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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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December 17, 2020

Open Now

Growing up, I never lived in the same state as my grandmother on my mom’s side and only lived near my other grandmother for a few years. Both of my grandfathers passed away when I was very young so I have no real memories of them. While there was so much that I missed getting to experience, I always knew that my grandmothers loved us and that they were thinking of the two little girls who lived across the country.

Every year when December rolled around, my sister and I would watch and wait for THE box. It was unlike any other delivery made during the Christmas season and, as opposed to the daily Amazon deliveries we see these days, waiting for this box to arrive required a degree of patience that has now become unfamiliar to most of us.

The box was sent to us every year from my grandmother (my mom’s mom) who lived in Michigan. And when it arrived, you would have thought that THIS was Christmas day. Upon opening it, we would see package after package, wrapped in festive paper and there would be tins filled with homemade goodies. Peanut butter balls, molasses cookies and so much more! There were presents to be put under the tree in anticipation of the big day but there were always smaller gifts, usually simply wrapped in tissue paper, with my grandmother’s handwriting scrawled across and the words ‘OPEN NOW‘. Those had to be two of the best words in existence!

We had permission to open gifts before Christmas. Permission to rip through that paper to see what treasures we’d find inside. They were always small things like an ornament or a box of candy but, when Christmas day always seemed so far away, opening gifts right then and there seemed like the most indulgent thing imaginable. And it reminded those two little girls that, even though they lived so far away from family, they were never very far away from their thoughts.

Fast forward to 2020 and upon opening my mailbox I discover a big box sitting there. A box sent from my parents all the way across the country to my home here in Oregon. I come back into the house and call out to my kids to tell them that THE box from Nonna and Poppa has arrived. They might be teenagers, but that doesn’t stop them from racing down the stairs to open it because they know what they will find inside. Yes, there will be the special gifts that will immediately go under the tree to await opening on Christmas Day. But, then there will be package after package all wrapped up with the words ‘OPEN NOW‘ scrawled across them in my mom’s beautiful handwriting (she has amazing penmanship!). An ornament, a coffee gift card, bath bombs, their favorite treats and there, tucked inside with the rest is one with my name on it and those all important words.

I may be 44 years old, but the moment I see them I feel like a little girl again and I’m so grateful that my mom still thinks to do that for me.

That evening, as I was taking the emptied box filled with the torn wrapping paper out to the garage, I couldn’t stop thinking about those words.

We wait all year for Christmas to arrive and the closer it gets, the more the anticipation builds. Cookies are baked, menus are planned, parties are held, presents are purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree. There is so much that we do to get ready for this one day. And everything that happens throughout the season is done with the understanding that it’s only a glimmer of what’s to come. So much of this season is a waiting experience. Waiting for the big meal, waiting for the family to gather, waiting for the best present. But, friends, we don’t have to wait to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Jesus Christ is an ‘Open Now’ gift. 

He isn’t confined to this one day out of the year and we don’t need to postpone the acceptance of the gift of His life, death and resurrection on our behalf. The greatest gift ever given.

You know that feeling you get when you open the perfect present? The one where you can tell that the person giving it to you put in so much thought and care and that they just really ‘get’ you? Well, that feeling of being seen and known and loved is only an infinitesimal glimpse of how it feels to receive the gift of Christ.

And the beauty of this gift is that it’s already been given to you even if you don’t really recognize it. You only need to open it up. To open it now.

My prayer for you this season is that this Gift will be more real to you than ever before and that you will experience the joy and wonder of His love in fresh ways knowing that every day is an ‘OPEN NOW’ day.

With love,

 

 

14 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says

    December 17, 2020 at 1:11 PM

    Such a beautiful post, Vanessa! How nice to know that we don’t have to wait for accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior — that we can invite Him into our heart NOW!

    May you be blessed with a wonderful Christmas filled with the joy of His presence in your home! Bless you all!

    Reply
  2. Cindy says

    December 17, 2020 at 1:21 PM

    What a beautifully written post with Jesus as the surprise ending. Thank you for giving us another way to think about Jesus and Christmas.

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    December 17, 2020 at 1:51 PM

    Such a beautiful story and reminder to us all of what this season is really about. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Laura Harrie says

    December 17, 2020 at 2:55 PM

    Lovely post today. May we always remember that it is Jesus who gave us the best gift ever, himself!

    Reply
  5. Gabrielle Eith says

    December 17, 2020 at 5:32 PM

    Thank you so very much for this timely post. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    Reply
  6. Mary Roth says

    December 17, 2020 at 5:41 PM

    Thank you Vanessa for your beautiful encouraging post. It was such a very special reminder of the precious most valuable gift that anyone could ever give us. Merry Christmas to you and your family and a Blessed new year.

    Reply
  7. JoAnn says

    December 17, 2020 at 6:50 PM

    A beautiful Christmas post! Jesus is the ultimate gift to each of us. All we need to do is Open Now.

    Reply
  8. Valarie Sanford says

    December 17, 2020 at 6:54 PM

    Beautiful Vanessa!

    Reply
  9. Rose Lefebvre says

    December 17, 2020 at 7:43 PM

    Beautiful. Thank you.

    Reply
  10. Teri Perrott says

    December 17, 2020 at 8:17 PM

    Beautiful story! Thank you so much.

    Reply
  11. Kristin says

    December 18, 2020 at 1:24 AM

    This was a beautiful piece to read and brought similar memories flooding in to mind as I read it. And in the end Jesus was there, as always.

    Reply
  12. Robyn says

    December 18, 2020 at 8:36 AM

    What a beautiful post, Vanessa. Thank you for reminding us of the Greatest Gift of all time. What a Savior we have and what a gift of eternal glory he offers us!!!! I love your sweet story of your grandmother and the lovely memories you have of that childhood.

    Reply
  13. Carol Reddin says

    December 20, 2020 at 3:52 PM

    This is beautifully written, Vanessa. I’m so very thankful that you have these memories from your childhood and of your grandmother (my precious mother). We could never put a price on the heritage we have. So very thankful for that heritage and so very thankful for you. With deep love and admiration from your Mom

    Reply
  14. Kim Carr says

    December 28, 2020 at 1:22 PM

    What a beautiful post so well said! Childhood memories are the best gift we can give our children and grandchildren to treasure fir ever. Many blessings to you and you family!

    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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