I have been wanting to share this post for quite some time, but been unable to do so due to various commitments. But now that things have settled a little, I thought it a good time to share some thoughts.
As I concluded the final episode of our Christmas home tour last week, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend at a get together a few nights prior. She mentioned having seen our home on the blog and thanked me for sharing and inspiring her and others. She complimented the beautiful decor, but then asked “is it all true?”. As in, is my home that clean and in her words, “perfect”?
It made me reflect on the struggles I’ve personally had during these home tours this year. The “pressure” to make our home beautiful and the ‘wishing’ I had better; the comparison of our home to other homes and feeling ‘less’. All feelings that as imperfect beings, we all have from time to time. But these feelings were taking away the true JOY and meaning of Christmas and I realized I was taking for granted all the wonderful things that we are blessed to have.
I am so glad that I have a heavenly Father who gently tapped me on the shoulder and without conviction, let me know that those earthly things don’t matter. What matters to Him is that our home be filled with LOVE. At that moment, I realized we are all given talents and that talent is a gift from God. What we choose to do with it, is our gift back to HIM.
And though I second guessed my decision to continue with the home tours, I realized I had made a commitment I needed to fulfill. I decided to make our home as warm and welcoming as possible, and in my photos, included all those lived in touches that are so true to our everyday life. Such as…
This sweet guy on the furniture…
My art work and crafts that are often out of place…
Boots and things left at the front door…
Clothes on the bed….
But because I knew I wanted to share this post with you all
along – and a photo of a wool sweater on my bed would not be convincing
enough – I took photos of the ‘behind the scenes’ as I went along.
And this is what you didn’t see…
along – and a photo of a wool sweater on my bed would not be convincing
enough – I took photos of the ‘behind the scenes’ as I went along.
And this is what you didn’t see…
Our little girl is notorious for keeping her room untidy,
but she is learning though, so this mess is not so bad.
But beyond this pile of mess is what you did see…
but she is learning though, so this mess is not so bad.
But beyond this pile of mess is what you did see…
The magic of cropping and angles.
I must admit that our youngest son
keeps his room clean for the most part.
Remember our master bedroom? If you look to the bottom right hand of the
photo, you’ll see one of Brody’s toys. I am very particular with my cropping and
editing and noticed it before posting, but left it there because it’s our reality.
This photo was taken just a few minutes after the
‘photo shoot’. Hubby doesn’t care much for chairs in front
of the bed, so the chairs go back along the wall.
‘photo shoot’. Hubby doesn’t care much for chairs in front
of the bed, so the chairs go back along the wall.
And this is the other side of the room – plain walls and outdated
furniture. If you look beyond into the ensuite, you can see our huge
builder style mirror and light fixtures. I’m pretty sure the floors needed
dusting that day. Oh and there’s that darn chew toy again.
furniture. If you look beyond into the ensuite, you can see our huge
builder style mirror and light fixtures. I’m pretty sure the floors needed
dusting that day. Oh and there’s that darn chew toy again.
And an upside down chair should give you an indication
of the condition of our newly turned teen son’s room.
Somethings, you really shouldn’t see…ha
I obviously missed a spot under the sideboard, but that’s ok…
…’cause you would have never known that dust was there from this photo.
Hubby bought our pup a toy filled with coconut husk hair and
these are the insides of the toy all over the floor. This was literally
a minute after I had vacuumed and Brody used me taking photos
of our white tree as an opportunity to destroy his new toy.
But what you saw was this…
The point is, we should never compare ourselves to the person next door.
Or wish your life was as ‘perfect’ or as ‘organized’ or as ‘pretty’ as theirs.
The truth is, we all struggle with chaos in our lives. We have seasons of
calm and seasons of cheerios on the floor. We all have those little piles of
clothes, and sometimes, we only share what’s beyond – the pretty.
Or wish your life was as ‘perfect’ or as ‘organized’ or as ‘pretty’ as theirs.
The truth is, we all struggle with chaos in our lives. We have seasons of
calm and seasons of cheerios on the floor. We all have those little piles of
clothes, and sometimes, we only share what’s beyond – the pretty.
At the end of the day my sweet friends, remember that it’s not how
beautiful, or expensive, or trendy your Christmas decor is. What really
matters is that when you do decorate your home for Christmas, you do
it with LOVE and in the true spirit of Christmas.
Because the material does not matter.
This was after all, where the KING was born.
I hope to see you again soon.
much love,
much love,
Don’t miss a thing! Keep in touch with me via:
Love your blog and love your heart. Thank you for being so honest and helping remind us about what really matters this Christmas season.
Our minds have been in the same place. As I scrolled through some of the homes linking to a few Christmas tours, I found myself hoping the exquisitely decorated houses, with everything placed just so, had Love abiding within. Nothing else really matters when the cameras are put away.
I read “somewhere” that FB was causing people to compare themselves to others, the perfect life, the perfect vacation, the perfect friends, etc, and some people could get into a funk, I have suffered from this, seeing everyone’s beautiful homes, lovely family, children, etc and would compare my life and home to theirs. I’m much better about it now. I have a wonderful home, husband and fur baby. And this year I told myself I was not going to fall into the, oh, I have to decorate like that, I have to do that, I have to make that, taking the stress off, and it’s worked! Some things I’ve seen, I’ve marked for perhaps next year. I want to enjoy the season and always keeping in mind He is the Reason for the Season! Enjoyed your post and lovely photographs! Merry Christmas from our house to yours! xo Marsha
This post is as beautiful as your home!! 🙂
Lucy, your vulnerability is a gift. The truth is, we all crop and edit and not just our homes but our very selves. We think our imperfections make us less. And yet the true beauty is in the mess because that’s where Grace is. And isn’t that what we need above all? Truth=freedom. Preach on!
Love it all… the posed pretty and the everyday normal. I think we all tend to compare ourselves to the shiny magazine version of other people’s lives and we all need a reality check once in a while. Thanks for this 🙂
It is easy to get caught up in that feeling of having/being less, or comparing ourselves to others . We are so inundated with images via the internet, which may or may not be real, and sometimes it’s hard to keep it in perspective. Being real is good, Lucy, and your home is lovely !
Merry Christmas to you and your family…
Mary @ labellavitadesignandinspiration@blogspot.com
What wise words Lucy. Jesus came down to be born in a stable not a hospital after all didn’t he. Life is messy, but imperfection is beautiful too. And making life a party doesn’t mean there isn’t any bad parts, it means we take what we’ve got and choose to celebrate anyway. Bless you and Merry Christmas.
Great post..! I keep reminding myself about the true meaning of Christmas while I decorate my house ! Jesus is the center of it ! Thanks ! Have a great Merry Christmas !
So well said, and if we’re honest, this is the reality of all of us who are part of these home tours. Life is rarely picture perfect, but it is real and it is perfectly given. I fight often the demon of comparison, and so I very much thank you for this reminder that things are not always as they seem and to be grateful and to rejoice for my messy, imperfect life and the wonderful people in it.
A beautiful reminder of what this season is all about……I find myself forgetting often. Thanks for sharing your words and home with all of us who read your blog.
I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!!
What a fabulous keeping-it-real post, Lucy. I snickered because I just tossed a pile of stuff out of view on my master bedroom floor while I photographed my Christmas Tree in the living room. It’s so nice to know I’m not alone! Happy Holidays!
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts and photos. I have found over the years that I struggle with the tours. For those of us who don’t have big and popular blogs, you end up feeling like you don’t measure up. I found myself thinking, “well, if I didn’t have to work and had a husband and a gorgeous big house, I could present a beautiful home too”. After several years of struggling with the “all too perfect” homes, I have come to a place of peace. I didn’t feel like it pleased the Lord for me to buy just to try to keep up. I was spending money I didn’t have on things I didn’t need, with not enough space to store it all. This year I have tried very hard to create with what I already have and I have been amazed at how God has inspired my creativity, plus I’m not overspending and I don’t have any guilt ~ just joy. It has taken me awhile to come to this place of peace. I love the creativity of the tours and the ideas that abound, but that also leads me to wanting more. Now I just ohhh and ahhh and move on. I truly enjoyed your honesty. Thank for that.
Cindy
I completely agree, Cindy! Well put! And well put, Lucy, too!
Beautiful reminder! I am a new blogger, hoping to reflect the beauty of Jesus with a few glimpses into our home… http://www.smilesofgrace.org
Thank you for your honesty!
Thanks for keeping it real, life is messy at times but so worth living and enjoying! Merry Christmas,
Your best post ever! I needed this 🙂
Thank you for sharing from the heart….I hope you have a blessed Christmas season!
Thank you for posting this, Lucy! I think your home is absolutely beautiful! I know all too well about the “behind the scenes” we bloggers tend to hide. It’s funny because even though I know that, I still look at everyone else’s house and think it must be that immaculate every single day! Thanks for the reminder that none of us is perfect AND that that’s not the reason we celebrate Christmas, anyway! 🙂
Thank you for being honest and helping the rest of us realize that you ladies who blog all the beauty have the same dust, children and dogs as the rest of us. Your home is beautiful. I don’t believe our Lord and Savior was born in a spotless, picture perfect home. Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
That was just what i needed! So well put. This Holiday season has been such a challenge. It reminded me of what is really important!
Perfect post, thanks for sharing Lucy!!
Fotini
Love this post. So real and so true! The power of cropping and angles 😉
Beautiful post, Lucy! x
Ha ha! I think we can all relate to this post because it’s so true! In our house, every room has a good side and a bad side. 🙂 Love the chew toy!
Good for you Lucy! This whole internet sharing of our lives and homes is a little out of control, I haven’t looked at too many home tours because they are all too perfect, they seem sterile. I have been blogging for 4 years, and I realized this year that I have never been asked to be a part of a home tour…which I struggled with…for about a minute! Almost a feeling of not being “popular” and then I laughed at what I was thinking. I said to myself “seriously Stephanie, you don’t even know these people for real, you think you do, but you don’t. The people who really want a home tour are the ones in your daily life that you interact with, not the ones behind the computer screen” I haven’t thought about it again until I read this post. I appreciate your honesty, and love how your friend brought it to your attention, sometimes we need a reality check in real life right? None of the “home tours” look “real”, and you sharing your “real” makes me admire you even more. xoxo
Thanks so much for your honesty, Lucy. I think too many people do feel less than when they see these home tours. Your home is beautiful, dust and all. xo Laura
Thanks for sharing! Not a blogger myself but enjoy looking at them. I often wonder if the homes are staged. I dont understand how everything looks soooo perfect and not lived in. I enjoy my home dust bunnies and all. Happy holidays!
Lucy – your style is amazing and your home is beautiful. I too know about “what lies behind the photo shoot”. My house sometimes looks like a tornado hit – its frightening 🙂 thanks for sharing!
What a lovely post and so true to the words that you have written. I love the home tours but I am always comparing and wishing for the “perfection” portrayed in the photos. My home will never be perfect nor will I ever decorate as beautifully as many of you bloggers. However, during “any holiday” it’s not about the décor, it’s about enjoying family and friends and just being together. Merry Christmas!
You know already how I feel about this after our conversations…which means you must know how much I LOVE this post and LOVE you sweet friend! 🙂
Vanessa
…and this is why I follow your blog.
Thank you, Lucy! Wonderful post and so true.
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful Lucy!!! Thanks for keeping it real, trying to do the same on my end, esp in the NEW Year:). Happy Holidays to you & your sweet family! I adore you and so thankful for your friendship:). xoxo Jen-City Farmhouse
Thank you so much for your thoughts Lucy. I really appreciate knowing your personal tension with this topic too. But, I must say…even in keeping it real….you artfully arrange everything from the ‘clutter’ of crafting to the boots at the door. That is a beautiful gift, my friend.
I too struggled…similarly…yet differently this year and wrote about it on my blog if you’re interested. I titled it “Adore My Decor or Adore HIM.” Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/19dayll
Wishing you and yours a most blessed and joyous CHRISTmas!
~Diane
The last post I did…I shifted the piles around the room as I shot different angles!!! hahah!!! There was one picture that I just left the dirty floors in. I mean, we did just move in after all 😉 love this post! XO