The Inspired Room

Reprinted from The Inspired Room, December 2007

As we are drawing nearer to the Christmas holiday, I finding myself strangely calm and quiet, yes, introspective! I am increasingly pulling back in my thoughts. I am less able to focus on creativity, home decor and twinkling lights — and inspiration is not springing forth to my blog.

While I love all the festive homes, ideas and stories of holiday traditions, I’ve enjoyed each one so much, this week I find myself more in a contemplative mood. The story of Christ’s birth plays through my head and I am in awe of the miracle that took place and all the circumstances surrounding that event.

I think about Mary and what she must’ve been feeling, giving birth that night. It is mentioned in the book of Luke that while so many things were happening to Mary, she “quietly treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” I love that. The thought of “quietly treasuring things” in our hearts.

I think of the song, Mary Did You Know, and I imagine some of the things she was thinking about. I am sure she was weighing the magnitude of her circumstance, the blessing and responsibility God himself had bestowed on her. She was treasuring in her heart what was taking place and pondering what was yet to come. As a mom myself, who has cradled an infant son in her arms, I feel a wave of emotion rush over me as I think about her thoughts that night.

Mary Did You Know

written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered,
will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you’ve kissed the face of God.

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,
that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding, is the great I AM.

Every time I hear that song or think of the Christmas story, I imagine Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms, stroking his head, kissing his cheeks, holding him close, and treasuring it all in her heart. Such a simple picture but one that really touches me. A tiny baby, born in a humble stable, and an event that changed the world. I need nothing more than to slow down and treasure these things in my heart. I am content to do just that.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

{ 47 comments }

A few days ago, Winston was wondering when the snow would end. Little did he know, we’d break a 40 year record for snowfall in the Portland area. We are on week two of being house bound. At this rate, we’ll be having empty taco shells for Christmas dinner! Won’t that be memorable!?

Monday morning this is what it looked like as I peeked out my front door. Do you see my van?

Here is the tin foil star my kids made for our tree this year since we didn’t want to unpack all of our holiday decorations. I love it. So humble, but so precious. They were making the best of things.

Ok, what a disheveled looking kitchen. All festive for Christmas.

Welcome to Christmas at my home!

Inspiring, eh? Yeah, I thought so! Aren’t you glad you came over? Well at least we have the white Christmas I always dream about.

That makes things all better.

Here is a pretty holiday home I shared last year, enjoy!

{ 50 comments }

We’ve been snowed in for over a week! We were able to get out only once for a quick run to the store in between storms. Portland has experienced a ridiculous amount of snow and ice — we have a foot of powdery white snow on the ground now under a crunchy layer of ice! But, I’ve loved every minute of it. It is one of the few really festive things around here. I have been doing lots of packing and preparations for moving, so being stuck inside on a cold blustery day is a good thing.

As I am tearing apart my house, I am dreaming of the day when I’ll be all snug in a new place! Every time I move I start getting all excited thinking about what my old stuff might look like in a new house, combined with pieces from different rooms. I wonder how I can mix it up and make things look entirely fresh and new.

So, to keep me inspired to continue packing, I found some rooms to gaze at and get my wheels turning for life after moving! Oh, to have a nice orderly home! A girl can dream, but right now it looks like that windy blizzard outside has torn through my house and left it in shambles {sigh}. I’d show you the photos of the chaos for your amusement, but I am too lazy to load them today. Maybe tomorrow. Isn’t moving fun? Yeah. NOT. At least not yet.

Hugs to you all, enjoy your day!

‘

Photos from House Beautiful

{ 30 comments }