Loving Where You Live

Like most everyone, I have a lot of insecurities. Rob would 

probably be the first to tell you that one of my biggest 

insecurities is our house (which he is also quick to point 

out is completely unfounded).  But, I am one of those people

who tends to over analyze every.little.thing. 

I also can't help but compare (which is also not productive). 

I'm quick to get down on myself about the size of our house. 

The number of bedrooms.  The number of bathrooms. 

The lack of seating when it's more than just us. And on and on. 

Please tell me I'm not alone in this? 

(our house just about a month after we moved in - 

the huge bush blocking the front door is 

no longer there - thank god). 

But, recently a scrapbooker I follow on Instagram

started teaching a class called "Loving Where you Live". 

While, I'm not enrolled in the class or participating 

in any of the challenges... I started to think about how if I could 

just change my attitude a little bit, things would be so much better. 

(I mean an attitude change in general is probably a good idea when

faced with any form of negativity - house or otherwise). 

So, I decided to stop whining and be really grateful for this

little house of ours and all it's memories.  

(a picture of me at our first family holiday gathering - 

Easter 2010 at our house) 

This house has hosted lots of parties (Rob's 30th surprise

party, baby showers, jewelry parties, and Max's birthdays to name a few), and 

countless holiday gatherings.  It has just enough room for our 

immediate family and overflow space in the kitchen should we 

choose to invite more. (side note: getting the kitchen island with some of our 

wedding money was a great life choice). 

We welcomed our first pet (as a couple) into this home. 

Miss Pecan Sandy (our cat) still lives with us - and even 

though she does not get nearly the same amount of love

and attention as pre Max - it was one of the bigger decisions 

Rob and I decided to make together. 

We got engaged in this house. Rob completely surprised

me the Friday before I was running the Columbus half marathon

and was waiting at the end of our front hallway with a ring

and all of my other favorite things (see above: skittles, cupcakes, and 

champagne). 

We've had the ability/time/money etc. to take on countless

home improvement projects.  The first major project

was completely demolishing our old deck and building

a new one.  It took Rob way longer than we thought it would

(don't all home projects end up this way??) - but 

it was completely worth it. I grew up with parents 

who hired that kind of stuff out....so it's been an interesting

process combining our two view points on home improvement. 

We've painted every.single.room.in.our.house.

We painted the master bedroom the summer

after we got married on one of the hottest days of the summer.

I wanted to kill Rob because painting is not even a little bit fun. 

But - thank goodness for sisters who bring frosties from Wendy's. 

Having a little house means the painting projects get done pretty quick too!

Since painting we've also completely ripped out the former

plastic brown trim and terrible doors and replaced every single one. 

We got new appliances.  Just this summer we replaced the horrible

sliding door with a brand new one.  We got a whole new 

HVAC system about three years ago.  And we decorated a nursery!

We've carved pumpkins here. Dyed eggs here.  Put up

Christmas trees and opened presents.  We've had fights here. 

We've said I love you's here. We've planned trips here. 

We've rearranged (and rearranged) here. But perhaps

one of the most important things we've done here - 

is bring our son home. 

This is the only house he knows.
He took one of his first baths in our family room.
He started crawling right across our family room floor.
He took his first steps in our master bedroom.
We've watched his art work slowly fill up the walls of our
kitchen. And his sippy cups and plates have their
own special spot under our island.
 

I know he doesn't think, "man I wish my parents

would replace all the windows and spring for the cement driveway". 

So, when I get down on myself for not having a bigger,

more glamorous house - I will remind myself that,

"Small homes grow tight families".

 

And I will be grateful for every minute we spend

together in this house....and all the memories we're making.

xoxo