Two weeks ago, after the alarm went off early in the morning, I dragged myself out of bed all the while bemoaning the fact that it was pitch black outside and frankly it felt all wrong to have to be doing anything other than snuggling under the covers for another hour or so.
I went downstairs, made coffee and opened my laptop to check emails before the kids came down.
And there it was. An email from an editor at Better Homes and Gardens.
I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing it correctly through my tired, bleary eyes. You see, they had seen my DIY Plate Rack and thought it would be perfect for the ‘I Dit It’ column in their magazine and would I be willing to hop on a phone call? I honestly had to read the email about 10 times before I was able to process it. Really?! Me?! My little ol’ plate rack hanging in my kitchen?!!
After emailing the editor back (it took all of my willpower to not have a million exclamation points in my reply back to her and to try and stay calm, cool and collected!) and scheduling a time to talk I raced around the house getting the kids ready for school and thinking about how crazy life is. You can be sitting there in your robe with wet hair and only thinking about how you should’ve packed the kids lunches the night before and then suddenly you find out that BHG wants to come to your house!
It was only when we were on the phone that the editor dropped the bomb. They wanted to come to my house soon…like really soon….like in a few days soon! YIKES! Not only was it crazy to think of just under normal circumstances but I was preparing to speak at a church women’s retreat that coming weekend and was already a tad overwhelmed. But, all I said was “Sure! Of course! No problem!”
Within a couple of days the boxes of goodies/props began to be delivered to my home and before I knew it the big day had arrived!
The photography equipment was dropped off in the kitchen.
And pretty soon this entire space was taken over. Of course, I had to be a good hostess and keep everyone nourished throughout the day so we munched on apple cider doughnuts in the morning, chex mix, and my amazing roasted red pepper soup for lunch with bread from my favorite local bakery.
Edmund the photographer and Char the stylist were such a blast to work with and we were fast friends. They made me feel so comfortable and at ease and I couldn’t have asked for more amazing people to have in my home all day.
The entire thing felt like such a ‘pinch me I must be dreaming moment’. I never would have imagined the week before that I would have Better Homes and Gardens coming to my house to photograph me standing next to the plate rack I built one afternoon to fill an awkward wall in my kitchen.
But, here’s the thing my friends. It felt so much like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but after they left, the sweats went back on, my hair went back into a ponytail and I hurried to get dinner on the table and help my kids with their homework.
And that’s the real stuff of life after all, isn’t it? Magazines and book deals and speaking engagements are all pretty great and I’m humbled that God is opening doors for me and that I’m able to pursue my dreams.
But, at the end of the day, my most favorite role of all is as a wife and a mom and a homemaker. It’s my sweet spot. It’s what I find to be the most fulfilling.
Don’t get me wrong, this kind of opportunity is super fun and I’m deeply grateful for everything. But, it’s important to keep a proper perspective, don’t you think?
To remember what defines us…and what doesn’t.
So I’ll simply chock this one up as a really cool experience, a fun adventure. And I’ll happily sit here in my sweats and fondly remember the day that Better Homes and Gardens came to my house!
P.S. I’ll be sure to let you know which issue it’s going to be in as soon as I get the OK! 😉
Congrats! For this season of your life, kids are priority. But, in the future, you never know what will fill your day. Those are pretty exciting possibilities. ☺️
Thank you Lisa!
Oh how exciting Vanessa!!!….congrats on this most wonderful experience. I love your DIY plate rack too!…Looks like your BHG team were fun to work with!….Cannot wait to see your home in the magazine!!….Congrats again…so well deserved!
Thank you so much Shirley! I so appreciate your support and encouragement. You are such a blessing to me my friend!
SO thrilled for you! Interesting the timing of those 2 things, speaking truth into God’s women and helping His girls create beautiful homes through print, both within a matter of days. He is certainly using your gifts to encourage women in their hearts and homes. What a ministry. We women are all this thing called life, often as wives and moms, together and we’re all on the same team so while you’re out there in the field playing this time I’m cheering from the sidelines!
Congrats Vanessa! Your home is lovely and so are you!
It’s truly a pleasure to watch your dreams come true! : )
Thank you so much Peg!
What an experience to have! I’m so happy it was you that got that opportunity. But what makes my heart sing the most is your perspective on the whole of it. God is truly your anchor, and you let him hold it all in his hands. I admire you and your ability to enjoy the blessing and give him the glory of the whole experience. Knowing at the end of the day, who you are and staying grounded with perspective. Congratulations! Well deserved!
Blessings, Hope
Oh Hope thank you so much for your incredibly sweet words!! You are such a blessing to me always! 🙂
Wow, how exciting! I was trying to imagine how that would feel. I think I’d be panicked. But your house is lovely so scrape your hair into a pony, throw on the yoga pants and get back to living, but I doubt if you’re finished in the surprise department.
Where did you get the fabulous cream colored pots on your fireplace mantel? They are amazing!
YAY…that is so exciting! I can’t wait to get my copy in the mail! ~Sonya
Congratulations! Well deserved! I love your blog and I love your priorities!
NOW…we need you “amazing red pepper soup” recipe!!
How exciting! I can’t wait to see your home in a magazine. You have reached new heights, girl!
So fun! Happy for you 🙂 xo!
Thank you Andrea!
Love it! Especially loved the pictures of your house! It’s just gorgeous. What a thrill to have the opportunity to show it off in such a big way! Can’t wait to see it in print!
Thank you so much Kathy!
How fitting for the day I read a devotional on God making us into the best me, the best YOU –His creation in whom He sings with great delight and lover over( see Zephaniah 3:17 I believe?). But as I looked back on your own writings, I felt your own words fit the very best to describe what is happening. God is leading you on a path to be His light to people I cannot reach for Him. But you will. Isn’t this exciting?!!
“WANNA BE IN MY BAND?
OCTOBER 8, 2014
“Hey Mom, guess what? I’m in a band now!”
My then 9 year old son was sitting at the kitchen island having his after-school snack and after I got over the initial shock of hearing him voluntarily share something about his day, I quickly replied, “Really? How cool buddy! Are they going to have a band at school now?”
“No”, he said, ” It’s not for the school. It’s just me and my friends! I’m going to play the piano.”
“Wow!”, I said, “What’s the name of your band?”
“We’re calling it Go Go for Jesus!“, he answered.
keyboard
With every fiber of my being I fought the urge to burst into laughter. And I continued to fight that urge as he explained to me how they were making plans to take ‘Go Go for Jesus’ on the road and how they just knew that before long Hollywood was going to come knocking on their doors.
“So, who is in your band?” I asked. “Oh, everyone is mom. The whole class!”, he replied.
He must have read my mind because he quickly explained that even though not everyone would be playing an instrument, every kid would have a role in the success of Go Go for Jesus.
Kyle was going to be the tour manager. Andrew was in charge of snacks. There were 5 ‘lead’ singers. You get the idea.
And when I asked if I could have a job with the band too, I was informed that they might consider letting me drive the tour bus.
Despite the fact that this group of 3rd graders had never actually practiced together and most of them had never even picked up an instrument, they were all 100% convinced that there were going to make it BIG. Like ‘American Idol’ big!
tin drum
I asked when they were going to be practicing and he said, “We don’t need to actually practice mom, we just know what to do!” And then, thankfully, he headed off to his room and I was finally able to let out the laughter I had been suppressing throughout the entire conversation.
As I was telling my husband about ‘Go Go for Jesus’ later that night (and after we laughed our heads off), we both marveled at the fact that in their little 3rd grade hearts, this wasn’t just an imaginary band. It was REAL. And they had full confidence that it would be successful. I mean, you can’t go wrong in Hollywood with a name like that, right?
The other day I found myself thinking (and laughing) again about Go Go for Jesus. And I realized that I envied those 3rd graders who so firmly believed, with complete faith, that they were going to make it.
Because somewhere along the line, I stopped believing with all my heart that my dreams could come true. Oh, I’m not talking about my “I want to get married” dream and my “I want to be a mommy’ dream, although that one was definitely put to the test!
I’m talking about those dreams that just seem so unrealistic. The ones that seem so unrealistic that you start wondering if it’s selfish to ever try and nurture them. You know, the Go Go for Jesus kind of dreams.
Recently I was talking with our Women’s Ministry Pastor and answering her questions about our blog as well as how God is using me during this season in my life. I shared with her about some of my dreams. Dreams that, amazingly, astonishingly, recently have started to seem within reach. And yet, I felt the need to downplay them. To make the caveat that every good Christian girl does when she worries that people will think her dreams are just a bit too big for their britches.
toy xylophone
I told her, “But I know that God can accomplish His purposes with or without me so, you know, it’s no big deal.”
She smiled at me and said, “Yeah, He can. But what if He just really wants to use YOU?”
Ummm….excuse me? Come again? It’s not often that I am rendered speechless (just ask anyone who’s ever spent more than 5 seconds with me!) but I didn’t quite know how to reply.”
And in your story. In your words. In your friend’s words of encouragement we all get to see God’s plan of how He is using YOU for Him!!! Think of all the people you’ll be able to share the Light of Christ? And not talk about what church do you go to but Jesus is my Savior, Lord and friend and this is how I know…or whatever words you pray and ask God to place in your mouth to be His tool!!!!! In the way that fits your personality the best too! Congratulations!
Sweet Gwen, I sit here with tears streaming down my face reading your incredible comment. I’m awe-struck and humbled that you would look back over my writings and then to use my words AND your own precious words to be light and encouragement to me is just so amazing. Today was one of those days where I was particularly feeling drained and discouraged and you have blessed me more than you will ever know! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Vanessa
So incredibly happy for you AND LOVED this post!!!
Thank you so much Deborah!
Wow, congrats, and looking forward to your spread…you just never know what may happen. Years ago, I had a ceramic egg that I hand-painted underglaze into a bunny in a magazine spread. I was so honored. Nice to be recognized, but back to the wash…lol, Sandi
Thank you for these words, and for the proper perspective, Vanessa!! Our role in our day to day lives is what fulfills the most and these dream come true moments are amazing, but nothing compares to our blessings. After all, if we didn’t have our family all this wouldn’t even matter. On a blog note-I’m so happy they contacted you…and the quick thing was prob. a blessing in disguise. Congrats!!!!
Congrats Vanessa! What a wonderful opportunity and experience. Anxious to see the article when it publishes.
Much love to you.
Congratulations – what an accomplishment! Enjoy the moment – you deserve it!
Congratulations! You really deserve it not only for this great project, but also for your whole work you have done over the years supporting maker movement.