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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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March 5, 2016

The Father Daughter Ball

“Being a daddy’s girl is like having permanent armor for the rest of your life.” ~ Marinela Reka

She spotted her name on the envelope in the mailbox and couldn’t wait to rip it open. We stood at the kitchen island watching her closely and I think she sensed that this was no ordinary card.

father daughter ball invite

We watched as a variety of expressions came over her face as she read the words on the card. A little bit of bewilderment mixed with a touch of excitement and maybe even a twinge of embarrassment. This girl does NOT like to be the center of attention.

She looked to her Daddy to explain the meaning behind this invitation and he asked her if she would please be his date to the upcoming Father-Daughter Ball. The sweet smile and hug she gave him was all the answer he needed.

The big day arrived and with it a white box tied with a ribbon magically appeared on her bed. Inside she found a sparkly, poofy pink dress fit for a princess.

But before she could put it on, this particular princess had to first put on a basketball uniform so that she could play in her final game of the season.

It wasn’t long before 4 o’clock rolled around and it was time to get ready for the ball. Hair was curled, tights tugged on and the sparkly pink dress was slipped over her head, carefully so as not to mess up any curls. She picked out the perfect necklace to accessorize her new frock and eagerly went to show her daddy.

But, he was nowhere to be found.

She was told not to worry but that perhaps she should follow the instructions on the invitation and wait near the front door. Sure enough, the doorbell rang and after a peek through the window the mystery of where daddy had gone was solved.

Standing at the front door, waiting for his girl with a corsage box in his hand, was the man who loves her more than life itself. The man who is showing her what it means to be cherished and adored.

Daddy putting on corsage

The man who causes her eyes to light up and who makes her laugh hysterically. The man who has always been willing to join a tea party or sit and have his hair done at the ‘beauty parlor’.

The man who loves her mama and shows her in a million big and small ways how a man takes care of his wife.

corsage for father daughter ball

 The man who has set the bar very high for all of her future dates even if he claims that none of those dates will be taking place until she is at least 30.

The man who is teaching her how to be strong and that girls can be both competitive and sweet. How they need to know how to work in the yard as much as they know how to clean a bathroom.

The man who is without a doubt the best earthly representation a girl could ever have of the love of her heavenly Father.

Father daughter ball photo

Upon arriving home, she eagerly filled me in on all of the details of their magical evening together. I heard all about the horse drawn carriage ride and how silly all of the dads were when they were dancing and how she laughed so hard that she almost fell over. Oh and that she ate 10 olives and one cupcake.

And then, with a big yawn, the princess was ushered to her bed where she fell asleep in record time. Not too long after that, her daddy and I went in to make sure she was all covered up and as he peered down at her sleeping form, he told me how desperately he wished that time would just slow down. How much he wanted her to just stay this age and not grow up.

But that even though before we know it she will be a young woman, she will always be his little girl.

Thank you so much for meeting us at the Fence today,

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15 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Dorothy says

    March 5, 2016 at 12:21 PM

    What a beautiful story and a memory they will both cherish forever.

    Reply
  2. june says

    March 5, 2016 at 12:26 PM

    Vanessa,

    What a sweet story and pictures! I raised two sons and oh how my husband yearned for a daughter. We now cross our fingers for a granddaughter someday.

    As you know hold on to these days with all your might…before you know it they fall in love. We are so fortunate that our son has found a woman that we love as much as he does. Wedding in June and two weeks later we move our youngest to grad school.

    I miss those stepping on my toes dances.

    Reply
  3. Anita Ward says

    March 5, 2016 at 12:34 PM

    So sweet and creating such priceless memories!!!!!

    Reply
  4. Karen says

    March 5, 2016 at 2:25 PM

    Beautiful.

    Reply
  5. Vicki says

    March 5, 2016 at 3:39 PM

    just as the Holy Father will one day come for us all! Such a sweet story. What a special family you have!

    Reply
  6. Sally says

    March 5, 2016 at 4:43 PM

    Did well reading post without tears, until I read: “While watching her sleeping he desperately wished time would slow down.” That did me in.
    Wonderful memories in the making for your daughter that she will never forget.

    Reply
  7. Nancie says

    March 5, 2016 at 5:32 PM

    Beautiful story to cherish together!

    Reply
  8. Jeanie says

    March 5, 2016 at 5:48 PM

    Beautiful….both Dad and Daughter….This is priceless!!

    Reply
  9. Gail says

    March 5, 2016 at 7:26 PM

    If he only knew what a wonderful thing he just did for his daughter. Really.. You are a lucky woman.

    Reply
  10. linda ramsey says

    March 5, 2016 at 9:06 PM

    What a sweet, precious story. I have three sons, no daughter and will never get to experience this, so thanks for sharing. Beautiful picture of them both. May God bless your sweet family.

    Reply
  11. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    March 6, 2016 at 5:15 AM

    Such precious pictures and moments to cherish forever.

    Reply
  12. pamela says

    March 6, 2016 at 2:22 PM

    So Beautiful !

    Reply
  13. Carol says

    March 6, 2016 at 2:33 PM

    How beautiful. Put that memory in a special place. I just learned this weekend that my daughter has cancer again.
    by the way. Those were two beautiful people.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 6, 2016 at 7:42 PM

      Carol I am so very sorry about your daughter. Praying for her healing and for you as a family supporting her during this very difficult time. <3

      Reply
  14. Pernille says

    March 7, 2016 at 10:00 PM

    What a beautiful story and a precious memory! Lauren, you go from basketball player to beautiful princess very well

    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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