Citrus + Spice: Words of Life

Fix these words in your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and your gates so that the days of you and your children will be many. Deuteronomy 11:18-22.

We had the chance to do it! We were able to write verses and quotes on the frame of our home. And of course, our son wrote his name everywhere. I think every open space has numbers and his name written by him. I had to laugh, but overall, I am so excited. We did quite a few in each room, but I love quotes and verses. We also added in two "notes" to our kids in their rooms. Some of my favorites that we used:

Kitchen
- They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. Acts 2:46
- So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Wash your bowl - rinse away self-importance and clean up your own mess. If you leave it undone, it will get sticky. If you’re distracted by the weight of whats undone, set a timer and devote yourself wholeheartedly to the task at hand until the bell rings.
- Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens, and happy kids.

French Doors
- What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness - John Steinbeck.

Windows
- I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read good books. I want my everyday life to make God belly laugh, glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift.

Family Room
- We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion but it involves courage and risk. Thomas Moore
- The most wasted of all days is one without laughter - EE Cummings
- God made a whole beautiful earth and decided to put you in it, to experience all of this beauty. You can’t do that watching television all the time. - Donald Miller
- Let the darkness come; set a curfew on the internet and tv and discover the natural balance between daylight and darkness, work and rest.
- In this house: we do second chances, we do grace, we do real, we do mistakes, we do I’m sorry, we do loud really well, we do hugs, we do family, we do love

Dinette
- Talk about your blessings more than you talk about your burdens.
- Be grateful, stop comparing, let go, make space, slow down, admire small miracles, write it down, be extraordinary
- People who love to eat are always the best people - Julia Child

Pantry

- I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and He who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Island/Bar
- Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

In Front of Stairs
- Always tell the truth, use kind words, keep your promises, giggle and laugh, be positive, love one another, always be grateful, forgiveness is mandatory, try new things, say please and thank you, say your prayers, smile!

Arch
- Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough. - Ernest Hemingway
- Completely and perfectly and incandescently happy.
- Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.

Stairs
- May you always be blessed with walls for the wind. A roof for the rain. A warm cup of tea by the fire. Laughter to cheer you. Those you love near you. And all that your heart might desire. Irish blessing.
- Do everything readily and cheerfully - no bickering, no second-guiessing allowed. Phillipians 2:14

Front Door
- As for me & my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 26:15
- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. John 14;27
- Let this home be filled with the blessings of joy and peace.

Basement/Foundation
- We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19
- No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

Bathroom Sink Master
- Hers: The wise woman build her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1
- She did not need much. Wanted very little. A kind word, sincerity, fresh air, clean water, a garden, kisses, books to read, sheltering arms, a cozy bed, and to love and be loved in return.
- I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.
- His: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

Master Closet
- Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
- She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25

Front Door Floor
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6
- Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created. Esther 4:14

2nd floor landing
- For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.
- Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. Psalms 116:2
- The secret to a happy life is giving God the first part of your day, the first priority to every decision and the first place in your heart.

Living Room
- Be still and know that I am god.
- I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen. - John Steinbeck.
- Don’t use your energy to worry. Use your energy to believe.

Kids Bathroom
- I command you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
- I wanna see you be brave
- Kind heart, fierce mind, brave spirit.

Master Bedroom
- He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day. Choice: that was the thing.
- I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8
- When I’m worried and cannot sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep.
- A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.
- We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the stars bright. - Ernest Hemingway
- A healthy relationship is one where two independent people make a deal that they will help make the other person the best version of themselves.
- With you, i am home.
- I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweet heart.
- Sunlight creeps in between the curtains, lose the sheets theres no time for sleep. I’m almost certain its a beautiful world.
- Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly.
- it’s never too late to live happily ever after
- Wake with the sun; there is no purer light than what we see when we open our eyes first thing in the morning. Make your bed; the state of your bed is the state of your head. Enfold your day in dignity
- At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep for you, God, have put my life back together. Psalms 4:8

Fireplace
- Ears to hear arnd eyes to see - both are gifts from the Lord. Proverbs 20:12
- As for me and my house we will serve the lord johsnua 24:15

1st Floor Bath Mirror
- Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life in your ways. Psalms 119:37
- No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.

Master Shower
- He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. Psalms 23:2
- Create in me a clean heart - Psalms 51:10

Dining Room
- Let your speech always be gracious. Seasoned with salt so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6

Bonus Room
- He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecc 3:11
- Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again - Nelson Mandela
- Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.
- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. collisions 3:23

Baby Room
- I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well. Psalms 139:14
- I will lie down and sleep in peace for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8
- Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
- When I’m worried and cannot sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep.
- I have made you. I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
- I could sing you your favorite song, you’d sing along. I could wrap you in your favorite clothes and kiss your face just so you know that i’m the one who has got your back. Now turn around and don’t be sad. I hope you find a love thats true so the morning light can shine on you. I hope you find what you’re looking for so your heart is warm forever more.

Kyps Room
- I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8
- Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
- When I’m worried and cannot sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep.
- Polite boy are so much more attractive.
- He has the most adorable eyes you could ever fall for and the cutest smile that takes your breath away. He has the ability to make you laugh every time he speaks and whenever you look into his eyes its so hard to turn away.
- None of your time is wasted, none of your fears are wrong.

Spare Room
- I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8
- When I’m worried and cannot sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep.
- Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

2nd Floor Hall
- You do not have to make your children into wonderful people. You just have to remind them that they are wonderful people. If you do this consistently from the day they are born they will believe it easily. William Martin
- Bless the Lord oh my soul - Psalms 103
- No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world. Dead Poets Society 1989
- When you are hugging a child always be the last one to let go. You never know how long they need it.
- Promise me you’ll always remember you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think - Christopher Robin
- Never lose your sense of wonder
- Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big because to them all of it has always been big stuff.
- Do not kiss your children so they will kiss you back but so that they will kiss their children and their children’s children.

Porch
- And then i think to myself, what a wonderful world
- I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without ogling over. Out on the edge you can see all kind of things you can’t see from the center. Kurt Vonnegut

Garage
- Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
- Carpe Diem
- When in doubt, choose the kids. There will be plenty of time later to choose work.

Laundry Room
- Empty the hampers; do the laundry without resentment or commentary and have an intimate encounter with the very fabric of life.

We also got to see the insulation all installed! Crazy. I guess all that leaves is the beginning of drywall on Monday. I can only imagine what next weekend will bring. I'm sure we will venture out mid-week at least. :)