Home Tour Part 2

Yesterday I did the first part of our home tour and showed you what it would look like as you walk into our house. Today I'm excited to welcome you back into the main living area – really the heart of our home!

As you'd walk through the foyer, you'd come into the great room! I would tell you how much we love having all this open space and suggest that you sit on one of our kitchen stools while I pour you a beverage and finish up our meal. I absolutely love having friends sit and chat while I buzz around the kitchen. It's one of my favorite feelings! 

As we catch up I might point out that pretty blue stand mixer. The one I got for my birthday from my sweet sister-in-law and father-in-law. Aren't they generous? I've been using it all the time. In fact, I would probably be pulling a loaf of my favorite rosemary bread out of the oven as our conversation flows. It smells awesome. We might start moving past our surface conversation and getting into some real heart chats right about now. I find that friends like to get real around the kitchen island. There's just something safe about gathering here. After a while, I might set the table and suggest that we sit down to eat.

Just off the kitchen we'd settle at our little table. Paul will say a pray and thank God for our meal and for you, our guest. We'd pass the plates and laugh and tell stories. It's not a big table, but it's round, and it cultivates good conversations. Round tables have a way of doing that. After dinner I might glance around the room and ask you what you think I should do about all the blank walls. I'll explain that the wall on the right is actually painted gray, and Paul will tease me because he says he can't even tell the difference between that wall and the white walls. I'll sigh and genuinely ask you what you would suggest? Shelves? A mirror? A gallery wall? A chalkboard?

As I clear the table I'll urge you to please make yourself comfortable in the family room! I'll turn on the coffee (if that's your drink of choice) and make sure we have something sweet to serve soon. We might chat about plans for this room. We're still in the brainstorming stage, but for now I like how it feels collected and cozy. I'll tell you that my mom has generously offered to have slipcovers made for our wingback chairs, and how I used to snuggle up in those same chairs with a good book as a little girl. What fabric do you think I should choose? Would you paint the TV cabinet? What would you put on the walls? These are the questions I'd ask you. Because you just have the best taste!

I hope we'd settle in here the rest of the evening, and that you'd stay as long as you like. Maybe we'd play a game, or talk about the issues that interest us. As our time comes to a close I'll feel so full in my heart. I just loved having you over and it was so good to connect. Before you leave I'll already be asking when you can come again, or making plans to meet for coffee this weekend. Paul and I would walk you to the door and give you another big hug. We'd probably linger out to the car and wave from the driveway. Because we love our friends, so that's just how we do things around here.

Thanks for viewing my home tour! Hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

Our Hearts Are Here: Home Tour Part 1

Happy Thursday! Today is my "Friday" and it's always sweet :) Hope yours is too!

Because so many of my dear friends and family are far away, and since dear Kate requested it, today I'm going to take you on a little tour of my house! We moved in almost 3 months ago and we love it. On Sunday night when we returned from my parent's house after being gone the whole day, I walked in and had this overwhelming sense of peace and thankfulness to be home. Paul and me. This is our little home and we feel so blessed.

One of our favorite things about our house is having people over! Seriously, we've absolutely loved filling our home with voices and laughter and stories and games and food and people. And if you lived nearby, we'd probably invite you over tonight. Not kidding, I'd text you our address and insist you come on over for dinner this very evening.

You'd probably have to look up our address the first time you came, and you might even give me a call to make sure you're heading the right direction. Because our house is a little bit country, and it can take a few extra minutes to get here than you might think. But we'll make it worth it once you get here! And I just know you're gonna love the awesome mountain views as you drive into our neighborhood. Feel free to knock on our door or maybe ring the bell (either is okay, because we'll be anticipating your arrival!). And Paul might answer the door since I'm probably putting the finishing touches on our meal. But I'll run to the door as quick as I can rinse off my hands and give you a big hug! It's so good to see you, I'll say.



You're welcome to sit down and take off your shoes if you'd like. Need some slippers? I have some
extras! Or maybe you want to leave your shoes on since they look so cute with your outfit. You do look so nice today. You know, we don't have much art on the walls yet, but I've hung these special pieces here in the entryway to welcome everyone right away. The middle says Home Sweet Home and the cross-stitch on the right is a favorite saying of mine. Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. Perhaps you are our new friend or maybe even a friend who goes way back? Both kinds are precious to us.

To the right here you can see my little light-filled office space. I feel rich in blessing when I think about how I get to have this special place to work and create. I'll probably tell you about my days spent here and what project I'm up to these days. Paul will point out the bookshelves and explain how we found those at the secondhand store and painted them that color ourselves. And I will show you the pink quilt I found at the antique market for a steal. I might go on a little too long because these things get me excited. But you're so kind I bet you just let me chatter a little. That makes me feel loved :)

I bet we'd stand here in the entryway for a little while because we're just so glad to see you. We'll ask about your day and how you're doing. And after a short time we'll remember our manners and usher you in so we can offer you a drink.

Come back tomorrow for the second part of my home tour!