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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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January 21, 2015

The Almost Awesome Blog Post

Oh friends I was so close to being awesome yesterday!!

And this was going to be a totally awesome blog post showing you an even more awesome Valentine’s Day gift idea!

I had one of those ‘stroke of genius’ moments and I was so excited to finally be feeling creative again and had it all planned out.

It was going to rock! And I was going to make my sweet friend proud and embrace my inner creative rock star.

Awesome life quote from atthepicketfence.com

The day started out so promising. I was organized and all planned out. I had timed everything just perfectly to allow myself to get all of my housework done PLUS the awesome project PLUS take photos of it PLUS edit those photos PLUS start working on the awesome blog post and have all of this done before I had to pick up the kids from school. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, all was going according to plan and then when it came time to use the printer (a necessary step in the process of creating my AWESOME project!) I ran into trouble. Big trouble!

Nothing would print. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

I tried everything. And please don’t tell me what I should have tried because believe me I TRIED IT! Things got unplugged and plugged in and uninstalled and re-installed and bypassed and circumvented and shut down and turned back on and all but thrown out the window.

And suddenly I wasn’t feeling quite so awesome. In fact, as I watched the minutes click by I realized that this totally well-planned and carefully thought out day was in serious danger of heading out the window right along with the printer.

I was left with two options. One involved a smashed window covered up with cardboard and duct tape and the other involved giving up on being awesome.

Or at least, redefining what it meant.

I mean, can’t awesome be the sight of the sun streaming in through the windows and showing off all of the beautiful tones in your coffee table?

sunlight on coffee table

Or standing still in the middle of your driveway soaking in the beauty of the big tree in your front yard against the blue sky which you rarely see this time of the year?

tree with blue sky

Couldn’t awesome be trying out your new running shoes (or tenny runners as my husband likes to call them!) and feeling fairly certain that your daughter will be so happy that you bought the ones with the purple laces.

new nikes

And there could never be any doubt that it is TOTALLY awesome to see a tiny bud sprouting on your hydrangea plant.

hydrangea bud

Awesome could even be realizing that you remembered to put the laundry in the dryer and didn’t leave it in the washer getting all smelly only to have to wash it all over again.

laundry

You see, at some point in the day I just decided to abandon my awesome plans for my awesome project which would lead to an awesome blog post.

But, the reality is, I just traded one kind of awesome for another.

I realized that I could spend every last minute until the kids were out of school pulling my hair out trying to fix the printer.

OR

I could just accept that it wasn’t meant to be that day.

That day was meant for sweet little, seemingly insignificant moments. And yes, even realizing that you remembered to put the laundry in the dryer can be a sweet moment.

It was meant for acknowledging that life isn’t just about the BIG moments.

That day was for remembering that life is really lived in those seemingly insignificant moments.

And that, my friends, is really…well…awesome!

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36 Comments Filed Under: Good Thoughts

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Comments

  1. martina says

    January 21, 2015 at 5:24 AM

    Your awesome project might not have panned out Vanessa but this was one awesome post!! Love the way you write!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 8:35 PM

      Thank you so much Martina!!

      Reply
  2. Tamyra Positively Southern says

    January 21, 2015 at 6:10 AM

    Absolutely needed to see this post today! This post is awesome just like your other one would have been!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 8:36 PM

      Thanks so much Tamyra!

      Reply
  3. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    January 21, 2015 at 6:14 AM

    I agree with Martina, this is awesome.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 8:35 PM

      Thank you Marty! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dorothy says

    January 21, 2015 at 6:45 AM

    Oh so true. We need to remember that every day is awesome in a different way. Thank you for the reminder.

    Reply
  5. Sheridan says

    January 21, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    Good Morning Vanessa! I hope you are having an amazing day, already! I stepped out of my comfort zone a week or so ago, and emailed you. Thank you so much for your sweet reply. I just happened to look at your post today. As you said, things don’t always go as planned. My husband always gets a little aggravated when we are in a hurry, and we get stopped by the light! I just remind him, there is probably a reason, such as God slowing us down just a bit from a possible danger up ahead that only He knew about!!

    I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful tree in your front yard. It stood there in all of its majesty, just waiting for you to notice it in a way maybe you had never noticed it before! Aren’t you so glad that stubborn computer didn’t work?? It is amazing how something as small as a new bud on a plant can demand attention, and get it!

    I just wanted you to know how impressed I am with you! Your blog is about all things, “Neat”, but so much more. It reflects your values, your heart, your goodness, and I appreciate that so much.

    I said all of that to say, “keep doing what you are doing.

    I sent this just because of the beautiful tree in your front yard. The older I get, the more I long for solitude! That was a moment of solitude!! It looked like a mountainous area. I live in NE Arkansas, just wondering what area of the country that photo was taken? We don’t see trees like that here. It was beautiful!

    You have a blessed day, and keep inspiring!!

    Sheridan

    Reply
  6. kim kopp {the best is yet to come} says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:02 AM

    LOVE this post!!!! How many days do we judge ourselves and our time spent by the number of items checked off our to-do lists? Such an encouraging post. Thanks for sharing your “almost awesome blog post” — which turns out… IS awesome! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Devra says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:03 AM

    Soooooo glad to find out I’m not the only one who forgets things in the washer!

    Reply
  8. Amy Kaminski says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:13 AM

    Great Post today! Ditto to everything above.

    Reply
  9. Runt says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:14 AM

    Great post! I definitely need to remember this when my day doesn’t go how I planned.

    Runt

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:58 PM

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  10. Linda Johnston says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    Vanessa, this post is a large part of why I read you posts first thing. I search through emails till I find you, read you then I move on. You have the innate ability to throw out this wonderful philosophy at those times I really need it. Right in the middle of a recipe or project all of a sudden there you are with a word to the wise! I enjoy you, all the topics you cover and your beautiful smiling face. Keep up all the good work. As you can tell from all the above, you sure make a difference.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:56 PM

      Linda thank you so much for your sweet words of encouragement! You’ve blessed me tremendously!

      Reply
  11. Cindy says

    January 21, 2015 at 8:53 AM

    What an awesome post! Glad I’m not the only one that forgets the clothes in the washer.
    Have an awesome day!

    Reply
  12. Carol Ann says

    January 21, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    BRAVO! Needed this today, too… Many thanks.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:55 PM

      Thanks Carol Ann!

      Reply
  13. dee says

    January 21, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    You are like my daily devotion because there are times when you speak right to my heart and other times when you touch on something that I’ve spoken to God about on my way to work.
    It’s amazing how God will make us stop in our tracks so we take notice of what is truly awesome just like the things you mentioned so if that stupid printer hadn’t ruined your day this post might have never happened!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:54 PM

      Oh Dee bless you for your wonderfully thoughtful words!! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Jeanne says

    January 21, 2015 at 11:04 AM

    I really enjoyed your post. It makes me want to check out the plants in my yard, just to see if there are any surprises!! It great to look at your surrounding and see such beauty.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:54 PM

      You’ll have to let me know if you find anything blooming in your yard Jeanne! 🙂 Thanks for coming by today!

      Reply
  15. Sarah Adams says

    January 21, 2015 at 1:00 PM

    I am so glad I’m not alone in laundry mishaps! Beautifully written!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:50 PM

      You are definitely not alone Sarah! LOL!

      Reply
  16. Thistle says

    January 21, 2015 at 3:52 PM

    You are already awesome. 🙂 Printer or no printer.

    It’s hard to be a rock star sometimes….but you got this. 🙂

    k

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:44 PM

      Love you! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Michele says

    January 21, 2015 at 4:16 PM

    Yep, you nailed awesome – and it has nothing whatsoever to do with a blog post. Yay.

    Love those purple ties on your tenny runners!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:43 PM

      Thanks so much Michele!

      Reply
  18. Anne says

    January 21, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    It’s the little moments for sure.And by the way…you are pretty awesome! I too have lots to do…but my mind has been somewhere else….but the good new is…tomorrow is another day 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:43 PM

      Thank goodness we get that fresh start each day right Anne? 🙂 You’re pretty awesome yourself my friend!

      Reply
  19. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 21, 2015 at 6:53 PM

    I send you a standing ovation Vanessa….a most superior post….loved and held on to every word!…and I love those purple laces and you are now making me look to see if there is a bud on my hydrangea bush that did not bloom last year….Have a wonderful week of doing what you love!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:42 PM

      Awww…thanks so much Shirley!! Love to you friend! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Nancy says

    January 22, 2015 at 5:25 AM

    You are awesome by being that flexible to not let a piece of technology rob you of your joy supplied by Jesus. Only He can do that for us and more times than not I forget that. My life these days seems to be all about interruptions to my plans. I know that eventually with the Lord’s help I’ll get the “hang of it”!

    Reply
  21. Julia G. says

    January 22, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    Loved the awesome tree in your yard! But did you have to mention that you didn’t leave the laundry in the washer??? Because I DID! RATS…now I’ll have to re-wash it when I get home tonight. Oh well, I did see an awesome sun rise this morning on my way into the office!

    Reply
  22. Marty Walden says

    January 22, 2015 at 11:54 AM

    Precious words and such truth! So many of my last 15 years have turned out differently than I had planned. I guess that’s why I just wrote a blog post on that exact subject Great minds think alike so from one awesome mom to another, you rock!

    Reply
  23. depm says

    January 24, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    How perfect! Thanks for sharing your positive attitude!!

    Reply

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