Saturday, October 31, 2015

Fixer Upper

           I've been on a homemaking kick lately. Or a nesting kick..there are many terms people use for it. This came as a result of watching many many episodes of the show 'Fixer Upper' on HGTV. I've been just mesmerized by how Joanna and Chip Gaines take homes that are seriously falling apart and make them into the most gorgeous, personalized homes for families. It inspired me, what can I say?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

      'The beauty is in the details' is a true saying. When Solomon built the Temple he didn't just erect a building filled with only the bare minimum practical necessities. He poured his time, his best resources and artistic creativity into designing and building a house for the Lord. How much attention we give to our creations reflects how much we truly care about them or who we're creating them for. It's a way to reflect Christ who has 'gone to prepare a place' for us, and who created a beautiful world out of chaos.

Walking into a home that has clearly had a lot of love and thought put into it is so comforting. I've been reminded lately that homemaking is a skill. It requires study, organization, coordination and creativity...it's a big responsibility! But an exciting one. What kind of job is there that can have such a loving, personal influence on someone? Whatever stage of life you're in, you can create a space where people can be welcomed, and fed both physically and spiritually. It can be tempting to think there's no point in decorating but there is! We've been created by a very creative God - as Christians we can point others to Him through our creativity. We can love others through our thought to detail. 

images courtesy of http://magnoliahomes.net

Friday, October 9, 2015

Birthday

My birthday recently passed as did one of my best friend's. She has a cool tradition of looking back over the last year and listing off all the things she's learned. So this year I want to do the same!
Since I spent most of my 27th year pregnant or with a newborn a lot of my learning experiences are related to that. So here's some things I learned and am thankful for:

1. Being handed your new baby is the most intense, wonderful, and heavy experience ever.

2. Certain experiences will awaken emotions inside you you never knew you were capable of.

3. God gives the grace you need.

4. Hold onto things with an open hand and be ready to roll with whatever big life changes God blesses you with. 

5. Momma's need encouragement!

6. Exercise and eating healthy are disciplines you'll thank yourself for later 

7. Canada's raw landscape is beautiful

8. I love living by the water

9. I'm such a sucker for surfing...love watching it..following the WSL... everything about it

10. I love being married and who I'm married to! Our differences are crucial.

11. Labour is as bad as people say. (I feel like they need to debrief you more after labour...that's a crazy experience! Some women must get PTSD from labour!)

12. But nevermind labour...the 1st month after your baby's born is hard! They should make epidurals for the whole first month post partum haha but seriously...

13. Don't be defeated by your short comings and failures. Learn from them, trust God, be thankful and continue to go for it. 

Now on to learning some more, can't wait to see what my 28th year will bring!