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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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July 9, 2019

Summer Book Bundle Giveaway!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

 

One of the things I love to do most in the summertime is to sit outside on our deck with a tall glass of iced tea and a good book. It’s those really simple moments that are the most relaxing to me this time of the year and I find myself getting lost in the pages while the sunshine warms my skin and my spirit.

As an author, I’ve had so many awesome opportunities to support other authors and friends and one of the big perks of this is that I get A LOT of books sent my way!

I noticed recently that my stack of books was getting bigger and bigger and that I even had duplicates of some of them. So I decided that the only reasonable thing to do would be to have a GIVEAWAY!!!

One winner will receive six, count ’em SIX fabulous books perfect for enjoying on a warm summer day or really any time of the year for that matter.

Included in this bundle will be:

My book ‘Life in Season‘

Devotions for a Healthier You by Katie Farrell

More for Mom by Kristin Funston

Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt

The DIY Home Planner and The DIY Style Finder by Karianne Wood

 

Here’s how to enter to win:

LEAVE A COMMENT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION:

What is your favorite summertime activity?

*US residents only. Giveaway closed on July, 17 2019*

 

Happy summer friends!

90 Comments Filed Under: Giveaways, Good Ideas

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Boggs says

    July 9, 2019 at 7:55 PM

    Picking fresh fruit…strawberries, blueberries cherries.

    Reply
  2. Laura Harrie says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    I have always loved to read. I was able to read for 4 hours last week at the lake shore, while my husband sat next to me fishing. I enjoy accompanying him and watching him fish and encouraging him while I read on and on!

    Reply
  3. Brianna Richards says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:12 PM

    Swimming for sure! My toddler is definitely a water baby and loves it as much as I do!

    Reply
  4. elle says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:15 PM

    Love to read but don’t grab a book very often any more. I am looking forward to some reading time in the next month. Some introspective, spiritually encouraging titles would be great and I always enjoy lifestyle/decorating reads!

    Reply
  5. Stephanie Brown says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:23 PM

    Love soaking up sunshine in the pool!

    Reply
  6. JoAnn McM says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:23 PM

    My favorite summertime activity is picking vegetables from our garden then sharing the harvest with others in our community. We have several elderly members at our church who can no longer garden. I love stopping by and dropping off fresh tomatoes, summer squash, blackberries, cantaloupes, corn and butternut squash.

    Reply
  7. Holly Mock says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:29 PM

    My favorite summertime activity is going on picnics in the mountains. We always try to choose a spot with a nice, cool river to wade around in with our kids. I try to bring home a small river rock from each one we visit.

    Reply
  8. Rebekah says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:31 PM

    What a nice giveaway! Summer is when life slows down a bit for me and one of the leisure activities I enjoy is reading. I would love to read these!

    Reply
  9. Helena Dias says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:32 PM

    I love the slower pace and the ability to read more.

    Reply
  10. Sandra Endress says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:33 PM

    I enjoy so much spending time with my youngest granddaughters, Bella and Remy. They live in Newport NC and I’m in Miramar Beach, FL .. so our play dates are mostly on Face Time. Definitely not as fulfilling as being together in the same room, backyard or swimming pool. We deal with it though .. for now. My alone time is usually spent thinking about them .. and surprises and what we can talk about next time. I used to read .. but recently haven’t .. I’d go through book after book .. enjoying every new author and story. Life brings us challenges and our time is pushed to other things that seem more important. Reading a new book, no matter the subject, whisks you away and peacefully
    allows your mind to clean itself out for a while and visit another place for a happy while. I have missed this reading time .. I must return, hopefully soon.

    Reply
  11. Mia White says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:34 PM

    So fun! My fave summer activity is right up this alley— sitting poolside with a seltzer and a good book while my kiddos splash about. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Debbie says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:42 PM

    My favorite summertime activity is being outdoors. Fresh air, sunshine, flowers, birds and most of all the people I share it with.

    Reply
  13. Mandy says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:52 PM

    Awe…summertime! My favorite activities would include time with my family. -camping, a day at the beach, a backyard fire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, heading to my parents’ and getting to spend time on the lake…and watermelon!
    -summer must include watermelon! 😉

    Reply
  14. Penny Baker says

    July 9, 2019 at 8:53 PM

    Relaxing on the back porch swing.

    Reply
  15. carlanda williamson says

    July 9, 2019 at 9:18 PM

    I love working in my garden and tending my bees! southern oregon is so beautiful this year. thank you for this opportunity!!

    Reply
  16. Cindy says

    July 9, 2019 at 10:08 PM

    I love Summer! I love the sun, warm weather and all the fun family activities…games, trips, barbecues, and anything that involves water. I love that the kids are home and no school. So fun! But my favorite thing is being with my friends and family!

    Reply
  17. Judy says

    July 9, 2019 at 10:09 PM

    Relaxing by the shores of Lake Superior on a warm summer day listening to the waves splashing against the rocks is a fine way to spend a day. I also enjoy picking wild strawberries or raspberries with my grandchildren as we chat and make memories. And eating our lunch out on the deck.

    Reply
  18. Teri Offield says

    July 9, 2019 at 10:47 PM

    I love books. Since I am in AZ any activity involving water is my favorite . But year round my favorite activity is feeding my feral coĺony.. Since its so hot, they need lots of water and shelter. Thank you for such a nice giveaway.

    Reply
  19. Michele M. / Finch Rest says

    July 9, 2019 at 10:59 PM

    Oh, WOW! What a fabulous and generous giveaway! Thank you so much for this opportunity!

    My VERY favorite thing is when it isn’t too hot to sit in what I call my “zen room,” which is my private covered patio in the back looking at magazines, or reading while sipping iced tea or lemonade.

    A NEW favorite is sitting in our large blow up kiddie pool with my almost 3 year old grand daughter. We play fishing for fishes, and make her Little Ponies dive, and just laugh and love and enjoy one another,

    My very favorite OLD thing to do is to go back to my home town, on Lake Erie and watch the sunset with my little sister.

    Again, thank you – I would put these books to very good use. I would really love to win.

    God bless!

    Reply
  20. Kathie Hood says

    July 9, 2019 at 11:34 PM

    I love playing corn hole on A sunny.day with a gentle breeze. Or I love to read on our deck and enjoy the beautiful views around me but I admit unless is a page turner I often fall asleep.

    Reply
  21. Paula Podmore says

    July 10, 2019 at 3:25 AM

    I love the beach, sun and wster, alo g with a great book. Thanks

    Reply
  22. Jill Nelson says

    July 10, 2019 at 3:34 AM

    Gardening…at least until the humidity chases me inside

    Reply
  23. Ashleigh Hall says

    July 10, 2019 at 3:45 AM

    My favorite summer time activity is either boating on the water with family and friends or laying in a hammock reading!

    Reply
  24. Savhannah says

    July 10, 2019 at 4:22 AM

    The sprinkler! I love to sit and watch, and run through it with the kiddos.

    Reply
  25. Nancy says

    July 10, 2019 at 4:30 AM

    If the weather allows my favorite summer spot is my front porch with whatever I am reading at the moment; magazine, book, newspaper. No cell phones allowed…

    Reply
  26. Debbie says

    July 10, 2019 at 4:51 AM

    We have a little lake cabin on Table Rock Lake in Missouri and I love to go there to relax and read, as well as boating!!

    Reply
  27. Susan Homeroad Stevenson says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:04 AM

    My favorite summer activity is kayaking. We just bought 2 small kayaks and it is the most relaxing thing I’ve ever done!

    Reply
  28. Shelley says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:20 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is being a gatherer. I know that sounds like a funny way to put it, but my family is spread out, and it seems I am the one who enjoys planning the activities that keep us in touch with each other. Holidays, picnics, birthday parties- I am the one who enjoys planning, decorating, cooking – and most importantly, being the one that will pick up the phone and call everyone to gather.
    At the end of the summer, my sister and cousin share the same birthday month. My zennias will be at full bloom, all ready to become a centerpiece of Mason jars so each guest can take one home, the summer vegetables and fruit will be perfect to incorporate into a menu, and everyone will enjoy coming together on the farm. So in the summer I enjoy being a gatherer of many things- but mainly of the people I love!

    Reply
  29. Terri says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:22 AM

    I love taking summer getaways with my husband!

    Reply
  30. Carolyn says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:49 AM

    My favorite summer activity is simply to be with my husband and two boys playing golf. It is such a great bonding experience! We get to enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the weather, enjoy some exercise and especially enjoy each other.🏌️‍♀️❤️

    Reply
  31. Annette says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:52 AM

    Napping! Oh wait that’s my favorite year-round activity. Hmmm let’s see.

    During summer I like cooking in the toaster oven (not the regular oven) , so I don’t heat up the house. I also love using seasonal produce and trying new recipes with it.

    What can I say, I am into eating and sleeping.

    Reply
  32. Angela says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:53 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is camping with my husband and teen daughters. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality, uninterrupted time together. We try to go at least 4 times during the summer. While camping, I love to read. These books would make wonderful reading after a day of hiking and swimming.

    Reply
  33. Cece says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:59 AM

    I love to can in the summer. Southern Utah has many fruit orchards and it is easy to grow your own fruit tree. It is lovely to be able to gift fresh apricot jam at the holidays.

    Reply
  34. Rebecca says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:21 AM

    My favorite summertime activities is being outside with family and enjoying the sunshine. Can’t wait to see you at Becoming in a few weeks!

    Reply
  35. Darla Burnett says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:28 AM

    My favorite summertime “Activity”? I love to sit on my carport/makeshift porch and listen to music and do little crafty things while taking in the morning sun & nice breeze before it gets too hot to sit out there anymore. Love looking at Pinterest and find little DIY things I can do whether its crafts or a redo project. That’s my favorite summertime activity along with just trying to stay cool.

    Reply
  36. Linda says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:28 AM

    My favorite summer time activity is swimming with my 4 grandchildren during their visit to MN each summer.

    Reply
  37. Loy Jones says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:37 AM

    Road trips are my favorite! I love taking photographs of nature along the way.

    Reply
  38. Anita says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:40 AM

    I love to take an iced coffee out onto the from porch, sit in my swing and read. I read a lot, usually a book a week. I keep my local library busy. Would love to read all the books in your give-away. Thanks for being willing to share with others.

    Reply
  39. Sharon Colburn says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:51 AM

    I look forward to camping in my 5th wheel. Can hardly wait for good weather to enjoy traveling to State Parks and National Parks by ourselves or with friends. My favorite is camping at the Oregon beaches with a shelf full of books and, of course, my quilting projects. I could use some new books for my shelf.

    Reply
  40. Sherri says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:57 AM

    My favorite thing to do in the summer is finding a nice comfy float and relaxing in the pool. After a long work week I just love the peacefulness and feeling the warm sun on my face.

    Reply
  41. Cindy Berry says

    July 10, 2019 at 6:58 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is a road trip with my family or girlfriends….

    Reply
  42. Martha says

    July 10, 2019 at 7:07 AM

    My favorite summertime activities are working in my flower gardens and relaxing on my patio.

    Reply
  43. Nicci Ramirez says

    July 10, 2019 at 7:22 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is hiking while listening to Charles Stanley sermons or Tony Evans sermons!!!! Vitamin D and some great preachin’ – 2 of my FAVORITE things!!!!!

    Reply
  44. Nancy says

    July 10, 2019 at 7:34 AM

    Summer drives. My husband and I take a drive on Sundays and its always so peaceful.

    Reply
  45. Sandy Mcallister says

    July 10, 2019 at 7:51 AM

    Never can get enough of reading

    Reply
  46. Tami says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:05 AM

    One of my favorite summertime activities is sitting on the porch at the end of the day with my husband, talking about our day, our family, and our plans for the future.

    Reply
  47. Melanie Hardacker says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:11 AM

    Anything at the lake. Boating, swimming, sitting and staring at it, listening to the waves come ashore. eating next to it. We have a small place near Lake Superior (one of the 10,000+ lakes in MN) and I love to hike up the superior hiking trail to a high spot that overlooks the lake and the adjacent little town we are part of and just take in the overwhelming view of God’s creation.

    Reply
  48. GAYLE DAVIS says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:22 AM

    Reading is my favorite thing to do year round, but during the summer, I enjoy doing anything with my granddaughter!!! She is the joy of my life!!!

    Reply
  49. lee says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:31 AM

    Favorite summer activity- walking on the beach and watching the sunset over the water

    Reply
  50. Rosebuddy says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:47 AM

    Floating in the lake makes me so happy.

    Reply
  51. Adalia Sawyer says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:58 AM

    Spending time with grands!

    Reply
  52. Barbara Warner says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:04 AM

    Summer is all about gardening – flowers and vegetables! I also love feeding birds, bees, and butterflies.

    Reply
  53. Lalena Carter says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:10 AM

    Laying in a field of tall grass with an raspberry iced tea, a colorful blanket and a good book.

    Reply
  54. Fran Ferrari says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:16 AM

    Oh, my favorite summer activity is to sit comfortably in the shade with a breeze as I’m reading or simply staring at the greenery surrounding me. I’ll listen to the sounds surrounding me, my own “zenphony” of sounds.

    Reply
  55. edith says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:20 AM

    Reading! Enjoying the seasonal fruits and the casual-ness of the season

    Reply
  56. Kim Harkey says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:24 AM

    Picking! It’s my therapy!

    Reply
  57. Janeen Knippel says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:55 AM

    Floating on the lake. Also creating and stamping cards!

    Reply
  58. Vanessa Sterling says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM

    I love reading on the porch.

    Reply
  59. Nancy Robinson says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:08 AM

    Sounds lazy but I enjoy lounging at the community pool with other adults. I am raising 3 grandchildren ages 6-14 and fall, winter and spring are sooooo busy. I truly relish some down time at the pool!

    Reply
  60. Mary says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:15 AM

    My favorite summer activity is sitting in my double porch glider swing and watching the birds at the feeders, and enjoying the flower bed full of butterflies,bees, and hummingbirds coming to feed.

    Reply
  61. Beverly says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:25 AM

    Working in my garden and later sitting on the porch watching the birds on the bird feeder with an iced tea.

    Reply
  62. Kay says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:48 AM

    One of my summertime pleasures is sipping a strong cup of coffee while watching the sun rise as I sit on my back porch.

    Reply
  63. Barbara says

    July 10, 2019 at 11:22 AM

    Taking a long weekend with the kids and going to the beach. The sound of the waves can take me away from any where I don’t want to be.

    Reply
  64. Kristen Shields says

    July 10, 2019 at 11:39 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is enjoying the sunshine, eating outside and relishing the staying up late with my kiddo’s watching movies, playing games and not having to worry about homework and wake up times!!

    Reply
  65. Julie Fisk says

    July 10, 2019 at 11:53 AM

    I love to sit on the patio first thing in the morning while sipping my tea and gazing at the flower bed. When I get home from work the front porch is another place to settle down and unwind from the day. Often grabbing a quick read to escape the world for a bit.

    Reply
  66. Gigi says

    July 10, 2019 at 11:57 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is spending time with family & friends outdoors. Enjoying God’s creation & the long days & starry nights 😊

    Reply
  67. Margaret says

    July 10, 2019 at 12:35 PM

    My husband and I enjoy sitting on our screened porch late in the evening, listening
    to the birds and watching for deer that come into our yard. Thank you for your give away.

    Reply
  68. Peggy says

    July 10, 2019 at 12:51 PM

    The gift of summertime gives me a chance to catch up. In my garden, time with friends and family, in my home and with my preventative health screenings.

    Reply
  69. Bethany says

    July 10, 2019 at 1:10 PM

    Pool time with my kids and good book!

    Reply
  70. Lynn Czap says

    July 10, 2019 at 1:30 PM

    I love vacations, not having as many obligations in the summer, and swimming/relaxing by our pool.

    Reply
  71. Nancy S Schmitt says

    July 10, 2019 at 1:31 PM

    My favorite summertime activity are inside crafts, sewing, and outside gardening (weather permitting)! Our family enjoys grilling outside too!

    Reply
  72. vicky davis says

    July 10, 2019 at 2:11 PM

    I love Summer. Love it all. Working in my flowers and local Garden Walks, especially South Haven, Michigan.

    Reply
  73. lesley says

    July 10, 2019 at 2:57 PM

    we live in florida so definitely the beach

    Reply
  74. Marilyn says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:01 PM

    Reading and relaxing as much as I can in air-condition.
    Marilyn

    Reply
  75. Barb Zahler says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:07 PM

    Spending time with grandkids. Making memories

    Reply
  76. Hilary says

    July 10, 2019 at 5:19 PM

    I’m a teacher, so I love sleeping in, enjoying my cup of coffee slowly, watching the world go by as I sit in my pajamas as long as I want to! I also love reading, having extra time with and for family, and tackling projects around the house.

    Reply
  77. wen budro says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:33 PM

    My favorite Summertime activity is enjoying outdoor barbecues with my family. It’s a lot of fun and the food is super delicious.

    Reply
  78. Debra says

    July 11, 2019 at 7:37 AM

    I enjoy walking by the lake to watch the osprey and their nest, the sandhill cranes, the egrets… In the evening I snuggle with my dachshund and read until we both drift into sleep.

    Reply
  79. Margaret says

    July 11, 2019 at 10:38 AM

    Sitting on the screened porch with my husband and spending time with my grandchildren.

    Reply
  80. Karen says

    July 11, 2019 at 2:20 PM

    Where to start ! Hard assignment but going with s great book , glass of wine on the deck says relaxing summer to me.

    Reply
  81. Pamela says

    July 12, 2019 at 4:22 AM

    My favorite summertime activity is having our grandchildren visit. That is the highlight of our summer when we swim in the pool, go to the beach and work jigsaw puzzles.

    Reply
  82. Char says

    July 12, 2019 at 11:40 AM

    Going to our family cabin in the mountains. Such a nice time away from the hustle of the City & our jobs!

    Reply
  83. Terie Karaus says

    July 12, 2019 at 2:23 PM

    I love working out in my flower gardens

    Reply
  84. Karen says

    July 12, 2019 at 8:12 PM

    Spending time in Sisters, too! We live 20 minutes away. So many fun things to do in the area.

    Reply
  85. Carolyn Palmer says

    July 13, 2019 at 2:39 PM

    We live in a lakefront community and have a boat.. I love to take a thermos of coffee and some muffins and go out on the lake in the morning. Sometimes we take the newspaper and a book and just float. It’s quiet and very, very peaceful. It’s nice to be able to commune with nature and God.

    Reply
  86. Susie Fix says

    July 13, 2019 at 5:42 PM

    Hiking to the mountain lakes near me.

    Reply
  87. Shelly says

    July 13, 2019 at 5:59 PM

    My favorite activity is sitting on the front porch with a cool drink watching the hummingbirds come to my feeder.

    Reply
  88. Mary Pickett says

    July 15, 2019 at 9:05 AM

    I love getting together with my family for summer cookouts. Watching my college-aged grandkids play games in the back yard and catching up on their lives makes this grandmother very happy. Happy summer!

    Reply
  89. Belinda Richardson says

    July 15, 2019 at 9:52 AM

    What is my favorite summertime activity? Oh, I would definitely have to say my favorite summertime activity is swimming. I could stay n the water all day long if it weren’t for hunger. LOL But I also love sunflowers and lemonade and sitting in the shade of an old tree on a swing. Nothing beats the simple pure pleasure of summertime.

    Reply
  90. Sandy says

    July 16, 2019 at 6:21 AM

    As a retired teacher, I eagerly await the produce from my husband’s summer gardens. I record the garden’s first planting to its bounty and share the pictures with relatives and friends in other states. Each year there has been a new friend added to a garden: cantaloupes, pumpkins, snap peas, and corn. Our grandchildren are delighted to take part in the harvest.

    Reply

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This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the pa When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the payoff of your investment in your children, it is truly one of the greatest gifts. We had that experience twice this week with our 18 year old son and were overwhelmed by this opportunity we had to watch as he handled two very different situations (one personal and one professional) with grace, maturity, integrity and courage. Those of you mamas of little ones, don't ever minimize the job you are doing in raising this next generation. 

Every story read at bedtime
Every correction made to strengthen character
Every outdoor exploration
Every nose wiped
Every bandaid applied
Every time you say no when the world says yes
Every night of helping with homework
Every difficult conversation
Every prayer uttered

The final pieces of the puzzle of his childhood are falling into place and the picture revealed is one that is more wonderful than we could have imagined. And we know that it is only by God's grace on us as we sought His wisdom and guidance that we have come to this point. We have been FAR from perfect parents, but one of my most sincere prayers for the past 18 years was that the Lord would stand in the gaps that were surely to be revealed by our imperfections. And He has answered those prayers again and again. He's taken my humble petitions and most sincere intentions and knocked our socks off with the young man we are so privileged to call our son. And we can’t wait to watch as his future unfolds!
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