Home Sweet Home

home:
n.
1. A place where one lives; a residence.
2. The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.
3. A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household.
4.
a. An environment offering security and happiness.
b. A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.
5. The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.
6. The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.
7. The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source.
8. A headquarters; a home base.

These are just a few definitions I found for the word 'home'. I've been exploring my own definition of 'home' for the past couple of weeks while we were on vacation.

I often refer to my birthplace as 'home'. It is, after all, where the majority of my extended family, including my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins reside. There are a ton of childhood memories. It's natural to think of that place as 'home'.

Then I think of the place where I have spent most of my life. Where so many formative things took place...where I met, dated and married my husband, where I found and embraced the love of Jesus, where I found and grew in deep, long-lasting friendships, where I had my babies, where my sister lives with her sweet family, where my husband's dear family lives, the list goes on and on.

Now, I think of the physical structure that houses my most prized treasures at this time (my family)....the place that holds our earthly belongings.....this place...the one we are familiar with...the one we refer to as 'home' on a daily basis ("let's bring our groceries home", "after we get home, you're going to bed!", " I can't wait until you come home from work" - you know what I mean)
It's been confusing. I don't think I've made a final determination of 'where' home is. I think I have discovered that home isn't necessarily any ONE of those places. It's a little bit of all of them. We were glad to get back 'home' for our vacation - to take in the familiarity of the places and people God used to make us who we are right now....and to make new memories that are forming us still. And it was a blessing to get back to this 'home' - a new place that has given us comfort in it's own special way.

Thank you, God, that you are wherever 'home' is. You are constant and unchanging, even when life is not. I'm so grateful that you take us to the places that make us what YOU want us to be. Help us not to 'dig on our heels' when it is time for change. Your goodness is so much better than what we can dream of on our own. Thank you for a wonderful time of vacation. Though so busy much of the time, You provided the refreshment to renew us for the work you need us to do....Amen..

We did have tons of fun on vacation...I'll blog more about it in the days to come and will share some photos of our new memories. I'll also tell you more about our homecoming. For now, I'll just tell you that it included a briefly delayed departure from Chicago that almost made us miss our connecting flight (the last connecting flight of the day to our final destination) despite our fervent attempt to RUN all the way across the airport at tops speeds (imagine 2 adults, 1 active 8 year old and two tag along toddlers with a stroller and 5 overstuffed carry-on bags - yeah, it was not pretty), a bumpy 7+ hour flight with a baby (yes, unfortunately ours) who honestly screamed for 80% of the trip, and a homecoming to a black bear and a mouse (or mice). sigh...... and I sit here now, blogging, pretending like there are no suitcases to unpack or laundry to do or meals to prepare.....okay, I'm going now, I'm really not in denial...more soon (after the chores are done:)

The Tour.......

I'm making this a 'home-ee' place to be today. Since we have moved, a few have asked for details about our home (the lay-out, decor, etc). I can understand that... I really like to be able to envision people in their 'place' as well. It makes it easier when they are so far away....easier to guess how or what they are doing, what they look like while they are doing it, etc. So, I took some pics after straightening up my house (a little). Then I saw these pics and saw all the things that are 'hiding' under furniture, on chairs, etc. But, I'm willing to share it with you anyway....cuz this is just how it is:) I'll do my best to give you a feel for how things are at our home right now

This is the outside of our home (photo taken in March of this year). Did you know my husband is fascinated by log homes and has always and still wants to live in one? This is just one of the blessings we have recieved in coming here. Sort of...God's "icing" on the cake of His provision.

Now, walk up those 8 steps to the porch and open the front door and you will see........

Our living room. The fact that the walls are all logs has been difficult to get used to. I'm still not sure of how to decorate. It's a work in progress. it's not what I want it to be yet, but it's good. I like this room. We spend much time reading, visiting, spending time with friends and we usually have our at home, weekly 'Family Night' in this room, along with a pizza and a movie (everyone's favorite indoor activity, especially in the winter).

If you are looking for details, behind T's favorite chair, you will see a "box"...it's the one thing that I haven't found the right place for since we moved. Who knows how long I'll keep that there?

Okay, walk through the living room into the.......

Dining Room.....one of my favorite rooms. I love to share meals with my family. ...To be able to create an atmosphere where we can begin, meet in the middle of or end each day. The girls and E LOVE to talk, so we have many fun and interesting conversations around this table. I pray that they won't stop 'talking' to us. We gain so much out of our fellowship with them.

We also have had a few tea parties around this table, which is always memorable.

I want to use this table more for sharing meals with other people. We love to 'entertain' guests, but don't do it nearly as much as we should or want.

The pink tulips on the table are from T and the kiddos - waiting for me when I came home from work on Saturday. I LoooooooVE fresh flowers!

Once you are in the dining room, turn right...............

here is the kitchen, my other favorite room. I am fulfilled when I can provide good things for my family. And if I get lucky and can accomplish that through a good meal, I'm thankful. The girls have been more eager to learn how to cook and bake, so my heart is filled when I get to spend time with them here. You'll see the door on the back wall with the logs - that leads to the back deck and back yard. You'll see out the window of the dining room photo that our tent is set up on the deck right now. We had a camping night on Saturday....the girls had a blast! They and T slept out there. I, of course, had to sleep indoors so that someone could be with little E. (hee hee - it HAD to be me:)

Now, turn around and head toward the living room and take a quick left and you will walk down this little hallway.... it's a short one but it leads you to....

the bathroom. Little and easy to clean...that's what I like. There is only one of them in the house, and T would like to have just one more,.......sooner than later. Our A loves baths and showers, as does E. G will wait until it is absolutley necessary...not sure what that is all about.

Anyway, leave the bathroom, take a right and you will end up in........

Our bedroom. This is a LONG room, the depth of the house. And as crazy as I am about the person I share this room with, it's not my favorite room. I appreciate the time I have in there...but it's not what I want it to look like. For as long as I have been married, our bedroom has always been the last room on the list to do something nice with. I want to change that. I want this room, especially, to be a 'haven' for my husband. I don't think he cares about it as much as I do, but... I do. So, someday.......

Now, we'll leave this room (thank you) and head down the hall, turn into the living room toward the front door. To the left of the front door is a stairway that leads downstairs where you will first walk into....... the family room. Toys, computer, shelves with books are what you will find in this area. Off of this area are three doors - one that leads to the laundry room, 2 that lead to storage rooms.

At the end of this room (to your left) are the kids' bedrooms:

A and G share a room. This is usually a good thing. Occasionally, A will complain about it. But, she is a great big sister and is gracious to G and her lack of tidiness. They spend many minutes after bedtime talking, singing and doing a whole lot of laughing. Occasionally, we have to go and break up the excitement. But, most of the time, if they're not too loud, I let it go. I know these are times they will both look back on and treasure someday.

Right across the way from their room is Little E's room:
He is a good little sleeper. We rarely have problems with him going to sleep and staying asleep. He is especially happy if he has his 'binky' (pacifier) and 'silky B' (blue silk blanket from Auntie Laura). The bunk beds are in his room for when we have guests. We'll assign sleeping places for everyone according to need:) Come visit soon!!

I can really get caught up in wanting to have nicer furniture and other things to make my house look better. But as I grow older, I'm so much more concerned about the people in my home than I am the things. I pray daily that God would give me all that I need from Him to meet the needs of my husband and my children. And that as those needs are met, we are strengthened and equipped to go OUT of our home to share His love with others.

Thank you, again, God for providing this special home, our haven, where we can grow each day. May it be a place that brings you honor and glory at all times. May those who dwell here feel welcomed, loved and encouraged and built up because of the fact that You are the foundation of this place....... Amen.

Happy (Belated) 4th of July!!!!

We had a busy weekend. Torrey was able to take some 'comp' time off from work on Thursday to start our holiday weekend. The girls enjoyed a date with Daddy where they got to go and see the new Kit Kittredge (American Girl) movie. I enjoyed a few moments of quiet at home while 'E' napped. (That's when the blog brainstorming took off:) We had a family night that evening - pizza and another movie!

On Friday we went to a small fishing village we discovered a couple of weeks ago. There was something catching about this broken little town. You can see the hardship of life on the faces of the people there. It's a place that is on an inlet of the Pacific and is enveloped between the mountains. Each time we have been there have been under an overcast sky and alot of moisture. It feels wet, but it isn't actually raining.

Anyway, we knew they had a July 4th celebration and thought we would check it out. We enjoyed their 5 vehicle, 90 second parade, filled pockets with the candy they shared and then participated in a 'community wide' barbecue. It was very family oriented, totally geared towards kids. 'T' was able to make some connections with the people there and in some way I wonder of some seeds were planted.?....

The temps were cool - low 50s. Most people were in long pants and coats. I had the kiddos dressed in their festive, summer-y, cute 4th of July attire, but they were covered with their extra clothes shortly after we arrived to our destination. Brrrr! It turned out to be a fun day with lots of treats, games, face painting and lots of laughter.

It was nice to be surrounded by this small, kind community of people. Our hearts were warmed on this chilly July 4th. And, of course, we can't help but be forever grateful for the freedom we have in our country....for those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing even now to allow us to maintain the independence we have today.


Thank you, God, for each man and woman and each child that is having to sacrifice the comforts of 'home' right now to ensure our freedom. Thank you for our leaders.... Guide them and us to You, for You know where and what we need to be. And I praise you, God, for setting the ultimate example of sacrifice......so that we can be free from all that separates us from You. Help us to never forget all that has been paid for us..... Thank you.... Amen.


'T' has been a big help to me in teaching me how to do all this blogging stuff. My thoughts are filled each day with so much. I always think - 'oh, I should blog about that'....but I second guess those thoughts often. Thanks for letting me have fun with it though..and for your patience as I learn how to make everything sit 'just right'. I'm looking forward to writing again soon.

Blessings!

Zimmermoments

This blog is so long overdue. I've wanted to start one for awhile.
For months I have been trying to dream up some really cool and catching title....something that sounded unique, inviting, honest....and well, something "me". (It has kept me from taking this FIRST step, because I want things just 'so'.) I don't know that I have found any of those things in this title. I may not keep it, I may change it or slightly modify it...I may stop blogging altogether because I just don't know if this is the right name. (Yes, I am a complicated person......if you choose to continue to read, you'll gather that fact for yourself soon enough:)

But, I'm here now. It's taken me a long time. And I'm starting with low expectations of myself (please join me:). You see, I'm not an experienced blogger. I get very little time on the computer because of the nature of this season of my life. Computers confuse me - I can do the bare bone basics of searching the web and sending an e mail (don't ASK me how to send an attatchment - especially a photo small enough to send). And sometimes I think my life, my thoughts or the moments I share with my loved ones are not interesting enough to share.
So, I'm scared... thinking....what if nobody reads it? What if it looks terrible? What if this blog becomes my husband's 2nd job because I am forever having questions about how to attatch a photo? and what if something I post is too true of me not to be honoring to the God I love and so desperately want to honor and serve?.........
Yes, it is complicated....just like me. But, if there is an opportunity to learn and to grow in communicating my life, then I'll take it.

So, if you are still reading...thanks.