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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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    • Featured

July 1, 2016

Big Announcement About Our Book!

You guys!! Things are getting really REAL up in here!! We are so thrilled to finally be able to announce the title of our book and give you a little sneak peek!!

Friends, you are cordially invited to savor each day, week and season of life…

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If you’re anything like us, your life is a little imperfect. Rumpled, wrinkled, messy even. But somewhere between unfolded laundry and faucets needing cleaning, between occasional headaches and joy-threatening heartaches, there are moments of creativity and beauty that are perfect for celebrating.

We believe our very creative God was deliberate in the ways that He gifted creativity to us. Whether you know it or not, you are creative and your creativity reflects God and His work in your life.

Join us as we take a journey through the seasons of the year…

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…with faith-filled stories, encouraging devotions…

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…beautiful photographs…

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…DIY projects, and recipes…

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Everything you need to slow down, embrace the beauty and the struggle, and celebrate the moments that fill your heart and home.

‘Life in Season’ is our hearts in book form, written with YOU in mind. This is our gift to you.

And even though it won’t arrive in stores until October, it’s available for pre-order NOW!

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There have been so many ‘pinch us we must be dreaming’ moments throughout this entire process. And each one seems to tops the last. It’s hard to imagine how it will feel to actually hold the book in our hands. To actually see the culmination of a year’s worth of work and fears and tears and pouring out of ourselves.

It’s truly a humbling thing to think that God opened the doors for this to be possible. And through it all we have just felt so incredibly grateful to you, our At the Picket Fence community, for being so incredibly supportive and encouraging.

We cannot wait to hear what you think about ‘Life in Season’ and we have some very fun things planned for you to get to walk through it with us so be sure to stay tuned!!

And we promise to keep you posted as it gets closer to the release date. Meanwhile, don’t forget that you can go ahead and preorder a copy now.

We’re so glad you could meet us at the Fence today and celebrate this news with us!

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17 Comments Filed Under: Book, Devotionals, Good Ideas Tagged With: book, Life in Season

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anita says

    July 1, 2016 at 4:35 AM

    Congratulations!! I’m so excited for you both and could not be happier you have this amazing opportunity:-)

    Reply
  2. Michele says

    July 1, 2016 at 5:24 AM

    Oh what joyous happy wonderous news! This will be such a great book!

    Not to be condescending – but I am truly SO very proud of you both!

    Well done, congrats and best wishes! Smiles and hugs!

    (ps: I havesome of my own happy news announced on my last post!) ♥♥♥

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 1, 2016 at 5:26 AM

      PS

      Just pre-ordered!!! Your release date is my birthday – so a gift to myself from myself, whoo hoo! ♫ ♪

      Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 1, 2016 at 7:33 AM

      Michele that doesn’t sound condescending at all!! You actually brought tears to my eyes and we can’t thank you enough for preordering!! How fun that the release date is your birthday. Love it! 🙂 On my way over to read about your exciting news!

      Reply
  3. laura janning says

    July 1, 2016 at 6:46 AM

    Vanessa, this is such exciting news and will be pre-ordering. congrats to you and Heather.

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    July 1, 2016 at 7:19 AM

    It looks so beautiful and I can not wait to get my hands on it and read every single page. I am so excited for you ladies – it really looks amazing!

    Reply
  5. Vicki says

    July 1, 2016 at 7:49 AM

    Such a beautiful cover – I cannot wait !

    Reply
  6. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 1, 2016 at 5:55 PM

    Congrats you two!!!…I cannot wait to get my copy!!!

    Reply
  7. KariAnne Wood says

    July 1, 2016 at 9:13 PM

    So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I love the artwork and I can’t wait to read it. 🙂

    You are both amazing!

    Happy day friends!
    karianne

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    July 2, 2016 at 6:21 AM

    I am so happy for you! I have been thinking you should write a book! I didn’t know you were. I will be ordering this for sure. Congratulations!

    Reply
  9. Gwen says

    July 2, 2016 at 5:58 PM

    Very exciting!!! I have a B&N discount card I can use on your book

    Reply
  10. Debbie says

    July 3, 2016 at 9:54 AM

    What fun – congratulations!! That’s an amazing accomplishment and the book looks wonderful!!

    Reply
  11. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    July 3, 2016 at 8:30 PM

    I am so thrilled for you!!!! Gorgeous book. Congratulations!!!! Life In Seasons will be a favorite on my bookshelf. Hugs and love!

    Reply
  12. Terry says

    July 4, 2016 at 7:48 PM

    Oh what a lovely looking book, I can’t wait to get a copy. I love that you give credit to the Giver of all good things!
    Be Blessed!

    Reply
  13. Vaness says

    July 5, 2016 at 10:52 AM

    Vanessa & Heather
    I am so excited for you both. Congratulations!

    Reply
  14. Julia says

    July 5, 2016 at 11:57 AM

    Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading your book. You two inspire and encourage me many times with your timely blog posts.

    Reply
  15. Jacqueline Miller says

    September 1, 2016 at 6:17 AM

    Oh my, I’m so excited! Love the title. I can’t wait to read the full version, I bet it’s going to be on my top favorites! Thanks for sharing this sneak peek! I’m even more curious now =D

    Reply

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Instagram post 17855252689670737 “The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.” (J.I. Packer).
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This isn’t that kind of a countdown to Christmas.

Instead, we’ll reverently and simply light two candies tonight and reflect on the hope that came to earth in the form of an infant Who was the most wonderfully unexpected King. I’m so grateful for this time to pause together as a family during a very busy season. It only takes a few minutes and yet it resets our hearts and minds and prepares us for the week ahead. Do you celebrate Advent at your house?
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But, hey, at least I can take comfort in the soft glow of twinkling lights and having my halls decked for Christmas!

Today on the blog I’m sharing the details of my soft and simple mantel decorations and I’d love for you to stop by! ✨
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There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our kids or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap.

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
Instagram post 17937591637321018 Have you ever longed to belong?

Have you ever felt like you are on the outside looking in at everyone else who seemingly have it all together?

Are you craving more peace in your heart and your home?

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You can find the link to it on her page and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and what resonates with you! ❤️
Instagram post 17903771584388964 Confession...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

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Instagram post 17864348974529213 I'm struggling to find the right words on my book proposal for a book that I never thought I would dare to write. The words are in me, I just can't seem to get them onto the page. I'm so passionate about this message even though it is so different from anything I've ever done and might not be considered 'on brand'. And yet it's never been more clear to me that I'm supposed to keep moving forward. It's a message that might not be considered very 'popular' (this ain't a 'pull yourselves up by your bootstraps' kind of message about being a Christ-follower) but it's one that God has placed on my heart and in my very BEING and I have to get it out there.

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But, I WILL NOT BE HINDERED. “Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary." - Charles Spurgeon
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What’s been the best part of your day today? ❄️
Instagram post 18073546234147166 Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”.
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When I was a little girl we took a trip to Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, MO. One of the attractions there is the Marvel Cave. The whole theme park was actually built right around the cave! I will never forget the feeling of descending into the darkness. We had to walk down a steep, narrow path and I could feel the rocky walls beginning to close in on me. From time to time, our guide would even have to call out for us to duck our heads so as not to whack them on rocks that were jutting out. And just when it felt like we had been walking forever; just when it felt the most narrow and the most dark; just when we were starting to get really weary from navigating this path, we turned the corner and found ourselves awestruck as we gazed at this enormous room. Everywhere we looked there were stalactites and stalagmites. Lights had been installed and they reflected off of these formations creating the most beautiful colors on the walls. There were pools of water in a shade of aquamarine I had never seen before and waterfalls flowing from upper levels. That long, winding, damp trek had been so very worth it. The descent into darkness had revealed light…and life!

My prayer for you friends, is that you will look at that narrow path with the small gate as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to experience the kind of freedom that our souls are longing for. The wide and broad path of the world promises us a freedom that is fleeting and temporary. But at the end of the narrow path, there is hope and peace and life everlasting.

I’m choosing the narrow path. And in spite of the hardships, in spite of the challenges and the fears and the times that can feel as dark as the journey down into a cave, I wouldn’t trade a single minute of it.
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