welcome

welcome;

a word or kindly greeting,  as to one

whose arrival gives pleasure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i have a book

that i 

take down from

the bookshelf

about once a year

to inspire me-

the book is:

welcome home

by

emilie barnes

this book has

lots of wonderful ideas 

about making your home

warm & welcoming-

not only to visitors

but, to the family 

who comes home

at the end of the day.

it is spattered with

ideas, verses,

quotes and little tidbits

to savor & inspire.

"why do we love

certain houses,

and why do they love us?

it is the warmth of

our individual hearts

reflected in our

surroundings."

-t.h. robsjohn-gibbings

after a day away from

home

there truly is nothing

i love better

than walking through

our back door.

i am home.

i am loved.

i feel welcomed.

my wish is

that all who enter my

home 

would feel

this way...

loved & welcomed.

it is a goal

for me,

because,
too often i get caught up

in the presentation

of our home;

is it clean?

are things in place?

do i have something nice to serve?

i tend to get all consumed

that i sometimes

feel i am so preoccupied...

maybe i am not

 offering a welcoming

smile

or making the guest

feel loved.

i want to try  

to put

some of the self imposed 

stress aside;

to enjoy having those

guests

and to always,

always have

a welcoming

home!

when my now grown

children walk 

through our door,

i want the scents of home,

the warmth of our home

and the love,

yes love...

 to envelop

them.

that they can draw a deep sigh...

feeling welcomed

and 

say;

there is no place like home!