I just taught a lesson on Decorating for Enrichment. It was quite fun. I told the story of the disheartened mother whose three sons became sailors instead of serving missions and finding other careers. When the Bishop entered her home, the first thing he noticed was a beautiful large painting of ships in full sail. Unknowingly, she had "taught" them about the romance and the adventure of the sea.
The point is that our physical environment affects us. We shape our home and our home shapes us-paraphrased from Winston Churchill. Many people don't deliberately shape their home. They allow things to collect and they forget about them. Their "decorating style" is not intentional. It's as how many people live. Everything about us should be deliberate yet natural and sincere. They don't realize that their home is a tool to teach, to guide, to comfort, like an ally with the Holy Spirit.
I titled my lesson "The Expressive Home." Our home can express who we are, what we believe, what we hope for our family now and for the future. We may think our children ignore or take for granted pictures of the temple, or of Christ, or the scriptures and church mags on the tables, but it becomes part of their peripheral vision and the family culture. You see how you all love color on your walls and it's traumatic to live with white walls.
But I had to mention pink and mango walls. I also mentioned that our foyer in Greenville was a bright salmon pink. Do you remember? But then I said that I raised artists, writers, musicians, and dreamers. If they want doctors, lawyers, and accountants, those who could actually make a predictable living, they may have to think about other color combinations.
I love you all. Papa is working so very hard. He is perfectly the most kind and willing servant you and I will ever meet. I hope you are praying for him.
Love Always,
Mama
See what I grew up with? This is why white walls depress me.
Today's track: Quelqu'un M'a Dit - Carla Bruni
7 comments:
you should see her sun room these days. she's totally changed it, and the pillows are gigantic and fabulous.
oh mom : ) as feisty and bold (which can sometimes be replaced with "too blunt") as she can be, we wouldn't have her any other way, would we...?
she wove color (and all that "color" might represent to us) into everything, not just the walls--homemade playdough, finger paints, crayons, wide-ranging background music, healthy activity, dance, the smell of fresh cookies, hugs and affection, certain sayings, personal and heartfelt gifts, love notes, her dishes, even her church talks...
and somehow with all this swirl about her, she pulls it off as classy and elegant (with a "kick," like salsa).
we love you, mom. (though you might've tried a color combo that made us at least a LITTLE bit of money : )
ooh, lala! i would love to spend a day with your mom! i love all the colors. i agree 100% on everything that she said. ahhh, i love color. i'm diggin' her stripes. i really wanted to do that in my foyer but that will have to be for another day.
love the new changes for your blog. very creative and stylish.
Oh my goodness. I think that's my dream come true, except that I start dreaming, & then I get totally overwhelmed, which turns into complete passiveness due to potential stress overload / breakdown.
Pretty.
ok, Noelle, I am so totally inspired to do something with my house--and life--in color. I loved and needed that post today. wow, even from Mexico you've done it:)
When Lindsey and I get back home I will e-mail your mom pictures to show the colors of our home. I think she will approve. I have at least 3 of her colors and a few even more daring. There is not a white wall in the house,not even the garage. I hope someday all of you will visit us and see for yourself. We miss all of you. Susan
Oh my goodness, your Mom is brilliant! That is completely true about the home. I hate white walls as well but am stuck with them while here in Mexico. Next time you come over you'll have to see my paint chip collection. Yes, I go to paint stores and take one of every single paint chip for my collection and often spread them out and create future room color combinations when I'm bored. Your Mom's house is beyond inspiring and I believe her 100% about the pictures and decor molding our children!
Quick paint story. Our last house in Virginia I wanted Colonial yellow in the kitchen. I painted when Kris was out of town. He came home and put his foot down that he would not be ok with "mustard" on the walls. (He's a white wall boy 100%) So when he came home the next time the kitchen was a deep brick red. I told him if he opened his mouth and mentioned "Katsup" being on the walls my next color would be eggplant purple. He zipped it and actually grew to love the brick red enough to want to save the paint chip for our next house.
i love your mom :)
i love what she wrote about the home, couldn't agree more :) it's so funny, lately i've been getting the urge to redecorate and it's amazing how just making a few changes makes me enjoy our home that much more! after all, i spend the majority of my time here, i'd like to like the way it looks! ;)
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