A Home Isn't Always a House

This painting is by 4-year-old Mesa Toft.
She named it "Valley of the Paint."

There is banana gook on the makeshift high chair; a fleece ladybug blanket on the couch; children’s books everywhere; paintbrushes in the sink; toy trucks on the coffee table; and sippy cups still in the fridge. A sticky mystery resides on my iPhone, and the TV isn't working quite right. These are all telltale signs of a week spent with lively, button pushing, curious, and adorable 2 and 4-year-olds who are now back home in Texas. I’m not quite ready to pick everything up or clean. I kind of like basking in the afterglow of their "happy."

On another note, I drove by our former home in the mountains yesterday. My vintage Oriental Poppies were blooming and two horses now reside in the pasture our own beloved horses used to frolic in. The scene was a picture postcard as rain (and tears) gently fell.

Now, I could choose to deal with both these things with more tears--missing the children and remorse over the loss of the home our family built with our own hands. The "sads" could come quite easily if I let them. But I just can't host regret. I do have a choice on how I let these things affect me. I choose to be thankful and that changes the way I think - which changes the way I feel.

I am thankful for the week the kids were here and the fun we had. I appreciate the happy memories we made in our old family home. I feel blessed with the life we now lead in the beautiful high desert of Colorado. And I am so excited for the things ahead that are coming and that are good and that I don’t even know about yet.

Yes - I will and do live in this place of promise and hope. I choose to make that my home now.

Yup. It's time to pick up the toys and wipe off the stickies.

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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