Ideas About...

Our home during remodeling, without the porch railing . . . Still, isn't it a cutie?

Yesterday afternoon, Megan and her children, and Sara and TJ's Alyssa, came over to decorate for Christmas. The kids played on the little table in the family room, we played Christmas music, and we basked in the warmth of the gas fireplace. Yay! They also watched My Neighbor Totoro, a Myazaki(sp?) animated movie that is so gentle - it's a little gem! And then they half-way watched part of the Wizard of Oz. By that evening, the tree was up (not quite finished - pics later) and the place was Christmas-y and toasty warm! After some French toast, courtesy of Grandpa Doc, we used Megan's projector to watch Get Smart. It was immediately obvious that the kids were too tired and fussy by that juncture, so we sent the movie home with Megan and called it a night. While they were here, I couldn't help thinking about the fact that this house actually has 500 sq. feet more on one floor than our last home (there, the second floor was inaccessible to me). You can be in one part of this house and never know that the other parts exist. I love that! Also, we have a bigger yard, an apple tree, a fenced pasture, and a quiet, country-atmosphere neighborhood, with goats and horses and cows all around us. People grow gardens with huge pumpkins, and no one bothers your stuff here. That's important! We also have 2 full bathrooms, an extra bedroom, a craft room, and a big front porch. It's a relatively small house; it's just planned well. Oh, and it has so much southern sunshine and light, and a great view of the mountains! I just want to express my gratitude for our little, snug, older home. It has its quirks and its mysteries. It has a history. It's in an older neighborhood - and that's part of its charm (even if the basement was leaking yesterday, due to some little rubber hose from nowhere that is no longer being used...yes, we're crossing our fingers that it's not important!). I'm really grateful that this house holds our kids, grandkids, family, and friends. It gives us a place to have Family Home Evenings. It gives us a place to have fun and talk to each other while the kids play, Or...To play with the kids while the grownups talk! ;) And it gives us a place to gather at the table and give thanks. And I think that's something wondrous to be thankful for. P.S. I'm so grateful for Megan's help. I can't believe how much she got done, and how magical it makes the house feel. Thanks, Megan and Little Elf-Helpers! You did a great job!