Contributors

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Thank You

Just thought I'd say "Thank You" to the man that I love...
Thank you for cutting the grass
Thank you for edging the grass - something that looks so nice, but I would never do
Thank you for getting the 25 bags of mulch out of the truck, even though you were tired
Thank you for washing dishes
Thank you for cooking the fish
Thank you for fixing the car
Thank you for vacuuming the dog hair
Thank you for having the sense of smell as good as a drug hunting blood hound
Thank you for putting up the ceiling fan
Thank you for moving the boxes into the living room, then into the basement
Thank you for hanging the picture in the right spot - just a little bit over
Thank you for painting the deck
Thank you for painting the walls especially since you hate to paint
Thank you for pulling up the smelly carpet from the basement floor
Thank you for pulling the staples and nails out of the stairs
Thank you for smiling
Thank you for noticing the 22 pounds lost just when I needed it to be noticed
Thank you for loving me with or without the 22 pounds
Thank you for choosing the ring I would love - classic, simple & elegant
Thank you for never forgetting to say "thank you"
And most importantly, Thank you for BEING THANKFUL FOR US!

Friday, July 13, 2012

A House vs. A Home

So apparently I didn't know the difference between "light coffee" and "light yellow"... cause my walls upstairs are light yellow & I could have sworn that little swatch was a light coffee color.  Surprisingly enough, it is pretty.  Not too bold, but not pastel either... it is just right.  This shower curtain never looked this pretty when it was hanging in my master bath!

Isn't it funny how when put in a different light the same item can look different.  I think that goes for situations as well.  Take this whole fire thing... Originally I thought I was going to have a short (but complete) nervous breakdown from the stress of getting the house put back together, not to mention paying the un-budgeted deductible.  When I looked around I could see "messes" every where.  I stressed about the clothes that the cleaners took - leaving me with my work out clothes and business dress clothes; leaving Don with simply 2 work outfits!; leaving us with no towels or washcloths, etc.  There was soot every where & drywall dust.  It stunk like a chimney!   And I was so tired of saying "I'm so sorry that there is noise in the background.  I'm having some work done on my home"!  It didn't look or feel like the house was ever going to be put back together... It looked and felt like a disaster!

Yet, here I am 2 months after the fire and the house looks wonderful.  Freshly painted walls, new plush carpet, new appliances & new hardwood floors... Plus even the ducts were cleaned out (I would have NEVER paid to have that done!).

While the construction was going on, this place was still a house, but it definitely was not a home!  Now when I walk in, I see a home. 

The house is relaxing again. It is my sanctuary.

This is again the place where memories were made and will continue to be made.  The walls will get marred (hopefully one day by "little hands"); the beautiful hardwood floors will get scratched from dogs, furniture & simply life; the beautiful stainless steel appliances will get covered with grease from the frying of fish; the oven interior will be stained from the lasagna that boiled over - or the cake that overflowed because I thought "It won't rise THAT much" lol; and the dust will come back...  Life will occur in this house.  Living will occur in this house.  And that is good - very good.

The light has changed in the past 2 months... And while I always said I wanted a "home" rather than a house, these past two months have accentuated that feeling!  The light has changed.  A HOME is critical to my happiness, to my peace of mind, to my ability to relax.  I will no longer take these walls for granted, because I have had a glimpse of what it would be like to have only a house, but not a home & I didn't like what I saw. 

This home... Our home... Don, the kids, the grand kids & me... Our home is important for all of us & I will treasure it more now that I ever did before!