HHello, friends. When our family first toured the house we now call home in Seattle last fall, we felt a quiet, unspoken hope that it might become something special. It didn’t match the fairytale version in my head, but there was an undefinable charm that drew us in and made us imagine a future here.
This fall we had the brick painted white, and while the painters were here we asked them to refresh the small backyard shed from its former beige into a crisp white as well.
Seeing that sweet shed peeking out from fresh snow through our kitchen window yesterday morning was a simple, perfect moment. It confirmed what I’d been hesitant to say aloud when we first saw the house: this place truly feels like a little bit of magic in every season. We’re falling more in love with it a little deeper each day.
There are gifts to unwrap here every season. On the surface it might have been the white paint and fresh snow that stopped me, but what moved me even more was the changing season outside our window—a reminder that we already have everything we need to be content and to build a home full of meaning.
This is our home, for better or worse. It’s a home that looks enchanted when snow blankets the backyard and twinkling lights reflect in the window. It’s our home in summer when moles rearrange the lawn and leave it lumpy, and it’s our home today with a cheerful Pepto-pink sink and, soon, in January, with a sparkling new farmhouse sink. All of those things make it ours.
We feel a steady peace here, a sense that we are where we’re meant to be in this season of life. That peace isn’t only because of completed projects like fresh paint or new kitchen countertops—though we are so grateful to be on the cusp of cooking a proper Christmas dinner in a new oven. It’s also rooted in the small, everyday moments of ordinary life.
Get the “It Is Well” sign above for 20% off with the code “THEINSPIREDROOM20”
There are still plenty of projects and imperfections that keep us dreaming, busy, and yes—sometimes broke or patiently saving. Those imperfect corners are also daily reminders to slow down and appreciate what we already have.
A house doesn’t become a true home only when every project is done or when every setting is picture-perfect. A home is transformed from the inside out by the choices we make to notice and cherish the gifts already present, however small or imperfect they may be.
It’s easy to feel grateful for things you’ve longed for once you finally have them. When others share their excitement over a new home or beautiful space, it can be tempting to think, “I would feel blessed too if I lived there.” But gratitude isn’t competitive. What feels like a dream to one person may be ordinary to another—so it’s important to honor our own thankful hearts for what we do have.
The real test of contentment is whether we can be grateful for what we have, even when it isn’t the house or the life we once imagined. I love our little home and I’m thankful for what we’ve accomplished so far, and I’m learning to appreciate its quirks and imperfections just as much as the finished moments.
There is a season for everything: clouds, rain, sun, snow, wind and soft breezes. There are seasons of change and seasons to settle in and enjoy what we’ve been given. No matter the season or the house, what makes a place truly magical is the love that shines from the inside out. Like twinkly lights at Christmas, it’s that inner glow of love that turns a house into a home.
If you missed it last week, you can see our Christmas house tour. The “It Is Well” sign pictured in this post is available with a special code for a discount. I’ve also put together a shop page with favorite items and gift guides, and you’ll find details about my book, Love the Home You Have, among other resources. These are simply ways to share what we love and what has made our house feel more like home.
>> CLICK HERE TO SHOP The Inspired Room Christmas Shop <<