What....Narrow Way Cottage????
Yes, I have given her a name, I love it it.
Do you remember last year when I wrote about my struggle with my home?
You can read it here if you need a refresher. My husband has continued to
make improvements on our abode and I thought that I would share with you the latest.
RED Shutters, I love them....and next will be RED flower boxes under the window.
I am so thankful for my little home. I heard on the news that 8,000 homes a day in the USA go into foreclosure. Our little place, a manufactured home is paid for.
IT was $8,000.00. Do I miss a stick built, big beautiful house ? Sometimes, many times. I am learning so many lessons in this home, albeit slowly. The major one
*CONTENTMENT*. It is hard when you see all the lovely places out there,
to not covet.
IT is something I work on and sometimes get into sin on. I am a work in progress as is my home. The Lord is dealing with ME, my husband is dealing with the home.I am so thankful for my husband that works so hard on our place.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Can I share with you what he has done?
Replaced all inner walls
Painted all inner walls,to include changes of colors, due to his fickle wife
Put all new windows in
A new front door and screen
Laminate flooring in (thanks Mark)
Carpeted our bedroom
Crown Molding
2 new bathrooms
Sided the outside (thanks to Matt,Mark, GINA)
Built front and back covers for decks
New door on lovely room
landscaping
put new cupboards in part of the kitchen
new kitchen sink and counter tops
Moved furniture around due to my everchanging ideas
more coats of paint
gutters
air conditoning
Christmas lights every year
I think that might be it...isn't that ENOUGH.
My husband works usually over 50 hours a week too..
.....and yet he has
had to put up with me whinning at times because *I want a bigger stick built house*
SHAME on me, and I MEAN IT..
Oh as I was sitting on my deck today reading my Bible I was shamed at my behaviour ,
"Lord I am sorry I am not more thankful. I love this little place
Thank you for a husband that loves me so much that works so hard and for this
Narrow Way Cottage."
to my husband...
"Thank you for all the work that you do, for loving me so
uncondtionally. I appreciate you and and thankful for
a man that loves the Lord and his wife who falls so short"
~~~~Deby
28 comments:
Oh, what a sweet post today! Your home is lovely and what a handy hubby you have who can do all these things. I know you're thankful...it's so easy to look around at what others have and what that too...I'm surely guilty of that. I understand the name of your cottage, too! Broad is the way that leads to...and narrow is the way to... It's a wonderful name and I love those red shutters. I've just recently painted my backdoor red. Come see me sometimes.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
I know exactly the feelings you describe. I have so many eye-sores in the house I live in, but it is a safe place and what is important is the values we hold so dear. It helps us be a good example if we at least take good care of what we have. I live in a cinderblock house and I know how you feel about wanting a stick built house. They are just the best. However, I believe comparisons are deadly. If we use what we have to the glory of God, people who live in the kind of houses we really want, will be beating a path to our doors. I met a woman today whose husband left her, after 30 years, and that nice home they had, didn't help a bit when trying to rescue her marriage. Not that we shouldn't desire the best quality or do the best we can afford, but that it is more imporant to stay within our income, than to put stress on our husbands and shake up our future. Every time we get to moaning about not having something, we probably get a lot closer to living on the street. We want and then we have to pay for it, and then we lose our freedom to be at home. So it is better to live in a tent or a trailer than to live under the stress of debt.
Deby,
You know, I've lived in tiny little homes that seemed never to have enough room, but yet had lots of charm. We entertained, and blessed others through God's grace. NOW, we are in a bigger home, but there are still flaws. No coat closet, etc. The key here is contentment. We need to be ever mindful that EVERY THING we have is a gift from God. It sounds like you are on the right track. And oh... to have our home paid for! What a blessing for you!
Interesting, Deby, that your are writing about contentment. A friend and I are praying for each other about this very thing. As you know, it's been hard for me since Phil became disabled and our income has been cut, but when I stop fretting and just let God work, He will meet not just the needs, but also the wants. (Last night, we bought three gallons of paint to paint one room and our dining area; we couldn't have done that without the economic stimulus check.)
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11)
The shutters look fantastic! I *love* the red and I like the decorative thing at the top too. (o:
What a sweet hubby! They do work hard to make us happy. You've reminded me that I need to work on that ever-present monster **discontentment** in my life. Sin, actually. Thanks, Deby!
Your house is pretty, Deby. And my goodness, your dear husband has done a LOT of work. My house is way too big for me to keep up, and it needs lots or work. I just have to ignore everything and be content.
Oh I forgot to mention--I *love* the name you chose for your home. (o:
Dear Deby,
This is such a precious post, honoring the Lord Jesus, your husband, and being humble. I am always ashamed of my discontent and ungratefulness! Isn't is so sad how we can have so very much to be thankful for and yet complain about the few things we don't have! But God is so forgiving, full of compassion, mercy and grace and thankfully you and I have both been blessed with incredible, godly, hardworking and loving husbands!!!
I am so proud of all the work your husband has done to your "Narrow Way Cottage!" It was all a labor of love for you! Your thankfulness for him and his hard work is a blessing. We need to praise and thank our husbands more! You are so encouraging and truly Deby, you do have a grateful heart!
I just love that you named your home. Isn't it wonderful to have a name for it? I find you are more endeared to your home when you give it a name. You chose a good one. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14 What a testimony you are and the name of your cottage are!
I love the red shutters, they are so pretty and cheerful. The flowers boxes will be lovely and I can hardly wait to see them there at your Narrow Way Cottage!
So glad your home is paid for! That is a real blessing.
The Lord bless you, Deby!
Paula
I remember that post last year! Wow,how beautiful it looks. The Lord has given me contentment (well, most of the time) in a little home, but now I need Him to work on my attitude about a certain neighbor household.
Anyway, praise God for your husband and how the Lord has blessed you with him. Enjoy him and enjoy your home, Deby!
I struggled with the contentment issue for many years and the Lord has done an incredible work on me over the years in this area. I have found that by thanking God each day for what He has entrusted to my care has helped me more than anything. There is always going to be something that needs to be fixed or updated on our houses, no matter how big or small. You are very blessed to have a husband that is able and willing to do these things. :)
Besides, if you had a bigger house, just think about all that extra cleaning you'd have to do!
;-)
Deby,
I love the way those red shutters look again the gray! I wasn't in the land of *blogging* last year when you wrote your original story so I went back and read it and am so glad that I did.
I've been there and know exactly what you're talking about ... the Lord has reminded me over and over again that *HE* is the supplier of all our needs, not our *wants* and when I remember that, I am content!
You are very fortunate to have a husband who is so talented -- he's almost rebuilt the place and completely redecorated it :o)
It must be such a blessing to have it completely paid off too!!
By His Grace,
Dallas
Dear Deby,
What a lovely cottage you have!! The shutters look so pretty! And what a long list of wonderful things your husband has worked on for you! Thank you for sharing this post and the previous one that you linked to. It is such wonderful encouragement that others can learn from. My husband and I have been raising our 5 children (although 2 are on their own now) in a 1352 square foot house and often times I have wanted more ~ but the Lord has also been teaching me contentment which is a great blessing! We really do have so much and I want my heart to be filled with gratitude rather than want!
May the Lord richly bless you and your husband there at Narrow Way Cottage!
Sharon
I'm sure this post will convict many of us to be content. Our house is small but paid for. Most of the time, I am content but there are times when I complain and I can see the hurt in my husband's eyes when he works 50 hours a week as well. Shame on me too!
hehe, I named my new house errrr apartment, too--Serendipity Delight. Such a silly, yet very fun thing to do. :o)
Wow, your husband sounds like quite the handyman! How neat it must be to be able to say that *he* did all of that work. The shutters are especially lovely. A bit of red always adds a nice splash to a room or house.
You are so wise to be thankful that it is paid for! That is amazing and so smart right now with the times so unpredictable. I love the red shutters! I have different phases of loving and then hating my home. I mostly love it though. You should show more interior pictures of your home.
Hugs, Sharon
What a great post about contentment! I'm sure we ALL struggle with this in one way or another. Thank you for your honesty in your situation.
Oh, and your hubby sounds wonderful! I like the red on your shutters too; really beautiful.
I too struggle with that Deby. I wanted to buy a home and we almost did a few months ago but I'm really thankful we didn't go into debt!
It is a constant check of thoughts and praying to stay content and be thankful for what we do have. I don't know anyone who doesn't struggle with that at times. I mean think about it....we really won't be entirely satisfied until we are in Heaven with Jesus! :) Possessions only offer temporary satisfaction.
I really like your house, very pretty!
Bev
Your home is lovely! The red shutters and filigree thingy (what *do* you call that thingy?!) above the window brings sweet greeting to an already wonderful home. Window boxes will be the cat's meow! Red geraniums? What a wonderful husband you have to work hard on your home. :o) I'd love to see glimpses of the inside!
Narrow Way Cottage. Excellent name on so many levels. I love it.
Glory in Him who gave you this lovely home filled with love. <><
I loved your post as well as your home! Your husband sounds so much like mine...working many hours but always willing to do more!
Our house is on hold while Brian works on the church building, with many little jobs not quite finished(we moved the house here 2 yrs ago)but I'm just so happy to be where I am...the finishing can wait.
This move also put us further in debt than we would like to be...It would be nice to be able to say ours is paid for, like yours!
I hadn't thought of naming our house...what a neat idea.
~~~Deb
Love the RED shutters and yep the "THINGY" adds charm...window boxes will be perfect...
and you must know in your travels that in Europe (well Switzerland) they name homes...ours was "the little inn"..in French though.
I'll have to think of a name now for mine ;)
and I loved your post and so true for us all... When we are thankful and fill our homes with grace, contentment comes.
and...a great husband to be so kind and thoughtful to his bride!
Oh Deby what a blessing you are! I needed it to read this today. I have had such a hard time with my little cottage. Coming from a such a large, beautiful victorian home to my little plank house, well it has taken a bit of getting used to it.
My thoughts always turned to what I used to have and it really does a number in my heart. But the Lord knew that this was the house we could afford and He also knew what was to happen to us as a family once we moved in.
Do I have any regrets, no... because He has provided for all of our needs and He will continue to provide.
Thank you for been an inspiration to all of us that read your thoughts!
many blessings to your dear husband for loving you and his family and working so hard in giving all of you a beautiful, safe place.
mari
Wow you guys have been busy little bee's!!! I love the red shutters with all my heart!!!! Your home sounds like it is coming along wonderfully!! Praise God for all he does in our lives!
You compelled me to write a post about my home...a tour set for the next blog!
now to find that name?
How exciting!!! What a hubby you have! Good guy...
You had such a sweet post today. You do have a loving husband. I know because mine is much like that. I love our home because he has put so much into it. I look here and there and I see him in every board and nail. God bless you and your husband Deby and your Narrow Way cottage. connie from Texas
I waited until another post was up to slip in my comment. I understand what you have written and this is why I write the way I do.
I mean we have to explain that we are embarrassed to wish for better or stick built. I understand. I am happy to read that you have been able to transform yours. We have only spent 600 to redo entire home...so most was mending removing and just accepting. I ripped out all the carpets and I painted the subfloor...new floor may never be on the list as 2004 salary and health much different than 2008 salary. Am I ashamed? Perhaps...may be the reason I wonder why I even blog anymore. Until one walks in the shoes of a crisis and then firm resolute strength the eyes cast down and judgment occurs.
I do await my mansion in heaven, therefore my humble farm is perfect. Especially since I reflect that 3/4 of the world would trade me today for all I have materialistically.
To give you a hug...and sit and chat in person would be wonderful. I know you get me, as I get you. Praise God that you can lift my spirits as days like the past week and the flooding have been hard.
Often I do realize that I am struggling. Thanks for being honest so I too could share.
This post really ministered to me Deby. Three years ago, we paid a Christian (?) contractor to remodel the house we've lived in for 18 years. It's a very long story, but after getting money for the "start up" costs for the different phases, money to order all new windows and a few other things--he left the job. He had spent our money on other things, besides *our* house. : ( The next two years were some of the worst in our family. We were all battling discontentment and discouragment as we were living in a house that was literally a mess (from the contractor leaving us with ripped up flooring, gutted rooms, ect...). I had the WORST attitude, as I became bitter towards my precious husband because I blamed him for hiring the guy. As you can imagine, our home was not a fun place to be! :( Thankfully, today our house is nearly complete with just a few minor things like baseboards, to totally complete. And through love and forgiveness, and God's grace, our family relationships have been restored. : )
Oh and I LOVE the red shutters!! Red is my favorite color!
Post a Comment