11.12.2007

Warmth

I often complain about how my home is never in the shape I want it in. There is always a project I want done or a room I want painted. When people come in my home, I generally shower them with disclaimers about my house - "Oh, we're painting soon, that's why the room looks like this", or "Excuse the mess, this is the room that time forgot", like they're going to disown me because my house isn't impeccable 24/7. While my friends and family have been overly forgiving with pats on the back and comments like, "Oh, we don't care!", I have always felt self-conscience about my house.

And I'm sick of it.

Do I want my house clean? Yes. Do I want it to look cool? Yes. Do I want it to reflect who Cody and I are? Yes. Is that always possible? No. While I would love to have a home like my parents (all done and furnished), it's not going to happen. It's taken them 35 years to get to that point - why in the world should I pressure myself into having "that house" in under 5? Each time I go to my sister's house, I sigh and think, "Man...I would love this". Um, she's been working on her home for over 11 years! And they still have projects in the works.

This is what I've decided. While I can't always control the state of my home, what I can control is the feeling that people have when they come here. I want my home to feel warm, inviting, comfortable, 'lived in'. I don't want my friends to feel like they can't open our fridge for a drink or put their feet on our coffee table. I want people to love being here - to enjoy themselves and relax, feel welcome. I realize that the best way to achieve that atmosphere is by changing my attitude, my anxiousness when people come over. As my wise friend Brittany said when I was feeling overwhelmed, "You know what? My children and husband are fed, they are dressed, we are happy - so what if there are dust bunnies under the fridge or if there's laundry on the couch?"

So! I'm stopping the madness. No more will I make excuses for how my house looks - this is where we live, how we live, what we live in and we are blissfully happy! Transforming your home into your ideal dwelling takes time, trial and error. I'm sure Cody and I will always have projects to do and things we want to change. Our house will certainly be in disarray at times when people drop by, that's the way life is. But as long as people keep coming by...well then, I guess that means I'm doing something right!

That being said, here are my 5 thankfuls...

1 - Our home. Yeah, I went there. I feel very, very blessed that Cody and I have a home to call our own.
2 - My mother, for teaching me the 'Toothbug' song. I sing it to Cache every night before we brush his teeth.
3 - My brothers, Marty and Richard. They are two of the most outstanding men I have ever met and I am so proud of them!
4 - My testimony of the Gospel - the knowledge of something so solid.
5 - Cody. For picking me.

6 comments:

Kateastrophe said...

I want you to know that I have ALWAYS felt comfortable in your home. You have accomplished all the things you specified in this post. It does reflect you and your marriage and your happiness.

So bravo.

{lizzythebotanist} said...

i say tomorrow's post includes a video of you and cache singing the toothbug song. tooth brushing time is new at our house-a song to go along with it would be splendid. and not a song i make up to the same baby mozart tune that i use for everything else! you'd think i'd be more creative, right?

i have the SAME problem when people come to my housse..."i still have to put up crown moulding in here...oh, this is just temporary..oh, don't look in here" I HATE it! good luck!

Sara said...

Hold the phone... Do people clean under their refridgerators? WHAT? And for your information I have always felt comfortable and loved at your home, so mission accomplished good lookin'!

Andrea said...

Sara! Right there with you. I thought the same thing. That's like hearing if you haven't changed your bathroom towels every three days then it's okay. I mean, WHO DOES THAT!? Ok- so maybe some of you really are that good. But I'm not. I go, like, four days. HAHA! oh.

Andrea said...

PS - And what is up with Ready Steady Fit, girl? You better be slacking only in the blogging department. We have 10 days to run that whole thing!

love you!

Anonymous said...

Amen sister....i agree with you! but your house always looks great anyway so no worries!