Everyday I try to read the one year bible as soon as I wake up. Later I may delve in more, but on an average day the one year bible gets my mind moved from my to-do list of the day to time focused on Him. There are times when I read passages and move on, but then there are days that make me pause and read then re-read a certain passage. Today was one of those days. Numbers 9: 15-23 speaks on the cloud above the tabernacle. "17 - Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped." In short they only moved when the cloud the Lord set out for them lifted whether it be a day, a month, or a year. I then started to think of my own life. Recently I started reading Make it Happen by Lara Casey once again. Within the book it has space to write thoughts and reflect on areas of struggle. The first time I read it I was immensely sick. Was mostly found in bed for two plus months straight. Reading this book today I was in awe at how far God has brought me over the course of one year. I was being swallowed by fear of not being enough in any area of life, but today I stand knowing the Lord has greater plans and the fear is gone and a confidence has taken it's place. I'm still not well, but I have peace. This is where the cloud in the Old Testament came to life for me. I could see how the cloud could represent a time where God desires us to stop and listen to Him. To slow down and focus on His purpose for us. To become disentangled in any thoughts which put us in a state of comparison and align our thoughts once again with knowing we all are part of His purpose in our own ways. As I read and re-read the passage I realized the cloud is a symbol of protection. His protection. At first I read the cloud as being a hard time in ones life, but then the cloud became more to me. I came to realize it could also represent a time where life is going oh so well. It's where the covering of the Lord is and as time passes this is where I should remain whether it be in a hard season or a so called good one. Within this cloud is where the Lord is able to mold us, teach us, and expand us. This cloud that I once read as being heavy, dreary, and a place to hide now reads as beautiful. I am grateful that Jesus came and we no longer have to walk under a literal cloud, but today I choose to be guided by that cloud of years past. For my greatest desire is to fulfill His purpose that He laid out for me and I know the only way to do it well is to be in-line with His word and have Him guide my way. I will dwell within the cloud that envelopes me in His ways. This is where purpose can be found.
Making a Healthy Home
After years of battling a chronic illness I have become quite diligent on trying to make our surroundings as healthy as can be. I use all natural cleaning products in most areas. Use all natural beauty products. Have been an oil user before it was popular. So on and so on. So when we moved into the new house I wanted to make it as clean as could be within the means we had. The house sat empty for a bit and grew stale. It had a musty smell to say the least. I am allergic to EVERYTHING so I knew it being such an old home there may be some mold lurking out of site. This little machine came to our rescue. I have a friend who used this air purifier and started to sell them, because she loved them so much. All the hype sounded way too good to be true but I thought it was worth a review, but I gave her no guarantees that I would love it. Right after closing we brought it straight to the house and set it on the "away" setting for the night. When we came back the next morning it smelled like ozone, but once it dispersed the musty smell was gone. Like really gone. Every night for a week we would leave it in different areas including closets and the basements. We even opened every cabinet and would set the machine up right by them. I went from walking into this house with an instant allergy flair up to breathing easy. Currently I keep it in the hall by the bedrooms and let it run on low. Knowing I am providing my family with healthy air to breath is priceless. I know I sound like a commercial, but I'm telling you it works!
You can read more about it for yourself and all the technical info here. For more information you can email my long time friend Amy Ball at ifeelgreatchallenge@gmail.com. She is also offering a FREE healthy home check up kit to see what may be growing in your home. Email her and she can send it out to you! I highly recommend it especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma as we do. This is one of those times that all the hype reads true.
*I'm also considering hosting a little info session with Amy at my house for any locals who may want to know more. Let me know if you all have any interest and I can arrange something.
PROGRESS - BACK OF THE HOUSE
If you recall the back of the house consists of the bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is in an "L" shape so through the doors on the left is the yard. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE those doors and windows? So here are the rest of the un-styled as we live currently images...
The Mr REALLY wanted a black wall somewhere in the house. At first I wasn't 100% on board, but decided this would be the best wall to try it out on. I can now say it was the right call. We went with Sherwin Williams Iron Ore and I love the way it makes the dental molding look. I considered doing away with this molding that is only in this hall due to it not going with the era of the house, but it was sooo beautifully done it pained me to tear it out. Now the black wall kind of makes it less formal and more modern. We plan on adding a big piece of art to the black wall that you will be able to see from the yard when we entertain. This house truly melds indoor/outdoor living.
In this same hall is a huge closet we simply did not need. For now we made it into a fun reading/play area for Ellie. My hope is that it will help keep her room neat. We shall see.
Ellie's room went through one of the biggest transformations. It went from feeling dark to light and airy. She choose the design. White walls and fun colored shelves in the mint family. We both agreed on Sherwin Williams Restful. We still need to add some romans in a fun pattern per her request. I was planning on using this wallpaper on the wall behind her bed, but now I am considering it for her ceiling. Her ceiling currently has a bunch of sticker glow in the dark stars that won't come off. I would leave it, but she also has a split in the plaster which needs repairing so something will need to be done. I think the wallpaper could be a fun choice.
KJ's room is two colors, SW eider white with a darker gray which I believe was SW dorian gray. Since this image was taken his trim is back up, but I still need to sand the shine off the doors and drawers to his cabinets so I can add new hardware. I also purchased some bamboo romans per his request and they just came in. Can't wait to put the finishing touches on his space! It's the one room that's so close being done I can taste it.
The tile in here could not go with our old shower curtain any better. After painting the space Alabaster it made the tile less brown and more cream thankfully. In all the bathrooms we changed the seat covers to soft close ones. After doing it in the rental I can not imagine having it any other way. It's life changing really for my germ-a-phobe self.
We painted our bedroom and that's pretty much it. It was a Benjamin Moore color, Duxbury Gray, that we had matched by Sherwin. It is a gray with a hint of green and I could not be any more pleased. While we were moving BOTH of my Ikea Pax wardrobes broke. Thankfully they were able to salvage enough pieces to build one back. For now our bookcase is serving as clothes storage for me, but in the future I will add another full size pax and a more narrower one to fill most of the wall. You really can't beat the organization these pieces bring and this means the Mr can have the walk-in to himself. I feel so spoiled with this house! This is also the room I wanted to add my old dining light in if the Mr can do without an overhead fan. Wouldn't the brass against these walls look amazing?
As you can see we are still in process of putting back outlet and vent covers. We still want to paint all the doors and change all the hardware. I love these, but we may be priced out once I add up all the doors. More than likely I will go with these which still aren't "cheap", but a tad more kind on the wallet. Of course the actual decorating stage still needs to happen, but again we are taking it slow. We plan to be here for the long haul.
* Have you all seen the new kids line from Target? It is ADORABLE! Can't wait to add a few pieces to the kiddos rooms to pull it all together.
