From the start, this little front porch has been a favorite of mine! It’s one of the reasons I love this house. I love that it’s a safe place for my kids to play. I enjoy sitting on the front porch swing and soaking in nature’s songs.
As you can see, it is still a work in progress with the material in the picture, but one day it will just be a place to sit and enjoy the world around us. For now, it’s a dream of all the potential that is to come.
Next summer, we’ll continue to work on the overgrown landscaping. We have spent a lot of time cutting things back and taking out some of the plants to give the house a fresh look. We also want the plants to thrive and have space to expand but not be overcrowded.
Do you see that swing? It is not my favorite swing, but I love what it represents. To me, it means that evenings and cool days will be spent sitting on it watching kids play. It means that during rainstorms we can sit and enjoy nature’s songs of peace and tranquility. It means time to invite neighbors over and sit and talk with each other. One day it will mean that we are retired together and reflecting on our lives and all we have to be grateful for. I hope that you have a “front porch” that offers you a place to dream.
In the end, it all takes time and patience, but the end result will be worth it.
Faith
You know building community is a vital part of growing up and learning about God. He wants us to be a part of a community. Our little front porch, I hope, allows us to build that community. I want to have an open door and an open heart. I’m working on that. It’s not easy to trust and let others truly in, but the risk can be worth the reward.
I love my family and all that they mean to me. I love sitting on my porch watching my kids learn to love the outdoors and wanting to play, create, and image.
Genesis 8:2 – The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,
Song of Solomon 7:12 – let us go out early to the vineyards and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
Matthew 22:34-40 The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
