Transforming the Mundane Into the Beautiful

The laundry room of most homes is a dreary place, often outfitted with cement walls and pipes in a dank basement setting. Occasionally, the washer and dryer are afforded a secret hideout behind closed doors in a hallway. Some houses even go so far as to honor them with a bit of real estate in the kitchen. But, never ever are these monstrous pieces of equipment considered beautiful, and therefore, the area that contains them, is not seen that way either. By the very nature of their existance, we consider them and what surrounds them to be either dirty or in the process of being made clean. The laundry room is a place for work, not for beauty.

No real creativity is needed to wash clothes. Folding clothes is a rather monotonous task as well. The only thing aspect of doing laundry that even remotely qualifies as an intellectual pursuit is the job of pre-treating stains. If we were entirely honest with ourselves, we would all agree that laundry rarely ranks first as a favorite household chore. So, all this said, it would be utterly ridiculous to expect the room in which the laundry and its various accoutrements preside to be a lovely, aesthetically-pleasing place. Wouldn't it?

Absolutely not! I spend a goodly amount of time in the laundry room each and every day climbing Mount Washmore. Why not make that space something that is pleasing to the eye. Could it be that laundry is even more of a chore when the area of the house we do this task in seems reminiscent of a dungeon?

I was first exposed to the idea of decorating my laundry area after visiting my cousin Tina's home. Her washer and dryer stood off the side of the kitchen and had all sorts of adorable little signs loitering about. I smiled at her ingenuity, and tucked the memory in the back of my mind where I file all those things I really hope to do someday.

Shortly thereafter, we moved. The house we now lived in had the laundry area right smack dab in the middle of the kitchen. I was appalled, but determined to make the best of it. So, with an assortment of functional and froo-froo items, I proceeded to decorate my new laundry area. I added a shelf for soap, a sorting hamper, and for a little hint of playfulness, a "laundry line" with little crocheted dresses that were supposed to be potholders that no one in their right mind would ever use for that purpose. I was pleased with the result.

However, after the next move, my creativity waned a bit. For the first time, my laundry area was in the basement right next to the hot water heater and the furnace. The walls were cement with just a tiny bit of paneling to the right of the dryer. There really was nothing lovely about this space. But, I once again, hung up my little dresses and added 2 new items to the functionality of the space. One was plastic shelving containing the 3 laundry baskets that belonged to my husband and I, the boys, and the girls. The other was another type of plastic shelving that held my soaps and stray socks. I also had started adding Scripture throughout the house, so this spot was blessed with Psalm 51: 1,2

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

So, this was the sight that greeted me each day...




















It could have been worse. But, the fact of the matter is, it could have been a whole lot better too. But how? How do you "fix" cement and pipes? Well, inspiration came at last! While watching Cat's videos on decluttering, I took special note of her laundry room and what she had chosen to do there. Now, her laundry room is nothing like mine, but seeing hers brought me to a point where I could once again brainstorm ideas for making this space a beautiful one.

So, I took some fabric from my collection (some people collect coins, I collect fabric), and took a quick measurement, cut the fabric and serged up the two frayed sides. Next, I used magnetized chip-clips and clipped the fabric and stuck the magnet to the pipes above my washer and dryer. Voila! Instant coverage of the cement and pipes.

Next, I took a length of ivy I wasn't using about the house (I love foliage because it makes me feel like the outside is inside, and there is something incredibly calming in that for me), and I taped it (yes, I said "taped it") to the tops of my washer and dryer.

After that, I hung some small baskets from the exposed wall stud next to my dryer and placed some ivy picks in those baskets. I cleaned off the top of my dryer and turned a sewing basket no one was using into a dryer sheet holder.

I was thrilled with the results! It has become a place I smile at whenever I walk by! And all this beauty cost me nothing. Everything I used was already in my home!

But, you may still be wondering why. Why go to the trouble of making the area look beautiful when there really is nothing wonderful about doing laundry. You are only there for a little while several times a day. Who cares if it is pretty?

My question would be, "Why not?" Why shouldn't the places I spend my time in as a wife and mother all be beautiful? There is nothing wrong with beauty. Look at all the beauty our Lord created! Why should this little corner of my basement be devoid of joy simply because I am there to do a mundane task? How much better would you feel about fulfilling this task if you were surrounded by things you enjoyed looking at as you worked? Isn't it possible you might even become inspired long enough by the beauty around you to forget the fact that you despise doing laundry?

Start simple: add a throw rug or a picture. Consider how that one little touch makes you feel. Add a little more, and before you know it, you will have created a space that makes you smile, even if the task that is accomplished there, does not.

Decluttering Video Series

Note:  Mrs. Catherine has shut her site down and it is no longer available.

Every now and then I pop over to Mrs. Catherine's Xanga Blog called Making It Home. I love all the practical tips she offers to make your home a beautiful sanctuary. However, it is not all fluff and froo-froo, it is a Bible-based approach to making a house a home.

I usually just jump around all over the site looking for things that are of interest to me at that particular moment in time. There is just so much, it would take me decades to read through it all! (a decade well-spent, I am sure) But, the other day, what popped up on the homepage intrigued me. It was a Decluttering Challenge.

Now anyone who knows me knows that decluttering is one of my idiosyncracies. It is what I do to de-stress. I know, bizarre, but hey, it is a lot better than some of the things people do to de-stress! So, this particular challenge really interested me! I decided to sit down and go through what had already been posted. I was a little afraid I had missed the whole thing because it had started April 14, but I quickly realized that she intended to take things nice and slow and not only address the WHAT of the clutter, but the WHY of the clutter (oooohh, not so sure I want to go there!)

Well, last week, my son and I (also an avid declutterer) sat down and watched the videos she had posted and dove in. We had a blast! Getting rid of stuff and making what was once ugly and cluttered, beautiful and liveable is such a joy! I really like that she focuses not simply on decluttering, but working toward something beautiful, something that brings you joy and is appealing to the senses. It is decluttering with a purpose!

So, without further ado, I strongly encourage you to visit Making It Home, read what Mrs. Catherine has to say, watch her video series on decluttering, and consider what you would like for your home.

Start here: Clutter Be Gone and work your way forward in time! Enjoy and post here with any thoughts you have on the subject! May your home and your family be blessed!

A Corner for Memories

There has been a very precious addition to my home. It is place I go to when I am needing some time to remember. It is a corner for memories.

It is a somewhat private place...tucked away in our bedroom. I can show people if I want to, but I can also be alone there.

On the wall, hangs a memorial sketch done by Bethany Kerr at Sketches by Bethany. If you look closely at the portrait of Emmy, you can see just the hint of wings behind her. It is the most breathtaking likeness I have ever seen. Bethany truly captured the essence of my Emmy, and this portrait has become one of my most precious belongings.

Underneath, is a shelf with some of the Willow Tree figurines we received after Emily died. The one in the center was brought to us by a friend while we were in intensive care during Emmy's first surgery. It sat on a table at the front of the church on the day of Emily's funeral. After Emmy died, we received 7 figurines, none of which were repeated, nor repeated the vast collection I already owned. This fact along with there being a total of 7 (the number of family members we have), was a comfort to us the way only God's hand in the little things can be.

To the left of the scene shown above, hangs a beautiful ceramic wind chime with butterflies on it. This was a gift from a MOMYS friend of mine.

Currently below this scene stands the bassinet. This is the one item that holds very precious memories for my husband, and he is not quite ready for it to leave our bedroom. One of his favorite memories of Emily was when the children had burst in on one of her naps. My husband walked in to the bedroom to assess the damage, only to see little Emily's fuzzy head peeping up over the side of the bassinet.

Eventually, there will be a small hope chest on the floor beneath the sketch. Our friend, Carrie, has given us this sweet little hope chest for Emmy's things. Most of Emmy's things are still in her dresser. I rarely open those drawers because of the emotion that lies within. I only go there when I really feel as though I need to touch her, and I have the time to grieve hard.

There are other gifts throughout the house as well, all sent with love from friends--many of whom we have never met in real life. There is the afghan crocheted by Christina from Bundled in Prayer (for more information, see link at the bottom of this page). I have wrapped myself up in this soft hug and cried many nights. There are other Willow Trees and statues inside and outside our home, all reminders that our Emmy was loved and will not be forgotten.

While I would not wish the death of a child on anyone, I do appreciate the words of my friend who has also walked this road, "So much is gained through the difficult times - I would wish that on others. " She is speaking of that utter, helpless dependence upon the Lord that brings about such a sweet communion with Him.

My husband and I have chosen to share our Emily with the world. We freely share our memories of her and the testimony her little life was and is. We want others to know how God worked through all of this and how blessed we are because of it. But, there is still a time and a place for private moments. A place where only we can go. Some of our tears must be shed sitting alone in our bedroom, remembering. That is what this corner is for.

Lest Freedom be Expelled

My junior year in college, I walked into a required Anthropology class and listened wide-eyed as the professor proclaimed, "I am a Christian and I believe in evolution, and that is just the way it is." Over the next semester, he presented a multitude of "evidence" that led me to seriously question my faith. This, a Christian institution of higher learning, was my first encounter with serious faith-rocking "evidence" that life began at random, an accident at best. And I had no good arguement with which to refute this "Christian evolutionist's" claims. I had no idea that Ernst Haekel's embryo recapitulation chart was actually a fraud (yes, my prof actually taught this as truth). I never dared to actually verbalize the skepticism I felt when I found out just how many "fossils" had been manufactured (the barn paint one really got me). I was taught not to question authority, even when authority flew in the face of all I had ever believed to be true. So, I sat there like a good little girl and got my A. It wasn't until much later that I realized this professor was teaching nothing but bad science, and my inability to speak out and question it served only to perpetuate his "evidence."

As my faith has become stronger and my knowledge of science deeper, I have often wondered what would have happened to me had I questioned this man. Would I have failed to receive an A in that class or possibly even failed the class altogether? Would I have been labeled a trouble-maker and been banned from speaking in class? Would I have managed to influence others I spoke to in private to speak out publically as well? The answer, more than likely, would be YES, to all of the above.

But, I cannot go back and change something that happened 10 years ago. Yet, something I can do is prepare and equip my own children for the day when (notice I do not say "if") they will be confronted with the THEORY of evolution and all its implications. I want to give them the tools to dilineate fact from fiction. I want for them the understanding I did not possess.

With this knowledge, I must also instill in them a certain amount of fight, an endurance, a desire to stand against all odds for the TRUTH, because folks, our freedom of speech, as Christians who are in legitimate disagreement with a theory that is being taught as a law, is nonexistant. We are not allowed to speak out, and if we do, we become relegated to the religion corner where all ideas contrary to Darwinism are poo-pooed and shunned as quackery simply because they point to a Creator and not the accidental atheistic ordering of life from non-living materials. You even dare to speak the word "intelligent" or the word "design" in the same sentence as "science," and the ears of the modern-day scientific community instaneously become deaf. They will have none of it, but for the sake of TRUTH, we must keep speaking!

Ben Stein's documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" entreats those who see the flaws in Darwinism to speak out. This verse comes to mind when I consider the task before us:

"Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice? On top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out: 'To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. O naive ones, understand prudence; and, O fools, understand wisdom. Listen, for I will speak noble things; and the opening of my lips will reveal right things. For my mouth will utter truth.'" (Proverbs 8:1-7a)

As our freedom of speech continues to be squashed, we must hold steadfast. But one word of caution...we need to know our stuff. We cannot go into battle unarmed. Our arguements must be well-thought out and scientifically sound. We cannot simply start shooting ANTI-arrows. We've got to have some answers of our own. We must be free to inquire, to question, to offer another opinion...that is our inalienable right.

I encourage you to watch Expelled, then buy Expelled and watch it over again. Consider the implications of the "gag order" against freely expressing a differing view. Consider how you can speak out. Equip your children with a Biblical worldview and then teach them the life applications of that worldview. This is where the rubber meets the road...are you willing to exercise your freedom of speech?

A Beautiful Mess

Moon silhoutted trees mosaic

There are moments when I look around and wonder, "Is this my life? How did I get here?" I never wanted my child to die. I never wanted to be sitting here staring at her picture grieving the fact that I will never hold her again this side of Heaven. I never wanted to have to visit the grave of one of my children. I did not plan this. This was not supposed to be in my life, was it?

In our humanity, we plan out our lives in our heads. It looks just right with all the pieces in place. There is nothing missing or scattered. It is serene and beautiful. But, it is a house of cards.

More than likely, you will face a time in your life when what you see before you resembles something more like the aftermath of an explosion rather than the beautiful watercolor painting you had envisioned. One day, you may wake up and say, "Is this my life? How did I get here?"

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'"

Do you think the Israelites looked around at their situation and thought, "What a great life! It is all so beautiful!" No, probably not. But, yet the Lord is adament that His plans are for their welfare. They are plans of hope. There is a future there. It just doesn't look exactly as they thought it would look.

But the Bible tells us, "The ways of the LORD are right." (Hosea 14:9b) The loss of my child is somehow "right." That is hard to say. There are times when I beg the Lord to give her back to me, just for a moment. I promise Him that I will hand her right back to Him. But, if I really think about it, would I truly want my little girl to leave the beauty of Heaven and the comforts of being in our Lord's presence just so I can hold her during this vapor of a life I live? No, I would not. It would be all selfishness on my part and not at all in her best interest. In fact, it wouldn't be in my best interest. The Lord had my welfare in mind when He took Emmy. To ask Him to go against that perfect plan, would be going against His authority, and ultimately, the blessings He has in store for me as a result of living within His perfect will.

Take a look at the verses that come after the above passage in Jeremiah...

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you." (Jer 29:12-14a)

Do we call upon Him when life is a perfectly painted picket fence? Do we seek Him when the waters are still? Not with the depth of surrender we do when our world is less than perfect.

Losing Emmy was not in my plans, but the Lord held every moment of her little life and her mama's life in His hands. So yes, this is my life. And I'm here because I'm in the Lord's will.

But, there is even more to this equation...
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Isn't that exciting? Every horribly-overwhelming grief-filled moment I endure in this life is serving a purpose, all within His perfect will for me, and it will lack in nothing! I am not going through this trial for no good reason. It is not some random thing that just happened. My faith has been tested...it is producing endurance...and will eventually have a perfect and complete result!

What a beautiful mess!

The Plan of the Master Weaver

Our lives are but fine weavings
That God and we prepare,
Each life becomes a fabric planned
And fashioned in His care.

We may not always see just how
The weavings intertwine,
But we must trust the Master's hand
And follow His design,
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side,
While we must look from underneath
And trust in Him to guide...

Sometimes a strand of sorrow
Is added to His plan,
And though it's difficult for us,
We still must understand
That it's He who fills the shuttle,
It's He who knows what's best,
So we must weave in patience
And leave to Him the rest...


Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why ---
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver's skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

---Author Unknown

The Pied Piper Named Oprah

She lulls them with her words. They follow her in droves. She has freed her mind. She has taken God "out of the box." She is heading down the path of destruction with millions of viewers in tow.

But someday, Oprah, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that JESUS CHRIST is Lord.
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Please watch the following clip, and pray accordingly...

What Glorifies God?

(Note: Scroll down to shut off the background music on this blog, and please refresh your screen after watching the video as You Tube is not known for its discernment.)

Lessons Learned from a Tough Decision ~ May 14, 2006

(Blog Notes: Once again, I bring you a blast from the past. When I pulled this post out of the archives at homeschoolblogger, I had to think long and hard what the particular "tough decision" actually was! You see, nearly 2 years beyond that life changing event, I no longer felt it was so tough a decision to make.

So, what was this mysterious decision? At the time, my husband was offered a position within his job that would have moved us back "home." The reason I could not divulge this information at the time was because of the many hurt feelings from those at "home" if they were to find out that an opportunity to move back had been turned down. We have since told them of this decision and all the blessings we've received from turning down what seemed to be the perfect job. Some of those blessings include more time spent with our dear church family, meeting the man and his family who took over the "perfect job" and who are now some of our best friends, and the blessing of a promotion that came a year later that brought us closer to "home", but with better pay.

Looking back on this post, I realize how the Lord truly did work everything out for our benefit and for His glory!)

Last week, our family had a very difficult decision to make. While I'm not at liberty to divulge the exact details of the decision, suffice it to say it was one that seemed to pit my husband and I against each other. I cried nearly every night right up to the point the decision was finalized. I felt for certain that my way was the right way and his way was the wrong way. I appealed to him, I cried, I begged God to change his mind, but I could tell that even though he thoroughly considered my side of the matter, his mind was set as to what the proper course of action was. We both agreed the decision needed to be what was best for the entire family, but that was where the agreement stopped. It was an emotionally exhausting week.



Looking back at that week, here are some of the lessons I learned...



1. My husband truly cares about me. Had he not cared, he never would have even considered my side of the issue for a nanosecond. He would have barreled on through w/ what he felt was the right thing to do and left me to "eat his dust."



2. I am so thankful I didn't "throw my weight around" and demand he do it my way. My biggest fear was demanding and then getting and then it being a disaster! I tried very hard to be wholeheartedly submissive while also letting my wishes be known, but I did not demand and I praise God for that.



3. God's will is not always my will. I thought I knew all the right answers. HA!



4. I must trust my husband enough to believe that he will make sound decisions for our family even when faced with a very tough decision. He is the head of our household--not my best friend, not my mom, not the church elders. Yes, we may consult these people, but ultimately, it will be my husband who answers to God for how he has lead this family. As long as I am following, I cannot go wrong. As long as I am submissive and believe in my husband, I am doing God's will.



5. Life is not always to be lived in our "comfort zone." Quite often God asks His people to do what isn't particularly comfortable. He asks them to take a leap of faith. He asks them to trust what they cannot see. He is not trying to anger us, or harm us. He is trying to grow us.



6. Live with it. This goes along with the cliche' "Bloom Where you are Planted." Once a decision has been made, the shoulda, woulda, coulda's need to go. We still talk about the decision and what it means for our family, but I now have to take the parts and pieces that resulted from this decision and form them into a life for our family that isn't just mediocre and doable, but lovely and glorifying of Christ. I have to consciously get out of the pit of despair and rise to the task of making what could have been a huge letdown into a blessed experience.



7. Afirm your husband. I'm still working on this, but I do believe he made the right and proper decision (oh, that hurts to say that!). It wasn't what I would have done, but once again, he's the head of the household and God didn't put him in that place so he could do the opposite of everything I wanted to do! I must make sure I let my husband know that I know this. I must also not make his life miserable by reminding him repeatedly that he made a decision contrary to mine. I have to tell him I believe in him and mean it.



So, please pray for me as I continue to work through these lessons. I'm glad weeks like that are few and far between.

A Soothing Balm ~ How to Make Your Own Bath Oil

I recently noticed how dry my skin has gotten over the winter months. We have always enjoyed Melaluca Renew bath oil , but when your toddlers insist on dumping an entire bottle for the fun of it, you begin to consider ways to make it a little more cost-effective. In other words, you do it yourself!


Now, I am creative, but I am only that way because I seek out those who were creative before me. So, I decided to consult the Green Living website. While I do not agree with all the content found on this site, I do tend to live a shade of green.

They had many suggestions for various bath oils, but what I went with was a concoction of:
1 ounce carrier oil
15-30 drops essential oil

I first had to decide on what type of container I would use. Since my children had been so quick to dump the squeeze bottle that Renew oil comes in, I decided to go with a container that was less likely to be dumped completely with one flip of the bottle. I just happened to have an empty handsoap pump that I felt fit the bill. The adults could "pump" the perfect amount into the bath water, and the children would more than likely grow weary of pumping before the contents were completely emptied.


Next, I went through my cabinet of oils searching for the perfect carrier oil. I'm not particularly fond of the smell of Olive Oil, and I really didn't like the idea of soaking in Canola Oil, and I didn't want to use up my precious, yet dwindling supply of coconut oil just yet (plus, I see no need for an added essential oil if you use coconut oil), so the pleasant and not too overpowering sesame oil won out.


Next, I added an essential oil. In order to best mimic the Renew oil, I went with Tea Tree Oil. I chose to put in about 20 drops because TTO can be harsh on the skin if too concentrated. This left the oil with a pleasantly clean smell.


Now, to decide how many pumps it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop...oh wait, wrong question...

How many pumps are just enough to make the bath soothing, but not greasy? Well, for us, that magic number is 1.5 pumps.

Note: the oil does pool on the surface of the water...this is normal and okay. ;o)

So, there you have it...the simple and painless way to make your own bath oil. What else can you try? How about plain coconut oil? Maybe a rosemary or orange or peppermint essential oil? How about a soothing oil for nighttime baths like lavender and a wake up oil for morning like lemon? Or how about perusing the many listed on the Green living site: Bath Oil Link

And, if you are wondering, my skin is doing quite well, thank you. It is enjoying the soothing balm of this little luxary.

Link to Molly Piper's Blog Entries on Grieving

I would encourage anyone who is close to someone who is grieving the loss of a child, to read the links to Molly Piper's entries found at right in the sidebar. I will continue to update the links as she adds more to this series b/c I feel what she has to say may very well help those of you who are at a loss as to how to relate to a grieving mother. I also pray that as time heals my heart, I too will be able to write more here about the things that have helped and the things that have hurt, so that others can learn from my experiences.