A few of the rooms in our home have been decorated.
This is the "Sitting Room".
When you walk into our front door there is a formal dining room immediately to your left. We opted out of the formal dining room for a couple of reasons: 1) We have only one dining room suit; 2) the breakfast area is actually very large and quite suitable for dining; 3) do you see the carpet in this room above? We have three children under age six that live in our house! Can you just see the spaghetti, blueberry muffins and grilled cheese smudged and squished into the lovely creamy carpet? ;0)
So...it is our sitting room. It is very pleasant. The girls and I spend a fair amount of time each day reading and this is a very inviting and comfortable room for reading. The room is bright and open and it is next to the kitchen. It is the perfect place for Bailey to do her math lessons and handwriting and such. She can be comfortable in the middle of the floor, curled up on the chest or in a rocking chair.
The room is filled with things that remind us of those that are special to us.
All through our home you will see a collection of crosses that was given to me by Mother and my dear friend, Mrs. Jakubauskas. The white ceramic basket on top of the cabinet was given to me by my husband's Grandma Chester. The rocking chair and little ottoman were mine when I was a little girl. My Mema Simpson (my Daddy's mother) bought them just for me. Now, my children sit in the little chair every single day. The wee little toy wooden rocker was given to me when I was pregnant with Bailey. Mother gave it to me. My beloved gave the clock to me several years ago for Christmas. It plays such beautiful music at the top of the hour.
Isn't she lovely? Can you feel the soft breeze that is blowing her skirt and her scarf? Mother, Miss Melanie Hall and I picked this out last year after we moved to Washington. The tiny lamp was something I bought just for Bailey's room when she was a baby. The cross was given to me by Mrs. Jakubauskas as a birthday present. The stitched handkerchiefs was from Mother; one for each of us gals to take to church with us. Sadly, I cannot remember who gave me the candle holder or the vase...give me a couple of days to think on it! :0(
The Raggedy Ann doll was mine when I was a little girl. Sadie Rabbit belonged to Hope. The two framed doilies on the wall were my Mema Simpson's. Mother bought me the cream throw early in my marriage.
We bought my rocking chair to put in the nursery when I found I was pregnant with Bailey. Mother & Daddy bought the beautiful sewing machine in front of the window. The machine is still in a box; I'll get that out and put back together soon. The small white wicker rocker was given to the girls by their Grandparents Slider.
Just before leaving Washington, several of us Mommies had started to work with lots of our little girls on stitcheries similar to this one. The Hurd Family, dear friends, gave us this beautifully framed stitchery before we left.
And of course...my SIT LONG, TALK MUCH sign hangs just above the entry to the kitchen. I am hopeful that all of my family and friends will someday be able to come to our home to sit for a long time and talk and talk! ;0)
I asked the Lord many years ago if He would allow our home to be and teach me how to make a restful and comfortable place for my husband and children and I asked if He would bring family and friends to our home all the days of our lives.
The world tells us that the house always needs to be perfectly straight and the dishes always clean before guests arrive. I used to think the same thing. However, I have learned that it is in seeing the imperfections of our lives that have allowed friends to become closer over the years. It is like looking through the fence when my friends and family see only the neatly tidied home. It, passively, sets a standard that neighbors, friends and family believe is normal in our home and it seems to create a wall between people. A dear friend of mine was sure that I maintained a wonderfully tidy home and "had it all together" all the time. She was "standing on the sidewalk looking through the fence" at me. She was only seeing a sliver of my life. It was a wonderful day when she came to visit on short notice one day. She found food on the floor after meals with wee little children and she found a load of laundry at the top of the stairs that needed to go to the laundry room and many other things that I would normally get put away when I know guests are coming to visit. It was that day that God blessed us with wonderful conversation and sharing of our lives and all that God has done and was doing in our hearts at the time. It was that day that we actually became friends. :0)
Opening my home to others always blesses me! I want their hearts to be blessed and I want them to be comfortable in the home that the Lord has provided to us through the hard work of my husband's hands. But it is me that always receives the blessing of their time and their sharing...
I happened upon an article yesterday over the matter: click here and scroll down to the article titled "Woman to Woman: A Messy House Ministry. Now God is clearly orderly and we should keep our home orderly. We should be good stewards of what the Lord has given to us. I have found over the years that my home is much more pleasant with fewer things. I have found, over the years, that our home is far more pleasant when there are routines that are firmly established and firmly adhered to; when I have been careful to manage my time and allocate chores to be done on particular days. In my life, maintaining our home has been much like being a good steward of money. If each dollar is "labeled" or "assigned" to something, then little money (if any) gets wasted. Time seems the same.
It is not unusual to hear me say, "You are welcome to come and see us anytime! However if you want to come to see the house, you should make an appointment. ;0)"
"1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." ~~I Peter 4:1-11
I hope you will come for tea soon! I would be honored to have you.
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posted by Mrs. Klause
May 10, 2008
Music: Misc.
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