Homestead
When I mentioned how much I like old farmhouses, my husband said, “Oh, that’s what we have!” He’s funny. Our new house doesn’t have the charm I referred to.
The jerry-built shed is nothing like an old barn. Very few items date back to the time the nearby canning kitchen was in operation: a couple of doors and the window over the kitchen sink. Those items are my favorite. They remind me of simpler times.
Times when people stored a harvest in the cellar for winter. Times when large closets weren’t a necessity. Times when families huddled indoors for long winters. Times like we are having right now.
Our tiny, ugly house is slowly being transformed from the inside out.
The cellar isn’t full, but boxes of potatoes are stored and green tomatoes are ripening. Our bedrooms don’t have closets, so we keep only the clothes we really wear. The kitchen and living room are now a fresh shade of yellow and new carpet was installed today.
After Dylan hacked out two walls in the bathroom, we hung a curtain for a door. It will be replaced and that space made more functional. Books will come out of boxes and our routine of learning will resume.
This 1920 house was beyond my vision. I walked through imagining. Ideas completely clouded over by the last room. The choke came and my silence said it all.
Falling asleep that night, I mourned and felt so foolish. The house we left in Texas wasn’t pretty when we bought it either. It was bigger, but not pretty.
Tears in the night evaporated in the morning. Friends came to help us. Lots of friends who unloaded our moving truck and tore off paneling and brought food. Laughter came with them and then I knew this little place would become home.
(Photos to come.)
It sounds like heaven to me! I’ve been dreaming of an old farmhouse lately and wondering what my house will turn out to be in March when we move. I think smaller homes are so much easier to take care of and in the summer they seem bigger because the outside becomes living space. As long as there is enough room for most of your books, the house is big enough! :-)I look forward to pictures. Take care!
Jenn
Jenn´s last blog ..Dulldroms, Already?
Jenn,
It’s definitely growing on me. I don’t mind small, but small and really ugly was hard to swallow.
I’m very thankful we have lots of storage in the shed and cellar. I’ll probably rotate books, because they will not all fit in here. And yes, in spring we will be outside a lot. We do have a nice sized lot.
I look forward to seeing where you end up, too! I pray it is a special surprise that matches your dreams.
Thanks, Renae. I am praying the same. And I won’t take for granted my housing situation again!
Jenn
Jenn´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday
Renee! You’re back! Transitioning is hard, I’ll be praying for you.
April´s last blog ..The guardians of freedom
April,
Thank you so much! I can’t believe it’s been a whole month since I wrote anything here. I’ve really missed connecting with you. Hope you are well.
Keep repeating to yourself: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”-Philippeans 4:13 and then pour yourself some tea, take a breath, and hide in the bed. Okay…I was kidding about hiding in the bed part.
Praying our Father gives you the strength and comfort to see through this; Nothing is too small or too big for Him.
Twinkle Mom @ Sunflower Faith´s last blog ..Word Filled Wednesday
Twinkle Mom,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words.
When the tools went out and my couch came in last night I rejoiced. I have a living room again! Sinking into my couch and chatting with my husband after the kids were asleep…Home.
Welcome home! I miss you already…
Amanda´s last blog ..Eighty Days
Amanda,
I miss you, too! I wish we could’ve gotten together more.
I saw the blurry picture of us on your blog (we need to try that again). And your gracious words about me. I’m humbled. Thank you.
We have to get together again, no question about it.
Welcome to Idaho :)
Katey´s last blog ..I’ve been nominated :)
I’m sure that you will make it a lovely and wonderful home in no time. Piece by piece, room by room, it will become a haven for your family.
I think it parallels our redemption. How ugly and broken down are we in our sin, yet God comes in and gives us a holy makeover.
Blessings,
Dianne
dianne – bunny trails´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Lone Leaf
Dianne,
That is such a beautiful analogy. I’ve thought of the Bebo Norman song Ruins a lot while working. I was shouting the words while still in Texas,
Can’t wait to see pictures! Even if it is ‘ugly’, our house is ‘ugly’ too and we’re in a constant state of renovation. It’s the atmosphere we give it that makes it a ‘home’.
Blessings!
It seems like you’re on an upswing, my friend. I’m still praying for you though. I can’t imagine your “ugly” house with your smiling faces in it. That would just brighten the room.
Renae,
Our idea of what we want and hope to get don’t always jive with what we end up with, but it sounds like you have a loving family to help you through this big transition. Just remember one day at a time.
Rana´s last blog ..Life Lesson # 221: Never mix lights with darks.
You have been working so hard on both sides of this move. I am praying both rest and contentment for you my cyber friend. Transitions are hard…even when God is so present in them. May you see abundant grace as you make your new place a home. And may you see how home has been established already in you, your husband, and your children. Many, many blessings to you today. I pray that God surprises you.
Nicole Wetzel´s last blog ..Chasing Garbage Trucks (a Marathon Story)
Things get better as they get in order. It is hard to feel comfortable when everything is in a state of transition and disorder!
I spent another day pulling staples out of a wood floor and pulling up carpet tacks. Now that’s entertainment.
Dana´s last blog ..Principled Discovery nominated for Homeschool Blog Award
Renae, many blessings to you as you settle in and make a house a home! Looking forward to seeing it soon! If you need a getaway, I have a lovely guest room! And a huge bonus room for the kids. Seriously. Come our way sometime!
Jennifer in OR´s last blog ..Our Oregon Ducks
[...] promised pictures of our homestead. I haven’t forgotten. My computer didn’t survive our move, so Dylan has been working to [...]
Renae, congratulations on surviving your move! I’m sure you’ll make your new house a home very quickly, if you haven’t already.
We’ve moved twice in the last two years (after living in our old house for nearly 20 years), and we’re probably going to have to move again next summer. It’s not easy, but God has used this experience to teach us so many things. It really has been a blessing.
Enjoy Christmas in your new home!