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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021
Simple Fall Decorating Ideas for Your Home September 28, 2021
A New Mirror for a New Look July 28, 2021
Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze May 27, 2021
A New Gig! April 16, 2021

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'Tis the season for playing the comparison game!

'Tis the season for playing the comparison game!

Christmas is like the superbowl of holidays when it comes to being overwhelmed by beautiful images flooding your social media feeds and, more often than not, leaving you feeling more discouraged than inspired.

I'll be sharing some photos of my own home all dressed up for the season in the coming weeks but, please know, my home is not perfect. There are piles of laundry and stacks of mail and dishes in the sink. And, often, a tired mama in the background. My home isn't perfect because there are very imperfect people living here. My desire is to provide you with ideas and inspiration but, more than anything, my hope is that I will point you to the true reason we celebrate this time of the year.

It's not the pretty garlands, picture perfect table settings and perfectly decorated Christmas trees. It's to celebrate with immense gratitude that no amount of our own effort could ever do for ourselves what Christ did (and continues to do) for us. ✨

Last week was the first Sunday of Advent but it di

Last week was the first Sunday of Advent but it didn’t dawn on me until the candle was lit at church that morning. Thankfully, I had already created our Advent centerpiece in the dining room and we did our first reading that night after dinner followed by the teenagers debating who would get to light the first candle. ☺️ This year’s arrangement was inspired by something I spotted from @maisondecinq and I knew it would be perfect for my dual purpose goal of incorporating Advent candles into my Christmas decor.

You can scroll through the photos to see other ways I’ve done this over the years. And, even if you missed lighting the first candle, it’s not too late to start. Just double up this week!

Do you light Advent candles in your home? It’s a tradition we’ve come to cherish! ✨

“When my kids were little, after tromping throug

“When my kids were little, after tromping through the woods in search of the perfect fresh tree, we used to all yell “TIMBER” at the top of our lungs as my husband cut through the trunk and we watched it fall to the ground. Now, they beg us not to make a scene and roll their eyes at me as I sing, “Oh Christmas Tree” in my very best operatic voice. I have no idea why that would be so embarrassing! Once upon a time, they fought over who got to put on the very first ornament. Now, they would much prefer to let me do all of the work and simply enjoy the finished product.

As we moved into the tween and teen years, I found myself wondering how I could embrace this new stage without completely abandoning the traditions that we’ve cherished and nurtured for so many years. How do we keep traditions alive while allowing room for change? Here are just a few of the ways that I’ve navigated this challenging dynamic.”

I’m humbled and honored, as always, to be sharing my heart with the @joyfullifemagazine community today! I hope you’ll read the rest of my article and that it brings encouragement to your heart. ✨Link saved in my highlights.

Tomorrow is December first which means it’s time

Raise your hand if this morning felt extra painful

Raise your hand if this morning felt extra painful! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’ll be yawning my way through the day but will attempt to finish decking my halls for Christmas. First I must head to the grocery store to restock after the food extravaganza of this past week. I’m thinking lots of veggies are in order!

Where are you in the holiday decorating process?
A. Totally done
B. At the halfway point
C. Wait. It’s almost December already?

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends!

Ahhhh…the hot cocoa station. For some reason thi

Ahhhh…the hot cocoa station. For some reason this seems to signify the start of the season to my family more than anything else. Maybe it’s because it’s usually the first area that I get completed. Or maybe it’s because it’s just so much fun!

When Lauren came home from school the other day and saw that I had started to set up the station, she told me that she has very vivid memories of having me make hot cocoa for her and her brother when they were little.

She remembers sitting up at the kitchen counter and that I would put out their plastic placemats. She usually wanted the one with all of the sea creatures on it while her brother used the Thomas the Tank Engine version. Believe it or not, I actually still have those placemats.

I would always get the temperature of the milk just right for little tongues not yet worn down by years of drinking scalding hot coffee. And the highlight for them? Using the metal spoon straws that we got as wedding gifts in 1998 which were perfect for scooping out marshmallows before drinking the cocoa.

In this stage of motherhood with two teenagers, there is something very poignant about hearing my children recall the things that were meaningful to them in their younger years. It may seem like they were long ago to them, but to me they were just yesterday.

Thankfully, they seem just as eager to enjoy the hot cocoa station as teenagers!

I think that might just be one of my most favorite things about decorating my home for the season. As signs of Christmas begin to spring up on tabletops and in nooks and crannies, we are reminded of the joy in those little moments which seem so insignificant at the time but are, in reality, more meaningful than we could imagine. 🌲

I shared these in my stories but I just had to pos

I shared these in my stories but I just had to post them here too. So many of you have watched this boy of mine grow up. I started blogging when he was only 6 years old! 😱 It feels like a complete out of body experience to be sharing his senior photos. I'm pretty sure that just yesterday he was pushing his wooden trains around the kitchen floor, begging to take apart every electronic device in the house and running circles around us with his endless energy and steady stream of chatter.

And while it is SO bittersweet that a part of me wants to just curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out, the predominant emotions are of joy and pride in seeing him become such an incredible young man.

He's already been accepted to the Oregon Institute of Technology and that's where he will most likely attend but he's exploring other options as well. We have no doubt that whatever path he chooses, he will continue to reflect strength of character, integrity and an impressive work ethic.

We daily pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as we prepare to launch him into the world while still providing a secure nest that he knows will always be ‘home’ no matter where life takes him.

Happy weekend friends! My husband and kids are out

Happy weekend friends! My husband and kids are outside doing yard work and I’m inside making a dried orange garland and putting the finishing touches on my Christmas mantels. I think I got the better end of the deal, don’t you? 😉 The house smells amazing and I’ll show you the garland when it’s all done! What are you up to today? Raise your hand if you’ve started decorating for Christmas yet! 🙋🏻‍♀️🎄

Happy Friday friends!! I’m thinking that this we

Happy Friday friends!! I’m thinking that this weekend our hot cocoa station will make its annual appearance in our home and I’m plotting and planning how I’ll style it this year. This photo is from last year and I loved how the copper mugs added a touch of sparkle.

Do you set up a hot cocoa station at your house?

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