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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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August 7, 2015

The Peace-Filled Home

the peace filled home series from atthepicketfence.com

Not too long ago we had some of our dearest friends over for dinner. Their son was running around with our kids and general hilarity and mayhem was the order for the evening. As the kids played and the husbands talked my sweet friend turned to me and said, “You know, your home just feels so peaceful.”

summer dining room centerpiece

 

It was then I knew she had actually gone and lost her mind. I mean, could she not see what I saw? Pizza boxes on the kitchen island, toys strewn all around on the floor, yelling and screams of laughter wafting down to us from the upstairs playroom.

“You think THIS is peaceful?” I asked her. Did she not see and hear what was happening in that moment? Was my friend certifiable and should I be concerned that she was in our home?

And that is when she said it. “Oh, I know that things are kind of crazy right now but just in general, at it’s core, your home feels peaceful.”

It caught me off guard. It stopped me in my tracks. It was a simple comment (a compliment!) thrown into a conversation (probably one that started off with a discussion about boys and why on earth they can’t seem to aim properly when they’re going to the bathroom) and yet it completely floored me.

And this simple comment started me down a path of pondering and processing what it really means to have a peaceful home. A peace-filled home.

Is it possible to have a home that is peaceful even when life is crazy? Are there things that I have done in my own home that have contributed to it feeling peaceful? Can we create homes that are havens for our families when schedules are busy and jam-packed?

vintage linens and silverware atthepicketfence.com

I think the answer to all of those questions is a resounding YES!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to share my own journey towards a peace-filled home at the Becoming Conference in beautiful Asheville, NC. It was a time to gather together as women to encourage and inspire each other. A beautiful time of sharing hearts and ideas and generally lifting each other up as we journey down this path of womanhood.

Over and over I heard women share with me that they wanted to have peace-filled homes too. That they longed for it.

And over and over we talked about where to begin

Because, you see, I believe that..

 a peace-filled home begins with a peace-filled heart.

And as I was flying back home to Oregon on Sunday, I started wondering if maybe I should share with you what I shared with the ladies at the conference.

I’d like to start a dialogue. I’d like us to be able to talk about whether or not you feel like your home is filled with peace. I’d like to know if you feel this is just as important as I do to the success of a home and a family.

Because I believe it’s a choice. I believe that we have to choose to have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes.

Peace is not the same as happiness quote

 

So, what do you think? Would you like to join me on this journey toward having a peace-filled home? Are you ready to invite it into your heart and into your home?

I sure would love to be on this journey with you!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Peace-Filled Home and thank you so much for meeting me at the fence today,

 Vanessa signature

23 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas, Peace-Filled Home

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  1. Nancy Sharp says

    August 7, 2015 at 4:39 AM

    I have tried to keep my home as a peace-filled sanctuary for my family to come home to. Especially after they were grown. Now I continue that as best I can for my grandkids. It starts with my own heart of letting Christ control my life.(always a work in progress!). My husband and I have wanted Christ to be the heart of our marriage. I know that’s why we have been HAPPILY married for 51 years. Then loving my home helps too. My aim is for it to look great but be relaxed and let it say to all, “make yourself at home”.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    August 7, 2015 at 4:45 AM

    I’m in! LOL Who doesn’t want peace? I have hypertension and a lil ocd so not sure I can gain that feeling anywhere. Not sure how people feel in my home….hubby and I are kind of loners… we tend to go visit the daughter and grand kids in their home. (which btw is not peaceful at all!) I feel peaceful in my home when it is clean and looking good.
    Looking forward to this journey!
    Have a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
  3. Wendy Johnson says

    August 7, 2015 at 5:16 AM

    I am continually amazed at what I find on blogs. I started reading them because I was bored and because I was interested in the decorating tips. Then I realized there were many Christian bloggers , like you and I found much more than I ever expected. So yes, I want to go on a journey!

    Reply
  4. Kay says

    August 7, 2015 at 6:00 AM

    We all want peace but it begins with the Prince of Peace. Yes, it begins in the heart. I look forward to going on the journey with all of you.

    Reply
  5. Sandi says

    August 7, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    I love what you have written. I will definitely follow along. Hugs,

    Reply
  6. Gwen says

    August 7, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Strangely I have had men, women enter my home and say they feel peace. And that I can decorate which to me is nothing like anyone else’s space! Yes. Peace that passes all understanding. To be reminded of that I daily need. I’m housebound unless someone takes me somewhere. I’ve found that I who was active and vibrant is now in a new place. Alone. So as I meditate. Really focus on a passage of the Bible. A very very quiet peace fills the air. I’ve been a Christian all my life but this has been a deeper growth of my faith. To find peace in turmoil. In physical conditions. I awoke and meditate on the verse of the week as my mind awoke troubled. “Trust. Trust in the Lord. With. With all my heart. And lean not unto my own understanding. Don’t try to figure everything out on my own. In all my ways. Acknowledge Him. And He will. And He will direct my path.
    As I focus on Gods Word and turn my eyes to Jesus I get relief. I may have to continually repeat verses, sing hymns and spiritual songs but peace returns to my heart and thus peace resides here in my home. Yes your journey if Bible based!!

    Reply
  7. Design Chic says

    August 7, 2015 at 7:06 AM

    What a wonderful compliment from your friend and I must say, whenever I’m here, I too feel that peace. In the midst of all of our busy lives, there is something so comforting about the warmth and peace of home…wishing you two a weekend that is just the same…

    Reply
  8. N from Va says

    August 7, 2015 at 7:10 AM

    I really enjoy your posts and this one touched me. My home is not peaceful and I struggle with and know it. My husband and I are separated and I recently moved with my 6-year-old son.. I am working to let go of clutter but much of the clutter falls into the ‘collectible antique’ category and I often shuffle items from one storage area on the floor to another (we do not have much storage or closet space as it is an older small colonial).

    More pressing though is that the home is not happy. It feels cluttered, a bit heavy, and unsettled (anxious).
    Reading your post renewed my commitment though. With the school year starting soon I also need to start fresh and bring more space, light, less clutter and more peace and love into our home.

    Am grateful for your blog.

    Reply
  9. Becky Steffen says

    August 7, 2015 at 7:45 AM

    I would love for u to share more on the peace filled home. Thx for what u write. It’s inspiring to me. Love picture decorating ideas very much too 🙂 bless you

    Reply
  10. Sue Tait says

    August 7, 2015 at 8:13 AM

    A peace-filled home… How I longed for that for so many years. At one point though, it became a necessity rather than a longing. When I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia I found that there were changes I had to make for my own health and well being, and the item on the top of my list was to remove the stress in my life. I finally accomplished this by finding a different place for us to live and changing our lifestyle dramatically. This involved moving from town to 50 miles away to 65 acres in the woods, and building the house of our dreams. We did this in1994, and it was the best decision we ever made. There is no traffic here to speak of, no sirens all through the night, no light pollution, no jarring sounds, just birdsong, the sound of breezes through the many trees, the sounds of water in the creek, and mostly nothing. Nothing but peace.
    The house we built is our own design, there are so many elements of it that came from my grandmother’s old house, windows, doors, flooring, bead board,other things that remind me of the happy days I spent there as a child. The exterior is all wood with a metal roof, the interior is all wood floors, pine planks, and painted sheet rock walls, very organic in atmosphere. It is the sense of peace and quiet that every visitor here notices and remarks on when they come here, and that was our goal in designing the house. But the nature that abounds outside, as well as the comfortable atmosphere inside is a source of peace to me that is invaluable in alleviating the worst symptoms of my condition.
    The main reason I am better is the peace in my heart. And it is difficult to name which caused the other to happen, the peace of our surroundings causing the peace inside, or the peace in my heart that caused me to be so happy about the decision to live here.
    I think that surrounding yourself with peace-inducing items is always helpful, but it is true that there must be that quiet in your own heart to begin with for anything outside of yourself to work for you.
    I love your great articles and appreciate the opportunity you give us, your followers, to voice our own thoughts.
    Thank you thank you thank you!

    Reply
  11. Julia says

    August 7, 2015 at 8:16 AM

    This post is so timely…and yes, I want to follow along with you. Just yesterday as I was leaving work I prayed that my home would be more peaceful. I know the Prince of Peace and I must let Him reign in my heart and my home!

    Reply
  12. Carol says

    August 7, 2015 at 8:18 AM

    Many years ago I was a “mama” trainer at the college. The football players came out and would always say that it was so peaceful and restful out here. My home is neat (most of the time) not over decorated and I truly believe God lives here.

    Reply
  13. Carol Weiler says

    August 7, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    Yes. Peace. Please.

    Reply
  14. Michelle Mortensen says

    August 7, 2015 at 10:21 AM

    Thank you for this wonderful, though-provoking post. It really made me think.
    Best,
    Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com

    Reply
  15. Maria Gonzalez says

    August 7, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    Beautiful post and I completely agree! A peace-filled home is my goal.

    xo, Maria

    Reply
  16. Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life says

    August 7, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    I so enjoyed getting to listen to you share at the conference on this topic last weekend! Thank you again for traveling out such a long way to come. I’m looking forward to following along here too and joining in the dialogue.

    I love your statement that a peace-filled home begins in the heart. I think that this is so true. Our children and other people can tell when we are comfortable with ourselves and our homes, when we are focused on showing them love and hospitality and not just fulfilling certain expectations we’ve set, and when we have the mindset and perspective to see the big picture.

    Just like the saying goes, if mama’s not happy, no one is happy. (Did you say that in your presentation? I kind of feel like you did… 😉 ).

    Reply
  17. Lisa Mothersead says

    August 7, 2015 at 3:31 PM

    I love that quote! This has been a priority in this home we bought 8 years ago. I’m so glad it’s trending now. Lots of great ideas from bloggers like you gals.

    Reply
  18. Bonnie says

    August 7, 2015 at 8:52 PM

    I am older and I have found that PEACE is the answer and only Jesus can do that. I commend you for what you are going to do. Love your blogs, etc.

    Reply
  19. Peggy says

    August 8, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    Beautiful post. I’m in for the journey.

    Reply
  20. Mary Alice Kenley says

    August 8, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    I

    Reply
    • Mary Alice Kenley says

      August 8, 2015 at 4:38 PM

      I have learned as my children have grown up, married, left and started their own families that having a peace-filled atmosphere is one of the main reasons they like to come back. It isn’t uncommon to look out on one of the screened porches or the dock and see two of them, just sitting and talking with each other. Makes my heart smile every time!

      Reply
  21. Dawn Findley says

    August 9, 2015 at 4:05 PM

    Peace begins in the heart with God the center of the home. With peace you can have a beautiful home and outward countenance. Love your blog and yes I look forward to more. God bless you.

    Reply
  22. jane@Bluebird1959 says

    August 10, 2015 at 9:22 AM

    I’ve packed my bags and am ready to journey together! Love this idea and I look forward to reading more. Jane

    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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