Dwelling: Living Fully from the Space You Call Home by Mary Beth Lagerborg

Published by Revell Books - A division of Baker Publishing Group

Home. That word invokes different thoughts, feelings and emotions in all of us. For some it's just a roof over our heads, for others it's a space where we can relax and be comfortable, for still more of us it's about family and relationships. In this book the author shares her own personal stories and facts along with those from a number of people regarding what home means to them. Simultaneously, the book provides a wealth of information on how to deal with situations such as: colliding decorating tastes or cleanliness levels, making mealtimes appealing and meaningful to everyone, creating an inviting atmosphere for guests, making working from home work for you, reaching out to those beyond your walls and so much more.

I wasn't certain what to expect from this book. It interested me a great deal though as someone who likes to try and make our home a comfortable and relaxing space for my husband, our pets and myself. For us, home is wherever our family is. Being a military family can be a real challenge sometimes, especially when this is our third home in as many years. I don't think I have ever really considered anywhere to be home and a lot of that is probably due to familial dysfunction during childhood years. I am confident that will change in the future though.

Thanks to a diverse group of people sharing what is important to them, the reader can’t help but feel inspired. I know for myself, there are so many small, yet wonderful changes I will be implementing in our own space to make it more homely. It has also encouraged me to finally get serious about finishing the creation of my own workspace in the home. It has been semi-done for the past few months but I never seem to find the time to complete it.

I really liked this book. It is a Christian book but with not enough religious content that readers with other beliefs would be put off by it. I found that to be greatly appealing. Reading this book has also led me to be curious about another title ‘Once a Month Cooking’ in which the reader can learn how to prepare enough meals for a month, in one day. I am greatly intrigued by that and look forward to reviewing that title once I obtain a copy.

All in all, a very insightful and encouraging read. For me the biggest message I gleaned from it’s pages is that regardless of what our past experiences of home life are, it’s never too late to learn and make our own homes a welcoming and positive place.

Author's website: http://www.dwellingspace.net/