You know the sayings out there…
You know.
The ones that start with:
“This girl runs on…”
Fill in the blank.
Or “This mom runs on Dunkin‘” or
“This house runs on…”
Well, if they were talking about my house?
It would say:
This house runs on battery operated twinkle lights… 🙂
AND?
a whole lot of Jesus.
If you came along my virtual twilight “Christmas Home Tour” Thursday night then I would guess that you would also agree about the twinkle lights.
Twinkle lights are in FULL battery operating effect over here in Krout Christmas land.
(If you missed the virtual evening home tour last night in my Stories on Instagram and Facebook, you can watch it all here now or view it as a saved highlight titled “Holiday Tour” in my Instagram stories.)
And?
Well Jesus is running deep up in here too.
Thank GOD for that.
The wall sconce hanging above the Merry Christmas sign is a home hack I learned from “Nesting With Grace” on Instagram. I have installed three of these wall scones on our first floor walls to achieve the look and light without hardwiring a sconce by simply using a puck light to press on and off or by using the remote control operated puck lights.
You can check out the steps I took on how to install this “magic light trick” as dubbed by it’s creator, Brooke from Nesting With Grace on my Insta story highlight here.
This wall sconce is from Amazon you can see it here. The sconce comes in a variety of fun colors. (Looks like the white one I have will be back in stock this month.)
The puck lights are also from Amazon. You can shop them here. You will see in my stories of the Christmas Home Tour I gave last night, how I simply pressed gently on the puck light to turn the light on and illuminate the staircase at night.
Now…where were we?
Oh yes.
This house runs on battery operated twinkle lights and Jesus.
I am so glad you are here friend. I know this time of year can always be difficult for so many reasons.
And now? During COVID Christmas?
It seems like if perhaps we haven’t been shaken up or felt terribly uneasy yet during this “unprecedented” year.
Well…it seems that the Christmas season and the idea of missing so many of the activities, traditions and festivities we have loved year after year is laden in the grief fog of not being able to do them this year.
And? That foggy grief…it threatens to fog up our focus of the real reason for the season.
And that alone can leave us feeling extra raw.
I know…because I feel waves of it too.
But?
If I am self-aware of my triggers and I choose to forward faith it?
I am able to usually wind my way back to where I need to be…a healthier state of mind…fixed on Him and the reason we celebrate this season.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
It’s easy to get tangled up in the honest feelings of missing the many traditions and people we may not be able to see, experience and enjoy this year.
My best suggestion?
Take those honest feelings and talk to God.
Unload all of the heavy.
He already knows and wants to replace your heavy…with a peace only He can give us.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
And then?
Hang up a Christmas card you received in the mail.
I like to hang mine from this doorway.
I use real white pine garland with a strand of twinkle lights (see I told you) that also have tiny clothespins that I attach each card to.
Keeping my eyes fixed on Him is not always easy…but when I do.
Life is more simple.
I have been trying this strategy for years and it is really starting to help…especially right now.
Do you want to know what it is?
I shared it with my Stella & Dot team years ago during a team toast and I am so thankful that finally now, after years of practice…it is somewhat of an autopilot reaction to waking up.
Ok here it is…it may sound silly at first…but it has changed the game for me.
You know when you first wake up in the morning?
I am not sure about you…but when my mind is first awakened…before I even open my eyes…my mind is already darting.
What day is it?
What is on the schedule?
What do I have to do today?
After doing this for some time now…I realized the darting thoughts began before I even OPENED my eyes.
Maybe you too?
It is an awful way to start my day…almost as if in panic mode.
My mind used to feel like a squirrel trying to decide if he should cross the road.
You’ve seen it. The poor thing goes for it, then changes direction, then goes back for it again only to dart another way and change his mind again.
Race, race, race, dart, dart, dart…in circles or? Sadly, sometimes death.
Poor thing.
Poor me…poor us…if you go through this too.
Self-awareness of this panic mode start to the day called for a change for me.
This autopilot speed chase train wreck of thoughts before my eyes opened in the morning was due for a disciplining of my mind to think a different FIRST thought.
The strategy is to replace:
“What day is it?”
“What do I have to do today?”
with:
Who do I want to be today?”
Changing my first thoughts of the day has changed the game for me.
It is a discipline, a practice that takes time.
And? Thankfully…because we run on battery operated twinkle lights around here and a whole lot of Jesus.
I am pretty sure I have Him to thank for the renewing of my mind and my thoughts.
More of Him.
Less of me.
What I know friend for sure?
When we are honest about what is tripping us up..and we ask for His help.
He shows up.
So, now, when I wake up?
And my eyes are still closed.
My mind may still dart to the autopilot question of, “what day is it?”
But, thankfully that thought triggers the next one…and it is not..the squirrel path of “what do I need to get done?”
It is “Who do I want to be?”
And between you and me?
The honest answer to that question is.
I want to be a loving and respectful wife and a present and patient Mom.
Which I am not those things on many occasions.
More of the many reasons…why this house runs deep on Jesus.
Because, without Him?
I fail in my own strength on both counts most of the time.
And…it’s also why I get up early to spend time with my guy…to set me straight for the day.
This house can get sideways from time to time…and if I am honest with myself?
I can often trace the tipping point back to a place where I got off track with the One who sustains me, who energizes me, who leads me, who forgives me…who loves me…just as I am.
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Training my first thoughts of the day to trace back to the One whose image I want to bear is the game-changer.
That – and?
Learning to leave lots of room for margin in my day.
NOT packing it so tight with to-do lists that there isn’t any room for the white space moments of laying on the floor near the front door in just the right spot to catch the sunbeam shining in, next to a tiny person tucked under my arm to stare up at the sky and find the cloud pictures.
Unapologetically present because He set me straight.
White space.
I need a lot of it…so do our kiddos.
Maybe you do too?
Leave room for margin friend.
It helps.
So…it turns out this was a tour of not just my home…but of my heart too…raw and real.
And it turns out?
Hearts can get messy too – just the same as homes do.
Messy hearts…messy home.
We have both here…but I am so thankful that…
when my heart feels complicated,
when my heart feels conflicted,
when my heart feels disappointed,
when my heart feels sad,
when my heart feels overwhelmed,
when my heart feels anxious,
when my heart feels needy,
when my heart feels hard, heavy or hurt…
there is One who understands it all.
All of my raw and real heartstrings.
And? He knows just how to thread them into place…to trace me back into a peaceful place where I can sit in the white space and know.
Know that He is on the throne and He sent His Son on Christmas morning so that we might be still and know His peace…and His promises.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 NLT
A Christmas Season Blessing:
May God touch your heart this season. May you feel His love and promises reach out and remind you that there is a safe place. A safe place for all of our real, raw and rough edges to be smoothed out and softened by His grace.
May you feel the peace that surpasses all human understanding wash over your heart and mind and may you feel the refreshing of your spirit through His Holy Spirit’s touch.
May you draw close, ever so closely that you can rest in the real stillness of His presence so that in doing so you will begin to feel the tide changing in the race pace of your day and may it be replaced with the softness of His wisdom that you are you and God is God…and that is all you need.
Amen.
Living on a prayer,
Heather
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in the post.
I absolutely loved every word of this. Simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing your heart and your home.❤️
Aw thank you Leslie. You are so kind. I so appreciate you being here and reading the words from my heart. Happy New Year friend! XO, Heather