HHello, friends. When our family first toured this house in Seattle a year ago last fall, we had a quiet sense that it might become something special. It didn’t look like a storybook home at the time, but there was an undefinable charm that drew us in and made us hopeful.
This past fall we painted the brick white, and while the painters were here we asked them to paint the little backyard shed the same fresh white.
Yesterday morning, seeing that charming shed peeking out from the new snow through our kitchen window confirmed a feeling I hadn’t wanted to say out loud when we first walked through the house: this place really can be magical in every season. I didn’t expect to feel so quickly that we were falling in love with it, but that’s exactly what’s happened.
We’re discovering little gifts here throughout the year. It might look like the white paint and fresh snow caught my eye, but more than that, the changing season outside reminded me that we already have what we need to be content. The house itself is a gift, full of moments waiting to be enjoyed.
This is our home, through bright, perfect snow days and the messy realities of summer when moles make the lawn lumpy. It’s our home now when I wash my hands in a Pepto-Bismol pink sink, and it’ll still be our home in January when we’re washing dishes in a brand-new farm sink. The house holds all those small, imperfect moments that make it feel lived-in and loved.
We feel a steady peace here, like we’re exactly where we’re meant to be in this chapter of our lives. That peace isn’t only because we’ve completed projects like fresh paint and new countertops, though we are grateful. We’re especially excited to soon cook a proper Christmas dinner in our new oven.
Get the “It Is Well” sign above for 20% off with the code “THEINSPIREDROOM20”
There are still many projects ahead and plenty of imperfect details to keep us dreaming, busy, and sometimes short on money. Those imperfections are a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate what we already have. They keep us rooted and grateful instead of constantly chasing the next upgrade.
A house doesn’t become a true home only because of the projects we finish or the season that finally looks perfect. A home is transformed from the inside out by the gratitude we choose to practice and the small joys we notice every day.
It’s easy to be thankful for things you’ve always wanted when you finally have them. I understand the impulse to compare—when you see someone celebrating a beautiful space it’s natural to think you’d feel blessed in their shoes too. But gratitude doesn’t have to be measured against someone else’s life. What seems modest to you may be someone else’s dream, and recognizing that helps keep perspective.
The real test of contentment is whether we can be grateful for what we have even if it isn’t exactly what we once imagined. I love our little house and appreciate the improvements we’ve made, and I’m learning to love its quirks just as much as its upgrades.
There is a season for everything—the cloudy days, the rain, the bright sun, the snow, and the soft breezes. There are times to transition and times to settle in and find joy with what we already have. Regardless of the season or the house we live in, what makes a home truly magical is the love that lights it from within. Like the twinkling lights at Christmas, it’s that inner glow that makes a place feel like home.
If you missed it last week, check out our Christmas house tour. You can also find the “It Is Well” sign shown here for 20% off with the code THEINSPIREDROOM20, browse my house and gift guides, or explore my books including the New York Times bestseller Love the Home You Have.
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