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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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May 28, 2015

My I Should Summer Take 2

Sometimes I need reminders. And sometimes those reminders come in the form of my own words (weird, right?). And because today is the last day of school for my kiddos AND because it’s also my son’s 12 birthday (sniff…sniff), I’m giving myself this reminder. Maybe you could use it too. 

My I Should Summer

I do it to myself every year.

The month of May rolls around and I know that school will be out in a few weeks and we’re going to have days filled with nothing but time, time and more time. No more hurrying out the door in the morning all the while barking orders…

“Put your shoes on!”

“Stop hitting each other with stuffed animals!” 

“Why are you taking that hair clip out that I just put in?”

“How could you get in the car without your backpack after I said 20 times ‘don’t forget your backpack!’?”

I’m starting to hyperventilate a little bit just typing that out and thinking about how that will be our life again once school starts back up!!

Deep breaths!

sunshine

But in May, well, in May the desperation for a slower pace has reached it’s climax and I’m giddy with thoughts of endless hours of nothing. And not having to sign my initials on one more reading chart, permission slip or lunch calendar.

So I start a list in my head of all of the things I’m going to accomplish with all of that time. I can hear you laughing at me already.;-)

I should organize my craft supplies.

I really should sort through the toys in the playroom closet.

I know I should finally get around to giving the kitchen island that makeover I’ve been talking about forever.

And I’m quite certain, when I’m thinking about all of this in the month of May, that I will accomplish all of those things and sooooooo much more! I mean, after all, summer break is 3 months long, right? That’s plenty of time to check them off my ‘I should’ list.

Then June rolls around and I’m so thrilled to be spending time with my kiddos. We’re going to the library and the farmer’s market. There’s swim camp and play-dates with friends. And just that glorious feeling of waking up in the morning and knowing that we really don’t have to be anywhere right away….or maybe not at all!

And I should start tackling some of those projects. Really, I should.

But, why would I organize my craft supplies when the kids could use them to make fairy houses?

making a fairy house

And why would I sort through toys when I can hang out with Agatha Christie and a glass of wine out on our new deck?

book and wine

Why would I spend weekends on making over the kitchen island when I could cheer on my son whose dream finally came true of being on the swim team?

swimming

Because here’s what else happens every year. I get to this point in the summer and realize that not only was I ca-razy to think that between all of the summertime comings and goings I would have chunks of time to get projects done, but also that I don’t even WANT to get projects done!

So, I’ve decided that my ‘I should’ list needs some tweaking. In fact, it needs to be thrown out and replaced with a brand new one.

Wanna know what’s on my new ‘I should’ list?

Well, I should let my daughter decorate her own birthday cake.

Ariel cake

I should watch her playing in the sand and wish there were a pause button for my life so I could freeze this moment.

beach

 I should make sure to chronicle the progress being made on the tree house being built in Nonna and Poppa’s woods. It’s going to be awesome and magical and there are going to be some serious sleepovers happening up there!

building a tree house

 I should be ready to come running when my girl says, “Hey Mommy, look what I’m doing!”

And then be ready to push her in her new contraption and laugh hysterically together at the sheer silliness of it all.

inner tubes on swing

I will never look back and be glad that I spent these months organizing my craft supplies or cleaning out the playroom closet or even giving the kitchen island a makeover (but that will get done in the Fall!).

These moments, this summer, will never come again.

So, what I really should be be doing is embracing them. Drinking them in. Reveling in these precious, fleeting days.

Leaning my head back, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of the sun wash over me. Being still.

Now, that’s my kind of ‘I should’ list! How about you?

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21 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: devotional

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Comments

  1. Pat says

    May 28, 2015 at 3:27 AM

    Thanks for that insightful, meaningful look at what is truly important. Those memories made will last a lifetime, but that organized craft room…well, you know
    Pat

    Reply
  2. Peg says

    May 28, 2015 at 4:05 AM

    Vanessa…my children are grown and out of the house.
    I so wish I could go back and do it all over again with this
    exact mindset. Cherish every moment you can. The days
    are sometimes very long, but the years go oh so fast! : )

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:47 PM

      Thank you so much Peg! I’m definitely trying hard to cherish them!

      Reply
  3. Lisa Mothersead says

    May 28, 2015 at 4:50 AM

    Beautiful. As a new empty nester, I treasure those summer memories I had with my girls. You can’t schedule those moments. They happen when they happen and what a blessing to be there for them. Enjoy! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Amy Kaminski says

    May 28, 2015 at 6:02 AM

    Exactly!

    Reply
  5. Sally Croft says

    May 28, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    . My five children are grown and have children of their own, so will be forwarding your post to them.
    Ì recently heard a saying that captulizes raising children to me and is a great reminder to take these precious moments.
    “The days are long but the years are short”.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:44 PM

      That saying is so true Sally! Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Julia says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    Enjoy your summer, every moment of it!

    Reply
  7. Rachel says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    I could not agree more! We have just finished the last day of school too and that leaves me with a 3rd and 6th grader. Where did the time go?! I am the queen of leaving messes and projects for another day while we make spontaneous runs to the library, to a favorite restaurant or the park. I always say our messes say we were here! We lived! We played games and had toys and puzzles and Legos! I am fully aware these days won’t last forever. I intend to enjoy them to the fullest!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:43 PM

      Rachel I now have a 3rd grader and a 6th grader too!! We really do have to enjoy it to the fullest since it’s going so fast. Hope you have a truly wonderful, messy summer. 😉

      Reply
  8. Rose L. says

    May 28, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THAT EMERSON QUOTE. A CAMERA IS A GREAT “PAUSE BUTTON” TO CAPTURE MEMORIES,

    Reply
  9. Karen says

    May 28, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    Yes yes yes! Embrace these moments with your children and husband! There will be plenty of time to organize, declutter, do projects when they are in college.
    blessings from an empty-nester

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:42 PM

      Thank you so much Karen!

      Reply
  10. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    May 29, 2015 at 4:38 AM

    I love it when you follow your heart. They grow up way too fast and I am happy that you are choosing making memories over everything else. Have a great weekend making memories.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:41 PM

      Thank you sweet friend!

      Reply
  11. Sherry says

    May 29, 2015 at 6:28 AM

    Like button, push, push, push! Enjoy!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:41 PM

      Thank you Sherry!

      Reply
  12. Kimberly ~ Serendipity Refined says

    May 29, 2015 at 8:54 AM

    I SHOULD listen to my wise and insightful friend who shared her heart and, in the process, gave me the best advice that anyone has given me in a VERY long time! BRAVO! and hugs. xx

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2015 at 8:41 PM

      Awww…thanks so much Kimberly!! Blessings to you!

      Reply
  13. Tamara says

    May 29, 2015 at 10:33 PM

    This is so timely. Thank you for sharing this post – just as I was beginning to compile my summer to-do list. All of those little ordinary moments are the biggest things in the world when we look back! Your post is a great reminder to re prioritize. I loved the beautiful photos you shared too. : )

    Reply
  14. debbiedoos says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:30 AM

    Considering this is our older sons last year in HS, and Jack starting HS, this could not be more of words of truth spoken. Believe me, it happens all so fast. I feel so blessed that I have spent quality time and summers with the kids when I can. I still plan on it, even more so this summer. The closets an wait, and so can everything else.

    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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