Houses

As I was in blog land a few days ago I came across a blog with 3 young ladies making a doll house out of a shoe box. I thought that was just the neatest thing. It sent me down memory lane for a bit.

My sister and I used to play Barbie dolls. We would set up in her room. The entire bedroom floor would be covered with our houses. We used any thing and every thing we could get our hands on. It was grand fun. Then we'd leave it up for days.

I can also remember us playing nurse and doctor. This has nothing to do with houses. But thinking of Barbie dolls reminds me of how we used to take our baby dolls and pretend they were sick. I had a Tender Loving Care doll. Remember those; they had the soft 'skin'. I would stick a safety pin in the doll's arm, tie a string to it and then tape the string to the wall. It was her IV. Where I got this from I'll never remember. The really ironic part to me is my sister and I both grew up to be nurses.

Back to the houses. I used to sit for hours and draw these elaborate floor plans of what my house was going to be like when I grew up. What color the carpets would be and the whole nine yards.

Some where along the line I decided that I wanted a doll house. It must have been after I got married. Again, I don't know what started the whole idea. I wanted one of those ones that had all the miniature furnishings. In fact my dad pulled one out of the dumpster and stored it in the rafters of his shop for years. He just knew he could fix it up for me. He never did; maybe I didn't show enough enthusiasm. If I had lived close it would have been an awesome project for us to have done together.

I was looking at a catalog just the other day that had miniature furniture in it. I'm amazed at how expensive the stuff is. Oh but it would be such FUN. I would never be able to decide on what I wanted and once I did I'd be constantly rearranging it.

Being married to the military we constantly move. It is very expensive for us because I have always bought new things for each new place. I try to incorporate what I already have, but new bathroom rugs and towels are so much fun. When I think of the money I have poured into bath rooms and kitchens I could just croak. I always justified the expense because it was for the home.

I have always wanted to own my own home so I could paint the walls and work the yard. Course the brief time that we did own our on home I was too busy to do all that. I did paint two rooms and Michael loved to work in the yard. He had it looking really nice. Then we sold it.

I'll close with this house story. When we lived in South Carolina I was wanting a home really bad. I was very selfish about it. Then we got orders to leave. I can remember thinking; every time I get used to a place and just starting to feel settled, we get orders. Shortly after we got orders I went to church Sunday night. That night the Pastor was allowing a 'kid' that wanted to go into the ministry to preach. I left humbled and in tears. I only remember one sentence from the whole sermon. It was repeated over and over through out his sermon.

I HAVE PREPARED A MANSION FOR YOU IN HEAVEN

OK, LORD. I get it. I may never have a house here on this side of heaven; but by golly I'll have a mansion in heaven. One that my heavenly Father has prepared for me. What more could I ask for.


I have since matured enough to realize it isn't the house; It is the home that is important.

The Lord has allowed my husband to provide for me in every way a house and a home. I am grateful for what has been provided. I am looking forward to that heavenly mansion.