Thursday

Playing House {Sincerely 'Fro Me to You}


I'm joining Hooked on Houses because I'm hooked on fresh starts. And here's to a beautiful life full of color at The Inspired Room.

2002

I grew up playing with dolls.

I enjoyed pretending I was a Mommy.

I tucked in my precious babies every night, whispering sweet words.

I loved playing house.

And then I got a house.

With my own real babies.

Two in two years.

And then I wasn't playing any more.

When I look at this picture, I see past the precocious toddler stuffing her long-legged baby brother into her doll bed. Playing, pretending.

I see the gray.

It was the color of my soul.

Our circumstances helped shade my world. We were working at a church that didn't honor us, both of us working several jobs because the first wasn't honorable. 

My marriage held lies and secrets.

Loneliness was my shadow.

Depression my friend.

Money my need.

And then, God.

He became the light, the ray of Son to break up the darkness.

He delivered us from the dishonor.

He healed my broken marriage.

He met every financial need.

He colored my world.
 

And now red is so red. 

Green is very green.

Have you seen yellow?

I'm still playing house. 

Only this time, in color.

Food for the Soul:
John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Truly beautiful Kristen. God has given you a gift with words and it is great to see you honoring Him with them in this great big blogging world. I always appreciate your honesty and openness and how you share of God's grace in your life.
And to top it off... that is one precious pic of her shoving her brother into her doll bed and one very patient little brother. God has blessed you with a beautiful family.

Jordan said...

I just read your comment that you left on MckMomma's blog and it made me laugh so hard! Wearing red to target to blend in... oh man, that's a great idea! :)

Anonymous said...

Another excellent post....that lets us understand you even better.

I can not say the same for my post this week.

It only shows how weird I am.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said...

What a lovely post.

That picture is beautiful.

Candy Graber said...

Thank you for sharing that, it was very encouraging to me. We just had our 3rd child 3 weeks ago and have been having a hard time for the past year with different struggles. I know that the Lord will get us through this season, but hearing about how He has worked in the lives of others is always good to hear! Thanks again!

Michelle Riggs said...

Love your blog.

Thank you so much for praying for my daughter, Abby.

RiggsFamilyBlog.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, lovely post. Thank you.

Jesica said...

What a testimony to the work of Christ in your life. Beautiful.

Linda said...

Congratulation Candy Grabber on the birth of your baby.

Anonymous said...

I so know how you feel. God rescued me from the pit in such a fashion that I felt like Princess Leia when Luke swung her over and through the big battle. He so transformed my life it's AMAZING. Praising God for your deliverance . . . . . from a former captive :-)

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

Beautiful.

littletoesandcheerios said...

What an awesome post! And you said it so well. Such a cool example.

Life is not complete until you let him in. Saved me from addiction, picking the wrong man & myself.

Heather said...

Moving as always.

Muthering Heights said...

It sounds like your family had an awfully rough start. Praise God for using that time to make your love for him so much stronger!

Carolina Mama said...

Awesome! Don't you love seeing His hand through your life.

The quote in my post (unrelated) should cheer you up. :) God Bless.

Carolina Mama said...

p.s. However, the scripture really does the trick. Nice choice above. ;)

Anonymous said...

It's so hard for me to imagine you different from what you are now, even though you write so beautifully about it.

Unknown said...

Wonderful post, thanks for sharing.

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wow..love this post!!!
-sandy toe

a Tonggu Momma said...

I love that God paints in rainbow.

Upstatemamma said...

That is simply beautiful and so much more profound then anything I ever have to say. God Bless your family. So, glad that God came in and healed you. Isn't it amazing how he always knows exactly what you need and just the right colors to put and where to put them.

lmt1073 said...

Wonderful post. The best I've read in a while...

Shoebee said...

Great post.

Ali said...

So beautiful - the family and your story. Thanks for sharing. God Bless.

Patricia L Anderson said...

Thanks for being transparent and thanks for letting the Light shine through the gray stuff to allow a rainbow to happen. Thanks for shining that rainbow here & on Twitter. PatinMB

DairyQueen said...

Great post, as usual. I love how you always bring glory to our great God with all of your posts! Thanks for sharing your life and faith!

Patois42 said...

How beautiful to have been filled with such colors because of Him.

Jerralea said...

Thank you for sharing your life with us. You are always inspiring.

I'm so sorry your church dishonored you. Unfortunately that happens all too often. Hopefully we can learn from the past and break the cycle!

mommy4life said...

This post is wonderful! Thanks for the lift today!

UtahJenny said...

How uplifting, most of us have gone through those gray days, it is such a miracle to get the color back, thank you for sharing and for making a silly photo of your daughter and son so darling.

TJ said...

Beautiful post! It has much meaning to me, but nothing that I share online.

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Your word choices in this post are beautiful! What a great and glorious pictures you painted. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post! I'm here from Tongu Momma and feel inspired to participate now. Off to search for an old photo...

Heather said...

What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.

I love the picture.

Cascia Talbert said...

I can sure relate. I also had two babies in two years. Now they are 3 and 1 1/2. I've been struggling with depression all my life and the Lord gives me hope along with my beautiful children. Thank you for sharing that touching post.

Liz Harrell said...

I just stumbled onto your blog and I really, really love it.

Beth Cotell said...

What a beautiful post. Very well written...it brought tears to my eyes!

akawest said...

What a moving post you have written. Thank you for sharing this part of your life.

j said...

What an AMAZING post. The visuals are stunning!!!!

Thank you - that ministered to me today.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post....I'm joining in for the first time!

Anonymous said...

This is such a very beautiful post. You touched me heart. Thank you.

aimee

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Actually got a chill when reading.

God is so good!

Robin said...

This is making me think I wasn't a very good friend back then. How did I not know how bad things got for you? But I'm glad you came through it and can see in color now!

Takin' time to smell the flowers! said...

God is so good! Thank you for sharing this with us:)

Takin' time to smell the flowers! said...

God is so good! Thank you for sharing this with us:)

D... said...

God does color our worlds. Beautiful post.

Mamajil said...

Great Post. I love to read about the "SON-Shine" in some ones life!!
Be blessed!

Liz said...

God is so good to us...even at times when we dont deserve it! Thanks so much for sharing. I found your blog by a comment about wearing RED at Target...that's too funny that i had to come and check out your blog and I must say I love your post. We are only now building our first Target store in Hawaii and I am too excited. Now I can actually go to Target instead of shopping online. I'll need to wear RED in tribute of you and try and 'blend' in...have a blessed day ~Liz

Unknown said...

Brought tears to my eyes! I've been there- and through it. Redeemed by my redeemer. Thanks for the encouragement and reminder.
tia

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

What a beautiful post! I love the photo you used, too. Sometimes I think we don't appreciate the color in our lives until we've lived through a gray time like that.

Thanks for linking up to my party today! :-)

Tiffany said...

Hi there! I'm following Mr. Linky from the Inspired room.

Thank you for sharing this. I have lived in gray, too and never want to go back to it.

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Beautiful beautiful post, so inspiring! Thanks for sharing it...it is great to share our dark times and our colorful ones too.

blessings,
melissa

Anonymous said...

you always make me laugh! I am having a blog party in Feb. and would like to feature you, stop by my blog and if you are interested let me know and I'll send you an email....keep making me laugh I need it!

Lynn said...

Wow...powerful writing. Praise God for a new multi-colored life. He's so good...