These days my heart seeks simplicity like it never has before… As I drive through the winding roads of northern Indiana and admire God’s beautiful work hand painted with His grace, I’m reminded of the desires that lie buried deep within my soul.  Very rarely do I ever get the chance to take inventory of my life and be still long enough to give thanks for the blessings I’ve been given.  It’s in these moments I find the greatest joy because the noise of the world is stripped away.  There’s something so beautifully raw about nature that it never fails to inspire me to find a place for its presence within my home. Which brings me to my next design inspiration ❤

When my husband Ben and I chose this property to build our home, we were conscious to preserve as many trees as possible within our site.  However, not all trees made the cut.  So, as I stood back and took a look at the broken limbs and trees I began to wonder…  How could I take this wood and recycle it within my home?  When we began to lift the heavy logs and move them into the brush pile that’s when I came across one tree that had been cut with years of aging that made a heart-shaped design within.  I’ve always dreamed of building my own home and I swore when the day finally came I would pour my heart and soul into it.   In the meantime, Ben and I had prayed that He would lead us where one day we would raise a family of our own.  When I saw this I knew it was an answer from God.  Before the foundation had been laid, my heart was invested in this moment.  It’s one of those days that I’ll never forget.  And that’s when I knew this piece of nature would forever be a part of our story. 

Now for the dirty work… I wish I could say patience was part of my genetic makeup, but it’s not.  So, I went home and chucked this log on to Ben’s miter box to saw this puppy  into 1/4″ slivers; for which I then, would seal in mineral oil to create coasters for our home.  But not before a phone call to my husband to find out exactly what I was getting myself into.  I had never used this saw before and I wan’t afraid to learn how… on my own.  My husband knows by now that there’s no amount of bartering or bargaining to stop me from doing something once I set my mind to it.  And thus, after two trips to Lowe’s for the right mineral oil and three hours later, my design piece was complete!  Moral of the story: Follow your heart and never stop looking for opportunities to channel inspiration.  It’s not a house that makes a home.  It’s our heart and soul that we pour within the four walls that make it our own.  Welcome HOME.