Sunday, July 18, 2010

Newer, bigger.....Better?



Old house...

New house...
I think it is smoking pretty!
Picture taken in Winter...will show you what it looks like now tomorrow.

I do not miss the old house....It is funny! I was actually so happy when it only took me 5 minutes to clean the kitchen in the new house, rather then 30 minutes!

I also think it is funny, when people expect me to move to  something better and bigger. Sometimes smaller is better. For some reason...people think that happiness is to have better, newer and bigger...Like we are never satisfied with what we have....Why do you think that is?

A neighbor was telling me that he has cows behind his back yard. He gives them his grass clippings. They run to it....Then, when he gets another load and dumps it...They run to the new one and leave the "old" one, perfectly perfect grass. Like the new one taste better when it is just the same.

I did not move to a better, newer and bigger house. But to a smaller, older, affordable and more manageable house. I am perfectly happy. I do not measure my happiness by my possession. I like to find happiness within myself. My family makes me happy. The things i do make me happy like gardening and crafts...And blogging. LOL.
I find that measuring happiness by possession is very dangerous...
By looking at newer and better, we loose what we already have...


37 comments:

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

you are so right Frenchy. It's when we focus on the bigger and excess that we are trapped in a vicious circle and are blinded to what really matters, our family, our health, our spirit. Nothing good ever comes out from that circle.

Your new house looks lovely and cozy and warm. I've seen your door close up from your other post and it's beautiful.

Cielo Azul Jewelry said...

I love it! For me...smaller is better. I already have a hard time keeping up with the cleaning with my little monsters running around, LOL! I also don't like moving, LOL! I had moved from Northern California to Chicago and then a year later to Southern California and then a few months later to our house. AY YAY YAY! I told my husband....that's it! I'm here for good and he laughed and said we'd out grow this small house. I told him I'd rather add on than pack up and move, LOL! 8yrs later and two kids....still here, phew. I think he'd like a little bit of a bigger home, but I just love it here and we've got a pretty view and a small mortgage=no stress=0) I'm so happy you are happy after the move! And super yay to cleaning the kitchen so quickly=0)

Have a great day,
xoxo,
Carol

ColoradoBlondi said...

I think this house was waiting for you, Frenchy! It is beautiful and I can see how excited you are to be there in your new home with your family. Your words were perfectly said and SO TRUE. Wishing you a very happy day, Girlfriend!
~Susan~

Sarah said...

You are smart to focus on what is important in life. One can see that your family is at the top of the list. You know how to have fun with your children. I admire you for the creative things you do with and for your children. They are very fortunate to have you as their mom.
I'll be eager to see more of the new house. ~ Sarah

Unknown said...

You are right. We are packing up for a move to Utah this week. I am really downsizing. I will move from 4500 sq ft to 1800 sq ft. I don't know how I will fit 20 years of accumulation into that much space. I keep telling myself I will love it and that better isn't necessarily bigger. Wish me luck.

Michelle said...

I'm with you, smaller and simple are better!

Victoria said...

I couldn't agree with you more Frenchy! When I was married the first time we lived in a 4000 sq. foot house and my boys were constantly under my feet, they wanted to be in the kitchen/family room where I was. The rest of it was wasted space and a nightmare to keep clean.

Your new house looks lovely and I'm sure, once you put your finishing touch on it, it will be the perfect home:)

Bargain Hoot said...

I totally agree with you Frenchy!!
Things can never replace people and can never keep us happy....What a great post!!

Bargain Hoot said...

I forgot to say thank you for coming over to my blog.... I'm a follower!!

Rene'@BargainHoot

Anonymous said...

I think it's all part of a "bill of goods" we have been sold in this country..more, more and more. As though that will make us happier.
Maybe now people are beginning to realize they don't need bigger to be better.. it has to be what is right for you!
Congratulations on the new house; we move in a few months to a house that is "just right" for us too...

Unknown said...

Love it! Its beautiful :)

Tracy said...

You're dead on with this post. Like the new smaller house!! :-)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Frenchy,
Sorry I haven't been over to comment for awhile. I try to keep up but sometimes I just can't. I always enjoy your blog so I will try harder to visit.

I love your new home and you are so right that bigger isn't always better. It's about the love inside the home that matters most.

hugs
Sissie

CHERI said...

You are so wise for one so young. We built our house 32 yrs. ago and we're still here. So many young people begin their married lives in houses they really can't afford just because they want new, big, & better than anyone else. Our worldy possessions aren't important in the scheme of things. If we have the love of family and friends, enough to eat and wear, a roof over our heads, belief in God, and happiness in our hearts...what more could we ask for? Loved your post...and your smaller, more manageable house!

Meghan said...

I think moving to a smaller, more manageable house, as you said, was a wonderful choice! When I was in Europe, I noticed that Americans seem to be the only ones who believe in the whole "bigger is better" mentality. I agree with you - sometimes its not all its cracked up to be!

Kim said...

Amen sista! I couldn't agree more. I think bigger is overrated. Around here they build McMansions and people are in way over their heads. I have an in-between house, but I long for an older smaller house. I'm all about low maintenance.
xoxo,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Great post and so true. Love the new house. Now that I'm in a bigger house, it's driving me nuts trying to clean everything. I feel like it's non stop. I'm hoping once we fix this up to our liking we can sell and find something a little smaller that isn't so much work!

Debby said...

Very well said. I think smaller is better and cozier for sure. Can't wait to see more.

highheeledlife said...

Great Post Frenchy! One needs to be at peace within themselves before they can be happy. Unfortunately instead of trying to figure out that peace- they thing "material things" will make them feel - better - and perhaps it does short term.. but long term they will be where they always were unhappy and unsettled.

Think of all the time you will have to enjoy your family instead of cleaning. Happy Sunday ..hhl

Unknown said...

Meghan, in Europe people can not do "bigger".
If i lived in France, i would never get out of renting an apartment because even with a good job, i could never afford it... The economy here even at it's worst is 200% better than anywhere else in the world. Because the level of poverty here is way richer than other countries.
Oh Carol! I don't like moving! I So understand!
Amen to all your comments.
You guys rock!
Frenchy

Denise said...

Very Nice!! Yea for YOU:)

Meg O. said...

That totally makes sense to me! I think when we try too hard to fit in and focus on what's "important", we can sometimes be miserable! I wouldn't want to spend 30 minutes cleaning the kitchen, either! -Meg @ oisme.blogspot.com

MarySue said...

Well said and a great lesson!

clustres said...

You go, girl!

Wendy said...

Hurray for you! We are in the process of doing the exact same thing! Glad to know we are not alone :)
Can't wait to see more pictures!!
Wendy

Maria said...

They are both incredibly beautiful homes!! Very different than the cookie cutter colonials where I live.

Jeralee said...

You hit the proverbial nail on the head... Big house means bigger mortgage payment, higher property taxes, and having to clean it! I have a hard time keeping up with my 1730 square foot home. It seemed absolutely huge when we moved into it from out 800+ square foot apt.

Life is grand when we focus on what we have in front of us! Good post!

Mindy said...

love it!!!

Mimi said...

that is very true! wise words to live by. :D

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

~Rachel~ said...

Awesome post Frenchy! I can't wait to see more of your new home...it looks lovely and I am sure you will do a fabulous job with it!

Mary Ann said...

The Bible says that the eyes of man are never satisfied. I think that means the same thing as the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence :-)
My husband & I live in a little one bedroom house which will be problematic when we start a family. But it is our desire to always have a small house. Less to maintain & we also do not want to get caught up in finding our contentment in things. It's a dead end street. Contentment, joy, happiness - they all come from our relationship with the Lord.
Your new house looks just lovely - I'm so happy for you!

cfoxes33 said...

It's beautiful.

I think it's a sad state of the times we live in when everyone thinks they have to have the newest, biggest, thing.

CherylT said...

Good for you, Frenchy. You are so right to live within your means. Show me someone who is happy and I will show you someone who is happy with their lot, or in your case, a beautiful new house.

BonjourRomance said...

Well said Frecnchy. Things don't make you happy. Sharing what we have with those we love, now that is happy!
I think your new home is beautiful. Anxious to see all your Frenchy touches that make everything so special.
Bon week,
Mimi

Rachelle said...

your new house is beautiful as well! you made a great point ... if you are happier in your new house than that is the best! i'm all for cleaning taking as least time as possible...haha! it's beautiful and you are so talented so i can't wait to see your decorating on the new one! love the front door and porch. :) xoxo

Anonymous said...

Smaller=more time to play! I love a simple home! Well done!! You are amazing and I couldn't agree with you more! Charming!!

Kristi said...

Hi Frenchy,
This is my first time posting here (and looking around!) and I wanted to say that you are SMART not to go bigger! We are building a house right now and a few years before we had this giant house picked out and all these grand plans. Then we both started thinking for WHAT? I wanted a nice house, but one we could afford and maintain comfortably! That is what matters! We ditched that plan and found another and made our changes to it.
Anyway, I'm going to keep reading now, but wanted to say hello and GOOD FOR YOU! :)
Kristi

Contact me at: isafrenchy@gmail.com