There are socks on my kitchen table.
A hula hoop and jump rope on the rug in the entry.
There’s a hotel upstairs.
And monopoly in the hallway.
There are bathing suits drying outside.
And forts in the playroom.
And well, frankly, this is the only kind of ‘decorating’ happening in my house these days.
I had visions of things I was going to accomplish this summer and rooms that were going to be refreshed. There are paint cans which have been sitting in the garage for 2 months waiting to find their way to my daughter’s room and onto the walls. As of today, I have no idea when that will happen.
And while I have had some new lighting installed and have even set up a tablescape or two, the reality is that right now my time and energy is being poured into more important things…or rather, more important people.
Like these two who proudly waved the American flag at every car that drove by while waiting for their grandparents to arrive on the 4th of July.
And this guy. My love. The one who whisked me away on a dream vacation and who still makes my heart go pitter-patter and is my best friend in the whole world.
I’m creating special memories with this girl, making her dream come true by taking her to the place where stuffed animals come to life. We’re bonding over sparkly dresses and hair accessories and I’m cherishing every minute as I notice her long legs getting even longer and her beauty growing even deeper…both inside and out. I’m watching as she skips through these sunny days with a never fading smile on her face.
I’m going on bicycle rides with this tween boy who captured my heart the first time I held him 12 years ago. Soon he will be as tall as me (and then taller than me!) and our talks these days have moved from trains and dump trucks to music styles and the latest iPhone technology. I’m enjoying his quick wit and observations on the world around him while feeling so privileged to witness the incredible young man he is becoming.
I’m making a choice to spend less time on home decor projects and more time on heart building projects.
And I’m embracing it all knowing that there will come a day when I will look back and remember with fondness this very special kind of summer home decorating.
Even the socks on the table. 😉
This article is so cute. There will come a day that you will not regret spending the time with the children vs doing house work / decorating. I admire you, plus the children will never forget it as long as they live. More parents need to do this and make this Country a better place.
Good for you! That is the kind of “home stuff” you need to be doing right now and you’ll never regret it!
I don’t miss your “other” stuff as long as you include this more important “stuff”, especially the pictures!!!
What a beautiful family! Thanks for letting
us peek at your life. You are truly blessed.
: )
I am a mother of four, my youngest just turned 20! And yes, time does fly. It seems like yesterday that I was picking up my three boys Hot Wheel cars and Legos, braiding and curling my daughters hair. I was blessed to be a stay at home mom. I soooo miss the summer days with my children. The laundry and projects will always be there. Enjoy your moments with your children while you can!
Then I would say that all is in order! Cherish every nanosecond! It goes by way too fast!
Thanks for sharing! Such a beautiful reminder that it isn’t about a perfect house but about the time spent with the people in it that makes a beautiful home!
Have a wonderful Summer!
There is a time and a season for everything. Invest in your children while they are children,, and so charmingly delightul. Bonding wtih them, and training them, pays dividends. You’ll never regret it! You can still sneak in a little decorating and/or improvements. I’m in a season of caring for my mother, who has cancer, and spending quality time with my grandchildren (we call it dream day) and designing my own tablescape, inspired by some of you bloggers. Happy Summer to you!
Love this post…there is far more to life than decorating! Enjoy these precious days! 😉
Thank you Donnamae! 🙂
Awww, my house always has forts and tents and shoes everywhere. I clear it away to take a few photos, then it’s back to normal:-) Trying to enjoy my kids as much as I can because it seems like every summer gets shorter and shorter:-) Enjoy every moment with them Vanessa!!
It’s so true that every summer seems to get shorter and shorter! Enjoy your time with your precious family sweet friend! <3
What a great looking group!! Enjoy this time as it will pass quickly and in a few summers you will miss this time and laughter,talking because your house will be quite , because your young adults are going to be busy and not home very much.
Have a wonderful summer.
Thank you so much Pamela!
You have a beautiful family! You totally have your priorities straight – keep up the good work. I cannot even begin to tell you how fast they are grown and gone. : – (
Your husband is handsome and looks so much like my chiropractor I did a double take. WOW, talk about doppelgangers!!! Unreal!
Glad you are enjoying your summer. All we have is rain, rain, rain and then on a good day, more rain.
LOL Michele! Thanks so much for your sweet comment and I will pass on the compliment to my husband! 😉
Awesome! I truly don’t know how DIY/decor bloggers do it with young kids! Keep writing these inspiring posts! They are just as good as any paint project out there! I worked from home when my kids were young and thankfully I had flexible hours, so I often worked into the wee hours of the morning in the summertime just to fit everything into those sunny, fun filled days! You will never get these moments back! Treasure them!
Thank you sweet friend! It’s definitely a juggling act, especially in the summer, but I really am so thankful that I get to work from home and set my own hours so that I can enjoy these times with my kiddos. 🙂
I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your family. And yes mam! Enjoying your family is exactly what summer is all about. They grow up so quickly.
Thank you so much Nancy! 🙂
A home lovingly lived in!
Love you four! Mom
Vanessa I couldn’t agree with you more!! Time flies and they grow up to quickly…I’m hardly on the computer these days and I don’t even miss it! Reality hit me this summer knowing my oldest will be going off to college in a few years!!!
Thanks for sharing your precious family moments with us!
Love this post. I love real life and blogging mostly focuses on perfect houses, gardens or beautiful tablescapes which we all know is not real life.
Thank you for sharing your heart and beautiful values.
GOOD FOR YOU! Super wonderful blog!!! God blesses those who bless each other, and thanks for sharing and helping us to refocus on what IS IMPORTANT in life. All the other things are only “stuff.”