HHello, lovely friends. When our family first visited the house that would become ours here in Seattle last fall, we felt an unspoken hope that it might someday be a truly special place. It didn’t match the exact image in my childhood dreams, but there was an indefinable charm that drew us in and made us imagine a life here.
This fall we had the brick exterior painted white, and while the crew was here we asked them to refresh the formerly beige backyard shed as well.
Seeing that little shed peeking out from the fresh snow through our kitchen window yesterday confirmed what I hadn’t dared to say aloud when we first toured the house: this place really can feel magical in every season. I didn’t expect to feel this way so quickly, but we are falling more in love with our sweet home every day.
There are gifts to unwrap here in every season. It might look like the fresh white paint and snow caught my attention, but even more meaningful was the changing season outside our window—a reminder that we already have what we need to be happy here.
This is our home, through the pretty and the imperfect. It’s our home when snow blankets the yard and twinkling lights reflect in the windows, and it’s our home in summer when moles ruin the lawn and leave tunnels that make the yard lumpy. It’s our home when I wash my hands in a Pepto-pink sink today and it will be our home when I wash dishes in a new farm sink later this winter.
We feel a calm assurance, as if we are exactly where we should be in this season of life. That contentment isn’t only from finishing projects like painting the brick or replacing countertops, though we are very grateful to be near the point of cooking a proper Christmas dinner in a new oven.
Get the “It Is Well” sign above for 20% off with the code “THEINSPIREDROOM20”
There will always be more projects and imperfections to keep us dreaming, busy, and saving. Those little flaws are daily reminders to slow down and be grateful for what we have right now.
A house doesn’t become a dream home purely through completed projects or the perfect season. A house becomes meaningful when we choose to see the gifts it offers and open them with grateful hearts.
It’s easy to be thankful once a long-held dream comes true. Sometimes when others post their “blessed” moments, it’s tempting to think you’d feel the same if you had their home or possessions. But it’s important to remember that what seems ordinary or imperfect to you may be someone else’s dream. Gratitude doesn’t have to compare—it simply recognizes the value of what you have.
The true test of contentment is whether we can be grateful for what we have even when it’s not exactly what we imagined. I love our little house and am thankful for the changes we’ve made so far, but I also try to appreciate its quirks and imperfections.
There is a season for everything: clouds and sun, rain and snow, wind and soft breezes. There are times of transition and times to settle in and find joy in what we’ve been given. No matter the season or the house, love should shine from the inside out. Like twinkle lights glowing at Christmas, it’s the love within that makes a place truly magical.
If you missed it last week, take a look at our Christmas house tour for more inspiration. You can also find the “It Is Well” sign shown in this post for 20% off with the code provided, shop my house and gift guides, and explore my books including “Love the Home You Have.”
>> CLICK HERE TO SHOP The Inspired Room Christmas Shop <<
My Christmas shop is filled with favorite decor finds—stockings, ornaments, garland, wreaths, trees, and more.
>> CLICK HERE TO SHOP The Inspired Room Christmas Shop <<