"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

When we first moved in our home I was looking at a catalog with a picture of a family room. I was browsing for design ideas for a custom fireplace mantle. At the time I wasn't planning to buy, just getting an idea of what I wanted. We have a friend my husband used to coach who now does beautiful wood work and I planned to hire him to replicate my idea. As I flipped the magazine pages my eldest son, who had to be 8 or 9 at the time, was looking with me. The homes in the magazine were very beautiful but not extravagant by any means. He pauses for a moment then asks me, "Do you think we will ever have a nice house like that?" I asked him, "What made the house in the photo nicer than ours?" He said, "Because it has carpet." An internal grin quickly erupted across my face. My whole life I lived in a house with wall to wall carpet and always thought hard wood floors were amazing and breathtaking. That's what I wanted. I finally had it. Our entire house has hard wood minus the bathrooms and laundry room. The only stitches of carpet to be found are on area rugs I have accented with.

I immediately placed my thoughts into the mold of his mind. Why is carpet better? Of course! Where do children spend a lot of time? On the floor! Wood is hard. Carpet is not. Floor rugs don't have the plush padding below, making it even more cozy for little bodies.

Life is all about perspective.

Our own body is like a house. It holds and protects our mind, spirit, soul. We each are so unique and unbelievably talented. Many times we are so used to what our house has we think or dream about changing it. I pray you don't. The only changing you need is to become all God has designed you for...to be the best custom original maximizing every ounce of your potential. See, we've all done it...we get side tracked and focused on the spots on our rug versus holding fast to the One who is working the spots off of our heart. Be your own kind of beautiful. It provides great comfort for those you influence most.

I think that's pretty incredible.

~Nicole