Day 5 Creating Sanctuary This house..... (last one)

This is my sanctuary. I found that trying to follow the Creating Sanctuary book to create a space for reflection, intention, rest, whatever was more difficult than I thought. Did I want a space in the garden, in the house (which room) on the porch? My whole house IS my sanctuary. When I was traveling for my work, the minute I turned on to our road off of the interstate, the tension in my shoulders eased off, my body softened and I couldn't get home fast enough. This is the house I have wanted most of my life and I am perfectly happy not having to go anywhere. The lights are soft, the wood stove warms us in the winter, the windows let in cool breezes in the spring, the porch is a sheltered place to enjoy a gentle rain...... it is my safe place.

This is how the yard looked when we first bought the house. When we got Shasta, we fenced in the front yard and it created another defined "room" for us. More opportunity for herbs, flowers and outdoor living space. 

 Our house is not fussy, we cook outdoors sometimes, we track dirt in the house, I don't dust as often as I should, the pine floors are scratched beyond repair, right now as I look around this room, there are coffee mugs and books piled on the table, several pairs of shoes lying around, dog is on the bed asleep and sort of wet from her walk this morning, and a load of clothes in the washer is waiting to be taken out. This is a house that is lived in.

Sometimes we even find Shasta perched on the dining table for a better view of what is going on outside. This is her house too. Sometimes the chickens come up on the porch. They like to hang out with us.

This house is a place where Wesley learned to drive a tractor, where she helped me can tomatoes last year. Where Gerry can decompress from a life as a photojournalist with the news media. A place where I can slow down.  A place that eases demons.

This house has also become our refuge from a Pandemic. It is where we eat all of our meals, grow our food, protect ourselves from an unknown enemy. A contagious virus. I feel so blessed that we found this house several years ago and it is the thing that keeps me sane now. It is my shelter from the storm, my sanctuary. And I am grateful every day for this amazing house that protects me and my family!