Master Bed & Bath Remodeling Ideas

The past few days I've been contemplating the colors, style, bedding, and decor for our master bedroom and bathroom when we remodel this summer.

I'm thinking of going with chocolate brown and light blue bedding with brown dominating, painting the walls light blue, and decorating with some pics taken by yours truly turned into sepia tones. The I'd like long white sheers on the windows hanging from a decorative brown iron rod with brown iron "tiebacks" on the wall with blinds or shades on the windows, too. I'd love a hardwood floor, but Josh wants carpet because he thinks the hardwood floors will be too cold. We'll need to get new carpet anyway with the remodeling.

The only thing is that our bedroom furniture is a medium oak. I don't really care for the style anymore. I/we picked out when we first got married, and I know much better what I like now. I'm not sure if the medium oak color will look ok with the chocolate brown. Josh says we're not going to paint it though. And we're not getting new bedroom furniture.

I'm thinking of painting the master bathroom the same blue as the bedroom. The cabinetry, sink, toilet, and shower will be white. I'd love to have large brown slate-look tile on the floor and put a few colored pics of Josh and me at the mountains and beach in WA on the walls in brown frames (wood or metal). I think the blues from the mountains and water will go well with the blue walls. I'm thinking maybe putting a few brown metal hooks or decorative accents on the walls, too.

If anyone has any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I'd welcome them!

Bittersweet Thanksgiving

I am so thankful to God for all of the wonderful blessings he had given me. But this Thanksgiving is also bittersweet, as it is also Hannah's first birthday.

One year ago today my healing yet scarred heart was torn apart again as I learned another of our babies had died before birth. So much of the day was deja vu of what had happened just over a year earlier.

I don't want to dwell on the sadness and heartache, but I can't help remembering. And while I remember, I give thanks to the Lord that he did bless us with these two little girls who, while they were alive, I was able to cradle in my womb. I thank him that I was able to hold them in my arms, even though it was only their earthly bodies. I can no longer touch them, hold them, kiss them, but my love for them is still just as strong as if I could.

My Thoughts This Fall

I wrote about them HERE.

Marriage Monday, Take 1

I enjoy reading Chrysalis' Marriage Monday series of blog posts as well as those of the other women who participate in this meme.

I've never participated in any meme before, so my participation in this week's Marriage Monday is a first in two respects. The Marriage Monday topic for this week is open. Here goes ...



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I love my husband! I suppose that's not a very unique phrase coming from a married woman. I would hope that all wives could truthfully say the same of their spouse.

I like spending time with my husband! Would as many wives also be able to truthfully utter that phrase? If my ears and deductive abilities don't mislead me, I sadly doubt it.

My husband Josh was recently away at a conference for a week (Mon-Fri). The conference was close enough that he could drive to it, but far enough from our home that he needed to stay overnight. In the 12 years that we've been married, this was the longest we've ever been apart. Neither of us liked it. We missed each other. We talked on the phone one night and chatted online 2 other nights.

While Josh was gone, I happened to post on my Facebook status that he was away for the week and I missed him. Then, on the day he was coming home, I updated my status to say I was excited about it. I received a comment from a friend saying something to the effect of being more excited when her husband was leaving for a few days than when he was coming home. I don't know this person well enough to be familiar with her marriage or to know for sure if she was joking, but I certainly hope she was. If not, I feel sad for her and her husband.

This friend's comments aren't uncommon either. Yes, I understand the need to be alone once in a while, but the way this and similar comments are often phrased imply that the wife (I'm saying wife because that's who I usually hear the comments from.) doesn't like being with her spouse. I know that the comments are most likely tossed off jokingly or sarcastically and meant to get a laugh, but this is your spouse you're talking about. Even if the speaker is only joking, how would your husband feel if he heard you? How would you feel if your spouse said the same about you? Didn't you marry this person to be with him, spend time with him?

Maybe I'm naive and just don't get it. Maybe the fact that Josh and I spent our college summers apart when we were dating because we lived 2000 miles away from each other had some bearing on wanting to spend time with each other in our marriage. No, we don't do everything together, but we enjoy being with each other. We enjoy spending time together, even if it's just grocery shopping or running to the hardware store. (Notice it's enjoying the time together, not going to the hardware store itself, per se.) ;) We've both thought that it would even be nice to work together someday.

It hurts my heart to hear someone say they would rather spend time without their spouse than with them. I feel so sorry for that couple. One of the reasons God created marriage was for companionship (Genesis 2:18). I love my husband and can't imagine living life without him. I would never want to give the impression that I don't like being with him. He is God's best earthly gift to me.

I love my husband. I like spending time with my husband. I am blessed!