My Home..My Sanctuary

I love my home! I love my home! I love how everything brings me comfort. Not everything matches. But in my memory they do. The energy living and breathing in every single thing that surrounds us here is worth more than "matching". It's worth more than projects unfinished or things just for the sake of things.

(picture of Clancey in Corey's arms when he was embarrassed at his preschool graduation. And Lucas at the precious age of 2) The pictures are resting on an old trunk of my husband's Grandmother)

(the woodstove I was so scared of 2 years ago..now I love! Plants we've had for years)

(accumulation of beanies and scarves in a wicker basket I got at a garage sale over 5 years ago)

(plants we've had..given to me for anniversaries or in Tucson. Sitting on an ammunition/gun carrier which we got for free (4 years ago) then Corey made into a plant/bookstand)

(a wicker stand given to me by my mom. a lamp given to me by my mom. Books that I love. In a corner that brings peace)

(a lamp that Corey made using a piece of wood found on a hike, then laquered and sanded and given to me for Christmas in 2006. A watercolor painting of sunflowers painted by Corey and the frame bought at a garage sale then painted by Corey. (and some goo seeping down the bottom right corner.???) A throw pillow embroidered by moi. A couple throws bought in Tucson at the arts festival..cause we love interesting throws. And some black and white photos framed by me of Girl That Changed Our Lives)

(A piano with photos and Scentsy warmer given to me for Christmas this year by Corey who knows me and knows what I love. Boys artwork framed. Photos of Corey in the Grand Canyon..2 separate trips. And the tippy top of our remote control because we like to watch The Bachelor ..okay I like to watch it. But we all like to watch movies)

(our home is defined by the souls who dwell here....and their "dolly's" too)

(our bedroom dresser filled with many memories. An engagement picture of Corey and I in 1995. My embroidery bag with current project inside. A paper mache guy that I felt akin to years ago. A photo of baby Clancey. Pottery. The girl on mirror says "I love the swirl & swing of words as they tangle with human emotions." ... given to me by a good friend, Candace because she knows I like to write.)

(my bedside stand. Just me. Just memories galore. And books I am currently reading. The bed?! Oh that bed. Corey crackle-painted that bed frame just for me, about 8 years ago. I came home from work one night and he had it all done and set up in our bedroom...very proud of his work and full of adoration for me, his wife..saying "This is for you because I love you so much. Merry Christmas." Oh. And those pictures reflected off the mirror above the tv? A San Fransisco trip taken by me and my husband. Best time ever.)

(glorious boys' room)

I bask in the glow of my home. I love the accumulation of our lives... My family. I love how things hold history for us. They remind us of places we've lived. Things we've gone through, loving each other all the while.

I live and breathe the fact that our baseboards have a bit of dust on them. I live and breathe the fact that we have over 15 plants giving us oxygen. I live and breathe the fact that our couch holds so many memories I can't even count. I live and breathe the fact that I don't care about it looking a certain way. My home gives me life because my family lives in each material item here. My photos on the walls give me life. My dirty clothes on the bathroom floor give me life. Because they are mine. They are my children. They are my husband. They are my boys. They are my girl. They are my books. They are my journals. They are the dirty dishes. (I took a picture but it didn't turn out. I swear) They are the dust mites. They are my throw pillows.They are my yesterday. They are my 10 months ago. They are my 10 years ago. They are perfection to me. They are "Us".

There is love here. It is so solid, I can actually hold it in my arms. I feel comforted when I walk in the door. I don't feel stressed. I don't feel I have to chase away the human beings that enter by saying "take your shoes off. sorry there's a spot of dirt. oops..there is a nick on that table. Dishes in the sink? So sorry you had to see that." I don't feel bad about it.

It is my life. I am breathing it in and out and in and out everyday.

And if you come to my Home, I will say "Welcome, Friend". I will talk to you and smile at you through the comfort you feel. And though I may not know you that well, you will feel free to be yourself. You will not feel you have to be a certain way. You will feel like this is your home too.

Take your shoes off. Cozy up on the couch. Lay on the throw blanket. Rock in the chair. Rock fast if you want to. And you can even pick your nose. We have tissues! Go grab a glass of water. Have some cookies. And eat it in the living room! Grab a pillow from the couch and squeeze it. Curl up into it. Be free here. Be you.

Welcome, Friend.