Home is where the heart is...

I love our new-old house...

It's full of odd angles, lovely little touches, warped door and window frames and there is a faint musty smell that comes up from the basement that reminds me that the foundation is partly made out of beautiful smooth river rocks.

It is light, cozy, unassuming and it simply makes me smile whenever I think of it. I can't wait to go home to it (although there is always a project waiting) and with every passing day (6 now) I fall deeper for it. I take possession of it anew each day.

I know it's wrong to place so much importance on an earthly possession, but it is my prayer that this this home will allow us to share our blessings with others and welcome them into it as a peaceful refuge, a place where God dwells. A comfortable home for us, a place where a little child will run wild but be safe.

After our closing on Monday and our move Wednesday, we have been busy, whipping our cottage into shape. Jacob has nearly torn his arm off getting the wheedwacker to cooperate and has tirelessly groomed the entire landscape around it to a point where I'm certain if we sold it today we would get a neat penny more for it on account of the neat lawn and weed-free driveway. We have three beautiful old trees in our yard, two in the front and one in the back. They invite to tit and contemplate the pasing of time in their generous shade. I'm still taken aback that we "own" these beautiful living creatures, all so big I can't get my hands around them...don't be surprised if you ever see me out there hugging them. They are simply gorgeous.

The porch is another place I simply can't get enough of. It's impossible to be agitated or in a bad mood when you stand or sit on it. It simply spells serenity to me. We have a swing and I feel like I'm in a movie when I sit on it...yesterday we hung our cool skychair - a wedding present long stored away and it beckons everyone to come and sit and be happy.

On the inside things are coming together nicely. We have lovely curtains and the living room, bathroom and kitchen are set up completely. The bedroom, hallway/dining room and the nursery still need some work, but it's one of those houses where even a matresse in a corner looks good..so we'll take our time.

We even went ahead - after Jacob's friend, Laurie, a talented interior decorator, suggested some color, and painted the kitchen. Meander Blue a perfect cool match that makes me take a deep breath every time I walk into it. Jacob can paint trim without an inch of masking tape and I did my best with a roller (the color is the low-tox kind that isn't harmful to the baby, by the way) and we managed to paint and reset the entire kitchen in less than 3 hours.

The painting was so much fun...I'm now wide-eyed with possiblities. Yellow for the bathroom, a swampy green for the living room and a quiet Kaki for the hallway-dining room....

So much remains to be done. Jacob's list is about a mile long and wide, but we know that any investment will be worth his while (and mine as a helper, as well). It's wonderful to be a new homeowner and see a to-do list as a privilege...I'm sure there will be long weekend days when we'll feel different about it...but for now it's wonderful.

I love the Lord, I love my husband and I love this child growing under my heart - and I'm falling for this house...my heart is big with contentment.