Texas Beauty

Here to share some authentic Texas beauty with you  . . . at least I think its beautiful.

lexingtonexterior.jpg

Kind of a beautiful mess kind of a thing which I love.  Authentic, time worn, a little sad maybe, neglected, but still beautiful in its own way. Kind of the way I believe God and those closest to us see us when we aren’t at our best.  When we have renovations going on, Still lovely.

. photo 1 (1)

My clients that bought this little gem in a small nearby town (much like the one where I was raised) are native Texans but work abroad.  They visit a few times a year and this 700 sq foot little house is going to be remodeled for them so they have a place to stay when visiting their hometown. I love their vision and desire to update and restore this little house.

lexingtonkitchen.jpg

This house has been neglected. But in its decaying state I was startled by its haunting beauty. This house is like people and hearts.  We are rotting and decaying but God and those He places in our lives to stand beside us see beauty.  I don’t want to overstate or over spiritualize but I think its such a picture of our state and God’s love for us when I see something like this.  It was honestly a blessing and treat to see this mess of an old house.

lexingtonoldfloor.jpgtexasbeauty1.jpg

Rotting, decaying but beautiful.  Just like me.  I need so much “work” inside and out, I need “restoring” daily in fact, I am such an “Ongoing project” and “renovation” but God and the people who love me don’t give up. It’s really a miracle. In fact, it is a miracle.  An Easter miracle of love and beauty and learning that being perfect isn’t required.  God see us they way we are, where we are.  He sees beauty and loves us even when others only see an impossible fixer upper. Something that should be gutted or bulldozed.  Like this old shed.  It’s sitting on the ground just rotting.  But my client want to salvage it, want to repurpose it, make something out of it not just throw it away.  I love their thinking and how its consistent of the bigger picture of the main things in life.  Concepts like “don’t just tear down everything” and “look beyond the surface”… sure sometimes the pruning has to be painful and deep and yes some gutting and rewiring will take place.  But the soul and the strong boards and fiber of this how are salvageable and so are you and I!

lexingtonbarn

 

But things have to be updated in order for them to live there…it can’t just stay this way huh?  I mean Anthropologie might love to use for a catalog shoot but reality is this house is decaying and it needs some updates.  It can’t stay stagnant, it must change or it will be too far gone to be of use anymore.  So I am excited to be a part as they go down to bare walls and shore up foundation and rewire and plumb and make this place able to be home again.

lexingtontwo.jpg

Just wanted to share..during Texas Antique Week (or “Round Top” as I call it) there is a lot bling and so called “beauty” and grunge hanging around which is totally fine and cool and dandy but I am glad I got to see this fading beauty last week to remind me of the authenticity and rawness of life. Not contrived or trying to hard just authentic.

Thanks Good Housekeeping

Before Superstorm Sandy, Good Housekeeping emailed me about doing a little feature on our home and my work.  I was excited but the irony of my “not always Good” housekeeping skills and their request and magazine title..well it wasn’t lost on me.  The Lord does have a sense of humor. Regardless, I am thankful for the experience. Their editors are so hardworking and nice.  Even working from home through the storm and doing all they had to do to get this January issue on the stands.  I was impressed with their diligence and professionalism.

Thanks Good Housekeeping for the shout out.  But I am reminded during these turbulent times in our country…whether harsh storms or harsh tragedies involving children (many that never even make the news), that I can truly be proud of very little and I should “boast in nothing but the cross” as John Piper says.  Regardless, I do thank the Lord for the blessing of being able to do work I love and for all of the exciting things on tap for 2013 as well as this shout out from a national publication. And thank you for reading the blog and keeping up with me and the changes of the website and things yet to come!

Galatians 6:14

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 

Related Posts with Thumbnails