Home Sanctuary: About Rachel Anne Ridge

I'm Rachel Anne, and I'd like to welcome you to my blog, Home Sanctuary.

I'm an author, artist, speaker, mom to three, nana to five, wife of one sweet guy named Tom.

"Home Sanctuary" sums up a lot of what my life is about. As a wife and mom, I'm always looking for ways to make our home a place of grace and refuge for the ones I love most. I have my struggles, but armed with a few tricks up my sleeve and a sense of humor, I've learned that small victories are worth celebrating...especially at home.

For the past ten years I've posted tips, tasks, encouragement and things you can do along with me and the Company Girls, which help create a sense of sanctuary in this busy world. These days, I've been focused on writing books, speaking, and embracing a whole new season of life as an empty-nester. I can't lie: it's been an adjustment. It's taken me awhile to find my footing and discover new purposes.

As a professional artist and designer, I've spent many of my days helping others create personal spaces for their own loved ones. I've found that everyone needs a place they feel good about and love to come home to, whether they live in a million dollar mansion or a first apartment.

One of our hand-painted ceilings

We live in a funky yellow Barn House in Texas...a place that's perfect for our family. It's outdated and a little on the "fixer-upper" side, but somehow everyone who visits us feels at home here. Be careful, it will charm you with its understated demeanor and geriatric septic system.

I've been married over 40 years to Tom, the man who swept me off my feet when I was 19 years old. We've loved each other longer than we were alive without one another....and that feels pretty good.

Here's our whole family...four years ago. We've since added a new daughter-in-law and FOUR more grandbabies! I need to update my photos, obviously.

Lauren, our oldest daughter, is on the left side of the picture with her husband Robert, and baby Ivy. Our son, Grayson, is in college at Texas AM. He is with Tom and I in the middle. Our daughter Meghan is on the right with her husband Nathan. I have to say the kids turned out GREAT, despite the fact that I've been tired the whole time we've been raising them.