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Eleven years. It’s the longest I’ve lived in any house. We moved around quite a bit while I was growing up and I always wanted my kids to have the comfort and security that comes from spending most of their childhood in the same home. When we first walked through this house with our realtor, I remember spotting the window seat in an upstairs bedroom and I could so vividly picture my daughter, who was only 9 months old at the time, spending hours there reading and gazing out the window. Now, that same room with the window seat is bearing witness to the highs and lows of life as a tween girl and I love knowing that she will always have memories of the sanctuary that it has provided.
But, there has been one side effect to living in a home for so long that I wasn’t quite expecting. We’re starting to update what we have already updated.
Most recently, I decided that it was time to freshen up the light above our kitchen table and I was so thrilled to find this beauty!
The light we had before had served its purpose well, illuminating this space where we went from having high chairs and booster seats to elementary aged kiddos tipping over the chairs and racing through on their way into the kitchen to now teens and tweens where we try to slow down and savor each meal knowing how different things will be around this table in just a few short years.
BEFORE
But, I was ready for something just a bit softer than the black and more in keeping with the style direction in which our home has been heading. I love the rusty tones and how much more easy this new one is on the eyes.
It just looks like it belongs here don’t you think?
AFTER
It’s fascinating to me that as my kids have grown up in this home, so has every room. As our needs continue to change as a family (no one pushes trains all over the floors anymore or hangs necklaces off of the landing at the top of the stairs while pretending to be fishing) our house is changing too.
And just like the growing up years, there are times when the changes are slow and subtle and other times when it’s so drastic it shocks you.
I don’t know if we’ll be in this home forever (or at least until we can’t walk up the stairs anymore!) but I can’t even express how wonderful it is to have felt so settled somewhere. To have my kids experience what it feels like to really and truly be ‘home’. And to have this place be a peaceful haven where we all can come and regroup and re-energize before we head back out into the world.
And even though the fixtures and the paint colors and maybe even some flooring (we still have the original 1992 green carpet in the game room!) might change, we all know that it’s not really those things which make this home so special to us.
It’s the good moments and the hard moments and the everyday moments in between, all taking place within these walls and becoming cherished memories that bind us together as a family but also bind us, inextricably, to this place.
So, we’ll keep updating and helping our house to evolve just as we are evolving and changing as a family.
And I’ll be forever grateful that I finally got to experience living in a place that really and truly feels like home.
Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today dear friends,
Vanessa, I love the new light. It does look welcoming. But, most of all, I just enjoy your blog. I love to read how you so perfectly weave the story of life through your posts. It touches my heart. I can relate. Your home is absolutely a “sweet” home. Welcoming, warm, and beautiful are just a few pale adjectives that come to my mind when I get to see the love that touches your creativity. Thank you for sharing and allowing me a glimpse of your hard work. As usual, it brings joy and a smile every time.
Oh Sherry, as I read your comment I was fighting back tears because I so often question if what I share here really matters and I doubt myself more than I care to admit. Your incredibly kind and encouraging words were just what I needed today and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to respond to blog posts and for being apart of the community here. It never ceases to humble and amaze me that I’m able to share my life and my home with others in this way and that they, in turn, share their lives with me! From the bottom of my heart…thank you. 🙂
Eleven years isn’t so long to live in a house. Sixty two years ago we moved into a “fixer upper” and had our first baby boy. It was really hard to cook for up to 10 men without a kitchen, but we got what we wanted and later my husband built cabinets. In time we completely rebuilt the house and had two more children. I found out recently why our pastor likes to come down to visit. He said when he walks into the house he feels a peace and the simplicity of our house (here on the farm) relaxes him and he goes back to work refreshed. Now my husband is sick, but we are going to try to stay here as long as we can. Enjoy these years in your home with the young ones because when they leave it’s hard to get them back.
Your blog is a blessing.
Beautiful fixture! Just perfect!
Warm, comforting words to go with it.
Thank you so much Melanie! I so appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
LOVE your pretty new chandy!!!! Good choice – looks perfect.
Funny, I was just telling my husband this very thing…….that we have been here long enough that we’re changing what we changed when we first bought our house. It feels weird and every time I do I feel guilty and wasteful – so I am going about it slowly till I just must change it.
But it is a weird feeling to be sure. I am with ya on this one. Can’t wait to see your other little and maybe big changes in the future. ♥
It does feel weird to change what you’ve already changed!! But I agree that doing things slowly and not feeling pressured to just keep changing things with the trends is definitely the way to go. Thanks so much for stopping by Michele! xoxo
A few short weeks until my family and I move into a new home, 1700 miles from our old home. We were talking about how the light fixture over the breakfast table will need to be changed rather quickly. Your fixture is beautiful. Will you share where you found it, please? Thank you!!
Beautifully said. I love the antics you described especially the necklaces fishing over the stair railing. So sweet! And yes, the essence of a home is in the love and joy and experiences shared. And your home is so delightful. Thank you for sharing your lives and heart.
The light fixture looks good and I enjoy your blog.
We have been global nomads until about 10 years ago. Only when my husband retired from the military and we of course moved to China did we live in one home 3 years which was the longest place we had lived in our adult lives and for our kids too. I still get the “change it up even thought we aren’t moving” bug about every 3 years ! Love this chandelier. I copied your post to my daughter who has been on the hunt for her own changes in lighting. Thnaks for sharing your update!
I love your light and reading your blog, our lives change daily and sometimes our homes need to be spruced up just a little, blessings.
Thank you so much Marlene!! Appreciate you stopping by and commenting! 🙂