Month: February 2021

Alice & Elsie’s Room

Family, Home Decorating

Our home was an unexpected gift from a good God who provides for His children. When we moved into this house, we had three little girls…ages 6, 3, and 2, and a three bedroom ranch style home seemed so spacious! 10 years and two babies later, it’s the same amazing gift, but it seems a bit cozier than it did in those early days!

Over the years we’ve tried almost every possible combination of bedroom living arrangements. But as the kiddos grew, the lopsided nature of four girls in one room, and our son in the other became too glaring. Especially with two of the girls being teenagers!

While our kids have hardly ever complained about the tight living quarters, Jeremy and I became determined to figure out another arrangement. Again, God provided the perfect solution for this stage of life. Our home has a back “bonus” room off of our kitchen, which also connects to our living room. Initially it was a TV/ toy room, then a family room, and eventually it became my office. We had never seriously considered turning it into a bedroom because it would make the kitchen seem small and closed off, not to mention it would disrupt the wonderful flow that our house has. Then out of the blue, the idea of french doors popped into our heads! They would still let light through and could be left open during the day! No, a bedroom off the kitchen isn’t 100% ideal, but it is definitely preferable to four big girls in a little room!

So let me just jump to the conclusion. Putting our oldest girls, Alice and Elsie in this new room has been literally life changing for our daily living as a family! Everyone has the space they need now! There’s still more work to be done: curtains for the french doors, a small sliding “barn door” cover for a window into the room from the kitchen, a real door off of the living room into the room, and turning the present storage closet into a fully functioning clothes closet. But even in its incomplete state, the girls are thrilled in their new space. Such a blessing.

The girls and I decided on a 1970s decor for the room. They were inspired by Mary’s apartment in The Mary Tyler Moore show. So lots of yellow, shades of green, wood, wicker, owls, and plants! We all love how it turned out. Take a peek!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Blessings,

He’s well aware…

Life in Christ

When each of my babies were around 4 weeks old they lost a good portion of their hair. This was a particularly sad occurrence with my first two girls who had beautiful dark hair at birth. I remember with my first, I cried. Silly maybe, but it mattered to me. Of course the hair grew back, and now our family is marked by borderline extreme amounts of hair! ….five curly headed girls, a mop-top boy, and a dad with huge beard.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives His disciples instructions about going out and announcing the kingdom of heaven. But His instructions hold unsettling details about what the disciples inevitably must face. He says, “Look I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” Jesus informs them that they will suffer and be hated, as they proclaim His name.

But it’s within this passage that Jesus also says, “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus doesn’t say that they don’t need to be afraid because He will shelter them from the suffering, from the evil, from the brokenness of the world. No, He tells them they don’t need to be afraid because He is well aware…and in control. Not a single tiny sparrow falls to the ground without our God giving permission. Not a single hair is lost from a baby’s head, without our Father allowing it. We have a Savior, a God who is not oblivious. He is not distant or disengaged. He walks with us as we walk through this life, and not a single moment slips through His fingers or is out of His control.

I was comforted by this truth 16 years ago when my baby began to look like a very tiny, very cute balding old man. Jesus’ words from Matthew 10 were actually shared at my baby shower, at the exact time those dark little hairs began to fall out. I remember smiling to myself, realizing that my God intentionally provided that little reminder for me. He was aware of my fear, my emotions then, and He’s still aware now.

We live in a potentially overwhelming world, where fear threatens to creep in from all sides. And we will undoubtedly face hard things. But from the small details to the life changing trials, He continues to be aware and meet us in those places. He sees. He cares. And He’s in control.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah, 41:10

Blessings,