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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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June 12, 2011

“A Lamp Unto My Feet”…Simply Sunday

Lately in our home we have been having lots of discussions about things like

Choices.
Taking responsibility for our actions.
Trust in God.
Trust in each other.
Trust that must be earned back after it has been lost.
Any of these conversations going on in your home?
They are happening more and more frequently as our oldest enters this next stage of life.
The other day my dear friend and her infant son were visiting us. And as I asked her how she was dealing with the challenges of being a new mommy, we began talking all about the sleep deprivation and the feedings and the diaper rashes and the changes that have taken place in her life and her marriage as a result of being first time parents.
And as she shared, my mind was racing with these thoughts.
“Oh girl, this is the EASY part! You may be tired but this precious baby isn’t talking back. He isn’t getting caught in a lie. He isn’t starting to face peer pressure. He doesn’t have an attitude!”
Of course, I didn’t actually say ANY of that. Because, well, she’ll learn soon enough.
And, I know that those of you who have older kids are thinking the same thing as you read this.
I will learn soon enough too, won’t I?
I don’t have a teenager yet, or even a pre-teen.
I can hear the collective, “oh, just wait!”
But, for now, this is my reality. And I have come to realize that teaching my (almost) 4 year old to share her toys is a lot easier than this season of navigating our 8 yr. old son through the
 new life challenges he is facing.
So, along with these discussions about choices, responsibility and trust, we have also decided that we need to create some fun ways to illustrate the lessons we are trying to instill.
This is an activity we did this week. It took all of 1/2 hour.
But I think/pray/hope the take-away message will last a lot longer than that!
We began by heading out to the back yard after dinner.
I had asked Ian to grab his Adventure Bible and bring it out with us.
We all piled onto the hammock (which fortunately held us all without breaking!) and we asked Ian to read from Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

We then had him stand up and we blindfolded him with my lovely long sparkly scarf.
I know we have a bandana somewhere but I just couldn’t find it!

Then we told him to start walking.
And we were very quiet.
And he walked….slowly…inching along the grass.
And we were quiet.
And he started to get nervous.
So we offered some direction.
“Go 5 steps forward buddy.”
“Now, turn to the left just slightly.”
“Trust us that we won’t let you run into something.”
“Keep going straight…turn to the right and keep going.”

“You made it across the entire yard!”
Of course he wanted to try giving mom and dad directions so we got our turns being blindfolded too! 
Which, of course turned into a game of, “let’s see how dumb we can make our parents look and lead them in circles all over the yard while we laugh hysterically.”
 But, after that, we talked for a little while.
About choices, responsibility and trust.
And how in this world, things can get very murky or foggy or even just pitch black dark!
These are the times when we could use a light to guide us.
And we just happen to have one!
When everything else seems confusing and out of control.
When people will entice you to step on over to THEIR path…which of course has lots more people on it!
When the right choice is the hardest choice.
When others take any and every opportunity to point the finger…shift the blame…shirk responsibility.
That is when His Word becomes “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path”.
Guiding
Directing
Never leading us in the wrong direction
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gage and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
Thank you for meeting me here today at the Fence,
Sharing this at

Imparting Grace



13 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Simply Sundays

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lori Alexander says

    June 12, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    LOVED this!!!

    Reply
  2. Pattie says

    June 12, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    What a good read on a Sunday morning.. Thanks for sharing

    Pattie

    Reply
  3. Doreen grace says

    June 12, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    My, that hits the spot this week as I’m dealing with 15 year old! Thanks for the encouraging words. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Katie says

    June 12, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Wow, what a great post. As I prepare to mentally handle a newborn, I can’t help but think of how we’ll manage to lead him in the right direction. Sharing this with my hubby!

    Reply
  5. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    June 12, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    A great lesson and a wonderful post!

    Reply
  6. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    June 12, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Great post Vanessa!

    Reply
  7. Judy says

    June 12, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    I can so relate. Great post. Perfect Sunday night read.

    Reply
  8. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    June 13, 2011 at 1:51 AM

    This was a great lesson for your son…I am going to have to bookmark this and do this with my two oldest. Thank you very much for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Traci says

    June 13, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Awww, you’re such a good mama! What a wonderful way to get your point across.

    Reply
  10. Debbie, Artist of Uniquely Pampered says

    June 13, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Very nice activity! I can visualize your kids laughing hysterically as they have you walking around in circles. Those sorts of activities really help develop a sense of trust, love and connection between kids and their parents. (you may not see it now, but its true). Have a great day!

    Reply
  11. Nellie's Cozy place says

    August 8, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    Hi Vanessa,
    what a great post, it is so refreshing to see young parents who are trying to navigate their children in the right direction. Good for you, cause you are right on about the narrow gate, so if we don’t lead them, who will………I tell you who will, the enemy of our soul!!! Those object lessons stay with them a lot longer than just our words, altho they stick too…………..so good for you that you are employing some fun teaching along with the truth of God’s word.

    Blessings to and on your family,
    Nellie

    Reply
  12. Susan Gay says

    August 8, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    How awesome! I love life lessons with kids because I always learn something as well. Enjoyed your blog so much! Thanks.

    Reply
  13. Richella says

    August 8, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    This is lovely, Vanessa! What a great way to make the point on a level that he can understand.

    Here’s another application for you: when you have a trusted friend over sometime, use the blindfold again. This time, both you and the friend can give directions. Then let another voice speak–maybe the friend disguising his voice, or a recording, or something. That other voice should direct them in the opposite way of where they should go. Your kids can learn that they should listen to voices they know and trust, just as they will come to know the voice of the Good Shepherd, and they can trust Him! (“My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me” [John 10:27]).

    Thanks so much for linking up to Grace Imparted and for helping me spread the word!

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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