VISITS

With Christmas arriving in just a few days I'm sure you are busy preparing and shopping and making plans for entertaining guests or traveling to be with loved ones. I too have been busy. Especially with entertaining. And I have found great joy in it.


A few little projects were on my to do list so that our guest rooms and accommodations were comfortable and welcoming. The third floor especially needed some finishing touches so I took a couple items that I had on hand and created something new out of some old pieces. (I love to do this stuff!)

I had an old mirror that wasn't being used anywhere. I found it once upon a time in an old house while helping some friends move. I updated it with a coat of white spray paint.

And there were two old chairs Keith and I had started to refinish several years ago but never completed. I thought they would be just the thing to put in the guest room on the third floor. So I gave them a coat of white spray paint as well.


We chose to have wall to wall carpet installed in two of the third floor rooms. It would help make it warmer and quieter underfoot when the rooms were being used by guests. Some white airy curtains and a few other accessories created the cozy atmosphere I was hoping for.

 The chairs and mirror fit just right in the space. Now I'm on the hunt for a small dresser that I can paint to match.






The family room right beside this bedroom got the same floor treatment. A new lamp and miscellaneous accessories makes this a new favorite hang out space for watching TV or playing Wii. 

There is also a guest bathroom cleaned and stocked and ready for use. 


I have marveled how many guests have already graced our home in the few months we have lived here. It is a joy to share this house with family and friends. 


These VISITS are wonderful times. Friends that we haven't connected with in many years ask to stop in to see this place we have moved into. Other out of town guests who need a place to stay say they've slept well in these rooms and ask to hear the renovation story. And lately we've enjoyed hosting larger gatherings of friends and family because this house will easily accommodate them. I've come to the conclusion that when we care for the house, people are drawn to it and people will feel cared for.


It's the same in our lives. When we care for our souls, people will want to be with us. They will be drawn to us. It is good to care for your soul; allow times of quiet reflection, time to create, time to organize, time to rest. I believe that it is those times that God VISITS us. Make room for His VISITS throughout your day today. Keep caring for the house.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almightly. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield...he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." 

Psalm 91 

GLORY

Yesterday I spent the day preparing the house for the Christmas season. My tradition has been to decorate on the first weekend of December. I haul out the boxes of greens and decorations. It's always fun to remember years gone by when I lift the lid to find ornaments and Christmas stockings I made for my children when they were small. And the old paper Advent calendar reminds me how they used to count down the days til Christmas and memorize the Bible verse behind each little window. I pull out specific decorations always used in certain places throughout the house. But now, in our new home, I had to begin all over; a new canvas for fresh ideas. 


I chose a totally different color scheme for this house. My choice of decor in our living room lends itself better to a palette of blues, white and silver instead of reds and golds. After making a few purchases at some nearby craft stores, I was ready to let the creative juices flow. I put on some Christmas music and Keith and I set to work. 

As Keith hung the lights around the front door I thought about a phrase used in an allegory entitled Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains..."making entrance". In the story, this term is used to describe the process when a person becomes who they really are. "Lord, when people make entrance into our home, may they see who they really are because of your love."


The entry hall was next. Stairways always deserve a garland of greens. I had 18 feet of greens to play with. Ribbons, beads, pinecones...my fingers got a workout as I tied it all together with floral wire. 

While I was doing this, Keith put up the tree. It takes 2 people to string the lights and beads. But his first love in this process is to wrap gifts. So he went off to do that while I hung the ornaments. (something I confess I don't really enjoy doing and was always happy to allow our children to do...)

I filled the fireplace mantel with greens, candles and ornaments.  I re-used many old items by spray painting silver over top of gold, cutting off red berries and applying white ones, and tying blue ribbon where there once was gold. 

 Now the house feels ready to welcome the season. In this time of Advent we are reminded each week that the King is coming! Get ready! Prepare the way for his GLORY.

Are you ready? 

Are you preparing? 

As you decorate in the coming days and weeks, prepare your heart as well. This too is caring for the house. He wants to arrive and dwell with us. Let's make room for his GLORY to shine for all to see.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his GLORY, the GLORY of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14