And here I confess that my attitude about this house has usually been one of two things: either I've felt guilty or greedy.
(By the way, this post is brought to you by the letter G.)
Seriously, I've tended to feel guilty that I have such a lovely place to live--I know I don't deserve it! Or else I've felt greedy--such as when I've looked at my kitchen and thought, "I really just don't have enough storage space." Sheesh.
When I really stop to think about it, I realize that neither of these attitudes is doing me or anyone else any good. So my house goal for 2012 is to adjust my thinking. I want to replace the guilty and greedy thoughts and feelings with two new "G" words:
grateful and
gracious.
I want to spend every day of this year being grateful for all of God's blessings, including my house. I think maybe if I stop to be grateful for this gift, I'll take better care of it. And I want to open my home to others. In any way I can, I want to share this gift. I want my home to be a place of grace.
So my specific goals include:
- getting rid of piles. (I'm a terrible piler. I need to break this habit, or at least go through the piles on a regular basis so that the piles don't become mountains.)
- adopting a regular cleaning schedule that I can and will actually stick to.
- keeping the house orderly enough to be glad to open the door to anyone, anytime.
- keeping the guest room clean, so that overnight guests are always welcome.
Yes! I have goals! Do you have any suggestions for how I might reach them? Do you have goals for your home? Join the Nester for her Home Goals Party!
28 comments:
Your home is BEAUTIFUL! WOW! You are very blessed.
I just love everything about this post Richella! I relate to so much and feel that you perfectly captured how I want to approach my own home. I want it to be used to glorify God in every way possible, whether that is through opening it up to others or having it be a haven and respite for those who actually live here. :-) Thanks so much for sharing your heart with us!
Vanessa
Your home is lovely and I would love to live there - so I will move in with you and remind you daily how lucky you are (I will even help you to organize your cupboards so that you have more space!!) My personal goal this month is just to organize my closets and clear away old blankets and towels to bring to animal rescue - one goal at a time!!
Joel Osteen says, "Wear your blessings well." He means blessings such as your beautiful home. Look what God can do, He is good.
Wonderful goals! I have so much and am so blessed, and yet I struggle with wanting more as I browse blogs and see things that I think I might need! I am striving to open my home more to others this year, and to be open to the Lord's leading in how to more effectively bless others with it! Thanks for sharing your heart ...we need to keep each other accountable!
Your thoughts and words are mine as well. Here's to our 2012s. Blessings.
you might like to add Green-ing it up a bit to your list:: here's a really EASY way to get started: http://bit.ly/yRqK0U
going to blissdom??
I love everything about this post and all your others. Your home is a reflection of you - lovely.
Thank you for sharing your world with us.
Cheers!
Oh Richella, You home is beautiful. And that kitchen, it is almost larger than my entire 1100 sq ft home where we raised our children and now I help raise my grandchildren in. Yes, grateful and gracious are beautiful words to be mindful of in 2012. I think I'll put them on MY list :)
Wow, your house is beautiful! A few blog friends and I introduced a new challenge idea Monday and it would be so fun if you want to join. If you have a second, check in at http://thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/imagine-the-impossibilities-challenge/ to learn more, and feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Karah @ thespacebetweenblog
Hey! Came across you blog through the nester :) that is my print on etsy....it is a quote from Epicurus. Thanks! I will check out your blog some more....
Kari :)
Hi friend-found you at the nester's-good luck with your goals too!I'm your newest follower- Stop on by to visit!!
Kari, THANK YOU so much for letting me know that this is yours! I tried to find the source on Pinterest but was unable to do so. I have corrected my post to give you proper credit.
Hi, Richella,
Your home has always been so clean and beautiful - I can't imagine you need to establish a cleaning schedule! As for the piles, I have a hint: I tend to develop a pile of "to be filed" and what-not. I go through it before any company or sitter comes over (at least every 2 weeks) and either (1) file the document or (2) trash/shred the document. It's amazing what you once thought was important that really isn't. If it's a recipe from a magazine or an article you'd like to keep, you can create two books of self-adhesive albums: one for recipes and one for articles. That's been great for me.
Your home is your sanctuary, and anyone who enters it feels that - and I think that is much more important that a little dust or a pile of papers in a corner.
XO
Erin
Girl, I could have spoken these words myself. That's far too often how I feel: guilty or greedy...and they both make for a discontent housewife. Thank you for pointing me toward gratitude. It's really the only lens through which to see our homes.
Thanks! And your house is absolutely gorgeous - I live in a 1970s multi-level... I'd love to have a new kitchen but I try to keep reminding myself to be happy with the success of my shop, and my heathly kids and family....
Take care! Kari
You're home is beautiful. I want your kitchen (and the snow)!
Can I just tell you how much I adore you??? Your home is absolutely beautiful, but not nearly as much as your heart. I would have never thought of you as greedy - you are one of the most giving people I've ever known and I'm so, so glad we became friends (and I even got to hug your neck at Blissdom!)
Your goal this year is wonderful... I so wish to be one of the lucky guests that could stay in that room :)
Love ya,
G
love your letter G goals! btw i pinned the pic of your house in snow on my winter pics board a while back because it is SO PRETTY!
It is lovely! What color green did you use in your kitchen? I don't have a blog so here is my email.
cherdecor@verizon.net
I love visiting here.
I know what's wrong with me now. I should be striving to be house humble instead of house proud. Thanks for putting my feelings into words.
Hi! I tend to think the same about my home. thanks for reminding me again how blessed I am. Great post.
wonderful post, richella! how we must continue to renew our minds toward the right perspective!
Really? You're a piler? I am a self-proclaimed stacker. It's awful, but sadly it's how my mind organizes. I've GOT to work on that.
I totally agree with everything you said. I'm always griping about living in such a small space with six of us. 1500 sq. ft. is NOT enought, but I know there are people that have no home at all that would love my 1500 sq. ft. I have a lot to be grateful for. Thanks for the reminder!
What great words! I think I need that print somewhere that I would see it often.- Thank you for the challenge and reminder. They were a blessing to me!
Oh wow! Your home is gorgeous! I live in the wrong state, I tell ya! I love your post (and the letter G) and I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head for many of us. All of us.
Your house is absolutely magnificent! I love love love the kitchen set up!
-->Your house is Beautiful! You should not feel guilty.
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