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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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  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

April 6, 2012

Inspiration Friday No. 59 and a Giveaway!

Inspiration Friday Graphic1

 How is it possible that we are nearing the end of the first week of April??!!
Yowza! Time is just flying right by us and we know it is for you too, so we are honored that you would take a few moments out of your day to come by, pay us a visit and par-tay with us!
You ready?
Let the fun begin!

 Up first,

It is time for us to announce the winner of  our Designs by Thara Giveaway winner of this gorgeous necklace!

IMG_9094

And the winner is….
Rachel from The Philosopher’s Wife!!
Rachel, please contact us through out contact page and we’ll put you in touch with Tahra!
Don’t forget Thara is ALSO generously offering 10% off purchases for our friends here At The Picket Fence through the month of April..think Mother’s Day gifts!  Just type in Tahra10 when checking out!  

 And, while we are on the subject of Giveaways, well, how about another one???!!!
This one comes to us courtesy of our wonderfully talented and generous friend Vicki of 
Her shop is filled with the most amazing Greeting Cards, Digital Scrapbooking Paper and Artwork!
Here is a peek at just some of her lovely items:
We love these “Whimsical Magpies” Greeting Cards!
Greeting card, Whimsical, Humorous, Card collection, Birds, Magpies, Turquoise, Blue
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are quickly approaching and we love the wonderfully vintage feel of these cards.
Greeting card, Mother's Day, Pink, Aqua                               
Greeting card, Father's Day, Navy, Gold, Airplane
And this Spring Greeting Card with Matthew 6:33 printed on it might just be one of our favorites!
SPRING, Greeting card, Inspirational, Matthew 6, Floral
Ummm…well…maybe THESE are our favorite!
How adorable is this set of Spring Greeting Cards?
SPRING, Stationary, Greeting card, Bird, Umbrella, Floral, Ball Jar, Motivation Set
Now, for the 
GIVEAWAY!
One lucky Picket Fence reader will win a 
$25 credit  to 
Ahhh…the gift of shopping. 
Want to know how you can enter to win it?

Here’s how!

(Mandatory) 1. Head on over and visit Vicki at Curly Willow Collections , and come back to let us know which item(s) you liked best. (one entry)
(Optional) 2. “Like” Curly Willow Collections on Facebook and come back to let us know you did by leaving a comment. (one entry)
(Optional) 3. Subscribe to Vicki’s blog Vicki Designer: Joyful Expressions leave us a comment letting us know you did. (one entry)
(Optional) 4. Share about this giveaway on Twitter or on your Facebook page and leave us a comment letting us know you did. (one entry)
And because she is so VERY generous, she is offering this beautiful Easter Card Printable for...FREE to our friends! Isn’t it gorgeous?!  You can just print it our right from here and you’ll be all set with your Easter cards.  Perfect for your Easter dinner hostess or how sweet to give your Pastor or Priest a lovely Easter card on Easter Sunday!

Just click on this attachment to download a full size version pdf file of the card

Ok, we know you are ready to see some of the highlights from last week’s party right??
Here we go!

picketfence_20010_thumb[18]

INSPIRED ROOMS

Stacey from A Sort of Fairytale showed just how far $150 can go in transforming a space when she shared her absolutely charming bathroom. And yes, that is a vintage First Aid kit on the wall!


and while we’re hanging out in the bathro… “salle de bain” hehe…. That’s french for bathroom, sounds slightly more sophisticated ;)… we have to show you this amazing room transformation from Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage. You have to go see the before…it was a crime scene…;) You have to head over to read what we’re talking about! 

MAKEOVERS

Vikki of The Quirky Quail did an incredible job making over this once sad chair into a beautiful French-i-fied masterpiece!

                     








We love to see things repurposed, and Jessica from Mom 4 Real did a great job repurposing by turning an old outdated mirror into this lovely chalkboard! She gives you the full tutorial on her blog.  Isn’t it beautiful!?

Rosemary of Villa Barnes can turn anything into pure gorgeousness, and one again she did not disappoint! These items certainly did not start out looking like this, go check out the transformation!



CRAFTS and CREATIONS

Lisa of Take Six shared this incredibly lovely Spring Tablescape.
Photobucket
Christie of My Ocean of Notions showed us how to make this adorable Bunny Skirt.

Myric from Peties Passion created this gorgeous French Wall Art…from old toys found at the Goodwill! Amazing!

Our friend Courtney from French Country Cottage built the most darling “Wee Little Birdhouse”, we’re sure she’ll be having new neighbors moving in very soon! 😉
RECIPES and PARTIES

Kelly of Notable Nest threw her son the most awesome Pirate Party. 
How perfect that her son is named Jack! Argh!

Pirate Party Invitations
Sylvia of Sylvia’s Simple Life invited us to a Spring Afternoon Tea and showed us how to make these exquisite Crystallized Pansies!

Who can resist Hot Cross Buns to celebrate Easter! Rebecca from Natural Mothers Network shared with us the history of Hot Cross Buns, as well as a great recipe!
INSPIRING STORIES


Virginia shared a great article she wrote for Inspired by Family Magazine. “Favoritism in Blogging.”   This article speaks to those insecurity and self doubt many bloggers feel.  We encourage you to read this great post and hear Virginia’s insights on how to overcome this struggle!

Katie of Adventures of a DIY Dork proved that there is definitely nothing “dorky” about giving of yourself to support and encourage others. She participated in a walk to raise awareness about Muscular Dystrophy and was blessed to be apart of “Amanda’s Angels”. We would love for you to go read more about this experience and the precious little girl who inspired Katie…and us!
 
If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button code located in on our Buttons Page found under our header!

Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook? Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well!

Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week! We appreciate you!

Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
And…one last thing we want to share with you…Are you following us on

Pinterest

We sure hope so! BUT…We have a SPECIAL REQUEST of you, if you visit INSPIRATION FRIDAY and like to PIN the great projects you see here! Please pin from the ORIGINAL SOURCE and not our blog…unless it’s one of our own creations, then by all means pin away from here…we won’t mind! 😉

When you are done linking up head over and party with the other Friday Party Friends:

vif187 Redoux



Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s some instructions for Inspiration Friday
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!
  • Be sure to link back to your original post  and not just your url (main blog address)
  • Please post our button (code on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY to be featured At The Picket Fence) Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows sometimes we miss some and for that we apologize. It makes us feel good knowing others are visiting people as well! Thank you..it truly means a lot to us!

    And while it’s not a requirement, we’d sure love ya to be following along with us in some capacity! Below are some great options!
Email Updates
Facebook Page
Pinterest

And before we close, we would like to say that with all  of the recent posts and thoughts around out in blogland right now on Linky Parties, we hope that each of you knows how much we appreciate you partying with us each week! We work hard to make this a fun place to be and our heart’s desire is to showcase YOU! We’re not perfect, by any means, but we do our best each week to bring you a quality party! Thanks for being a part of that. 




This Inspiration Friday Party is Sponsored By:

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!!


UPDATED: Linky Tools seems to be glitching when links are submitted.  Before you resubmit, please refresh Inspiration Friday post once or twice to see if your link has appeared.  It appears they are linking and by resubmitting it is causing links to show up multiple times. We are monitoring the party and if a link shows up more than once. we’ll try and fix it on our end. 🙂
Thanks and we apologize! 

71 Comments Filed Under: Giveaways, Good Ideas, Inspiration Friday, Sponsors

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Previous Post: « Sponsor Love~Introductions, Sales and Giveaways!
Next Post: He is Risen Indeed~ Happy Easter! »

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Comments

  1. Savvy Seasons says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:27 PM

    Lovely features, thanks for hosting!
    Have a wonderful and blessed Easter! xo ~Liz

    Reply
  2. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting girls and have a wonderful Easter!!

    Reply
  3. Nova says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    i like the cute art print: “SUNSHINE”

    Reply
  4. Nova says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:33 PM

    “Liked” Curly Willow Collections on Facebook

    Reply
  5. Nova says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:35 PM

    Subscribed to Vicki’s blog Vicki Designer: Joyful Expressions

    Reply
  6. Jenny@daysofchalkandchocolate says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Those features are beautiful! Thanks for hosting again! I’m following you on Pinterest now too!

    Reply
  7. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    I love Stacey’s and Shannon’s bathrooms!! Stacey’s is filled with vintage goodness and I can’t believe what Shannon’s before bathroom looked like!! Two amazing jobs!

    And I really love Curly Willow’s spring stationary!
    Kelly

    Reply
  8. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Great featured selections ~ thanks for hosting, ladies!

    Reply
  9. How to Nest for Less says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Such beautiful features!! Those pirate invitations are too cute 🙂 Thanks for hosting again this week. Hope you ladies have a WONDERFUL Easter weekend!!

    Reply
  10. Desire Empire says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:40 PM

    I hope you girls have a wonderful and blessed Easter.

    Carolyn xx

    Reply
  11. Renewed Upon a Dream says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    I love the fathers day greeting card, so cute!
    Thanks so much for hosting this party! Have a great Easter weekend!

    Reply
  12. Poppy says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Have a blessed Easter!~Poppy

    Reply
  13. Farmer's Wyfe says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Such fun features!! Thanks for the link party!!

    Reply
  14. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    Super features. Thanks as always for hosting. Y’all have a wonderful Easter.

    Reply
  15. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:58 PM

    Thanks so much for the flattering compliment, and for featuring my pile of projects. I’m in good company. Thanks for always being such gracious hosts.

    Reply
  16. Fox Hollow Cottage says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:03 PM

    You always have such wonderful features so I am extra honored to have my bathroom makeover included. What a bright spot in my day! So many lovely features. I have visited the other bathroom and it is cute as can be! I would love to have that Frenchy chair, it is darling. The sugared pansies… oh my. What a great chalkboard makeover, French wall art and Courtneys birdhouse… just loads of lusciousness =)

    Reply
  17. Suzy says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    Wonderful features and thank you for hosting! I hope you have a blessed and joyous Easter!

    Reply
  18. Anne says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    thanks for the party – fabulous features!!

    Reply
  19. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:19 PM

    Love the features exp that mirror turn chalkboard! Thanks for being the hostess with the mostess! (is that how you spell it? 🙂
    Happy Easter if I don’t get back in time.
    XO

    Reply
  20. Kathy A Delightsome Life says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    Hello,
    Great features – I agree – Sylvia’s post was exquisite – she has a gift in staging and photography. Marvelous party! thank you for hosting,
    Kathy

    Reply
  21. reFresh reStyle says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Love the features! I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!
    Debbie

    Reply
  22. Anita says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    Wonderful features, and those hot cross buns look so good!! Thanks for hosting and Happy Easter!!

    Reply
  23. Alderberry Hill says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:32 PM

    Thanks for hosting every week…have a wonderful Easter!

    Reply
  24. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    Great features! Thanks for hosting! Happy Easter!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  25. Becca says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    Thanks for hosting friends! Enjoy the Easter weekend!!
    xo Becca

    Reply
  26. FABBY'S LIVING says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:12 PM

    Thank you for hosting. Nice features. Have a blessed Easter Sunday.
    !
    FABBY

    Reply
  27. Debra @ Common Ground says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Hi Girls, have a wonderful and blessed Easter Weekend! xoxo

    Reply
  28. Little Bit says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    Thanks so much girls for hosting this great party week after week. It gives us all a wonderful opportunity to connect with each other! (p.s. I emailed you this week, did you get it ok?) Little Bit

    Reply
  29. Kelly says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    Thanks for hosting this party again. I thought I’d let you know though that alot of people’s links are showing up multiple times because after you click on the thumbnail image that you want to show, it doesn’t do anything. So everyone (myself included) is clicking it again and again thinking that it’s not working. Just wanted to let you know so you could be aware of it.

    Reply
  30. Pamela says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:39 PM

    Fabulous features!

    Reply
  31. Deny says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:54 PM

    Thank you hosting, and you featured some great work!

    Reply
  32. Tanya@takesix says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:56 PM

    Thank you so much for featuring our Spring Tablescape! Wishing you both and your families a very blessed Easter!!

    Reply
  33. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    April 5, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting!!! Love all the projects linked up already!!!

    XO, Aimee

    Reply
  34. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

    April 5, 2012 at 11:14 PM

    Thank you for hosting! Have a wonderful Easter!

    Reply
  35. Keeping it Cozy says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:09 AM

    Thank you for hosting. Have a wonderful Easter.

    Reply
  36. CAS says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    You had some truly inspiring features. Thanks so much for hosting! Happy Easter!
    CAS

    Reply
  37. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:41 AM

    Thanks ladies for fixing my multi links (sorry about that)! Hope y’all have a wonderful Easter with your families.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  38. Kelly Griglione says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    What a lovely party just full of fantastic inspiration! Thanks so much for hosting, and featuring my Pirate Party!

    Reply
  39. Jenn Lifford says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:17 AM

    Thanks so much for the party and the lovely features! Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!
    Jenn 🙂

    Reply
  40. Sylvia says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    Dear Vanessa and Heather, I am full of gratitude for including my Tea Party in your always inspiring features. I am in great company ! I wish you a bright Easter with upcoming bright days and bright thoughts!

    Reply
  41. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    Hi Ladies, Thanks so much for hosting and have a wonderful Easter.
    Hugs, Sherry

    Reply
  42. Sandy A says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:39 AM

    Visited Curly Willow and I just love the Bloom/Ball Jar Art Print…

    Reply
  43. Sandy A says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:40 AM

    I liked Curly Willow on FB…

    Reply
  44. Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:45 AM

    Thank you so much for the party!

    Reply
  45. Adventures of a DIY Dork says

    April 6, 2012 at 3:09 AM

    Thank you so much for featuring me!!!!! I cannot think of a better post to be my very first feature ever than the one about Mandi. She is such an inspiration and I just want everyone to know how truly amazing she is. 🙂

    Reply
  46. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    April 6, 2012 at 3:55 AM

    Hi, Girls! Thanks so much for hosting and for a chance to win. I liked the Ma Chere card.

    Reply
  47. A Pretty Life in the Suburbs says

    April 5, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    Thank you so much Heather and Vanessa for hosting! I hope you have a great Easter weekend!
    Jo-Anna

    Reply
  48. Shari @ turnstylevogue.com says

    April 6, 2012 at 5:33 AM

    I’m late to the party, but I made it! Thanks for hosting. Have a great Easter!!

    Reply
  49. myric andreasen says

    April 6, 2012 at 5:53 AM

    Wow! Thanks for featuring my little project with all those wonderful creations!!!
    Thanks for hosting 🙂 have a blessed Easter to both of you.

    Xoxo
    Myric

    Reply
  50. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    April 5, 2012 at 11:28 PM

    Aww thanks so much for featuring my little birdhouse girls!! You will be happy to know- it has several residents already! 🙂 All linked up- thanks for hosting! Have a fantastic Blessed Easter!

    Reply
  51. Laurel Stephens says

    April 6, 2012 at 6:43 AM

    Thank you for hosting another great party. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  52. Mary Sullivan Frasier says

    April 6, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    Morning, Heather & Vanessa! Great features from last week… I can’t wait to see what everyone brought today! Thanks for hosting this week. Wishing both of you and your families a Joyful & Blessed Easter! ~Mary
    PS: Congrats to Rachel for winning that amazing necklace!

    Reply
  53. Natural Mothers Network says

    April 6, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Hi- thanks for hosting and warm wishes for a Happy Easter break! I am delighted you chose to feature my Hot Cross Buns Recipe- thank you so much I feel very honoured indeed! This week I posted SOMERSET EASTER BISCUITS, HOME REMEDIES FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES, EASTER TREE CRAFT AND KITCHEN CLEANING TIPS.
    I have also included your linky in NMN’s directory.
    HAPPY EASTER!
    Rebecca @ Natural Mothers Network-(Seasonal Celebration)

    Reply
  54. Calypso In The Country says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    Have a wonderful Easter and thanks for hosting!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  55. Andrea says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:22 PM

    Can you please remove 268 and 269. Was having trouble uploading and it endedu up loading 3 times!! So sorry about this!

    Andrea
    http://www.lifelovelarson.blogspot.com

    Reply
  56. Jacqueline says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Thank you for hosting a lovely link party! I shared my herringbone nightstand.

    Reply
  57. Catherine {Stone and Rose} says

    April 6, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting!! Have a great Easter weekend!

    Reply
  58. SusanD1408 Crochet Addict says

    April 6, 2012 at 3:34 PM

    I love https://www.etsy.com/listing/92795973/art-print-wall-art-pink-vintage-inspired
    susand1408 at googlemail dot com

    Reply
  59. Carmella says

    April 6, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    Ohhhh…what a fun giveaway! I love the Sunshine art print so much! https://www.etsy.com/listing/85355325/art-print-art-print-yellow-floral

    Reply
  60. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    April 6, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Love the great features and fun giveaway! As always, thanks for hosting this fabulous party!

    🙂

    Linda

    Reply
  61. Heather says

    April 6, 2012 at 7:42 PM

    Thanks for the fun! Have a great Easter weekend! Heather 🙂

    Reply
  62. Julie says

    April 6, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather…Vanessa mentioned last week that she thinks you guys possibly missed seeing our DIY Kitchen makeover, so I checked my notes, and I don’t think I ever posted it to your link party for some odd reason! So hopefully today wasn’t a repeat posting! I apologize if it was. Thank you for hosting! See you next week!

    Julie
    redheadcandecorate.com

    Reply
  63. Modern Country Lady says

    April 7, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    Gorgeous featured bloggers! I am bowled over.Have a great weekend and a wonderful Easter.Thank you for hosting!
    XOXO
    Bea
    Modern Country Lady

    Reply
  64. vikki says

    April 7, 2012 at 10:23 PM

    Thanks for featuring my French chair, love your blog and thanks for hosting. I love the Glitter Putz House Vintage Christmas Decoration Red.

    Reply
  65. Sally says

    April 8, 2012 at 11:49 AM

    I love Vicki’s “Let the Sun Shine In” print!!

    sally_puckett@yahoo.com

    Reply
  66. Sally says

    April 8, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Liked Curly Willow Creations on Facebook 🙂

    sally_puckett@yahoo.com

    Reply
  67. Sally says

    April 8, 2012 at 11:51 AM

    Subscribed to Vicki’s blog 🙂

    sally_puckett@yahoo.com

    Reply
  68. Good Time Charlie says

    April 8, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Nothing to share this week, but I enjoyed your features so much. I am giving a a big WOOT WOOT for Shannon’s bathroom! She is one of my favorite bloggy people! Hope you are having a beautiful Easter! -K

    Reply
  69. Mel says

    April 10, 2012 at 1:57 AM

    I like the spring print collection at Curly Willow! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity

    Reply
  70. Mel says

    April 10, 2012 at 1:57 AM

    I like them on facebook as well!

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
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