Built to Last

As we prepare our house for another little one, my husband has been working very hard on moving furniture, painting, and updating WOW's new toddler room. One of the pieces he moved was a toy box turned window seat.

This toy box was built for my parents as a gift for me when they found out they were having me. It has been used for many years, holding everything from toys to toddlers playing in it after they've thrown everything out. In college, I painted the box and added a cushion to the top to act as a window seat. Now it resides in our house, still standing strong and holding extra blankets and other items needing storage.

The toy box has a certain weight to it - as many well-made things do. It stands quietly in our living room, a silent reminder that things made with love and care are built to last. It doesn't call for constant adjustment or reassurance. It stays because it works - proven time and time again. Craftsmanship like that isn't loud. It doesn't announce itself or ask to be noticed. You can trust what has already been proven - confident and reliable.

The same quiet confidence shows up in the people who carry weight without spectacle. In our home, Brandon's presence has been steady and constant - the kind that doesn't need announcement to be felt. In my childhood, that presence was my father.

Both men are dedicated to their families - ready to shoulder anything whatever comes so that those they love are cared for and secure. Their steadiness was shaped over time, honed through faith, and rooted in a relationship with God - the ultimate craftsman. They knew who they were, and because of that, their love was built to last.

That same mindset carries into tomorrow - unapologetic, confident, and quietly bold. New palettes go live then.