• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 31, 2012

It’s Inspiration Friday No. 80! Welcome!

Inspiration Friday Graphic_thumb[3]
80 weeks? 80 WEEKS?!!! 
How is that possible?
80 weeks of fabulous-ness here at Inspiration Friday!
Thanks so much for making this such an awesome place to party each week and we hope you know how much we love ya!

Did you miss anything around the Fence this week?
Here’s what we’ve been up to!

We’re so excited to introduce our new Project Gallery!

We’ve been meaning to create one for well…forever and we finally set aside some time to compiling one. We only have a few categories up right now, but we’ll be adding to it all week! Click on the Project Gallery Tab above and check it out! 

We were also so honored to have Amanda from Serenity Now sharing her Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie recipe

chocolate chip, cookie, pie, no bake

and Linda of It All Started with Paint sharing about the special-ness of sisters and a sewing project with us this week!

Teen Room Orange gray black drop cloth drapes
We hope you’ll click over and visit both of these posts and fabulous bloggers! Now onto the Inspiration Friday features:

picketfence_20010_thumb[18]
 INSPIRED ROOMS
Cassie from Primitive and Proper showed off her beautiful Master Bedroom and we absolutely love the fun and vibrant colors!

I am sure you have seen this fabulous Kitchen Makeover from Carmel of Our Fifth House, but just in case you haven’t we had to show it off one more time! Come take a tour.

Kayli of Head Over Heels shared her lovely and serene Pretty Aqua Bathroom Update. We adore the nautical touches!

MAKEOVERS
Kristien of Sophia’s made over a Craig’s List find she picked up for $50.00 into this gorgeous Craft Room Cabinet. We are coveting those brass pulls!



Tanya from twelve-O-eight gave a Card Table quite the chic transformation and we agree with her that this is the perfect way to add extra seating without losing any style!

I think we have a color scheme going on in the makeover category this week. grin! Check out this fun Lampshade Remake from Katie of Creatively Living.  Visit her blog to see the before!


CRAFTS and CREATIONS

Sherry from Living in the Rain Garden made gorgeous Parson Chair slipcovers out of a Target Shower Curtain and she shares an awesome tutorial for how to do this!

Jenn from Clean and Scentsible gave us some awesome ideas for Lego Storage and Organizing and we just love her ingenuity!

Liz from Love Grows Wild made this darling Lullaby Lyric Pillow for her sons and we think it would be the sweetest addition to any child’s room!

RECIPES and PARTIES

Not only is this Homemade Vitamin Water from The Not So Super Mama  healthy for you, but it’s gorgeous to look at as well!

To “die for” is right! We wish we could get a forkful of this Too Die for Carrot Cake from Trish of Mom On Timeout. 

Football season is upon us and we will be making a batch of these yummy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Bites from Jamie of Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom to kick off the start of College Football this weekend!

we’ve loved featuring Outdoor Space this summer but now we’re ready to move onto your fabulous fall project! 

FALL PROJECTS and INSPIRATIONS


We love this pumpkin and birdbath vignette from Decorating Ideas Made Easy!

Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict never ceases to amaze us and her Decoupage Pumpkins is no exception!

We love this darling Mini Vintage Pumpkin Label Crate from Paula of Creating in a Glass Slipper. The perfect size to display votive tea lights.

Rhonda of Ramblings of a Southern Girl made these sweet Fall Pillows for her booth, and she shares the instructions for them over at her blog.

INSPIRATION

Sonya from Beyond the Screen Door shared with us these gorgeous wedding photos from her daughter’s wedding…if these don’t inspire you we don’t know what would!

Leslie of Gwen Moss Living a Curious Life is sharing a Four Part Series on Letting Go of our Kids. As many of us our sending kiddos off to school for the first time (Vanessa) or sending them out of the nest and onto college and life (Heather) we all could use these great lessons on loving and letting go.  Thank you Leslie!

If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button code located 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!
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! 

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

vif187Fridays Unfolded
Photobucket


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

This Inspiration Friday Party is Sponsored By:

Suttonplacedesigns_250x125

Don’t forget! There is still plenty of time to enter the $1,000 Visa Gift Card Sweepstakes!


Disclaimer: At the Picket Fence may feature any of the projects linked up to Inspiration Friday in other posts or on Facebook, twitter and hometalk with all credit being given to the original source. If you would not like your projects featured please email us.

66 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Sisters and Sewing…from Linda at It All Started With Paint
Next Post: We’re wrapping up Summer…Summer Outdoor Projects Round-up »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:36 PM

    Fabulous features, girls and thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  2. Kathy A Delightsome Life says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Your project gallery looks wonderful! What a great idea! Love the features and I appreciate you hosting,
    Kathy

    Reply
  3. Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    Hi girls! That is one fabulous looking carrot cake in the features. WOW!!

    Thanks for hosting the party 🙂

    Reply
  4. Sophia's says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:47 PM

    Hey there! Thanks for featuring my craft cabinet and putting on this party every week…love it!

    Kristen

    Reply
  5. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    Thanks for hosting. Great features, as always. The food is making me hungry. Better get dinner ready.

    Reply
  6. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    Thank you for hosting, girls! 🙂 Glad to be at the party this week, and so happy I was able to share a guest post with you. 🙂

    Reply
  7. monsterscircus says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    So wonderful features, I really love the cabinet, it’s so fine! Great idea with your new Gallery, Thanks for that and the party as we’ll. You rules girls! Have a great weekend

    Reply
  8. suzyq says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:58 PM

    What amazing features!!!
    Thanks so much for hosting such a great party every week – have a wonderful wknd!!!

    Reply
  9. Honey at 2805 says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:00 PM

    Thanks for hostess, ladies! And thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday!

    Reply
  10. Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky) says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    Great features and thanks for hosting girls. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  11. Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:05 PM

    Thanks for hosting Ladies!

    Reply
  12. Anne says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    Great features!Now following along!Thank you for hosting!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  13. Ruby Jean says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:12 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting us once again. That Carrot Cake looks BEYOND, Delicious!!!
    Blessings
    Angelina

    Reply
  14. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:15 PM

    What great features! Thanks so much for hosting!

    Reply
  15. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

    August 30, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    thanks for the party girls!!! 😉

    Reply
  16. Suzy says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    Thank you for hosting ladies! Great features that I’m off to check out.

    Reply
  17. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies!

    Reply
  18. Anne @ Domesblissity says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls! Great features.

    Anne xx

    Reply
  19. Deneen@dreaming-n-color says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    I always love looking at your features! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  20. FABBY'S LIVING says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    Great features this week. I specially like the kitchen make over. Thank you for hosting another great party. Enjoy the weekend.
    FABBY

    Reply
  21. Anita says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    Wow, awesome features!! I am off to see Sherry’s dining room!! Thanks for hosting girls!

    Reply
  22. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:49 PM

    oh my

    so many fun and festive features
    to look at

    especially
    all those delectable
    autumnish ideas

    thanks for hosting
    and all linked up!

    alison

    Reply
  23. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:03 PM

    Thanks for hosting! 80 weeks, wow! They sure have flown by. Enjoy the rest of the week.

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  24. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    WOW!!! thank you so much for the feature! can’t wait to put the kids to bed so i can look through the other features! 🙂

    Reply
  25. Shelia says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    Hi Ladies! I don’t have anything to share today but congrats on your 80 weeks! Now I’ve off to visit your party goers.
    Be a couple of sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  26. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    Hi, Girls! Thank you so much for featuring Courtney and Drew’s wedding photos! I’ve posted the last of the wedding photos, the Reception, for this weeks link. Thanks again for the lovely party and the feature!

    Reply
  27. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    Oh, forgot to mention…love the project gallery! Great idea!

    Reply
  28. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:18 AM

    Wow! Thanks so much for featuring my pumpkins! And thanks for hosting each week!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  29. Good Time Charlie says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:43 AM

    I am loving all the Fall things, and those decoupaged pumpkins, those blew me away! I wish it was feeling like Fall here….94 degrees. I am ready for cooler, crisper weather, and pants! Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

    Heather, good luck with sending child off to college, oh my, the time goes by so fast. We have two years left until we walk this road.

    You both have a beautiful holiday weekend. -K

    Reply
  30. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    August 31, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    Hi girls,
    I’m really liking that project gallery! I’m thinking about doing a recipe gallery. Need to check out some of your great features this week.

    Reply
  31. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 31, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    Great features from last week…I keep seeing Kristen’s fabulous craft cabinet along with all the other wonderful projects and creations…Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!

    Reply
  32. Janel from NellieBellie says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:13 AM

    Thank you for the party!! And those Buffalo bites…hello-yum!

    Reply
  33. Jen Lossing, The Consigner Designer says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:31 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting. Love seeing all the fall features!

    Reply
  34. Kerry Rossow says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:40 AM

    Did someone say “Chocolate Chip Pie”?!?!?
    As always, great features, great party, great bloggy pals!
    Thank you for hosting!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  35. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    August 31, 2012 at 3:07 AM

    Awesome features, ladies — lots of yummies! Linking up my dining room this week! Thanks for hosting!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  36. the not so so super mama says

    August 31, 2012 at 3:37 AM

    Thanks for the feature on my Vitamin Water. I’m inspired by everyone’s craftiness and incredible skills! Time to get to work on my own house!

    Reply
  37. Katie Goldsworthy says

    August 31, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Thank you so much for the feature! I’m going to have to head over and check out the post on letting go of your children.

    Thanks for hosting ladies! Have a great weekend!
    –Katie

    Reply
  38. Leslie Harris says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:53 AM

    You girls rock! I finally had a moment to pop over and link up and what a nice surprise to see you included me in your features this week. How sweet you are! Thanks again for making all this wonderful sharing possible.
    Leslie (aka Gwen Moss blog)

    Reply
  39. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    I hope you lovely ladies have a wonderful weekend… thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  40. Richella says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:18 AM

    Hi girls! I’m late getting here, but I’m still so glad to be at your party. I hope you’ve both had a wonderful week.

    What wonderful features you’ve shared! This is a great party; I thank you for hosting it for 80 WEEKS!! Wow! Congratulations, sisters!

    Reply
  41. Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Thank you for featuring my Buffalo Chicken bites! Have a great weekend!
    ~Jamie

    Reply
  42. Calypso In The Country says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    Great features – thanks for hosting!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  43. trumatter says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:32 PM

    Ummm, Heather & Vanessa, I don’t know what’s wrong but I see my links repeated so many times. I was trying to link up but unfortunately couldn’t. And now that i have I see 5 of them! Please don’t think of me as a spammer 🙂 And would you be kind enough to delete them save one? Roy from Trumatter

    Reply
  44. Liz Fourez says

    August 31, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    Wow! Thank you so much for featuring my Lullaby Lyric Pillow Tutorial! You’ve made my day : )
    Have a fabulous weekend!

    Love Always,
    Liz

    Reply
  45. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    August 31, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Thanks for the feature girls! Love Cassie’s bedroom – great features here! Have a great 3 day weekend!

    Reply
  46. Melissa Whitcher says

    August 31, 2012 at 1:46 PM

    Unfortunately I posted my Homemade Quick Mixes twice. It showed that it wasn’t going through, so I tried again, and it ended up having gone through both times. Sorry! I tried to delete one, but couldn’t figure out how.

    Thanks for the hosting this Linky party!

    Melissa
    redflycreations.blogspot.com

    Reply
  47. Jody and Stan says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    Great Party! Love all the features. Have a wonderful three day weekend!

    Jody

    Reply
  48. Market Nine home says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    I love all the features. Thanks so much for hosting!

    Reply
  49. Foy Update says

    August 31, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    It is canning season here in the Midwest. I shared how the plan I made in January to put up and preserve food is going and my recipe for seasoned tomato sauce and pizza sauce.

    Thanks for hosting!

    We just started a blog hop called Eat Make Grow and we are always looking for quality bloggers to submit their links.

    Stop on by if you get the chance:

    https://foyupdate.blogspot.com/search?q=eat+make+grow&max-results=20&by-date=true

    Foy

    Reply
  50. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    August 31, 2012 at 7:13 PM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather: Thank you for hosting the party. I love the features this week–I am especially enamored of the little revamped card table top–really a neat way to spiff up an ordinary table.

    Reply
  51. Meegan Fast says

    August 31, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    Thanks for hosting each week cute girls!! Love the project gallery!! That is going to be awesome!
    Your features never disappoint-don’t you just love Linda at It All Started With paint?? She is so talented!!
    Have a great weekend!!
    Meegan

    Reply
  52. melissa @ daisymaebelle.com says

    September 1, 2012 at 2:33 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting! Enjoy your weekend! Life to the full, Melissa

    Reply
  53. Sherry @ Living in the Rain Garden says

    September 1, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    I am thrilled to have my dining room chair slip covers included in your features this week. Thank you for all your time and effort to create a place where everyone can share their projects. I love the decorated pumpkins feature.

    Reply
  54. SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla says

    September 1, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies 🙂
    FInally linked up… having computer problems 🙁

    Reply
  55. dlw says

    September 1, 2012 at 2:24 PM

    hi! thanx for hosting the party! it was a lot of fun! i’ll be sure to join you next time! also, i wanted to make sure you knew that i put your button on my sidebar…i was having some trouble with it for some reason (?) but it’s finally there!
    take care!
    debra @lifewithrepurpose.blogspot.com

    Reply
  56. pam {simple details} says

    September 1, 2012 at 2:30 PM

    Fabulous inspiration…again! Thanks for hosting…again! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  57. Jackie Patti says

    September 1, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    Thanks for hosting! I linked up my post on beef broth for GAPS:
    https://gapsfort2.blogspot.com/2012/07/beef-broth.html

    Reply
  58. Jen @ Creating with the J's says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    Thanks for hosting. Some of those features look DIVINE!

    Reply
  59. Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G says

    September 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    So Sorry I missed this great blog party this week! I’ve had a busy one, so no blogging time for me! I came over to see what great inspiration had been submitted though, and was so excited to see my pillows featured! Thank you so much for posting them!!! And Thank you for hosting this fun party! Lord willing, I’ll be back next week with a new project or something to share! 🙂 For now, I’ll just browse and check out the others!

    Reply
  60. twelve-O-eight says

    September 6, 2012 at 5:21 PM

    Hi Ladies! Well, coming up for air after an intense week of planning lessons etc..for the year. And so excited to see my Card Table Makeover included! Thank you so much 🙂

    Hugs, Tanya

    Reply
  61. www.google.co.id says

    June 21, 2014 at 4:07 PM

    Increɗible points. Sound arguments. Keeep up the good effort.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What are Soap Nuts | How to Use Soap Nuts says:
    November 29, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    […] the Picket Fence, The Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths, Craftionary, Simply Designing, At the Picket Fence, Whipperberry, Christian Mommy Blogger, Premeditated Leftovers, Real Food Whole Health, Thirty […]

    Reply
  2. fall football mantel says:
    February 2, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    […] Inspiration Friday@At the Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  3. Back to School Ruler Wreath says:
    March 15, 2013 at 10:21 AM

    […] Hubby Made Me Link It Up Thursday @ Seven Alive  FridayHappy Hour Friday @ Happy Hour Projects Inspiration Friday @ At the Picket FenceKeep Calm and Link Up @ Becoming Martha Friday Fun Party @ Craftionary Shine […]

    Reply
  4. Sun Room Bar Repurposed Wood Counter Top - Fox Hollow Cottage says:
    May 18, 2013 at 10:52 PM

    […] live laugh rowe, from my front porch to yours, beyond the picket fence, French Country Cottage, at the picket fence, the frugal girls funky junk interiors, DIY showoff, thrifty decor chick, house of hepworths my […]

    Reply
  5. New Hot Pink Bedroom | what AMBER loves says:
    May 30, 2014 at 8:52 AM

    […] Made U Look @ MadeInADay FRIDAY Happy Hour Friday @ HappyHourProjects Weekend Showoff @ LadyBirdLn It’s Inspiration Friday @ AtThePicketFence Potpourri Friday @ 2805 Catch as Catch Can @ MyRePurposedLife ReDoux Link Party […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to melissa @ daisymaebelle.com Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020
  • Tabletop Hot Cocoa Station November 29, 2020
  • A New Front Door November 10, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

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!
Follow
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence