The Words You See

 Generally, I'm not into all the signs with words (and if you are, I don't mean to be rude; I'm just expressing what I like). "Family" or "Laughter" or "Today is a day to have a good day" or whatnot. I would rather express than put up words. Words aren't decor to me. (And they're also a current decor trend and I mainly avoid those, anyway, so I guess I would steer away from the words trend just like any other trend.)

However, sometimes when there are words around so much, you find yourself putting them out, too. And it's kind of comforting. The most subtle one is this little Bible verse print out. I got it in a Christmas money gift a couple years ago and absently set it on this Victorian cracker tray (yes, they had cracker trays--isn't that awesome?) when I was unpacking my things. But it stayed and stayed and stayed some more until eventually I decided that I quite liked it. After all, I'm not really going to use the cracker tray for crackers (even if I wanted to, they would have to be tiny crackers barely bigger than quarters). So why not use it as a little display on my table for some words that don't stand out decor-wise but are a welcome reminder when you stop to look at them closely?

The one in my hallway (where I keep my "newer" pictures) has been there for the longest. I like Hobby Lobby, sure, but like I said, I usually steer clear of all the signs with words on them and Hobby Lobby is full of signs with words on them. But when I saw this one in the 90% off section, I rather liked it. It seems different, no? The metal actually looks like copper and it's more like a label, a statement than a decor sign. When I saw it, I thought, yes, that's what I want to declare for my house. (As it is a hallway and therefore rather dark in the picture, the verse is Joshua 24:25, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.")

And then I was there again recently picking up a couple things and I saw these magnets. Some had generic things on them and others had Bible verses. Are you seeing the trend now? I'm still not so much into the sayings, but I'm okay with putting out Bible verses. Those are good things to contemplate. I often forget that I already have word magnets on my refrigerator; I use them so infrequently. What with the size and layout of my kitchen, the front of the refrigerator isn't hugely visible. So why not bend on my whole avoidance of signs with a little magnet that says something very special?

If I'm putting words out in my house, I don't want them to point to me. I don't want them to glorify me. I want them to point me to God. 

A House Doesn't Make a Home

I'm all moved in now, and do you know what? I'm quite happy with how it's all turned out. This is actually my first time living completely alone, and so it's been a pleasure to fix all the rooms as I like and spread out my things. I finally have my own office, to which room I have banished such items as action figures and my map of Middle-earth in order to keep a different look everywhere else. Similarly, I've left all my framed Victorian fashion prints for the bedroom and the small frames from the 1940's, 50's, and 60's for the hallway. That leaves my favorites, the R. Atkinson Fox pictures and others from that era, for the living room. It's all been very exciting to arrange, and I do feel quite at home when I walk in or walk around.

They say that a house doesn't make a home. So what does make a home, besides the images of art that we hang on the walls? Let's take a little tour, a tour in green, of the things that make this place home for me.

A green chair standing beside a bookshelf. A place to sit.

A green lamp on a wooden table, where also rests my book. Something to provide light.

A green Bible in front of a globe. Something to read.

And a green tea kettle on a stove half a century old. The provider of a warm drink.

I have many green things. With the clean white walls of this apartment, the green adds life and color. I have many green things. They are things that I use every day and things that I love because I use them every day. A glass water bottle from Life Factory, a business card holder, the background of a painting I did of my bearded dragon, the cloth I use to dry dishes. I have many green things. I chose them, and they serve me well: they are useful and nice to look at.

A house doesn't make a home, they say.

No, it is how we use our house that makes it a home. How do you keep your house? What do you do in your house? With what do you fill your house? With what do you fill your life?

Fill it with good things.

Word of the Week 4: Home

Home (n) - 1. a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household 2. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered

Wow, I have to admit, Mr. Webster, I'm disappointed with this definition. I was expecting a little more emotion, even for a dictionary. How about if we compare it to another word.

House (n) - 1. a building in which people live; residence for human beings

Okay, I was right, the "home" definition is saturated with emotion now compared with this. Dictionaries are so cold . . . .

Why did I choose such a word this time? Naturally, because I'm moving this weekend and have been thinking a lot about what place I'd like to truly call home. I'm only moving two hours away, but I'm also moving from rural to urban. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so I think I've decided that all I'm really concerned about keeping right now is Arizona. I've said before how much I love this place. It's a familiar place that I've grown used to. Small town/big city, I can get used to as long as I stay here.

Which makes me think about people in past times. They didn't move around very much, minus the long travels of the wealthy. Home was always the same place. I think we can make ourselves love many places if we know that they're where we live and will live. Because it's the eyes we see through that determine what the place looks like, and it's we who fashion how those eyes see.