Monday, March 09, 2015

Treasuring (with a teeny tiny before and after)

Sometimes the same theme keeps cropping up in the various things I'm reading and doing.  Does this happen to you?

Lately it's been the following: we cannot love or treasure the absence of something.  It won't work, at least not for long.  We need to fill the absence with a thing to treasure and love.  For example, Jesus is a thing.  He is real.  We don't simply treasure the absence of the enemy but rather we love Jesus, whose presence results in the absence of the enemy.  Does that make sense?  We can't cling to not lying.  Instead we must exalt in the truth.  We don't simply love the absence of hunger- we seek out having food.

It's the same with kids, you know?  Often saying "don't do that.  No, don't do that either.  Nope, that's also a no" results in everyone being frustrated and exhausted, but when you can replace those don'ts with "hey, let's do this" you find your success and peace much more quickly.

I've been thinking about this with regard to my biggest kids, both girls, who are getting to the phase in life that I personally struggled with the most.  The transition from being a child to being an adult woman was not easy.  Making good decisions and honoring God's hope for my happiness were two things I just....didn't know how to do.  There's was a whole lot of "don't, don't, don't," but not a lot of what I should do instead and, most importantly, no a good reason why I should even give a damn to begin with.

There I was, rolling all of these things around in my mind, when I got an email from an artist named Jennifer from StudioJRU.  She asked me if I'd like to pick a print from her shop to hang in my home.  If I loved it, she would give me a coupon code to share with all of you.

So I clicked over and the first print that caught my eye was this one:
You are God's Masterpiece
To be honest, I am not usually one for inspirational quotes.  Maybe I should be.  I think that's why I kept looking at other options.  Maybe a Bible verse that everyone would recognize, you know?  But I couldn't get this phrase out of my head.  Add to that the gorgeous colors and beautiful design and, welp, there was nothing I liked better.

I want my girls to honor and respect themselves.  I want them to understand their worth.  I want them to treasure the fact that the Lord created them holy.  A print on the wall is no substitute for our actions and words and encouragement and a strong faith life filled with love, but it surely can't hurt for them to be reminded every day, by something beautiful, that they are intrinsically beautiful.

Which is also why....it's in the bathroom.  Err'body's gonna go in that bathroom err'day, y'all.

Our sweet little upstairs bathroom has been a part of this house since at least 1927.  It is quirky and charming but yearned for a little attention.  The arrival of Jennifer's work resulted in a thorough, thrifty, functional, pretty update of that room.

This print, you guys.  The gift that keeps on giving.

What was...







(I considered replacing the curtains altogether at first and then realized, duh, I know how to embroider.  Way cheaper.)

What is...




That's just a little purple embroidery floss and a little bead every couple of inches.





Before:





After:



Before:



After:


It's so great when things intertwine like this.  Thoughts about loving virtue rather than simply denying sin plus an artist sharing her gifts resulting in a lovely room for my family with a beautiful print to uplift and encourage.

You should totally take a look at Jennifer's other work, too.  Please pray for her continued success.  And if you'd like one of her original designs for your very own, you can use code HouseUnseen for 15% off your purchase thru March 21st.

I'm so grateful for what her talent has brought to us.  I know you will be too.

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14 comments :

  1. That print caught my eye when you first posted a picture! It is beautiful and I love the verse. Ephesians chapter 2 had always been a section of scripture that spoke to me. But when I read it in the New Living Translation where verse 10 says at we are God's masterpiece... Well, it ministered to my spirit in a deep, deep way!
    ~Jillene

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    1. Oh Jillene, I didn't know where to find it in the Bible. Thank you!

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  2. I heart that bathroom so much!!!! It is so clean and vintage and ugh, I love it! And the print. That's not something I would *say* to myself or my kids but I really really really want us all to believe it, you know? Maybe I need something like that as a reminder to all of us.

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  3. I *love* that bathtub. So glad you didn't replace it! And yes, the print really adds to the space!

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  4. I love this post (have teenaged girls). Can you post more pictures close up of the curtains? I love what you did!

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  5. oh yes... that transition from a child to an adult woman is certainly not easy. i am so happy to know this will be a constant reminder to them why they are so beautiful... because He made them that way! love the bit of purple you added to the curtains! so cute. the whole room looks so fresh and pretty! thank you so much for sharing my work with your friends here! :)

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  6. Amazingly, this fits into a theme that's been going on in our own house this week -- how to move from punishing bad behavior to encouraging virtue, and my husband even thought of inspirational posters and pulled some up online to show me! Guess we gotta do it now. I will check out the artist you linked to, thanks!

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    1. Wow, that is incredible. The Holy Spirit works in surprising ways, doesn't He?

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  7. Our house also has the clawfoot-tub-under-an-eave thing going on upstairs. Great for bathing, not so great for installing a shower. :) But I feel like it *forces* us to make that a "relaxing room." Yours also looks like a relaxing room. A thinking place. :) Enjoy!

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  8. Filling the empty, has been my modus operandi, due mostly to my brilliant husband. Instead of telling the kids, for example that rock music was banned from the house, we filled the house with folk, celtic and classical music and provided instruments and lessons so they could make their own beautiful music. Three of my kids are still making music in their 20's and introducing us to good music they dig up. Instead of saying "you can't wear that," I've tried to proactively help my girls develop a modest and stylish wardrobe.

    I'm not into inspirational posters or sayings either (OD on them in high school English and religion classes), but years ago I picked up a second hand embroidery kit with the words "I am a child of God." I finished it, framed it and hung it up and it moves me every time I stop to read it. I'm hoping it's something my children always remember from home.

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  9. I love that bathroom. Tranquil and simple. And that print makes it even better!

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  10. That has always been one of my favorite verses as well! And it's a beautiful print!

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  11. What size did you order the print in for you bathroom? I can't tell by the picture, but I have the perfect spot for it in my house as well! Thank you!

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    1. The one in these pics is an 8x10. So glad you like it!

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