Finding Beauty Where You Are

This title is nothing new. We all strive for a life of comfort, peace, enjoyment, ease, beauty...you name it, if it sounds good we want it. Life doesn't work this way. We have hardships, sickness, brokenness, and ugliness. As a mom, I encounter numerous accounts of bruises, scraps, and tears just to name a few. Every single day has some childhood tragedy, as well as victory. I have such an easy life compared to so many and for that I am grateful. It's easy in motherhood to become bored or tired of the daily mundane. Things which should give "magic" to childhood, get brushed aside. I want to give my children passion and recognition their interests. So here are a few things lately that have caused me to bring beauty into my home where my children spend the majority of their days.

Plants: 

Bring nature into your home through various colorful plants. Arrange them in different heights and textured containers with pots, baskets, hanging macrame ropes, metal stands, attached to wall weavings, etc. The list in unending with possibilities! Create a space you love with green or floral beauties. Remember to water and provide sun, and they will thrive and love you back. Grow a garden outdoors too!



Open Windows/eliminate odors: 

I'm always smelling weird smells with a household of kids and dogs. It's just life, smells happen. Food is cooked, natural elements get tracked indoors, babies create their own stinky messes... you get the picture! Open up the windows; let the air inside. A few other ways to eliminate odors are by making or buying room sprays, putting a mixture of essential oil and baking soda on carpet then vacuuming it, diffusing essential oils, light candles,and clean with lovely scented products.


Fuel You Body: 

Make yummy food in attractive dishware, drink coffee or tea from your favorite mugs, use cookbooks that are beautiful and engaging, Fall in love with preparing food that is both aesthetically pleasing and delicious. If you have a picky child, give it time. Remind them that last year they disliked a food but now they love it. Be patient yet persistent. Keep arranging food differently to make it interesting. Remember that food is a gift we have, not only is it nourishing and necessary for life, but it can be fun to create with little effort. Along these lines is exercise. Do it not only to see results, gain body confidence, and gain energy; but also because we simply can. If you are physically able to be active, then find the activities which give you joy.



Stuff:

Bring into your home only the things which make you happy and give you beauty. Declutter, simplify. Find your personal style and stick with it throughout your home. Decide which items to keep and ditch the stuff you truly dislike and don't serve a purpose.


Be Real:

Realize that you're home won't be perfect. Babies aren't babies forever so the baby proofing items will disappear at some point. Likewise, toddlers and big kids will learn to pick up their own messes, make less crumbs, and wipe their own bums. Home should be a place of safe learning and growth. Make it your haven. Make it the place where your family longs to be, not leave. Find joy and beauty right where you are. If you're a stay at home mom like me, create less friction amongst attitudes. I need this reminder daily! If you work outside the home, find ways to make your work environment more beautiful even if all you can do is simply smile more. Be you and love what you have. 


On a side note, here is a glimpse of reality... untidy stack of school books under the plant, cooler from camping 3 days ago that still needs disinfected and emptied, wasp traps that need refilled, pathetic herb garden that is neither thriving or dying, and windows that need washed. But, those trees in the distance are loaded with tiny apples which hopefully this fall will be turned into applesauce. Create beauty and find joy.








"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13