This photo, "In this house...." We have it big and bold on our kitchen wall. A reminder that we are REAL and we are HUMAN and we do make MISTAKES. We are also FUN and we HUG and we FORGIVE. We are FAMILY. My daughter memorized the saying years ago, it warmed me heart because she knew what it truly meant. She wasn't just memorizing something... she was reading and acknowledging "that is how we do it". ahhhh smiles for happy momma moments.
There are moments within the walls of this home that my being Mom and my wanting to provide a warm and nice home clash with what others in the home desire. Our daughter, the hoarder for instance (honest statement!) would rather have her collections all over the house. Not in neat tidy piles, but strung, as in easy to access and everywhere - just in case she gets a wild hair and needs something. There are days when she rants "mom why do you have to have everything so perfect?!?!?!" OUCH. I don't feel I want things "perfect". I want them "nice, tidy, clean and welcoming". "Perfect" Phhhhffffff as if! And our son, the youngest, who insists on having collections of antlers, bones, rattles and animal hides about his room - it is a struggle for me at times because I don't get it and it all looks like collections of junk to me. But I pause and I realize, these "treasures" are items that he holds tight to as they are memories he's brought home shared with his dad. Or in the case of the snake rattle, just sometime to drive me nuts!
Having just joined two families into one, the concept of home has come together as well. My husband and I are both very similar in our taste. We keep house alike and how we direct our children in helping us keep house is very much the same. We both appreciate the value of a home - not in economic value, but in value as host of family. I appreciate that he likes to have "manly" things about and he likes my "girly touches". The kids on the other hand, I'm not so sure they truly notice much, but then they do notice everything.
So when I entered the other day I paused at the doorway and glanced around.
For as much as I love our home, what does it say to those who enter? As I see Antlers in a corner - I think "hunter". I see a large photo of my husband and I and think "awww love". There are frames with our children in them and I think "blessed". It is tidy and clean and I think "proud". There are items on the breakfast bar such as books, pens, cards and mail and I think "organized chaos". There are piles of shoes in a basket belonging to one or all of us and I think "busy". There is a wall of crosses and I think "faith filled" and there is the wall are "In This House...." and I think "wonderful reminder". When one walks into our home, I hope what they see, what they feel is WELCOME. And upon leaving I hope they feel LOVED. We do enjoy our home, but more than that, we enjoy who is IN our home.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15