when love comes down

there is something special when someone comes into your world. that incarnational kind of love speaks volumes. and brings healing. which is exactly what happened when my sister and brother in law came to visit us. it was just good medicine for my heart, my soul, my kids and for my home. i felt more at home in my home just because they were in it. their presence alone was an amazing gift. but they also served us in so many different ways. uncle steve painted rooms...

(hello, teal!)

and aunt carrie unpacked boxes. arranged and rearranged. decorated and re-decorated. and cleaned it all up before she left. they even surprised emma by getting the girls' room decorated...

it is still in process, but what a fun gift they gave of re-upholstering the headboards, a project i dreaded doing. they went from this...

to this...

in about two hours.

though i must say i am going to miss the 70's potted plants from my sister amy's room growing up. which then became "aunt maxine and uncles charles' room" in my parents house (don't ask). i tried to talk em into a groovy retro room, but she wasn't feeling it. we left the potted plants in tact underneath, so that they can return at some point. maybe when we are older, they will be in "aunt carrie and uncle steve's room" in our home.

with the new paint, headboards and bedding, the girls were thrilled with the reveal...

and, as always, thrilled with aunt carrie and uncle steve...

though there are plenty of things to do near us, we stayed close to home for the most part. though we did make it to our favorite froyo place three times in four days. we didn't venture out because carrie and steve chose to bless us by helping us make our house seem more like a home. i love  the changes we are making to make the house more "us". but what helps the house feel more home is that they were here. they were with us. and they were for us. serving, counseling, encouraging and uplifting us...

and so, it kinda stunk to say goodbye...

we are grateful both for them and to them. they left their home. they came to us. they loved us. sounds like the way jesus loved and loves us, doesn't it? thank you, aunt carrie and uncle steve, for being his hands and feet to us. we love you! 

p.s. if you come back, we promise to take you to menchie's even more!