Nice Things.

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Someday, I will have nice things again.  Someday when the kids are grown and gone away.  Someday.

My husband and I lament almost daily over our dilapidated (yet still wildly comfy) couch and loveseat set.

We were young newlyweds, blinded by love and the freshness of new life together.  Not a bad thing I suppose, but nary a child was on the horizon and to be brutally honest, I wasn’t even sure I wanted any.  (My, how things change.)

So we settled on a huge furniture set (and by huge, I mean so entirely gargantuan that we didn’t realize we would have to partially disassemble the couch to get it through our apartment door).  But it was such a beautiful sage green that I didn’t care how or what had to be done as long as it was in my living room that evening.

9 years later.  One of our couch cushions has a large smiley face in hot pink Sharpie.  No problem.  Flipped it over.  Another cushion has hot pink nail polish dripped all over.  No problem.  Flip!  Then, there was the incident with the red popsicle.  Well, it really wasn’t anything that a strategically placed pillow couldn’t fix.  And then more nail polish in… you guessed it… hot pink.  And that’s when we introduced the strategically placed afghan.

I think its been about two years since we began the discussion of slipcovers.  Choosing the names of our children was easier than deciding on a slipcover.  And there they sit, imperfect as they may be (and honestly, there is no better place for a Sunday afternoon nap).

If I could do it all over again… two words:  Black.  Leather.

So someday…
when my sweet girls are beautiful women with families of their own,
and my house is hauntingly empty,
and every room in my house is clean at the same time,
and The Man and I have nothing to do but to stare at each other’s wonderfully time-worn faces,
I will have nice things….
that will stay nice.

And I will miss my girls.

“Don’t you see that children are God‘s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.”
Psalms 127.3-5 (The Message)

10 thoughts on “Nice Things.”

  1. My Dear Kelly,
    My three wonderful girls are all grown up now with kids and familes of their own. Yes, I think back to those years gone by, when my little girls would giggle and laugh, and my wonderful wife would be right in there too. Many good memories, and I remember thinking of a day in the future when Kathy and I would “have nothing to do but stare at each other's wonderfully time-worn faces”. That day is STILL in the future, we have a few nice things, but they don't stay that way, because why? Because we have five wonderful grand- children now. We wouldn't change it for anything. We will continue to wait for that future day, when maybe, we will “have nothing to do but stare at each other's wonderfully time-worn faces.” I love you Kelly, and yes, I miss my girls:) Dad

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  2. One more thing, God gave me a verse long before I knew your mom, Ps. 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. I would say that pretty well sums it up.

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  4. Except that you'll probably have grandchildren crawling all over your furniture and messing up your house. Won't that be such a blessing! 🙂 I know exactly how you feel. My over-sized cushy comfy couch has Popsicle and marker stains all over it. It's not too noticeable unless you happen to be sitting near a stain and look down, so we haven't looked for slip covers yet. But the glass top family room table has to be windexed multiple times a day because my daughters must challenge themselves to see how many finger, hand, butt (yes…I said it!)…nose, and foot prints they can leave on it.

    But I wouldn't trade my girls for anything in the world. They are full of life and bring me such joy.

    Blessings,
    Rosann

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  5. I came across your blog from Rosann at Christian SuperMom. This is such a sweet post. I have two little girls and a soon to arrive boy. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be able to keep nice things {within view – not tucked into some hidden cabinet}. And I remind myself how useless those things are in light of my relationship with my precious children.

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  8. What a beautiful message. With one out of the house and one more leaving next year and one in high school I wonder where did the time go. Its so true though that when your kids look back at thier lives they won't remember the old couch, The dishes in the sink that piled up, they will remember the times you spent with them reading a book, snuggled up on that old couch. Enjoy every day that you have to make memories with you'r family.What a blessing God has given you.

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  10. Pingback: Throwback Thursday #1: Nice Things | Blue Jeans & Coffee Beans

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