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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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February 4, 2015

Treasures

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. Like my grandmother’s china cabinet.

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, my husband and my children, 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.

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17 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: devotional

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Comments

  1. Nancy says

    February 4, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    That is a powerful message for me today. I have begun to worry (need a message on that!) about what would I do if I lost my husband of 50 years. He is my earthly rock. I was a little more independent before he retired because he traveled a lot. But since his retirement he does so much to take care of me. With the Lord’s help I will try to enjoy the gift I have now and try not to worry about the “what ifs?” I’m so glad you are sending these messages. You do an awesome job.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      February 4, 2015 at 9:15 AM

      Blessings to you Nancy! I so appreciate your encouragement! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Beverly Cook says

    February 4, 2015 at 5:54 AM

    I also than you for this message. My husband of 25 years is my earthly rock, and I worry in the same way what if something happened to him?! He is my gift. I, too, must let go. Thank you and thank you, Nancy, for your post. Blessings.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      February 4, 2015 at 9:15 AM

      Thank you so much Beverly!

      Reply
  3. Linda J says

    February 4, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    Like @Beverly and @Nancy, I really appreciated today’s post. But, for different reasons. You see, after two tries, I did not accomplish the relationships they enjoy. I made up my mind after the last gut wrenching heartbreak I would not try again. I didn’t. I found instead that my life would be just as gratifying to me if I filled myself with my love for my daughter and grandsons and God. Actually, God came first in my quest for happiness. I appreciate so much the solid marriages that I see every day. I just want others to know that there are other ways to have the same deep fulfillment. Tell you what, you really learn what you are made of! You learn an awful lot about YOU!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      February 4, 2015 at 9:14 AM

      So glad you shared your heart Linda!! God should always come first no matter what. Blessings to you today! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jill Carlson says

    February 4, 2015 at 8:34 AM

    Beautiful reminder!

    Reply
  5. Rose L. says

    February 4, 2015 at 10:03 AM

    What a great post. The loved ones in our lives are our greatest treasures. I lost my husband of 37 years 2 years ago and the memories are so treasured. Now my mother is battling breast cancer and she has been a treasure to me for 63 years!

    Reply
  6. Vickie burch says

    February 4, 2015 at 10:49 AM

    I loved this message. Right from the heart My children are grown but know exactly how you love! Keep cherishing that collection! they grow up and too so they are gone!

    Reply
  7. Carol Reddin says

    February 4, 2015 at 8:05 PM

    So glad for this reminder. This life is so finite and we must cherish moments with those we love.

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    February 5, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    Beautifully said friend!

    Reply
  9. Jennifer M. says

    February 5, 2015 at 7:44 AM

    I really needed to read this today.My son is graduating this year, next year my daughter. I’m struggling with letting go. Thank you for all your encouragement and posts about how we can become better by giving ourselves to God. You give me new perspective and are such a blessing to others. God is working through you in wonderful ways. Your light shines through and you have certainly touched my life and helped bring me closer to Him. Bless you and your family.

    Reply
  10. Anne says

    February 5, 2015 at 7:54 AM

    Beautifully written Vanessa! I agree, my family means more to me than anything.And the older I get the less I want to hold on too as far as stuff. I am hoping to make a move to smaller home in the next couple of years, and I am looking forward to living with less.

    Reply
  11. Julia G. says

    February 5, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    Loved this post. Thanks.

    Reply
  12. laura says

    February 5, 2015 at 12:06 PM

    Such a great post Vanessa! Being a mom these thoughts always go through our heads but this is such a wonderful way to rationalize those thoughts! It is true, they are the most precious gifts we could ever be given.

    Reply
  13. Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours says

    February 5, 2015 at 7:31 PM

    So true… Somehow God loves our “treasures” even more than we do; hardly seems possible! And yes, they were His before they were ours. I’m still learning to trust that God’s “got it” when it comes to my and my loved ones’ futures. His ways are not mine, but He has always been faithful…

    Reply
  14. Marilyn says

    June 4, 2021 at 3:35 PM

    Thank you for this inspiring and moving post. Our love ones are our treasures. God bless.
    Marilyn

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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