Jan 13, 2026 – Restoration
The second movie that kept me company the other day while I was shuffling things around in the kitchen was “The Notebook.” I love this movie, but I cried through the last bit of it; so, as a pick-me-up, I sat by the fireplace, all cozy in the deep club chair with my feet propped up, reading through the White & Faded book I mentioned (which is in the lower left of the photo today). I’ve been looking forward to pulling some of Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg’s inspiring thoughts from the pages to share. I did try the mushroom coffee, but quickly opted for hot chocolate with whipped cream. Perhaps it is going to be an acquired taste, because I made the mushroom coffee this morning and it’s a little better (more cream this time). It’s supposed to be good for you, so I’ll keep trying.
The first paragraph on the “Foreword” page, written by Liz Marie Galvan, is what inspired the photo today of our fireplace. It is my attempt to share more of myself than just my thoughts and my clutter photos. She writes, “WHEN I ENVISION A COZY HOME, I picture a historic home with a clear tell of one’s style – one they are confident in showing.” Even with the piles around our home and the things that are quite often set by the door and stairs that are to be taken elsewhere, I invite people in (somewhat confidently) and when they walk through the front door they almost always (politely) say that our home is inviting and that it looks like me. (I hope it reflects Don some too!)
Galvan continues, “It isn’t decorated using an entire endcap from a big-box store but rather is filled with treasures that have been carefully collected and curated over time. [Indeed that is true in this house.] Some of these carefully selected items tell a story about the homeowner’s personal history, while others are handmade by artisans they admire [including beloved family and friends]. Some of the decor may be special finds that were thoughtfully sourced from thrift shops, antique stores, or local flea markets. The cozy homes I envision tell a story, showcase the personalities of those who live within their walls, and reflect the hearts of those who reside there as well…. A cozy home is authentic and true to the homeowner, and that is what you will discover as you page through this beautiful book….” That for sure is what I found as I settled in with Janet’s book that afternoon.
Right off, on page 1, I found commonality with her as she told about how she rearranged the furniture in her childhood bedroom. It took me back to my small bedroom (I was the youngest of three) at 800 Queen Elizabeth Drive, with twin beds, a dresser, a wide shelf, and a bedside table that I moved around as often as my creativity (and energy) inspired me to do so. However, unlike Janet, my childhood decorating did not lead to a career in interior design.
She tells of how her childhood family visited antique shops and markets on their vacations and “to make things more bearable for my sister and me, my mother would tell us endless stories about the places we had visited…. She was a kindergarten teacher by trade, and she was appropriately expressive as she taught us…. Suddenly, she wasn’t just detailing the furniture we were viewing; she was helping us envision the parties, the meals, the people, and the eras for which these pieces were present.” What a gift of fun, creative thinking she gave her daughters.
When Janet became an adult and began her own furniture collection, her father was shocked as she began painting these “fine examples of old craftsmanship.” The more she shopped and studied, the more she discovered that painted furniture has a history. I love painted furniture and even had a booth in an antique mall years ago with my creations. She writes, “An antique painted item normally has several layers of fresh paint hiding away the life it lived, yet to me, those pieces of furniture still in their original coatings display the love, pain, and rejection we all have experienced to some extent in our lives. My all-consuming love for these items – to rescue and restore them to a place of honor – undoubtedly reflects experiences in my own emotional history.”
This makes me think of the different collections I (and we all) have which fill me with joy from the memories, and even creativity, they evoke. Janet continues, “Restoration isn’t merely covering up the past with a layer of fresh paint but it is much more about embracing the damaged parts, the scratched surface and chipped paint, with a hug of acceptance. Isn’t this just like being loved for who you are? Seeing beauty in your broken places and wisdom in your imperfections?” I still have my sister’s French Provincial bedroom furniture, but just can’t bring myself to paint it. Maybe Janet will inspire me to finally give it new life.
I connected with Janet on so many of the things she shared especially in finding love after heartbreak, like I did with Don, with “a wonderful man who took me unconditionally into his loving arms…” and “…through his constant affirmation and affection, he brought me back to life….” She pointed out that, as with furniture and collected pieces with histories, “Restoration takes time. Beauty exists in our original design and even in our chips and scars. And when someone [friend, family, spouse, even a stranger] stops to really love, appreciate, and listen to us – oh, the stories we can tell them.”
This makes me think of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of restoring pottery with gold. Google AI explains, “Kintsugi sees breakage and repair as part of an object’s history, creating a more valuable and resilient piece, symbolizing embracing imperfections and transformation.” There’s so much more in Janet’s book to share, but I’m ready to go to my small group of devotion books to see what they have to offer today. Before we leave White & Faded, I’ll share this last thought from Janet, “Even while we’re still in the process of healing, we can begin taking steps to move forward, to do something different, to start a new journey.”
Streams – Romans 8:37 – “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Cowman shares, in part, from Life More Abundantly, “This is more than victory. This is a triumph so complete that we not only have escaped defeat and destruction but also have destroyed our enemies and won plunder so rich and valuable that we can actually thank God for the battle. How can we be ‘more than conquerors’? We can receive from the conflict a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character.” From selected stories, Cowman shares, “It is commonly thought that a protected and easy life is the best way to live. Yet the lives of all the noblest and strongest people prove exactly the opposite and that the endurance of hardship is the making of the person. It is the factor that distinguishes between merely existing and living a vigorous life. Hardship builds character.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
Utmost – Chambers writes, “When God gets us alone by affliction, heartbreak, or temptation, by disappointment, sickness or by thwarted affection, by a broken friendship, or by a new friendship – when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are dumbfounded and cannot ask one question, then He begins to expound…. There are whole tracts of stubbornness and ignorance to be revealed by the Holy Spirit in each one of us, and it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now, or are we taken up with little fussy notions, fussy comradeships in God’s service, fussy ideas about our bodies? Jesus can expound nothing until we get through all the noisy questions of the head and are alone with Him.”
Max writes, “If you knew Jesus was returning tomorrow, how would you feel today? Anxious, afraid, unprepared? If so, you can take care of your fears by placing your trust in Christ. If your answer includes words like happy, relieved, and excited, hold tightly to your joy. Heaven is God’s answer to any suffering you may face.”
JC – “Try to view each day as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide…. A thankful, trusting attitude helps you to see events in your life from My perspective…. Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day. Be willing to follow wherever I lead. No matter how steep or treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is by My side.” See Psalm 118:24 and 1 Peter 2:21.
Prevail #13 is entitled, “Not the Shortest Route, the Best Route” and Larson shares Exodus 13:17-18 which in part says, “God did not lead them along the main road…even though that was the shortest route….” She starts with this poignant thought, “Though Christ paid a full ransom for our freedom, it sometimes takes a while to get captivity out of us.” Why is the way winding and tiresome at times? Larson explains, “Because when we hit our limits, we learn to seek our limitless God….. God wants to conform us to His image. We want convenience…. His way may take longer, but it’s the best way for you. Go with God. He’s most certainly with you…. Smile and laugh hard every day. It’s healthy for your brain, good for your soul, and wonderful for your spirit.”
JA – “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH ME!… Refuse to be intimidated by the way things look at the moment. I am training you to live by faith, not by sight…. Seek to align your will with Mine and to see things from My perspective. Exert your faith to ask for big things, and watch in hope for Me to work.” See Mark 10:27, 2 Corinthians 5:7, and Micah 7:7.
Power – Joyce teaches from Deuteronomy 7:2, “God told the Israelites to ‘utterly destroy’ the ungodly enemy nations and to ‘make no covenant with them, or show mercy to them,’ and we must do the same with the ungodly thoughts, words, and actions we have that are stealing our destinies. Be firm, steadfast, and resist the devil at his onset (see 1 Peter 5:8-9).” What a sweet day of sharing about trials, resilience, and restoration……blessings to you.
