Welcome to Headlines from Home

This is a series of everyday stories. Sometimes funny, sometimes reflective. Always sincere. They’re meant to leave you a little more uplifted than you were a moment before.

I cherish home immensely. It’s not just where I eat, sleep and perform mundane tasks like dishes and laundry.

It’s a haven.

It’s where I draw inspiration from and where I replenish.  Through all the ups and downs, I rely on its unwavering gifts- faith, bonds, growth.

Home keeps evolving. We’re way past sippy cups and army tanks.  Our oldest is in college. The middle three are in high school. And our baby isn’t a baby anymore-there were no shrieks of opposition when I moved the Barbie Dream House to the basement a few months ago. 

The kitchen is the liveliest room in our home.

Conversations happen here. Lighthearted ones, serious ones, late-night ones with ice cream and left-overs. Backpacks get plopped down and updates are added to the crammed whiteboard calendar. It’s where we blow out birthday candles and prepare dough for homemade pizza.

Nourishment from food, nurturing from being together.

The sink is tucked in the corner, under a tall window with an enormous white window sill. It’s an uncluttered space that lets in natural light and uncovers countryside views. Hummingbirds sipping from flowers, the north side of our vineyard, a cherry orchard just beyond.

I spend a lot of time in this corner of the kitchen, washing, chopping, stirring. I work quickly, partly because I like to and because I’m usually crunched for time.

As I work, I ponder. My heart just sorta opens up and invites me to see the value behind life's happenings.  

I hope to share these insights with you, so you’re blessed with some small take-away that lightens up your day.