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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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July 11, 2011

Meet the Bloggers behind the Blogs and our Blogger of the Week

behind the blog graphic lettering
We are excited to be announcing a fun new series here At The Picket Fence! 


Behind the Blog…Meeting the Bloggers behind the Blogs!

Part of why we started At The Picket Fence was to give bloggers a chance to connect with each other no matter how small or big, new or long standing their blog was.  We love the sense of community blogging provides and part of that is getting to know one another!

Therefore starting next week we will be showcasing a different blogger every Monday and asking them all of those nosy informative questions on what makes them “tick” as a blogger!  We have asked all different types of bloggers to join us in this series…new bloggers, seasoned bloggers, large blogs, small blogs…you never know who might show up next!

We are so excited to have one of our most favorite fantabulous blogger heroes help us launch this fun series…you wanna know who it is??  Well you’ll have to join us next Monday, July 18th for the launch of…Behind the Blog to find out!

To make this even more fun we would love to have you help us with our interviews! Yep, you read that right you get to help ask the questions! If you have a question you’ve always wanted to ask another blogger, now’s your opportunity! It can be fun, silly or maybe it’s a serious one, if so all you need to do is leave it below in the comments today on this post and your question might be one of those chosen to ask our Behind the Blog Bloggers!
Up next we want to share with you our Featured Blogger of the Week pick!
Our featured blogger this week is someone who has inspired us from the moment we met her.  On her blog she shares all of the ins and outs of living in a 100 year old farmhouse in Tennessee with her “Renaissance Man.” But, this just brushes the surface of who this amazing couple is.  Because they have a passion for something that is very special and near and dear to their heart.
Susan from My Place to Yours and her husband


have a very special ministry.  Renaissance Man is president of the international non-profit ministry Hope Unlimited for Children, offering hope and transformation to children at mortal risk in Brazil. Although he is responsible for the U.S. side of the organization (budgeting, fundraising, speaking to churches/civic groups, etc.) he also makes multiple trips to Brazil each year and Susan often travels with him. We have shared in the past some of the amazing things that Susan and Renaissance Man are doing for these children, especially the young girls many who would otherwise be relegated to a life of prostitution and living on the streets.  Susan has shared the story of Hope Unlimited for Children in several posts.  Like the time the young ladies created a very special “tablescape”



and the post where she shared more in depth the mission behind the ministry



and her most recent one that really touched our hearts.  Susan shared with us the value of a
“wedding dress” to the young girls living at Hope Unlimited and how difficult it was for them to afford their own dress as well as the desire that Susan and her husband have to bring these girls from a place of shame (because of the background so many of them have come from) to a place where they can find love and acceptance in a marriage before God!  Susan began to collect wedding dresses here in the states for these young ladies


and the Wedding Closet was born! Susan has dedicated a whole room in her house to this “closet” which contains dresses, shoes, veils and jewelry that she ships over to Brazil for these young ladies to choose from so they too can experience being a bride! Whew….are you crying now like we are? You can read the whole story behind The Wedding Closet as well as see all of Susan’s other fabulous posts about her home and her life with Renaissance Man at her blog My Place to Yours…and while you’re there be sure to tell her her for us how wonderful the gals At The Picket Fence think she is!

We hope you enjoyed getting to meet Susan with us here…at the picket fence!
P.S. Don’t forget if you’d like to help us out with a fun question for our mystery bloggers be sure to leave it for us in the comments! 





13 Comments Filed Under: Behind the Blog Series, Featured Blogger

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    July 11, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    Wow! Her post is unbelievable and really touching! What a special ministry!

    Reply
  2. Tanya@takesix says

    July 11, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Really looking forward to this new series!! You girls just have the best ideas!!

    Reply
  3. Pam says

    July 11, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    Great idea! And great choice on your first featured blogger!

    Pam

    Reply
  4. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    July 11, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    This will be such a fun series. I look forward to it. Your featured blogger this week is definitely a very special lady and so is her DH. Great post. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    July 11, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    You featured one of my favorite bloggers of all time. She is such an inspiration to me! Her heart is unbelievable, and I have come to learn through heartfelt emails that what we see on her blog just scratches the surface.

    Great choice!

    And I love the new feature, but I can’t ask the question unless I know the mystery person. I’m not your run of the mill snoop. I’m a really personal snoop.

    Reply
  6. dogsmom says

    July 11, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    What a special family. I know that when I see wedding dresses from now on I will think about buying one or two and donating to a cause like this.

    Questions for a blogger interview – if they have a pet what is its silliest quirk or the habit that most bugs her.
    if she is a parent what is the one thing she does that she either said she would never do or the thing she does that shows her own parents in her, things her parents used to do.

    When she was 8 years old, what did she want to be/do as a grown up?

    Reply
  7. Marina {Yummy Mummy} says

    July 11, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    What a wonderful idea! Looking forward to learning more about your chosen bloggers. Fabulous post.

    Reply
  8. Crystal @ Ordinary Days says

    July 11, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    This is going to be fun. Can’t wait to see who you all feature. I have not heard of today’s blogger so I must go check her out! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Ginger Zuck says

    July 11, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Excited about the new features. This one today left me speechless! Great job!

    Reply
  10. Honey at 2805 says

    July 11, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    I recently met this blogger and she has such an inspirational story! So happy you featured her.

    Reply
  11. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    July 11, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Ladies, what a surprise and special treat to be featured this week! Thank you for helping me tell the story of Hope Unlimited for Children. Looking forward to your new feature!

    Reply
  12. Marcia (One Heart) says

    July 12, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    I featured Susan last month too. She is most certainly an inspiration.

    Much love!

    Reply
  13. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    July 13, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    What a wonderful idea you gals have come up with! Thanks for introducing Susan and her inspirational work to me. I will definitely visit her blog.

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

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 families 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. Or have a good cry. 

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’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “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! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a 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.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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