"HEARTHOUSE"

Feathering the Nest

by, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

Have you ever mindlessly performed a task?

 Your brain wonders what your body is doing! 

Your hands & feet fly as you clean & polish

 EVERYTHING!

 That’s me! 

My "Mama" says I started cleaning out closets 

when I was 3 years old. Isn't it kind of crazy,

 to have a passion to organize, clean, 

and fluff up every home, 

plus all the folks who live there? 

It drives some of my family nuts, 

but most of them say "come on sister,

 we need your gift of gussiness!"

 I believe God wants our dwelling places to reflect 

"the home within our heart."

 Making it comfortable, peaceful, and rest worthy.

 Bringing order to the inside and the outside,

 making it our favorite place to be.

 Our "Hearthouse."

 We within care for it, give it character, and a heart.

It says, "Hey folks, can't you tell, 

by looking at me, who I belong to?

 I"m Katies house!" Blessings fall on the neighbors, the town, the family who live there, and all who see it. The buzz begins; did you see that darling little cottage?

Buzz buzz buzz!

 Did you see what Susie has done with that 1960 stucco track home across town?

 Tweet tweet tweet.

 A spark begins, & before you know it,

 the sweetness spills out over the cup and into the saucer, (the world).

 Over 30 years ago, we lived in Germany. 

Non- military, we lived in a small flat. 

A friend informed my "Mother," it was cold and bleak, having seen it before we moved in,

 when she had also lived in Germany. 

Of course my mama was worried. 

She sent me a box of some of my favorite things, 

all the way from California.

In a week, the flat looked like a beautiful "Paris" apartment.  Full of homesick soldiers, who now,

 had a place to come "HOME" to, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, indeed everyday. 

The village neighbors wanted to see it as well, 

helping the process of building friendships.

It brings to mind "Karen Blixen," 

taking her Limoge' china,  sterling silver, and crystal

 on the train from Denmark to Nairobi (Kenya),

 when she bought the "Coffee Plantation."

 In truth, we take our "nesting instinct," wherever we roam, 

leaving a lasting memory in the places we inhabit,

 and the people we meet.

  Bringing with us, the spark that truly is God-given.

One can do all this without spending a cent.

Use 

WHAT you already have.

Make 

WHERE you are now, "beautiful."

The instant 

WHEN you feel inspired, do it.

You are the 

WHO required to make it a "home."  

If you can't seem to put your heart into it, 

Barter with a friend who is gifted in Home Arts.

 Babysit her kids, while she rearranges  your family room for example. 

"Brighten the Corner Where You Are"

Guess who surprised me with "Royal Copenhagen,

" China for my 28th Birthday? 

Homesick soldiers!