I can clean, cook and entertain all-the-live-long day but if I do them without love, I do them in vain. I have a long list of domestic affairs. Yet, do I have a centered view of my domestic affections?

Can I even be relaxed enough at home until my  to-do list is done? Yes, I know I can. Can I be centered in my affections, not losing focus? Yes, I know I can.

I can because in the process of building my nest I see God’s hand weaving yarn and twigs with me.

I find home is in the valleys, like failed dinners, missed connections, and yet-to-finish projects. I find home is in the hillsides, like laughing until milk comes out of your nose, creating something with your talents, and helping each other through the valleys.

Here are some photos of things that make my nest feel like home:

Dating - Goofing off on the patio of Noodles & Co. - 9th Anniversary

Entertaining - Ryan's 5 1/2 year old birthday party.

Traditions - s'mores every summer, all summer

Schedules - making time for what matters most (on the fridge)

Root Building - sharing lives and space (Ryan and Leah)

Tending to my domestic affections, gives me a chance to experience a deep sense of gratitude.

What makes your nest feel like home?

Love,

Jess

Molly at the Zoo

Envision a typical nester.

• A newlywed filling a new wedding-gift vase with flowers from her first garden.
• A pregnant lady folding and refolding tiny, freshly washed baby tee-shirts and stacks of cloth diapers.
• A business woman saving her precious funds for the future.
• Veteran housewives refining their home decor to create a sanctuary for their family.

What result does nesting show? Does a house magically turn into a home? Does a life automatically become a legacy? Something lies beyond the housewares and diapers. Curtains and bean counting can only go so far.

So here I am setting up my nest, searching for what will make my house a home and my life a legacy.

Love,

Jess

Packed boxes were stacked, sorted, and stamped.

Moving Time with Claire Joy

We readied ourselves for the “new house” with great anticipation.

Leah and Molly practice "packing" while Dad laughs on!

Our goodbyes were held with tears held tightly in our throats.

Leah, Molly, and Claire snuggle a goodbye with their "best friends" Neasha and Bri.

Many strong helpers heaved furniture and the contents of our life into a truck. Then we drove away, ready to expand into a larger home to fit our family. Ready for the next 20 years of our life to begin. Ready to pull over and buy a box of tissues because I forgot moving is such a roller coaster of memories of the old house and hopes for the new one.

Memories like this…

Ryan,2, snuggling with his new baby sibling-to-be, while I read Goodnight Moon for the hundredth time.

Funny, things memories. They just don’t fit into a box, they have to live in the heart.

Regardless, I brought all my memories (some sharper than others) to the “new house”, which we now lovingly call home.

Home Sweet New Home

Love,

Jess

Since, I’ve been meaning to show you my office space for awhile, I am happily joining up with the party.

Remember this empty space next to the attic entry?

It became a play room, until…

…a few additions later, it became my office!

Here are a couple of close up shots.

Never fear the little ones took over the “big” bedroom when the twins came last Fall. Their play space has been reinvented. More on that later!

Thanks for stopping by to check out where all the Just a Blink magic happens!

Love,
Jess

Day 1 proved to be less than successful with my hand-me-down sewing machine failing on me even though I swear I heard her say she’d be there for me.

I had resolve. I would not let a little bump in the road throw off my sewing machine journey. I borrowed my mother-in-law’s  Viking sewing machine so I could attempt to reteach myself how to sew.

The Viking’s case was well seasoned. I felt a connection to the small metal latches as I popped them open. It seemed they could tell me a 100 old stories of the hands that had touched them.

The machine sat with authority in it’s metallic green-blue glory. No, arrow diagrams were engraved in the metal to inform a novice how to thread the needle. The bobbin winder had no guide to make sure the thread was evenly spun. It’s knobs were plentiful, yet they were almost entirely unmarked.

Ah, the Viking, heavy and dependable, mocked me as if to say,

“If you have to ask you might as well not be sewing with me.”

And so it was.

I sent the Viking back to the home of  the “sewer” that had touched it’s metal latches 100s of times before.

Love,

Jess

Day One:

My hand-me-down sewing machine was calling to me from the top shelf in the garage. 5 years, she sat voiceless, collecting dust but now I heard her say,

Use me. Today is the day! Discover the usefulness I possess. I will unlock your creativity in unexpected in miraculous ways! Surely, your determination alone will give you golden fingers to stitch beautiful and important works of art.

The cold plastic case of my hand-me-down machine hung from the white handle in my clenched fist. She was heavier than I remembered.

I smiled as I set her down in the designated clearing on my kitchen table. I could already see all the Halloween costumes, hair bows and pot holders I was going to create, over the years, with the whirling noise of her presser foot.

Wait. The presser foot! Seriously, WHERE. WAS. HER. PRESSER. FOOT? Where was my sweet sewing machine’s presser foot? Gone. Yep, so was the plug-in cord.

gone, baby, gone. hmmph.

I hoped Day 2 would prove to be more productive.

Love,

Jess

…she provides food for her family…

I picked up an old fashioned photo album from the thrift store today. Remember when people used to have real photos? Now its like, “here look at my phone, here is my daughters dance recital.” In other words, the thrift store was full of photo albums.

Of course the album’s cover design was a delightful modern bouquet of faded 1990′s pastel glory. So, I had to get crafty with it. Isn’t that the point of getting a thrifty score?

It went a little something like this

Our Family Meals. 31 meals collected just for us. I am hoping this “family cookbook” will simplify my process in providing food for my family.

Love,

Jess

This post was linked up with Somewhat Simple

Proverbs 31:15

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

Just checking in to say I’m busy working on verse 15.

I came up with a recipe file of 31 family meals.

I started feeding the babies baby mush cereal. Leah likes it the best.

I made a portion of {birthday} food for my worker.

I am giving myself a lot of homework for this verse so I’ll be writing on it for a while. (or until a different verse catches my attention more )

Coming Up: Menu planning, freezer inventory, shopping list, coupons, recipes

Love,

Jess

Onto the task before me…try to learn about the wisdom found in Proverbs 31, hands on.

Proverbs 31:14

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

photo credit: anthropologie

Like merchant ships she brings food from a far – basically grocery shopping.

Grocery shopping with 4 kids 5 and under!? Not. going. to. happen. Can you even image the scene? Cart wheels squeaking, breast milk leaking, children fighting, babies crying. Even on a good day, where would I put the food?

Enter online shopping

I am fortunate to have a local service in my community that provides pick-up or delivery service. The small fee I pay for having someone else shop the aisles for me and bring the food to my house, is worth every penny.

Shopping online provides the opportunity to watch my finances. I can easily “put back” items that have put my budget over. I can also stick to my list a lot better when I don’t have the chance to roam to the “other side” of Target. You know what I am talking about…holiday decor, clothes, clearance end caps and toys.

Add extra help

Even the thought of taking all the little ones (in this freezing weather) on a small trip to restock fresh foods or small items can really wear me down. I try to ask for help whenever I need some assistance. I love my friends and family!

The wisdom

Being wise is knowing when to push yourself and knowing when to set your limits. I set my sails to gather food, I just require a crew to help me navigate the way home.

Love,

Jess

I’ll be back with more grocery and meal planning adventures.

The start of a new decade. Time flies.

It’s resolution time again. But, I’m skipping the torment of a having a long list of Will Do Better At and Want To Be More.

Instead, I am adopting a One Little Word Resolution. Have you heard of those?

I guess, it’s like a word that I’ll push myself with over the next year. It’s one little word that helps unify goals.

The word I’ve chosen is ENRICH.

The dictionary definition of enrich means:

• to supply with abundance of anything desirable
• to add greater value or significance to
• to adorn or decorate
• to make finer in quality, as by supplying desirable elements or ingredients

It’s is my desire to sprinkle in the idea of enrichment as I grow in my relationship with God, decorate my home, raise my kids and cook with desirable ingredients.

Okay, okay…I’m not so perfect. I’ll give you two traditional resolutions

Want To Be More: Stylish. New eyeglasses for me this year and new summer sandals.

Will Do Better At: Reading. I hope to read one book this year without pictures.

Wish me luck and hold me in your prayers! I really hope to make a special movement in my life as I begin this new decade.

Love,

Jess

P.S. If you have a One Single Word Resolution, I’d love to hear it!