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The Mouse House
As told by Brynn Ball
It was 1985, and our house had just
been built. My two stepsons were
three years old and thirteen years
old. JUST about the age to get in
trouble -- and just about the age
to try to get out of their mischief.
My husband, Butch, had done much
of the work on the house, which
included the drywalling. As any
one knows, drywalling takes time
and it also takes time to dry!
Butch had gone off to work, and
the boys were playing in the livingroom.
We really haven't determined which one
of them did it -- to this day, BUT
one of them was playing with a broom,
and knocked a 3 inch by 6 inch hole in
the newly drywalled area. My husband
came in, and WAS FURIOUS!!!! Neither boy
would admit to anything -- the "Beaver
and Wally Cleaver" relationship
existed between them.
All my husband could get out of the
youngest son was, "Hey, Dad! The mouse
needs a home, too!"
Over the years, the mouse hole has
evolved. There use to be furniture
sitting in front of it, but in 2000
I decided to take the initiative to
renovate it, and turn it into a
conversation piece in our home.
With imagination, I went to work, and
our mouse hole NOW has lighting,
carpet, furniture, and it's own tiny
resident "plastic" mouse. It has a table
with a rolling pin and pie sitting atop
it, a bed, a lamp, chairs, stools--
a china cabinet, and other amenities.
If you look closely at the photos
above, there is a framed photo of
my husband and myself on "Gracie's"
(yes, we named her) wall. Don't you
agree, it's quite the comfy home
for a little mouse???
Outside, I built steps and railings,
put up a tree...and adorned the door
with all kinds of flora and berries.
The mouse house has been featured in
at least three magazines, and has even
made it's way to the Governor of Virginia's
office for viewing. How's that for
"making SOMETHING out of a hole in the wall"
The photos above do not give justice
to the focal point of our home. When it
is nightime, and the livingroom is dark,
we turn the light on in the mouse house...
and it is ADORABLE!
For every mishap...there is a way to
make something beautiful. If we all keep
this in mind when mistakes happen, this
world would be a better place.
My husband now tells the story of the
mouse house to everyone who visits -- then
he takes them on a tour. Most have to
get down on their bellies to peer into
the tiny space...but they come away with
a deeper appreciation of HOW ugly things
can be turned into a source of beauty.
Such is the same with our lives...we
are UGLY before the Lord saves us and
cleans us up. We can become objects of
beauty because He took the time to make
something WONDERFUL out of us.
May God Bless!
 
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