Welcome Home

Well, we're finally all moved to Louisville. No longer are we living in two different states or even among boxes in one state. I've spent the past few weeks unpacking everything, finding a place for it all, and purging quite a few un-needed items.

With all of the unpacking and putting together of a new home, the focus can quickly become one of trying to impress others. It's important for me to remember that my ultimate goal is for our home to be a safe haven for our family, as well as a place where we can bless others by living out the Gospel message and serving them. Especially now that Isaac is making the transition back to being a full-time student, it is even more important for our home to be an organized, efficient, and even calming place of respite, which can be a rather tall order at times (even when it's just the two of us). I am praying I would be faithfully diligent in my efforts to use my home to serve not only my family and friends, but outsiders and strangers as well.

I promised Lizzie Lou and some friends back in Missouri some pictures of our new home. So, welcome to our home, friends. Feel free to visit us anytime:

Our living room.  This is what you see when you first walk in.  Above the TV is a hanging print my former coworker brought me from Tanzania the last time she went home, a painted tambourine Isaac picked up while he was in China a few years ago, and piece of artwork from India, given to us by Max, Isaac's former boss.

The opposite view of the living room.  Thanks to Annie for teaching me the rules of throw pillows.  On the top ledge of the bookshelf is a good portion of our box collection.  I still have room for more, so if you're planning on leaving the country any time soon, check with me to see if I need a box from your destination. 

If you turn around from the previous picture, this is what you would see.  I really like this part of the living room because 1) it has something bright and cheery- a wall hanging from India 2) there are more of our boxes and 3) our wonderful map of the Arabian Peninsula hangs directly above the secretary.  The kitchen is on the other side of the wall.

Here's my reading nook, complete with a most comfy chair, a globe, and even camels (see above the chair) from the Middle East.  On the console table is our family Blessings Box, a picture of Sandy, some more of our boxes, and our Arabic Bible with the rosewood holder. Oh yes, and I'll work on getting actual pictures in that frame soon.

Dining room with windows to the porch.  The large painting is actually fabric and was our wedding present from Kim.  She purchased it when she was in Zambia a few years ago. 

Dining room leading into the kitchen.  You can't see it very well, but the corkboard sitting on the cabinet is our family Giving Board.  We post a picture of our Focus of the Month there; as you can see, this month it's the flag of Kazakhstan.  And the fun candles and wooden holder are compliments of Jen; she got them for me when she went to Guatemala a few years ago.  They go perfectly with our chairs, don't they?

The kitchen.  The first thing I always unpack are my magnets.  Somehow, when I have my magnets on the fridge, it always feels like home, no matter if I'm still tripping over boxes.  And of course, you can see my mug collection (about which I am extremely overprotective).

More kitchen.  I really like having that shelf above the sink.  I have most of my spices and my cookbooks up there.  In the top right hand corner, you'll notice my Grammie's 'kitchen witch,' who flies on a wooden spoon.  She gave it to my aunt when she got married and my aunt decided to pass it on to me since I was the first granddaughter to get married.  You may think it's odd, but it's a family heirloom, so I am slightly obsessed with it.

The last kitchen picture.  You can see it leading into the dining room.  The kitchen is pretty small, but I'm learning to work with it, and I think I'll like it a great deal.

Our one and only bathroom.  Not much to see, except for some of my favorite pictures I took while in Paris.

The spare bedroom/study/library/crafty room.  Yes, it most definitely is a catch-all.  But the bed is comfortable if you're needing a place to stay.

Books, books, and oh, more books.  What's sad is that this is merely a fourth of all our books...

Now ladies, what do you think of this?  Pathetic, I know.  Here lay most of my craft stuff...but alas, with no storage, this is not getting solved in the near future.

And last, but definitely not least, our most relaxing bedroom (with more books).

See?  More books.  Look at the ridiculously large stack underneath my bedside table.  The painting above the bed is one Isaac got from China.  It's one of my favorite pieces of art we have.  And you can't see it, but the picture next to the candle and books is my grandparents' wedding picture.  And let me tell you, they are wonderfully cute.  I've told my grandmother many times that if I was her age, she would have had some competition from me because my grandfather is handsome.  Or, as she called him, "A long tall drink of water from Texas."  Please note, my grandfather is not from Texas (thank God).

I've still got to finish a jewelry holder that will go above my massive dresser-like piece of furniture.

So there you have it, friends.  We hope that you will be able to come and visit us soon!