Isn’t it interesting how we sometimes find ourselves complaining about something we were once grateful for?
A number of years ago, while my hubby was looking for a new position as a pastor, he took a job working in construction for what we thought would be a short time. We rented a little apartment thinking we’d only live there for a few months until he secured a job and we could buy a home. We wound up living in that 900 sq. ft., two bedroom apartment for 5 1/2 years. By the time we left, I was pregnant with our fourth child. It was quite a challenge cramming three (soon to be four) children into a single, small bedroom.
I knew our time of living in that small space was supposed to be temporary, so I tried to make the best of it. I thought I had a good attitude, but I definitely needed a few reminders along the way to be grateful for what I had. We had moved from a three bedroom home with an attic and separate office for my hubby, so we rented a garage to hold all of our “stuff” we didn’t have space for until we could move to something larger.
And then there was a day that changed my life. I was busy lamenting how little space we had, jealous of my friends with their big, beautiful homes. One day I decided to take my kids to the playground. I met a lady who had moved to the States from another country who was also renting an apartment in our complex. She and her hubby were also looking for new employment, and our kids were similar ages, so we easily struck up a conversation.
A few days later I met her again, but that time she invited me to come to her apartment for tea. I agreed, and I will never forget what I saw when I entered her apartment. The only furniture they owned consisted of two cheap, stackable lawn chairs and a small TV. She graciously served me tea with spoiled milk, because that was all they had. She and her husband shared their bedroom with their children, and I’m pretty sure they all slept on the floor.
When I walked home to my apartment, I suddenly realized how much I really had. I had nice furniture, pictures of my family, artwork on the walls, beds for everyone and so much extra stuff, we needed a garage to contain it all! That was an important milestone in my life because I realized how very much I had been given and what a gift it was – even if we were cramped in a small space. I promised myself that I would always remember that experience in case I ever again decided to complain about how little I had.
Fast forward a number of years to where my hubby has his desired job and we own a modest home. Coming from our small apartment, you can imagine how thrilled I was to have a “huge” eat-in kitchen. It was pretty easy to look past some of the ugly things the previous owners had lived with because it was a much larger space and we were so grateful.
However, as the years have passed, I have noticed some discontentment in my heart. It’s so easy to look online, especially at Pinterest, and dream of what I don’t have instead of being grateful for how much I do have. Our home was built in the 1960’s, and certain rooms still show it. I constantly dream of how beautiful it “could be” if we could only afford it.
Almost for as long as I’ve been blogging, I have wanted to share pictures of how I organize my kitchen. However, I was always hesitant to do it because our “big, beautiful kitchen” which I once thought was so great, wasn’t pretty enough, or big enough, nor did it have granite countertops or beautiful cupboards. It was “updated” in the 1980’s with laminate cupboards and had blue carpeting glued to the front of the cupboards, not to mention the blue carpet on the floor. Thankfully, we did take that out as well as replace the appliances, but I felt that I couldn’t possibly show my outdated kitchen on my blog. Yep. I would need to wait until we could afford to tear out our entire kitchen and replace it with beautiful new things.
Wait just a minute!!!! I’m once again doing what I thought I’d never do. So, I have decided to embrace what I have and be thankful for it! Is it the ugliest kitchen? By no means! It’s not my taste, but it’s definitely not the worst ever. Is it the prettiest? No way! Am I grateful for it? You bet! And that’s why I have decided to share it with you!
Last year during the month of October, I participated in a series with hundreds of other bloggers. You may remember my series on building a Home Management Binder. Once again, this October, hundreds of bloggers are planning to choose topics which we would like to blog about every day for the month of October.
I have decided that I will embrace my outdated kitchen and share the goodness that is contained within it. It is filled with organized spaces and I hope to inspire you. The posts will be (mostly) short and sweet and are simply intended to give you ideas for organizing your kitchens frugally.
Am I a little hesitant? Yes. But I hope you’ll join me in keeping it real and keeping it fun! The series begins next Tuesday, October 1. See you then!
Does your kitchen need updating? Organization? New storage ideas?
I am really looking forward to this series. Thanks
Good for you! Can’t wait to see your organizational skills.
Melissa
I have a spacious kitchen that is by no means updated……probably 30 yrs old and a very obvious red (of course I didn’t see the red when we walked through to buy). We will probably never update it because kitchens are so expensive and I can already feel myself wanting to downsize. I don’t regret buying this larger house because right now our lives are larger but I know that I can see goodness in smaller now which I wasn’t so convinced of three yrs ago when we were house hunting. I look past my dated kitchen every single day and I will be able to look past yours too….I am pretty certain others are in the same boat.
Thank you I needed to hear this. My kitchen is older and I have big plans and small budget.
I too have to give myself the reminders that what I have is MORE than enough… and though outdated, works perfectly fine. My kitchen was built during the 70’s… in a boom town where not a lot of thought was put into – the faster and cheaper that houses could be put up the better…. Well — fast forward 40 years, and it’s holding up just fine. While I too love the looks of my friends fancy new updated kitchens… I know I wouldn’t be happy with a fancy kitchen when I saw how much it depleted my bank account! Instead we work with what we have – get new or new to us appliances as needed… and like you, we embrace what we have, making the best of it. Looking forward to seeing your ideas, and seeing how they will work in my “good enough” kitchen!
Thanks, Deb! I hope you enjoy the series.
I am so excited for this series! We just moved into a home built in 1979 and the kitchen is the only dated part of the house! I want to make it work with only a shoe string budget! I can’t wait!
Congrats on your “new” home, Alissa! I hope you enjoy the series and find some helpful tips. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this series. I too have an outdated kitchen because my family just don’t have the funds to update it at this time. Well written article and looking forward to seeing more organization from this area of your home. 🙂
-Tracy
Thanks, Tracy! I hope you find some inspiration. 🙂
I always feel the same way about my home and often “wish away” what I have coveting someone else’s home. I look forward to following you this month! You are a new find for me and I am quite in need of your organizational mind.
Thanks, Shawn! I hope you enjoy the series.
THANK YOU! It seems like all I see lately are newly remodeled and updated kitchens — which are nice, don’t get me wrong! But it can start to make a person ungrateful for what they have…. which in my case, it is a very small, cramped AND outdated kitchen. But you know what? It’s functional and I’ve realized lately that it doesn’t have to be a fancy updated kitchen in order for me to cook some good homemade meals and make some good family memories… that’s up to us. Your post is a great reminder to be thankful for what we have and to stop comparing. I’m really looking forward to your series on Tuesday!
You are SO right, Erin! Enjoy the family memories. Sometimes I wish it weren’t so easy to lose perspective. I’m glad to know it helped you, too! <3
Your post really hit me right between the eyes! We are currently living in a small two bedroom home that was built in the early 1940s and has definitely seen better days. The kitchen is miniscule and I am forever lamenting the lack of counter space. I am one who drools at bigger, better kitchens on Pinterest (yet I adore vintage kitchens with less space than I have now, go figure.) This rental will be home for at least a month more as we prepare to move, and I know our next home won’t have the fabulous dream kitchen either. I am looking forward to this series because I need it badly. And thank you so much for sharing your story and reminding me to be grateful for what I have.
You’re welcome, Dottie! I’m glad to hear it was an encouragement to you. I hope you enjoy the series. xoxo
I really needed to read this. When my husband lost his job we ended up downsizing. Our family of 5 moved into a home that barely fits our furniture. When we first moved in I was so grateful to have a place. Over the past few weeks discontent moved in because the house started feeling claustrophobic. On top of that DH has no desire to rent or buy a bigger home. Your post was the light bulb telling me to appreciate what I do have. If I look at it from a different point of view all the stuff I have is telling me I’m blessed. Thank you and I can’t wait to see your series.
Thanks, Sarah! I totally understand! It’s a constant battle to remind ourselves how much we have, but it’s so worth it. It really helps put things in perspective when you think about what you have instead of what you don’t. Blessings!
Thank you so much for a great reminder about what is REALLY important. I look forward to your kitchen posts and pics. I am sure your kitchen is lovely because it is in a home full of love.
Thank you, Dianna! I appreciate your encouragement!
I enjoy your blog and love the story about having tea with your neighbor. Blessings
Thanks, Nancy! xoxox
Thank you for the reminder. I will be frugally reorganizing my kitchen as well. Making a conscious effort to be happy with what God has blessed me with already.
I’m glad to hear it, Le-Teisha! I’d love for you to share any before and after pictures with me if you want to!
We downsized several years ago, and I thought I would be fine with it, but I find myself envious of friend’s larger and newer homes. Thanks for reminding me what is really important.
You’re welcome, Nancy! It’s so easy to fall into the “keeping up with the Jonses'” trap, isn’t it?
Ginny, loved your message and I was the same way until 1 year ago. At that time we had moved to a 600 sq. ft. apartment from a 3 bedroom house, the kitchen is so tiny!!!! But, at that time they found a lump in my breast and it was cancer. I had my surgery and though it has been only one year I am okay! So, now I am getting an even smaller kitchen, since we are going to travel in a small motorhome on a 24/7 basis. I am so happy and know that I’m going on an adventure. I look forward to your blog and reminding me again that it’s not what you have in your home but in your heart!!!! Will be looking forward to your ideas….
Sally, I’m so sorry to hear that you had to deal with breast cancer. My mom had it a few years ago, but thankfully, she’s doing well, too. I’m so happy for you. I hope I can send some inspiration your way. Enjoy your motor home. 🙂
Ginny – Thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to see your kitchen! I can relate SO much better to bloggers who have a “real” home, not a perfect Architect Digest/Better Homes and Gardens Home!! Sometimes the “perfect” homes make me feel sad, rather than inspire me. I love your posts – and you’ll notice I’m still here : ). (ie some other blogs I’ve unsubscribed from because I can’t relate!)
I appreciate you sharing that, Jennifer. I hope to inspire you!
I too am guilty of not always appreciating the numerous gifts I have. Thank you for your story, and reminder. I cannot wait to celebrate your kitchen with you and grab some new organizational tips!
Thanks, Christine!
LOL…I had to laugh when I read your article above…boy what a slap in the face! I , too, am dreaming of a big beautiful kitchen. I had one…but lost our home. Now have a small kitchen which we “talk” of updating(still no $$) …and it would be awesome when redone. BUT I am embracing it as it is very efficient and has loads of storage. And we are not supposed to “covet” things here on Earth, aren’t we? So it’s better that way too. Thanks so much for waking me up and making me “see the light”…. I’ll enjoy your blog even more…knowing you are in the same position…
Thanks, Tina! I’m so glad to hear that you will be able to relate.
I am so proud of you for praising God for your blessings and putting aside senseless pride over material belongings. While all of us love to dream of more space, prettier rooms and a gorgeous home with a beautiful garden, having the love of a family/friends, healthy children and a happy household are lifes most cherished gifts and I think that’s something we all need to remind ourselves of every day.
You personally help others by sharing how to have an organized home so we can enjoy living in the space we have; this gives us more time for the people and activities important to us. No matter what your home design and furnishings are, being able to share your gift of organization is important and will be appreciated by those who need this help. I’ll be looking forward to reading your posts!
Thanks for your encouragement, Wendy. I hope you enjoy the series. 🙂
Wanting to have ‘more’ is always my nemesis. I think we all should stop and take stalk of the other fortunes in our life. Family, health, and friends to name a few. I work with immigrant families and other low income families and sometimes feel embarrassed by my blessings (8 yr old kitchen). Way to keep what matters in perspective! Our families will remember the memories we made in the kitchen, not the cabinets.
I’m proud of you for being so grateful and honest. I can’t wait to read your kitchen organizing ideas!
I really enjoyed this blog post. It warmed my heart that you are thankful for what you have. We all need to be more thankful for what we have and life in general. Sure I would love to have a tripped out kitchen but there is not a thing wrong with my kitchen. I choose to love and embrace it. I clean and oil the cabinets regularly even thought I wish they would magical changes to something else other than oak. I look forward to your series.
Warmly,
Beth
So excited to see what you have to share on this! 🙂
Is it Tuesday yet? Can’t wait to see and read all your ideas to help spark some new interest in my kitchen.
Thanks for sharing normal. I appreciate it your honesty. I have a nice and outdated home as well. Love it!
I’m sooo excited about your new series!! And I want you to know that your “true confession” has left me feeling less intimidated! I don’t know why but perfect people who live in perfect houses tend to intimidate me. Can’t WAIT to start getting my kitchen organized. Thank you for being YOU! 🙂
Oh WoW! This is so exciting! We also live in a small bungalow with no basement and there is not much as in storage space available. Its considered at this moment a one bedroom apartment. Bit we make due. But I’m so excited because I have just started to slowly organize our kitchen as well. I can hardly wait to see what you are planning for your kitchen space. I’ve already started to paint our cabinets white, due to the fact our kitchen is too dark. And next week I’m working on organizing my tupperware and pans with the pantry. Ah so much to do but knowing you’re doing it too will be fun for me!! Till next week, God bless!
I love this article on being content with what you have. If everyone embraced this belief we’d all be much happier! Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to more!
I am so thankful that I have a home, I have running hot/cold water in the kitchen and bathroom! I am a missionary wife and we are back in the USA for now….the world around us makes us think that we are missing out on so much. The nice kitchens…oh yes it would be a nice dream, I would LOVE a dream kitchen for a change. I’ve been told that as a missionary I can learn to live with anything. I’ll take what I have and make the best of it, I’ve found that with the Lords help, paint and TLC, I have a house full of youth happy to be here and look to our home as if it were there own. (Some have really NICE homes, but come to mine!) The Lord is great, I just need to remember to be thankful with what HE has given me! Thanks for sharing your thankfulness! (Fall is the season to be thankful!)
This is beautiful and humble and real. Thank you for being real for your real readers, most, I am sure, who are with you in not having a picture perfect kitchen! Thank you!
I can’t wait, I love looking at your blogs. Your home management binder has helped me so much! Thank you!
Your post came at the perfect time for me. Not only did I give up a beautiful townhome out west to get married and move east, I’m now living in a glorified tin can complete with a dumpy kitchen featuring ugly wallboard. Seriously, I’m so frustrated right now. My husband’s goal is to build a log home “soon” but after 2 years of marriage and no strides towards building, I’ve become very discontent and even resentful of our living conditions. I needed this reminder…my lifestyle could be such much less fortunate! At least there are no leaks, no bugs (inside, anyway…this part of the country has bugs outside all.the.time), and the neighborhood is safe. I now have my mother’s beautiful dining room table, my grandmother’s rustic hutch, and enough Pampered Chef product to start my own business. I’m looking forward to your series!
After all the canning I have done, got me to thinking about re-arranging my kitchen & adding some needed working space. I only have the top of the dish washer as working space close to the stove. I have a galley style kitchen with all big appliances on one side with a counter top the width of a coffee maker on the other side. I’ll be looking forward to what you will be posting & how I can use it in my space.
I applaud you for “keeping it real”. The majority of us do NOT have those beautiful kitchens you write about. My own kitchen is 30 years old and like you….I am PROUD of my space. I am extremely excited to begin reading your “Kitchen Series”. No doubt you will inspire thousands thru your authenticity! Sending you love and light.
I too have a small outdated kitchen with formica countertops and honey oak trim (not very Pinteresting!) I’ve got girlfriends with gorgeous kitchens that rarely get used..yet we often sit around our squeezy kitchen & talk & laugh & enjoy each other long after the dinner plates are empty – its one of the things our kids in college miss most about being home, and they never once mention the décor. So thanks for the reminder of what really matters, I am blessed! I can’t wait to read your posts!
Ginny,
I am very excited to see what you have for us in the kitchen! I started following you when I Googled home organization and found your home management binder. I left my job a few years ago to stay home to take care of my family and I have to admit, struggled with it. I had always worked outside the home and dreamed of staying home so I could do a better job taking care of my family but when I had the chance, didn’t know how to structure it. I found myself overwhelmed with doing it right so I wasn’t able to do any of it! Your binder with the checklists has helped me tremendiously! My time is now spent on checking off the tasks on my list and having time to do the more joyful things. I feel better about myself and what I am doing for my family. I am greatly looking forward to this kitchen series you are embarking on so that my kitchen will too be organized and I can have more fun in my kitchen! Thank for what you do for us here on your blog. Just from reading the comments of your other blog followers, it looks like you have helped and inspired many. Thank you for taking the time from your busy life to help make ours better.
I am very much loking forward to your post! My fiance and I are currently renting a basement apartment (in an older home) and saving as much as we can to get married in 2015 and to someday have a place of our own. Sometimes it feels like we will never be able to afford a place of our own, but I pray we will & we save as much as we can . Never feel sad that your home is older and Pin-interest worthy, remember not everyone can afford a place of their own & your SO lucky to have a home of your own, older or not.
If we want to see gorgeous kitchens we can open any magazine, and/or check out Pinterest, and/or view all the gorgeous kitchens of other bloggers and daydream and long for “someday”. How much better to see how we can make what we have right now, better and more workable. I am looking forward to seeing all your great organizing ideas and seeing how I can apply them to my own “less-than-perfect” kitchen. Thank you for your transparency and for the reminder to be grateful for the gifts God has given me.
Definitely looking forward to this series. And thank you for the reminder to be content!
I love your honesty. I allow thoughts like yours ti run through my mind and am always humbled when I consider how my thoughts might be different if my audience was Jesus taking a look at my home. What would He think? Would I invite Him in or think my space was not good enough/clean enough? I am being complete honest when I say I still struggle; however, my heart is convicted. Be encouraged! Your honesty was a reminder to my heart that I serve a Mighty God who Cares more about the attitude of my heart than the presentation of my home. Blessings to you!
Your sweet story touched my heart! My house is fairly updated except for my kitchen which was built in the early 80’s. I don’t know how many times I have complained about my kitchen instead of being thankful for what I have. I will gratefully join you in your mission this month. Thanks for being brave and blogging.
I moved into a house that has a little less than 800 sq ft so I know the small kitchen problem. My kitchen is 8×9 the cabinets were all given to me and all jumbled I am making the best of it I have moved a few cabinets around and am getting ready to add a few open shelves and do I ever have stuff I have stuff here and stuff in my husbands shed and my sisters garage in Ohio and I live in Florida since 1993. My mother recently died and I went through the stuff in Ohio but couldn’t bring myself to part with much of it . I have no room in my very small house for more stuff . but I need it here to actually have it here to make me see I do not need it. this house was two room that had living room and bedrooms added around 1960 I think we have made the 2 bedrooms into one and I need help bad You are so encouraging thank you so much
Your story really touched me. I spent many years in an older, outdated home and could hardly wait to move into a space where we could live comfortably. Our new home is much larger, and I thank God every day for his blessings on us. We worked hard for it (still are) and I hope to use every opportunity I can with it to do for others. Bless you for your honesty, and for reminding us that “things” don’t shape the world. Actions do. Hugs from Texas!
I am so grateful for having found your site.
It’s nice to see someone embrace their “not so perfect” home. Frankly I find perfect homes to be cold and uninviting. It’s the ones that look like real people live in them that I feel most at home in.
It’s the occupants that make a house truly picture worthy!
Thank you, Kimberly! I appreciate your sweet comment! xoxoxo
Love your comments. Thanks for the reminder to be happy with God has blessed me with. Off now to read up on this series.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the series. 🙂
Hi, I’m Lindsey!
I’m a new subscriber, and I wanted to tell you that I really enjoy your blog! I’m a fairly new blogger myself and you inspire me to keep up the hard work I have been putting forth on my blog!
Thanks so much,
Lindsey from This is How I Roll — My wheelchair doesn’t slow me down; it just gets me there faster!
Hi Lindsey! I’m so happy to have you as a new subscriber. I’ll be over to check out your blog. 🙂
Oh, thank you so much! I really do appreciate it! 🙂
Thank you so much for this blog and for sharing with others. I have only recently found you and am so thankful I did. I am reading your current posts as well as reading older posts. It is all so inspiring.
I too have an outdated kitchen. Our home was built in the early 80s, and aside from buying new, and new to us appliances when they were needed, it is still an 80s kitchen.
It is so refreshing to find someone who is willing to be real.
There are so many things on the web and in the world that, though it many not be intentional, encourage discontentment instead of gratitude. {I too love Pinterest} 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience in a way that is very doable for the average person.
Anyone can make things look nice when working with a large budget, but it takes work, and God given talent to achieve beautiful when working with little.
Thanks for being willing to share. Your blog is a blessing!
I’m so glad you decided to share your kitchen with us–I’ve read a few of your kitchen blogs & will be back for the rest. Your house story is inspiring. We’re having to downsize after a rough year, & I’m going from a large, nice kitchen to a small, very outdated kitchen (I’m talking brown 70’s appliances–& you should see the salmon pink tile in the bathrooms, ugh)–but I’m thankful we have a home–almost had to move in with family for a bit because our small business just wasn’t pulling in income. But things have turned around in the last month & I believe will be getting better. And for now, we have a cute house that meets our needs so I’m thankful. Moving in next few days, so I will definitely be using your tips. Thanks again for sharing!
I just found this now, but will be going back and reading your kitchen posts in November, instead. We are in the process of moving several states away, and I am excited about our new home, circa1960, with a 1980s kitchen. Excited about the possibilities, and so happy to have found this thread to help me make the most of what I will have. Thank you for sharing a “normal” kitchen, and helping me think about the kind of attitude I want to have toward my new kitchen.
Have you checked out Retro Renovation? They are all about loving the house you’re in and have amazing examples of modest mid-century homes. I’m not spamming, nor do I work with them, just love the site and thought you would enjoy it.
I just came across your organization series, and I can’t even tell you how refreshing it is to see a kitchen that isn’t granite and stainless steel. Several years ago I thought I’d have a “perfect” kitchen too. Now I am grateful for the too full cabinets and the worn countertops. There is food to eat, loved ones to cook for, and a roof over our heads.
LOVE this post!! We’re constantly bombarded with messages of how we need to upgrade, improve, and buy more in order to be OK. It is so incredibly refreshing to read someone counting her blessings. I waste so much energy feeling inadequate that I my life doesn’t look better. But as you so eloquently put it, I am so blessed with what I have. I could see you writing a book on organizing with this message. I would certainly buy it! Thanks.
I just found your blog and this post…. My house was built in 1960 and ‘updated’ in the 80’s…. I have blue plaid wallpaper on my ceiling. My oven is a Magic Chef oven in olive green. I have laminate countertops that look like wood. The oven just began making a loud noise when we turn it on, so we have to turn it off and on via the breaker. Same with the range. The cabinets and drawers are real wood, but they are coated with several coats of enamel paint.
Hopefully, you’ve been able to update your kitchen a bit more… but I’m feeling your pain!
I dont know if you still read these comments so many years later but I found your blog posts while searching for ways to organize my mail in the kitchen and then proceeded to read this post. Thank you so much for the perspective and lesson in gratefulness. God has blessed all of us in so many ways that sometimes we dont see until our eyes are opened and our hearts are full of gratefulness. Thank you for the reminder!!
Courtney