Have you ever really considered what kind of emotion your house causes to rise up in you? I finally gave it some serious thought one day when I walked past my bathroom and caught myself snickering at it and doing the malicious eye roll. For real, I did. I stopped myself mid-step and laughed as I wondered what in the world my bathroom had done to me to deserve such a reaction. That’s when it hit me that homes have a persona whether we want them to or not. I saw my home as my enemy. Time and change gave me a new perspective on the ol’ girl and I’m thrilled to be able to share that with you here today.I wanted desperately to enjoy living here but I couldn’t. For years the walls that separated us were made up of more than sheet rock and 2x4s. I didn’t like her. I didn’t find her beautiful. She was a nuisance. I tried painting her with new furniture and decor but my feelings didn’t change. I was holding grudges against her….
Today, I am posting over at Nester’s place. Would you please visit me there and leave a comment letting me know your thoughts on the subject? It is something I’m really digging deep into lately and I’d love to stir up some dialogue.
Thank you, Nester for allowing me to share my heart on your corner of cyberspace. I appreciate it, girl!
If you are new here feel free to look around. I blog about good Cajun (healthy) foods –I’m sure you never thought you’d see those two words so close together–, natural cleaning, simplifying of homemaking, and lots more. Be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed for more great posts like the one shared at the Nesting Place.
Thanks for this post. This is something I’ve been dealing with for a very long time. Each place I’ve lived, my entire life, was never truly mine. DH & I recently tried buying a house, my thought being, as we got the money I could finally decorate in the way I wanted. Well unfortunately things with this house fell through. Now I feel we’ll be stuck for at least another year in our apt. I’ve started telling myself though that if I start decluttering and actually try harder to make this place FEEL like home, it would change my whole family’s perception of living here. You’ve pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.
Thanks again
I have made over twenty moves over the years. I wish I could say that a house is a home when you make it so, but it isn’t that simple. Our current home has been a nightmare for so many reasons. We realized it the second we closed and walked in. The previous owners who were also Christians mislead us about everything, had covered things up with furniture etc. The home inspector could only find what was visible etc. The whole thing was a big mess and we could not sue. It would be too messy all the way around. We have lost thousands in this house and it needs many many many more thousands. Even if we repaired everything (which we can’t), it will never sell at a profit.
We have had homes that were wonderful. If there is any doubt about a house, get out while you can or it can ruin you and your future finances.
Hi Amy! Oh my word we have so much in commom. For starters I’m a cajun, blended family mother of three and the list could go on and on. I can’t tell you how excited I am to try and catch up here on your blog. I’m sure we must have ran into one another before at HPC. I’m a memeber of Fellowship in Prairieville. Such a small small world when we have such a BIG BIG God!
Hi Amy
Have a great weekend. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
I’m going to go visit the Nester to read your guest post
I’m much older than most of the “girls” that comment, but I think I have some “wisdom”. I never liked my home, never liked where I was living, but God changed my mind when I asked Him to change me, not the home, but me! Change me Lord, is what I continue to say to things I don’t understand or like, it’s amazing those few words can be life changing if we allow them too and listen for the Holy Spirit to whisper into our lives! Yes, there are days I would like a redo in the house, but I do like my house and where I live because God is here with me!
Amy thank you so much for your post–full of wisdom, beauty and even some laughs. I really loved it and I already know one thing in my house that I despise and it is leaving!
I loved your post over at Nester’s. I think that how we FEEL about our homes are telling. I used to call my living room The Creepy Room but now I call it The Happy Room. Calling it something different has changed my views and has made me make changes so it really is becoming happier.
Absolutely, we bought a wonderful home after we were recovering from illness and debt and the home is much smaller. I blamed the home for my kids not getting along with their new classmates. I blamed the home for them not having room to play mini stick hockey in the house. I blamed the house for the lack of room. I especially blamed the house for being next door to party central.
I spent a bunch of money on organizing the house so that every thing has a home. I spent more money on furniture and paint. I didn’t fall in love with the home as mine until the party central next door moved to the country and the kids ended up best friends with their former bullies (friends of the kids from party central).
It wasn’t the house’s fault but I sure acted like it was.