We build a house last year and we had so much fun designing it. The cool thing was that we had been married at that time for almost 18 years and had lived in two very different houses. By that time, we knew what we valued and what our family needed. Large bedrooms? Nope. Tons of square footage? Nope. Covered front porch. Yep. 100 %.
We knew instinctively that we are at our core front porch people. Steve and I kept saying throughout the building process, "yep, we're front porch people"
During the craziness of the build, the vision of the front porch kept us focused and mindful of who we wanted to be.
During the craziness of the build, the vision of the front porch kept us focused and mindful of who we wanted to be.
These days, Steve and I are at our best when we're drinking tea, reading, unhurried, chilling out and watching the world go by on our porch. It's reminiscent of who we are when we are camping or on vacation. Porch sitting is our way of connecting. It's our way of relaxing. It's our way of breathing deep.
This summer I have loved I starting and ending my days on our porch. There's something about it the porch that draws me to start and end by days there.
I value and adore rituals. In the darkest days of this past winter, I started my mornings with a ritual - as I packed and brewed my stovetop expresso maker, I would pause and light a candle - lighting the candle in the quiet morning darkness of my kitchen was my simple way of pausing and giving God my yes for that day. Yes to his love and his grace. Yes to his goodness. Yes to his plans for me. It was a ritual that calmed me and centered me. Our front porch has been no different - coffee on the porch in the morning while the kids are sleeping calms me, slows me down and centers me. It reminds me that I'm loved and frees me up to live a life grounded in that love.
I value and adore rituals. In the darkest days of this past winter, I started my mornings with a ritual - as I packed and brewed my stovetop expresso maker, I would pause and light a candle - lighting the candle in the quiet morning darkness of my kitchen was my simple way of pausing and giving God my yes for that day. Yes to his love and his grace. Yes to his goodness. Yes to his plans for me. It was a ritual that calmed me and centered me. Our front porch has been no different - coffee on the porch in the morning while the kids are sleeping calms me, slows me down and centers me. It reminds me that I'm loved and frees me up to live a life grounded in that love.
Do you have any rituals? A space or a practice that slows you down and centers you?
My season of life is such that I have a nine year old at home and so as much as I love meeting friends for coffee, in the summer it just doesn't work for me. The years are fleeting and I want to be home with Beth as much as possible. This summer, it's been much easier for me to invite a friend to my front porch for coffee rather than meet up with them at a coffee shop. Maybe it's the whimsical rocking chairs that I picked up at the side of the road for free (the ones my Dad sanded and painted poppy red for me) or maybe it's the shelter from the heat of the summer sun - I'm not sure what it is - but there is something about my porch and the intentionality of it all that has created a sacred space where I have had some of the dearest heart-to-heart chats this summer with friends (often involving tears)- that I'm so glad I didn't miss out on. I'm glad we created the space both literally and figuratively.
I have loved the family time, the friend time, the couple time and the quiet time. I've loved the kind of intentional and spontaneous conversations that the front porch allows and fosters.
My season of life is such that I have a nine year old at home and so as much as I love meeting friends for coffee, in the summer it just doesn't work for me. The years are fleeting and I want to be home with Beth as much as possible. This summer, it's been much easier for me to invite a friend to my front porch for coffee rather than meet up with them at a coffee shop. Maybe it's the whimsical rocking chairs that I picked up at the side of the road for free (the ones my Dad sanded and painted poppy red for me) or maybe it's the shelter from the heat of the summer sun - I'm not sure what it is - but there is something about my porch and the intentionality of it all that has created a sacred space where I have had some of the dearest heart-to-heart chats this summer with friends (often involving tears)- that I'm so glad I didn't miss out on. I'm glad we created the space both literally and figuratively.
I have loved the family time, the friend time, the couple time and the quiet time. I've loved the kind of intentional and spontaneous conversations that the front porch allows and fosters.
Ultimately, it's not really the porch. In my case, it just happens that the porch has been a way of slowing me down and connecting my heart to what matters most.
What is it for you? What slows you down in the summer months? What centers you and connects you to your true self, to your best self?
What is it for you? What slows you down in the summer months? What centers you and connects you to your true self, to your best self?
