on purpose so they can sleep better. We're only in there for sleep and clothes changing, so it doesn't matter. 

our bedroom

I had said way back in January that I was going to do a lot of home improvements to this temporary home. And I have. I already posted about the kitchen, and I have been waiting to do a "grand" post about all the other changes. Just as I was writing this, I realized that, really, the only room that's not "done" is the living room. And that might be another month.

So instead of one big house tour post, I will do it room by room, each weekend. (Although, I didn't have time to finish this yesterday, so it may come on Monday, or get skipped. You know how it goes.) Maybe I'll be "done" with the living room after I've posted about all the other rooms. And I keep writing "done" like that because, to me, no room is ever done. It means it's just "good enough for now until I change my mind/think of something better/get sick of it." It's just always evolving. However, it's usually minor changes and all the big changes have happened for the most part.

So... let's get on with it shall we? I've mentioned our bedroom a couple times, so here are some pictures and I'll tell the story.

Where our room was before...

We switched rooms with Sweet Girl in June, and put her and Michael together. Best idea ever! So thankful for that!

After the move, but before the recent change

And now...

Straight-ahead, closet to the right. Replanted basil plants in the southern light. Make-shift curtain. :) 

So I pulled out this blanket from between the wall and my daughter's bed about a month ago and I thought, "This is really cute!" I never really cared for it before, but it must have been the influence of Pintrest and fall. I'm really digging blue, yellow, and chevron. So, I put it on the bed, changed the pictures on the magnet board (our "head board"), the curtains, and added a few touches. It's very fall, so we'll see how long it lasts...

Some of my favorite things are on this dresser (okay, it's originally a changing table, but must we get technical?). In the frame is a card given to me from my grandparents when I was a baby. At the top it says "Everything wonderful" and, as you can see, the picture is a mother (with red hair!) with a daughter, son, and baby. So basically me - well not quite yet. But someday, and I love it. The dried petals are from my wedding bouquet.

As I decorated, I tried to keep in mind that this is a special place for me and my husband. It needs to be about and for US. So I tried to make it as lovey as possible. He'd probably add some baseball pictures, but where's the romance in that? He is happy about the blanket since the colors are the same as where he went to college. And, for now, I'm happy with it too. Not perfect, but pretty.

All These Things

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.“ Matt. 31-34

I have studied these verses slowly for many months. I have hungered to understand them. I have soaked them up and tried to digest them. For the longest time, I had no way to put the lessons these verses were teaching me into words. My thoughts were jumbled. The goings on in my heart hadn’t reached my head. Finally, I was able to translate some of it into words. It is not perfect, but it’s an attempt.

As a homemaker, it’s my job to manage “all these things”: food, clothing, home. And I believe it’s a lifelong process to learn to hand these things to God, to not be anxious, and yet, at the same time, embrace these God-given roles of home maker, wife and mother. 

My question, my search has been how do I seek the kingdom of God, in my life and in the management of “all these things”? The two are not separate.  I cannot seek the kingdom in my life, yet manage my household by the world’s guidelines. 

One answer is right there, in those verses. “Therefore do not worry.” That, for sure, is something I need to work on. And another is to replace that worry with glorifying God by bringing in the kingdom of God into my home. Luke 17:21b says, “For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.” The kingdom is a spiritual reality - not a specific place in the sky. As a homemaker, I can work to make our home a little kingdom of God. A place where we seek God in all we do and give glory to Him in “all these things.”

And how do we seek God in all we do, in all these things? Christ says “seek first.” The kingdom, the seeking must come before everything else. For me, that means working on doing everything in prayer - offering everything up to God. Before any action, word, purchase, decision: “Lord, show me Your will; guide my thoughts and actions. May it glorify You.” It can seem profound - or petty. “Lord bless me as I fold the laundry…” Still, in each case, it is important! If Christ is truly going to be “my life,” then that includes every thing. Even the seemingly trivial. This will be a lifelong work of learning to truly “seek first” in all and offer each thing up to Him.

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul talks about offering our lives as a living sacrifice. Our lives should be lived to worship Christ, and to live according to His ways. We should not be “conformed to this world” and use the world as our standard of living. We are to live our lives for Christ by seeking the kingdom of God in all these things. And God will be with us. He will bring us the kingdom of God. 

“Do not fear little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

Do not worry. Seek Christ first. Offer all to God. Be grateful.

These are the themes running through my heart and stirring in my soul. 

By placing “all these things” - my life - in God’s hands, I’m putting Him first. I’m seeking His Kingdom, to fill my little kingdom. And rather than be anxious, I will be in wonder at His love and provision - and glorify His name.

a few of my favorite things

Take a little walk with me down memory lane... 

The blouse on the left used to be a dress which I wore to my high school graduation. I turned in into a top right before my wedding and wore it on our honeymoon.

The bag was purchased at a random boutique shortly after I started my first post-college job. It was just want I needed. I used it a long time and loved it!

The third item is a blouse I bought a couple years ago when I was in dire need of a wardrobe redo. We were living in Maine at the time and one of the other baseball wives (and a good friend of mine), who has great style, went shopping with me and helped me. But, alas, grey is not one of my colors, I've since learned.

 

When I was sorting through my closet a while back, I knew these three things were underused, but I couldn't bring myself to pass them along.

 And then I had an idea... and finally, much later, I did it! 

Here is it!

 

I simply took the flowers from the grey top and stitched it to the bag. Then I sewed fabric from the other blouse over the ratty handles. It gave the bag new life! I plan to use it exclusively for my latest favorite thing: "My Day."

It's a new thing in this house. It's a day where my husband is in charge for the day and I'm free to do what I want. I got the idea from the book A Mother's Rule of Life.  I'm super happy (and blessed!) to have it!

Have you re-purposed anything lately?