I Lost It All to Find Everything

I share this post with you ever so carefully

with a humble and grateful spirit, 

not in anyway to boast.

Not in a million years, did I ever dream this would be a reality.

NEVER!

As a matter of fact, I stopped dreaming a long time ago.

Too many dashed hopes, disappointments, unfulfilled dreams

as a result of bad choices, mistakes, unwise decisions.

A lost vision. 

I heard my daddy say many times, 

"Without a vision, the people perish."

Yesterday we met with the designer. 

I thought we were only allowed a few choices

designated by the builder and home owner's association.

We were given many choices.

We selected a whitewashed brick.

from the Hanson Carolina Collection,

Port Charlotte.

The vinyl is Harbor Gray.

It's sounding more like a cottage with every selection.

A cottage, my dream.

The roof is "Weathered Wood," a dark gray with specks of 

light gray, white and some rust to match the undertones in the brick.

This is my favorite part!

The color of my door is Granite Peak

by Sherwin Williams.

I am sitting here crying and overwhelmed.

A song comes to mind. 

It's an old Southern Gospel Song from the 80's, 

I lost it all to find everything.

I died a pauper to be born a king.

When I learned how to lose, 

I found out how to win.

For I lost it all, to find everything.

I chose very simple lines for the inside.

White painted, Shaker-style kitchen cabinets

with pewter door pulls and knobs.

Granite counter tops, the color, Graphite.

This is not my living room, just the color of my walls, 

Anew Gray by Sherwin Williams. 

We are using the same color through-out.

Gloria Gaither tells the story of an empty lot

with piles of wood, boxes of nails, window panes, a

construction site with old tools, buckets of paint. 

To be honest, she says, it looked rather like a mess.

She goes on to tell her story as she does

so beautifully, (remember it's the 70's)

But one day this house will be filled with rooms,

in one room a girl with her hair all rolled up in coke cans

will listen to sad love songs, 

 while a guy in another room works

out chords on a old guitar. a mom cooks dinner

and a dad will come home 

to a family of people who really care.

(Or something like that)

Together they sing,

Something Beautiful

If ever there were dreams that were lofty and noble, 

they were my dreams at the start

and the hope for life's best

were the hopes that I harbored, down deep in my heart.

But my dreams turned to ashes, 

my castles all crumbled, my fortunes turned to loss, 

so I wrapped them all in the rags of my life 

and laid them at the cross.

Something beautiful, 

Something good,

All my confusion, He understood.

All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, 

But He made something beautiful of my life.

-- lyrics and music by Bill and Gloria Gaither

It's not about the house.

It's the beauty he's creating from the ashes.

I am utterly amazed.

When I lost everything, He gave me all.