Joy to the Home and Gratitude
A friend came to visit me recently. She complained about her home instead of sharing my happiness in our move. After she left, I thought about how grateful I am for such a glorious home. My life wasn’t always like this.
My friend’s jealousy and reading Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man: the adventures of a guilty liberal who attempts to save the planet, and the discoveries he makes about himself and our way of life in the process made me feel guilty about my home’s amenities.
When I thought about what my family has been through over the past six years, I realized we were given a piece of heaven to enjoy, to refresh our spirit and soul, and to share grace with our family, friends, and acquaintances.
The house was striped of lighting, heating, air conditioning, sinks, all doorknobs, dishwasher, garbage disposal, hot water tanks and more. The dirt road is impossible to pass on rainy days without four wheel drive. We have so much work to do. This property needed us to rescue it just as much as I need a project home to rescue me.
This is the last of a series of dream homes I have been fortunate enough to have lived in. This is not the largest, the grandest, or most valuable of houses. I gave up other homes for many reasons before I wanted to leave. In the eighties, we owned an oceanfront home in Newport Beach we had to give up for hospital bills. After numerous moves, I got to live in a Florida Victorian mansion for ten years. Later, I cried for months after leaving a riverfront estate to move back to California for our daughter’s health.
It always seemed that as soon as I got a house the way I wanted it, I had to leave. I don’t plan on moving again, but you never know what life gives you. Living every day in a home full of love, light, and laughter is all that matters. The house can be magnificent, but without family and friends to share, what difference does it make?
I hope you gain some insight into designing your home for happiness from this blog. Joy to YOUR home.
Oh, and don’t feel at all guilty about enjoying your beautiful house! I remember when you lived in Palatka with all your kids growing up. Although you probably have some beautiful memories of that time, it must have been a challenge. You are a deserving grandma now, so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!