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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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October 23, 2011

The Treasure Drawer

I was on a mission.
My husband had taken the kids on a walk and I had a few minutes to race through the house cleaning and picking up all of the items which seemed to cover every square inch of floor.
I became a veritable “Mommy Tornado”!
Nothing was safe as I worked my way up the stairs and followed the trail of Legos leading to my son’s room.
The epicenter of the mess.
As I looked around the room my eyes landed on his dresser which was strewn with every kind of knick-knack you could imagine.
I started shoving things into drawers and bins not really caring if it landed in the right one.
I just wanted it out of sight.
Where on earth did all of this stuff come from?
Here were rocks, there were little slips of paper and an acorn or two thrown in for good measure.
I knew why they were in his room.
You see, in my son’s case, one man’s trash literally IS another man’s treasure!
Each of these items was intended to be stored away in the most sacred of places.
His Treasure Drawer.

Ticket stubs, batteries, coins, a leather pouch filled with “gold”, pieces of broken toys.
I began going through that drawer looking for items which could possibly be extracted without my son noticing. And I wondered why he had chosen those particular things.
What was it about the particular piece of bark from the playground that caught his eye?
Why was that string so valuable to him?
And I just couldn’t bring myself to throw anything out.
These are all cherished items.
They represent something.
Something he wants to remember.
Something he wants to hold onto.
And it got me thinking.

What am I holding onto?
What can I not let go of?
What is in my “treasure drawer”?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” Matthew 6:19-21
I know I have a lot of earthly treasures.
I have a home I love and I enjoy making it warm and welcoming.
In that home are many things I value, things which have been passed down from generation to generation. And as grateful as I am for those things, I’m sure that I can’t fully appreciate just how tremendously blessed I really am. Until you have truly gone without, I don’t think you can grasp the magnitude of how much you really have to be thankful for.
But, to be honest, I don’t struggle as much with the “storing up” of those things in my heart.
It is what, or rather WHO, lives inside my home that I want to hide away in my treasure drawer.
There are 3 of them, and they are my treasures.

They are where my heart is.
They consume my thoughts and make up the bulk of my worries and fears.
I hold onto them tightly and begin to think that somehow I can control everything.
I “store up” this control until it paralyzes me to think of something ever happening to my treasures. What if the “moth and rust” seep in? What if “thieves break in and steal”?
What if?
What if?
And yet, they aren’t really mine, are they?
They belong to the One who loves them even more than I do.
A love like that seems impossible to imagine.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

They are really His treasures!
So, I pray for His help in releasing my grip.
I pray that what I “store up” in my heart is a deeper and more abiding love for Him.
And that I will recognize that they never were my treasures to begin with.
They are gifts!
Gifts given to me to cherish while we are here on this earth.
Gifts of which I am only really just a steward.
Gifts which I treasure having in my life.
Thanks for joining me on this Simply Sunday at the Fence,
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17 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Simply Sundays

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Comments

  1. Grammy Goodwill says

    October 23, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    I’m missing church today so this was a post intended for me. You have written about what is truly important in our lives. I’m glad you didn’t throw out his things.

    Reply
  2. Joani says

    October 23, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. Have a great Sunday.

    Reply
  3. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    October 23, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Such a perfect post and so important to remember that these are truly gifts and treasures at the same time, but they don’t belong to us, just here for us to love. Have a fabulous Sunday. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  4. Karen says

    October 23, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Great post and what an adorable family you have:)

    Reply
  5. Ruby Jean says

    October 23, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Those words from Matthew 6:19-21 were written there for this Very purpose… The Lord knows are frame and our weaknesses and He so desires us to remember where are True Treasure is… And that’s with Him… Thank you for this inspiring post and may your SONday be blessed.

    Reply
  6. Gypsy Heart says

    October 23, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing from your heart. We have so much when we have our health and our family.

    xo
    Pat
    P.S. Your son’s treasures are so special to him…I’m glad you didn’t toss any of them.

    Reply
  7. Marla and Steve says

    October 23, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Oh Vanessa!! This post is so amazingly beautiful. I love, love, love your insight and the love you openly share for your family and Him.

    Reply
  8. No Place like Home says

    October 23, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    Vanessa, thank you for posting on this Sunday. I love to read encouraging thoughts from women who share the same values as I . We really need to take that time to focus on exactly what and where our treasures are. I don’t know about you but I am the queen of getting off track. Thanks for you post.

    Reply
  9. Judy says

    October 24, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    I just love your Sunday posts. They are always so inspirational and always make me pause and think. It’s so important to not lose sight of what is really important. Thank you for the time you spent inspiring me and so many others.

    Reply
  10. Stacy Curran says

    October 24, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    Beautiful, beautiful post Vanessa!
    Stacy

    Reply
  11. Carol says

    October 24, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    Vanessa,

    We loved your post and the darling picture. Our four grandchildren are truly our treasures on this earth.

    Mom and Dad

    Reply
  12. trumatter says

    October 24, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Your post is so beautiful and so inspiring. Truly, a home is who lives in it. Can’t get enough of this post

    Reply
  13. Becca says

    October 24, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    What an absolutely beautiful post, Vanessa !! You have such an eloquent way with words which truly make one stop and think. Thank you for the well-timed true reminder, friend. And, PS: Jax has a drawer JUST like this!

    Reply
  14. Becca says

    October 24, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    What an absolutely beautiful post, Vanessa !! You have such an eloquent way with words which truly make one stop and think. Thank you for the well-timed true reminder, friend. And, PS: Jax has a drawer JUST like this!

    Reply
  15. Richella says

    October 24, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Oh, wow Vanessa–you’ve touched a nerve here! We all like it when we’re reminded to treasure our loved ones over our material possessions, or our goals, or our lists of things to do. Oh, yes, we like to get that reminder. But to be reminded that these “treasures” of ours are not really ours at all, and we need to be treasuring God even more than our precious loved ones?!? I’m not sure we want to hear that. And yet it’s true. Thank you for the reminder to entrust ALL our treasures to God!

    Reply
  16. Suzy says

    October 25, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  17. Debbie says

    October 26, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    Oh Vanessa, I’m so behind in blog land that I nearly missed this. Something told me to scroll a little further back, and I am so glad I did.

    This is beautiful, and I understand every syllable completely. I have the same treasure and the same tendency to forget that it’s not mine to begin with but entrusted to me by One who treasures them even more than I possibly can.

    Inconceivable.
    And yet so true.

    This was a completely inspired post and one of my favorites in the two years I’ve been lurking about in blog land.

    And you have one beautiful little family.

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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