I'm not finished with everything I still have to do some electrical work in the laundry room and replace a door and window that leaked one horrible Thursday night but it's comfortable and it is warm thanks to the newly installed and highly expensive central heating and air! I joke about the expense, but I think that's one of the things that my grandparents, great-grandparents, and my dad would be proud of... that it is comfortable. People can walk in the door do not have to shed clothes because it's hot or pile on the wood on the fire because it's cold. It's a cozy house, and I hope (as hopefully some of you will see) it's welcoming.
I decided that for Lent I wanted to write a blog every day for 40 days. I've been thinking of blogs on a daily basis,
I just never write them down. However I thought that this would be a good plan... I could update whoever reads this and whoever wants to see what I've done with the house over the next 40 days. I can also post thoughts on experiences and memories, and since it's kind of therapy for me I guess I'll be having a daily therapy session for the next 40 days.
Today I decided to start with the entry of the house, the Gallery. Pawpaw Cole nicknamed it that at some point in time...
I don't know when, don't know why, but it caught on. The gallery has been for many many many years and several generations a gathering place for coffee, for talks, for food, and for watching bad weather or cars go by. To me it's a central part of the home. A house is not a home without a front porch in my opinion and mine just happens have a good title. Renovation wise not much happened to the gallery. We replaced a few rotting boards and the whole house got a coat of paint to freshen it up. I made a few little signs "welcome to the gallery" and the "gallery rules" but other than that and the few extra chairs it's still got mamaw's Rocking chair and of course pawpaw's swing (that would crash one day - I had to fix that with help from Uncle Terry). I did plant a few flowers (hopefully things that won't die) of Rosemary because it smells good and it reminds me a little bit of Samford which was my home for's almost 7 years. That is really about all the renovations for the gallery but ultimately as long is it so warm and inviting (well I guess inviting because today it was really cold) that's all that matters. 
Today I came home little early and Rhett started barking while staring out a window (not unusual). When I looked out the window I saw these two guys in black pants, white shirt, and black jacket walking down the road. Now I don't live in a neighborhood so it's not really normal for someone to be walking down the road, much less in dress pants and loafers! I figured they are probably some Mormon missionaries and I was right. At first I didnt want to deal with those guys... but then I remembered from some missionaries I've met previously that these are just really young guys that are away from home and doing what they feel called to do. So when they knocked I open the door and Rhett immediately begin sniffing and playing with them! I invited them to have a seat and got them a Gatorade and we sat on the porch and talk for a little while. I asked them where they were from, how old they were and these two kids are 18 and 19 years old one from Utah one from California. City boys walking around Lamar County roads just trying to meet people and pray with him. So we sat and talked for a little while and they told me about their mission and where they had been and how long they were away from home. I was able to share with them some mission trips I've been on and just we talked about different opportunities that God put in our paths and how we use them and how is we always should take advantage of those opportunities and learn from them.
I was struck by how young they are. In talking to them they're just babies! I mean the one kid graduated high school in May/June and immediately left his family for two years! I asked them how often they're able to contact their families and they said they can call them on Christmas and they can call their moms on Mother's Day, but other than that just email. I just can't even imagine that... I have friends on the mission field all over the world but they are able to face time or Skype to keep in touch with their families. These guys are on a strict regimen and part of that is mandated by the church (I guess) but also (I assume) they have an option or maybe they have the opportunity to do something else. I asked them if they thought about what they wanted to major in when they eventually went to college and they didn't know ... so I just gave them a little advice. I hope they got some encouragement from that little conversation on the gallery today. I posted on Facebook about this experience and I just really hope that we will all think about that a little bit more when these kids come knock on our doors. They offered me a Book of Mormon and asked to pray with me. I accepted both. Though I don't agree with their theology, I respected their sharing. Frankly a lot of us Christians wouldn't do it... we wouldn't pick up and leave our families for two years at age 18 of all things and just go wherever you're sent to walk a street and pass out Bibles and pray with people. I told those guys that I admired them for what they do and they seem pretty surprised by that... but I really do. I think it is impressive what they're doing, taking two years to leave home and to just walk and talk to people. My friends who are missionaries live in other countries where they preach and they teach. Central to all that though... is just walking and talking which is what these guys are doing.
When I started renovating the house and after I was given the house (which is the ultimate blessing) my prayer for the house was just that it would be a welcoming place. Pawpaw Cole once told me ;before I went to study abroad in Mexico) to "remember who you are, what you are, and where you're from. I remembered the words but I didn't realize the meaning until days later. No matter where in this life I go... I'm Kacey Cole, I'm a Christian, and I'm from right here and Midway. I'll never be anything else... I may add to that list, but at the core that's me. No matter who you are, or where you're from... I want people to feel comfortable and feel welcome when they come to my home and visit me on the Gallery.
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