Picture the first home you ever lived in. Was it cozy? Was it big? Was it small? Does your mind flood with fond memories or perhaps ones you’d rather forget? Now that I have your mind mulling over memory lane, I'll tell you how the word "HOME" really started to take on a whole new meaning this past month for me.
One of our big transitions as you might have guessed was moving into a new home. Consequently, two days after moving all of our belongings in, Ryan left for Indiana on a temporary 3-week job at an oil refinery. On top of that – I started my new job at the church a few days before he left. It was a trifecta of blessing, challenge, and change all in one week.
Now this new home wasn’t the most inviting place to be since Ryan wasn't there and our stuff was still completely boxed up. On top of that I didn’t really have a free weekend to unpack a substantial amount of boxes. Whenever I had a day off it consisted of accomplishing the bare necessities, like running errands, washing clothes, cleaning our old apartment, and balancing our budget. Don’t get me wrong there was some downtime in which I relaxed, but for the most part I was pretty stinkin' busy!
Once people knew that Ryan had left for his job and I wasn’t staying at our new place while he was gone, the phrase “Southern Hospitality” came to life. I am so thankful for my husbands family and church family which extended such a loving hand of kindness to not only keep me company, but feed me and house me. What a blessing to be inundated with tons of family and close friends saying, “Come on over for dinner!” or “Stay the night! You’re more than welcome!” That just spoke volumes to me. I felt so unbelievably loved, and that's when I started to think about the definition of home and what I knew it to be.
One of our big transitions as you might have guessed was moving into a new home. Consequently, two days after moving all of our belongings in, Ryan left for Indiana on a temporary 3-week job at an oil refinery. On top of that – I started my new job at the church a few days before he left. It was a trifecta of blessing, challenge, and change all in one week.
Now this new home wasn’t the most inviting place to be since Ryan wasn't there and our stuff was still completely boxed up. On top of that I didn’t really have a free weekend to unpack a substantial amount of boxes. Whenever I had a day off it consisted of accomplishing the bare necessities, like running errands, washing clothes, cleaning our old apartment, and balancing our budget. Don’t get me wrong there was some downtime in which I relaxed, but for the most part I was pretty stinkin' busy!
Once people knew that Ryan had left for his job and I wasn’t staying at our new place while he was gone, the phrase “Southern Hospitality” came to life. I am so thankful for my husbands family and church family which extended such a loving hand of kindness to not only keep me company, but feed me and house me. What a blessing to be inundated with tons of family and close friends saying, “Come on over for dinner!” or “Stay the night! You’re more than welcome!” That just spoke volumes to me. I felt so unbelievably loved, and that's when I started to think about the definition of home and what I knew it to be.
...home is somewhere that people call you their own.
My true home is in Wisconsin. There’s no doubt about that. However, there are many ‘homes’ I've found even after moving away from Wisconsin. To me, home is somewhere that people call you their own. Home is when someone says what’s mine is yours. Home is when someone says "Here, take mine, there's plenty." That's not for you to abuse that freedom but for you to realize that the people you have in life are more like a family, even if they're really just a close friend or someone who randomly showed an ordinary yet extraordinary gesture of love.
If you've ever wanted to show that same gesture of love... here's how: give. Give of your possessions, time, and resources. Even if you have little, and your time is limited. And if you want know how to continue showing God's love: Give thanks. That thanks motivates you to see that you give because God gave you what you have..and even if you barely have something, that something still means everything to someone who has nothing.
If you've ever wanted to show that same gesture of love... here's how: give. Give of your possessions, time, and resources. Even if you have little, and your time is limited. And if you want know how to continue showing God's love: Give thanks. That thanks motivates you to see that you give because God gave you what you have..and even if you barely have something, that something still means everything to someone who has nothing.
... you're at home when you're with family, and everyone should have a place to call home.
All of this makes me think about this new home Ryan and I have moved into. Will this place be a ‘home’ for others? Will we open our door and be just as loving and hospitable as all the other people God's placed in our lives? Absolutely! Of course there is a little bit of renovation and cleaning to do first… but in due time! And as I am writing this, I know that some would argue that the way I've defined "HOME" might also be interchangeable with the word "FAMILY". And I believe it is... you're at home when you're with family, and everyone should have a place to call home.
Speaking of home... If you are looking for a gift that is unique, affordable, and profits a good cause.. GoldenAdventures Etsy page is the perfect place to find it.
Speaking of home... If you are looking for a gift that is unique, affordable, and profits a good cause.. GoldenAdventures Etsy page is the perfect place to find it.
Our good friend, neighbor, and Ryan's doppelganger, Jason Granger, is the talented designer behind these custom gold foil prints. For each one he sells, it will profit his soon approaching mission trip to Haiti with his wife, Sarah. They have a huge heart to serve and it would be a great opportunity to support them as they travel to assist and equip the community of Jérémie, Haiti. Click here to learn more about the endeavors of his Etsy shop.
I know y’all might be itching to see some pictures of our life lately, and I desperately want to post a bunch, although, we want the before and after of our home to be a little bit more dramatic, so we’re gonna wait a bit for that reveal.
In the meantime, here are a few pics of life from the rock climbing trip in Sandrock, Alabama and Ryan’s Birthday Scavenger hunt!
In the meantime, here are a few pics of life from the rock climbing trip in Sandrock, Alabama and Ryan’s Birthday Scavenger hunt!
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had two Thanksgivings here in Louisiana.. plus an extra special Skype date with my family back in Wisconsin! The next time you hear from us might be next year! But I hope to get a few recipes up here before then. We love you and as always, thanks for reading!