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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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April 26, 2016

Tips for a Peace-Filled Home

*Get caught up on the previous installments of the Peace-Filled Home series here*

Up until now, we’ve been primarily talking about matters of the heart. We’ve taken a look at our peace-personalities and discussed how we can get to the place where we are willing to change. So now it’s time for some practical tips, don’t you think?

And right out of the gate, let’s establish something very important. If the heart issues are the foundation that needs to be poured in order to build a peace-filled home then accepting your home as it is right now is the first floor.

beauty of a home quote

In her book ‘Love the Home You Have’, author and blogger Melissa Michaels  says,

“The most important thing i’ve learned from all my dreaming, scheming, and hauling moving boxes is that we can learn to love the home we have whether it is big or small, fancy or ordinary, surrounded by white pickets or brown chain link, faced with brick or faux siding, a first apartment or a starter home in a less-than-ideal neighborhood. Home is right where you are.”

Building a peace-filled home should never be a ‘someday’ goal. No matter where you lay your head at night, you can begin right now to create an environment of peace. And today I’m going to highlight some of the practical ways I approach doing this in my own home.

the peace filled home series from atthepicketfence.com

Now, I don’t know about you, but one of the things I love about my closest friends is that while they have a lot of similar character traits, they each bring something different to our relationship. And I believe that the same is true when it comes to infusing your home with more peace.

So, I want to introduce you to your new #besties. Meet Ms. Routine and Ms. Flexibility. Each of them have their own individual areas of strength and when brought together they create the perfect balance in your life and in your home.

When my children were babies, I took a lot of flack for having them fairly scheduled. They (GASP!) slept in their cribs/beds, had a regular bedtime and a pretty consistent routine beforehand involving a bath, a story, a song and then off to sleepy-town. They were (and are!) rock star sleepers. And I cannot tell you how many times people told me that I was in danger of having my kids be impossible to travel with. But, you know what? The exact OPPOSITE happened. The routine we had established easily translated when we were in new environments and actually helped us to get them to settle down more quickly. They knew what to expect and, for the most part, adapted beautifully.

Did we sometimes put them to bed later? Of course! Did we make exceptions for things and adjust the schedule here and there? Absolutely! But, the foundation of their routine provided them with a sense of predictability and peace even in the midst of having to be more flexible.

I believe that the same is true of our homes. When we have a foundation built on routine and consistency, we are able to better handle the times when our lives get crazy. In fact, if we have established routine, when life calls for flexibility, it doesn’t throw us off nearly as much. Look at it this way, if you have a foundation to a home that is already poorly constructed, when you add the stress of another layer to it you run the risk of the entire thing crumbling. But if a foundation is solidly built, it can handle minor shifting and changing without being at risk of the home falling apart.

Let’s remember that we can only control what we can control. Sports schedules, homework assignments, illness, job loss, these are all things that come into our lives and we (mostly) have very little control over.

So, let’s talk about the things we CAN control, shall we?

Before you leave the house quote

1. Decide which areas of your home are the most important to you.

I come into my house through our garage door which leads into the laundry room, down a hallway and the first rooms I see are my family room, breakfast room and kitchen. When I leave my house, I always try to make sure that these areas are fairly well picked up because I know they are the first ones I’m going to see when I come back home. And usually when I come back home it’s with arm-loads of groceries or with kids so anything I can do to make it feel more calm is extremely helpful. This means that I usually straighten the pillows on my couch, clear the kitchen table and also clear my countertops even if its just that I’ve moved the dirty dishes into the sink where I will take care of them later. All of this can be done in a couple of minutes but it makes such a difference to my state of mind when I get home!

2. Recognize clutter for what it really is.

clutter is quote

On the one hand, the above quote is true. But, on the other hand, what may seem like a postponed decision is an actual decision! You have chosen clutter. And I believe that when our homes are cluttered our hearts feel cluttered. If you discovered that you are a peace-breaker, you will understand this perfectly. Peace requires space, both in our homes and in our hearts. We have to make room for it by clearing out the extra ‘stuff’. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is always going to be some amount of clutter in our homes. There are permission slips to be signed and bills to be paid and dishes to clean. But when we have an inherently organized foundation, the little bits of clutter here and there don’t seem nearly as overwhelming. And this leads me to my next point.

3. Learn the difference between tidy and clean.

I am telling you straight up right now that there are parts of my home that I can’t remember when the last time was that I deep cleaned them. Bad, right? But, here’s the thing. Anyone walking into my home wouldn’t know that. Because my home is tidy. It pretty much always looks ‘clean’ even if it’s been awhile since I really mopped the floor. The definition of the word tidy is “arranged neatly and in order”. Notice it doesn’t say ‘clean’. Do I get in there and really clean my home? Of course. But I don’t have a regular cleaning schedule or some magic formula for a clean home. I spend far more energy keeping things tidy and avoiding the threat of clutter building up. And the beauty of doing this is that I never hesitate having someone into my home at the last minute. I know that, at minimum, the bathroom they would use is always clean (actually CLEAN!) and that they won’t be tripping over things on their way to use it. 😉

4. Give your eyes a break.

As I said earlier, there will always be some element of clutter in our home. That’s just one of the realities of life. But I believe that it is so important to give your eyes a break. Create little spaces around your home that offer you a visual exhale. Pick at least a couple of surfaces that you keep fairly neat and tidy or decorated in a way that pleases you so that they offer you a reprieve when everything around it is messy or cluttered.

Farmhouse style spring decor

5. Decide what to let go of. 

Recently I was watching an episode of House Hunters International (is it just me or are the house hunting shows completely taking over?!) which took place in France. The couple talked about how they loved to walk down to their local market and pick up what they needed for their dinner that day. And that’s when I decided something very important. I’m French. No, it’s not technically my heritage but I don’t care. You see, I used to stress out over meal planning and feel that I was failing because I didn’t do freezer meals and shop for every last ingredient for an entire week all in one trip to the store. I don’t do a lot of crock-pot meals either. But, I’ve made peace with this. I’ve let it go. I’m not saying that I just love going to the store 2-3 times a week, but I’ve embraced the truth that something has to give. And for me, it’s extensive meal planning. I always keep basics on hand (chicken, beef, pork, etc.) and then add in a few things here and there as necessary.

The other thing I’ve let go of is my kids’ rooms. Now, this isn’t to say that I just let them become complete disaster areas. But, I realized long ago that they need the freedom to play and have fun in their spaces without constantly having to pick up. So, while my daughter’s room received a lovely makeover this year, her little vintage vanity table always looks like this.

messy tabletop

And, as a recovering peace-faker, I’m completely ok with it!

6. Decide what to fight for.

As soon as we moved into a home with a center island in the kitchen I realized that it could quite easily become the ultimate dumping ground. But, I fight for it not to be. Because, for one thing, it’s usually one of the first rooms I walk into when I get home (see #1). It also houses our cooktop and it’s essential for me to have the space around it cleared off when I’m preparing meals. Now, let me be clear, my kids often eat meals here, homework is regularly done here and I always love when someone pulls up a stool and visits with me while I cook. But, I do everything I can to keep this surface in my home cleared of stuff. That’s one of the things I’ve decided to fight for and for you it might be something entirely different. But I encourage you to pick a couple of areas around your home that you are going to fight for at the same time you pick the areas you are willing to be more lenient about. You know, it’s that whole routine meets flexibility thing again.

painted white kitchen island with dark cabinets atthepicketfence.com

Finally, my friends, remember that…

7. A peace-filled home is a choice. 

Ultimately, you have to choose to create a more peace-filled home. My husband and I lead a ‘Welcome Reception’ each month at our church where we connect with folks who are new and share with them ways to connect. But, while we can tell them about every single group and event we have at the church, it’s up to them to decide to take the next step. And the same is true of anything in life. Tools don’t build a house by themselves. They have to be put to use by the builder.

If you desire to build a peace-filled home, I hope that I’ve given you some of the tools you will need to get started.

But, you will actually need to get started!

Now, I know this was a long one today but I would love to hear from you and your thoughts about anything I’ve said in the series. And I want to leave you with some questions to consider:

  • What does a peace-filled home mean to you?
  • Do you think others would say that your home is peace-filled?
  • Would you consider yourself a peace-breaker, peace-faker or a peace-maker?
  • What steps can you take to bring peace into your home?

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

Vanessa signature

7 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Faith, Family, Good Thoughts, Peace-Filled Home

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Comments

  1. Teresa Horner says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:37 AM

    This is a great article and i am going to poss it on to my daughter who just got engaged. It’s a great way to start their new lives and be happy and peaceful with their new marriage.

    Reply
  2. Cassandra E says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:54 AM

    I want to share with my husband the part about spaces that are rest for the eyes. I just told him the other day they are islands of order in our chaos. We live in a tiny 2 room house. Kitchen/living/dining all one. And, we both run businesses from home! Yikes! He’s like a magpie bringing shiny things things and dropping them anywhere. Every surface would be covered and stay covered with the detritus of his days. I used to feel guilty about all my girlie decor, but now I see they are my islands. I let our dining/office table be piled with stuff, but the tray centerpiece is off limits for example. I’m letting go of my guilt of having/wanting my granny chic decor, because every meaningful and beautiful thing is a piece of real estate he can’t use for piles. And he loves me for that. Anyway….I rambled. Sorry. Thanks for the affirmation!

    Reply
  3. Pamela says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:05 PM

    Visitors often say our home and garden are peaceful. Certainly keeping it tidy and the guest bath clean contribute a great deal to my own peace of mind when we have surprise guests (which is very frequently at our home). Another thing I do, or rather don’t do, is I don’t point out any flaws or messes or mention things we hope to change or upgrade someday. Even though I feel stressed about drop ins, messes and things in need of zhusing I don’t show it. Lastly, my husband installed 3 waterfalls near the entrances because I am instantly calm when hearing the sound of running water.

    Reply
  4. kim @hunt and host says

    May 2, 2016 at 4:36 AM

    I agree withall of these points. As much as i don’t want to spend that few extra minutes tidying up before I walk out the door or go to bed…i know i will want to do it even less when i get home or first thing in the morning. It is so worth it!!! Once you get used to a peaceful home it is just second nature. Great tips!

    Reply
  5. I love my wife says

    March 25, 2017 at 10:12 AM

    My wife is stressed all the time by not being able to let go of things. I don’t know if she can’t or won’t. It is affecting her health, I can tell there are Christians that pray here. If you would please pray for her to have her emotions, faith, mind, and love restored. If you have faith the size of a mustard seeds it can move mountains, enought people praying can move the world, please pray for her. No name just think of her healing and God will answer.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 25, 2017 at 7:11 PM

      Praying for your wife right now! God wants to give us the peace that passes all understanding. All we have to do is be willing to receive it.

      Reply
      • I love my wife says

        March 25, 2017 at 7:39 PM

        Please pray she is willing to receive it. We have beautiful children, and she is a fantastic mother/wife/friend.

        Reply

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Creating a peace-filled home should never be a ‘ Creating a peace-filled home should never be a ‘someday’ goal. No matter where you lay your head at night, you can begin right now to create an environment of peace. Your home doesn’t need to be perfect to make this happen. In fact, perfection is like kryptonite to peace. Believe me, I learned this the hard way!What is one thing you can do today to make your home feel more peaceful?What is one piece of advice you can give to someone who is wanting their home to feel more peaceful?
It’s time again for Tip Tuesday! Would you belie It’s time again for Tip Tuesday! Would you believe that a few years ago I found a sock in our pantry? Yes, a sock. Just there on the shelf next to the cereal. But did it stress me out? Nope! We got a good laugh out of it especially after it was claimed by its owner (my teenage son) and it was a reminder to me of why the daily mayhem of life doesn’t overwhelm me because I’ve already established areas in my home that remain clutter free and offer me a visual exhale. #tiptuesday
Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
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Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now).And I’m choosing gratefulness.“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
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