The Room Over The Garage

One of our bedrooms is simply called, the room over the garage.
It is the room that my two oldest daughters shared when they lived at home.
It is the room at the top of the back stairs.
It has its own bathroom; an arched window frames the moon when it shines through.

You must step down from the hallway when you walk into that room.
That little area at the top of the back stairs was always a favorite place to sit or play.
Toys could be lined up on the step.
It was the little place that felt out of the way yet was very visible.

The room over the garage used to have posters on the wall and lacrosse sticks in the corner.
There were wicker baskets with stuffed animals and Beanie Babies.
It was large enough for two beds, two chests of drawers, and two desks.
It was a girl’s room through and through.

The rug is a lovely color.
There is quite a bit of floor space now since the amount of furniture is much less.
I can see the rug.
There is ample room to walk.

That is until my daughter’s wedding shower.
All the wonderful gifts she received went into that room.
They were to stay there until closer to her wedding.
They were to stay there until their apartment was ready.

On the day they got their keys, my daughter and her future husband came over to move things.
Neither one of them were going to live in the apartment until after the wedding.
However, it was nice to get their home ready and move their things in ahead of time.
When all the boxes and gifts were moved, I teased her about being able to see the rug again.

That was short lived.
My youngest daughter did most of the creative touches for her sister’s wedding.
She wrote names on all the place cards in her lovely calligraphy-style handwriting.
She used bistro pens to decorate chalkboards.

All of the little touches that made the wedding so special were kept safely in that room.
The room over the garage became wedding central.
The gifts may have been gone but now another corner of the room was taken over.
I was not sure that a rug really existed under all those things.

My daughter is a teacher, so everything was labeled and organized.
It was not a problem.
I am glad that we have the space so our children can use our house whenever they need to.
I just smiled at the thought that one side of the room emptied while the other side filled.

The wedding took place on that lovely June day.
All of the wedding presents came back here to our house.
Just put them in the room over the garage, my husband directed.
The room that had finally emptied was temporarily filled again.

After they returned from their honeymoon, they came over one day and got all of their presents.
They used my minivan to transport them to their apartment.
The rug in the room over the garage was visible again.
The room looked empty; I had grown used to the extra things in it.

Just when all the bedrooms rugs could be seen again, my youngest daughter changed that.
Being an Resident Assistant at her college, she began to use the floor of her room as her studio.
She designed posters in her unique style.
She is working on the name tags for each girl’s door.

She has her paints in a plastic tub, the brushes next to them, and a folded mat as a work surface.
She has her laptop nearby, scrapbook paper for lovely backgrounds, and canvases for painting.
She has a large under-the-bed storage bin for her finished work.
She has a corner of her room that is filled with works in progress.

I have another room that is being used.
There is another room where the rug color remains a mystery.
But isn’t that what rooms are for?
Isn’t a house to be lived in and enjoyed?

I do not have fancy things in our home.
Our home is decorated in a country/ Shaker style.
Quilts on the walls, an old Hoosier cabinet in the kitchen, and a long table with benches.
Our house is very lived in and all are welcome here.

When we moved into this house on my birthday 20 years ago, a neighbor came to visit.
Our neighbor shared the same last name, which was a bit confusing for the mailman.
He paid me the biggest compliment without ever realizing it.
I remember his words as if they were spoken yesterday.

I feel as if I want to curl up on a chair with a blanket and cup of tea and read a good book.
I thanked him since that meant a lot to me.
He just met us; there was no way he knew that was exactly the way I wanted our home to be.
This is a family home with love to go around and love to spare.

My people will live in a peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, and in undisturbed places of rest. (Isaiah 32:18)

Our homes are gifts from the Father’s hands.
They are places to raise our families, to engage in ministry, and to practice hospitality.
They are places where God’s Spirit is evident.
They are places where God’s peace is felt.

The simplest home can be the most welcome place when God is there.
The most meager meal can be a feast when we serve it in the Lord’s name.
It is a blessing when our rugs are covered with gifts, decorations, or projects.
Life is happening in our home.

Go around your house and look for signs of life.
They are there.
They are in the toys that are spread out all over the floor.
They are in the breakfast dishes that are still in the sink.

They are in the piles of laundry waiting to be folded.
They are in the sticky counters with jelly left over from breakfast.
They are in the warm towels just out of the dryer that envelop your child after a bath.
They are in the snuggling moments when the to-do list is forgotten and time stands still.

Signs of life are all around you.
Be grateful for them.
The messes are blessings in disguise.
Cherish them and begin to see them differently.

 

2 responses to “The Room Over The Garage”

1. My home is very full of signs of life. Thank you for reminding me how blessed I am..

   Reply

   • You’re welcome, Janet!
     I think we all need a change of perspective from time to time.
     I know I do!
     Gina

     Reply