a home. a refuge.

“A welcoming home is where real life happens. It’s where personalities are nurtured, where growth is stimulated, where people feel free not only to be themselves but also to develop their best selves. That caring, nurturing quality – not the absence of noise or strife – is what makes a home a refuge.” ~ Emilie Barnes

I want the type of home Emile describes. It isn’t what is hung on the walls or the fabric the pillows are covered in…it is how all those things and so much more work together to create an atmosphere, a refuge ~  place where Chris, my kids, myself and guests can feel welcomed and free to simply be. I love that Emile includes the part about noise & strife. My house has a lot of noise and often too much sibling strife! Such a great quote, such discernment and wisdom, don’t you think?