We are settled and I look around and think, wow, I touched everything, twice! I have found a place for everything that we own. It has also caused me to wonder why I keep one thing and discard another. We’ve taken, I think, 4 separate loads to Goodwill. Good sized loads. Plus had two garage sales this summer. Freeing ourselves of the things that have lost their novelty and usefulness. I look at the things around me now and they are filled with meaning, or simple enjoyment. I no longer, at least I’m trying, hang on to things just because at one point it had value to me and the memory of it is the only reason I’ve kept it. Although we still have our Letterman jackets. I haven’t been able to let go of those. Perry’s is impressive. Mine is not. Yet they hang in our closet.
After moving two times in a year, I’ve realized there are things that just stay in boxes. And I’m learning to let go. I’ve let go of so much!
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Now pictures are up, the sign of finalized settling. And I am enjoying how easy we fit into this house.
So family and friends, this our place for now.
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In the bushes is a lizard we named Larry. Jack thinks he’s a snake.
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I want to update these photos when we get our family shoot done in October. Especially the bottom one. All I see are baby horns as the blanket behind Jack’s head is placed just accidentally so.
The yellow chair belonged to my grandma, and I love it more as the years go by.
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Jack and Scott’s baby tag displays. I love them together.
The white toy chest was one I played with as a child. It’s all wood and has been many colors over the years. Lime green, navy blue, and now white. The inside has been recently changed to green.
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In hanging up all my art and photos, ( I really have more than the walls can hold) I had these two straggly frames that just didn’t seem to fit anywhere. Until the perfect idea was given me. They hang right next to Jack’s crib. A picture of Jesus loving children, and a frame that will hold our family’s picture. We talk about it when he goes to bed. We talk about how Jesus loves him and how we love that Jack is in our family. I love ideas that are heaven sent.
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The rug was from a trade with the home owner. It matches our decor perfectly. Although it’s not one I’d ever pick out as I’d more like a solid color rug, but with two babies, the floor needed some cushion.
Years ago, I made the flower arrangement on a whim. And the yellow/green pillows I sewed while we were on our way to meet Jack’s birth mom for the first time during her pregnancy.
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It took me awhile to figure out the piano setup. But now it feels right. Timpanogos, mountain that we love, and where we use to live at it’s toes.
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I guess what was meant to be the formal dining area we put our piano instead.
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The mantel is a work in progress. “The Lady of Shallot” print will be replaced by our family portrait. I might even paint the whole frame black, maybe white to match the mantel. Still deciding.
Every door in the house is 9 feet tall. Even the closets providing awesome vertical storage.
I have four red poppies, one for each member of our family. And the vase they’re in holds the baby pine cones Jack and I find on our walks.
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This is our catch all room. Here you can catch me on the treadmill, or jack reading his books, or pulling out his trucks. When I do newborn shoots, this will be our setup area as the window gives me great light and I can easily clear out the room.
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My photo board.
One of many things that’s been in storage for a year. It’s so nice to pull everything out to enjoy again.
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The forsythia wreath reminds me of my mom. And it hangs in the center of the Daddy Frames. They’ll always have pictures of Perry with his boys.
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In the boy’s bathroom. Scott gets the wall.
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I’ve never had a red kitchen but the color couldn’t have been more perfect. I simply love it. This is a special picture of my dad that I’ll always have up. He is a reminder to be my very best. The cone shells I got from one of our last vacations to California before we adopted. They represent the family of three we were hoping to become.
Yes I put a lot of thought and meaning into our decor. It’s where I spend most my day, and I want to fill it with positive meaning. And that’s it for now. There’s still the garage to organize and a few other setups waiting that I need Perry’s help with. Wall shelves are my least favorite thing to install.
