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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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May 12, 2014

Tween Bedroom Makeover Plans & Giveaway!

FACT: My son has always been completely and utterly change resistant. FACT: He fought back tears when I tried to convince him to let me paint his room a couple of years ago. FACT: He didn’t fight the tears, but let them flow when I got rid of an old rug that he had in his room from the time he was a baby. FACT: I’m totally and completely obsessed with singing the song ‘Let it Go’ at the top of my lungs just to annoy my children. Oh wait…um….I’m getting off track here.

tween boys makeover with Sherwin-Williams paint

FACT: Recently my son has had a change of heart about painting his room which may or may not be related to seeing me move things around in his sister’s room and how excited she was about it and realizing that he was finally ready to make changes in his room too. Nothing like a tad bit of sibling envy to motivate, right? 😉 So, we started making plans and looking at inspiration photos and talking paint colors.

boys bedroom changes

We decided to rearrange and re-do, keeping some things but changing up others.

boys room makeover before plans

Have you ever tried to choose paint colors with an almost 11-year-old boy? It’s an adventure to say the least! So far I’ve vetoed painting his room neon blue, completely black, and stripes in the colors of the rainbow. But when we decided to keep his current bedding, that definitely helped narrow things down a bit. And then we discovered the Chip It!® color selection tool fromSherwin-Williams which helped us narrow down our choices even more!

chip it screen shot

All we had to do was upload an inspiration photo, and it instantly pulled up the perfect paint color choices to go with it. The first thing we tried was just using a photo of my son’s bedding and you can see the coastal cool-inspired color palette that was suggested.

chip it colors

 Next we uploaded a larger view of my son’s room and Chip It!® gave us an entire new set of paint colors to choose from.

boys room makeover paint samples1

What we absolutely LOVED about this tool is that you could click the button where it says ‘Edit Colors’ at the bottom of the recommended colors and it expanded our options even more. My son and I saw several that we both agreed on, but you will just have to stay tuned to see which ones we selected!

boys room makeover paint samples2

Now, as cool as Chip It!® was, what my son was the MOST excited about was getting to virtually ‘paint’ his room using the Sherwin-Williams Paint Color Visualizer. And, frankly, I was pretty excited about using it too!

paint visualizer from sherwin williams

We were able to upload a photo of his room, select paint colors and see exactly what they would look like on the walls. I could have done this for HOURS! It was so much fun!

paint color visualizer screen shot

And my son finally got to paint that rainbow in his room while his sister decided to add the sun over in the corner!

kids doing sherwin williams paint visualizer We decided to put together an inspiration board to help capture our vision for his room and my kiddo is just so excited about this makeover. You know, this son of mine just keeps getting older and older no matter how hard I try and slow him down. And I’ve realized that getting to plan this room makeover with him is really about so much more. I’m learning more and more about what he likes and dislikes and how his taste and style is evolving. I have loved sitting with him and discussing his vision for his room. room inspiration board

But what I’m loving the most is that so often our conversations turn to what else is happening in his almost-11-year-old world. You know, who gave who a wedgie on the playground…who laughed so hard at the lunch table that milk came out of their nose…who was leaning back so far in their chair that they fell over right there in the classroom. So, while it seems like we are only talking about paint and furniture and how to properly store all of his Legos, I know that it’s about so much more. Not the least of which is that my change resistant son is finally ready to embrace how fun it can be to try new things, branch out a bit and let some new colors come into your life. As long as they don’t end up being as a rainbow all over the walls! 😉

Stay tuned for the full reveal of my son’s room very soon! And to keep up with all of the fabulous ideas and inspiration from Sherwin-Williams, follow them on Facebook and Pinterest!

Now how about a GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below telling me what room YOU would makeover, for a chance to win a $50 Sherwin-Williams gift card!

Vanessa signature

  Sweepstakes Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: 1.     Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post 2.     Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post 3.     Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 4.     For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/12/2014-6/1/2014.
Be sure to visit the Sherwin-Williams 
brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

 

*This is a sponsored post on behalf of Sherwin-Williams but all opinions are 100% my own*

 

79 Comments Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: bedroom, decorating, Makeover

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Comments

  1. Leann Slater says

    May 12, 2014 at 4:44 AM

    I will be making over our entire home over the summer, but the room I will be most excited to paint is my 6 year old daughter’s room. Together, we are envisioning a pretty pale pink, with a few sparkly accent swirls on one wall. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Mia says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    My kitchen needs some SERIOUS love, and paint is best (and cheapest) way to come by it!

    Reply
  3. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:25 AM

    My son who is now almost 20 was very much like your son when he was growing up. He would get so upset if he came home from school and I had re-arranged his room – going so far as not being able to sleep at night because of it. I learned very quickly to get him involved in any changes we made to his room. I think he was able to be a little less stressed over changes once he had a say. The Chip-it tool is great! I have used it many times. Can’t wait to see how the room turns out!

    Reply
  4. Amy Kaminski says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:28 AM

    Our living room/dining room will be getting a make over soon since we had water damage over the winter. A fresh coat of paint will cover that mess and make everything new again. Can’t wait!

    Reply
  5. Nancy Sharp says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    What a fun way to get an inside view of your son’s life. Amazing the things they will talk about when you’re engaged in another activity. I’m going to try that tool on Sherwin-Williams too. I’ll probably need a grand child’s help. LOL Way to go mom Vanessa!

    Reply
  6. Jean from Georgia says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:49 AM

    My entire home is painted with Sherwin Williams paint. After 14 years of the same color scheme, Crème and Boticelli Red, I am beginning room by room to repaint. Started with the front door, covering stain with white exterior paint. Now I a looking for a bench and flower pot, probably will be painted turquoise (where is spell check when I need it?). Waiting for the 40% sale so I can purchase gallons and gallons of paint.

    Reply
  7. Marty Walden says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:57 AM

    My 15 year old son is the same way and his room is a pit! The walls are red with one big chalkboard wall. We envisioned our artist son drawing all sorts of amazing pictures but basically he uses it for one big post it note. Ugh. His furniture needs painting and heaven forbid we should get a window treatment. It’s a pretty scary place. I just shut the door and try not to imagine what might be crawling around in there!

    Can’t wait to see the new color!

    Reply
  8. Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:15 AM

    LOVE that design tool and the inspiration for the new room! As for change, my youngest is the exact same way! She cried when we painted the front door! But she is slowly getting over that! Life to the full! Melissa

    Reply
  9. Kelly T. says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:28 AM

    I’d paint my laundry room! It needs a little brightening up! I love how paint can transform a room! Have fun with the tween makeover!

    Reply
  10. Kris Mc. says

    May 12, 2014 at 7:22 AM

    It would definitely be between my teenage son’s room and/or our living room. Both are in need of a new updated look, for sure. (Both my hubby and son are very slow to change, getting too comfortable with the same old thing!) I would “cry” with JOY, if I could get them to move forward with something new! =D

    Reply
  11. Heather says

    May 12, 2014 at 7:39 AM

    I would paint my bedroom a beautiful serene blue. For a decade I’ve had bare plaster walls ugh! Needs paint badly buts there’s always something else the money has to go to…..

    Reply
  12. Teresa says

    May 12, 2014 at 8:01 AM

    I would paint my teen daughter’s room. She is growing up and has been decluttering after being a pack rat for so long. With a new look to her room it may inspirer her to keep it neat!

    Reply
  13. Linda @ It All Started With Paint says

    May 12, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    I know all too well a boy’s resistance to change! It took me years to convince my son that we needed to ‘grow up’ his room! My daughter is a whole other story. She is definitely exploring her ‘style’ and has some very definitive ideas on what she does and does not want! Gone are the days of ME making all the decisions. Ah well. Maybe this Sherwin Williams program can help her see the bigger picture …

    Can’t wait to see the makeover.

    🙂 Linda

    P.S. I’m sure his room is that neat all the time … 😉

    Reply
  14. Lynda Lamon says

    May 12, 2014 at 10:32 AM

    I would change my dining room! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  15. Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says

    May 12, 2014 at 11:13 AM

    I”m getting ready to make over my youngest son’s room and would LOVE to win!

    Reply
  16. Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods says

    May 12, 2014 at 11:38 AM

    We’ve got a bathroom that was just stripped of it’s beautiful late 90’s burgundy wallpaper! She needs a new look! 😉

    ~ Ashley

    Reply
  17. Teresa S says

    May 12, 2014 at 2:21 PM

    I would love to makeover my master bedroom.

    Reply
  18. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    May 12, 2014 at 3:18 PM

    I think the resistance to change in men start at an early age!….so great to involve him in the process and I am sure he is really liking it too!…I would love to makeover my great room area…but that always involves scaffolding..so unless the paint is peeling off, it will probably stay that way!!!…but the next best room would have to be my media room…now scaffolding required!…Have always “liked/loved” Sherwin Williams!

    Reply
  19. heather says

    May 12, 2014 at 4:29 PM

    I would love to make over the kitchen first if I won this one thanks for the wonderful chance.

    Reply
  20. Dena says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:58 PM

    I would make over my bedroom. I have purchased new drapes and bedding, but can’t decide on a paint color. And after 11 years, it desperately needs a new coat of paint!

    Reply
  21. Christine O says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:48 PM

    My daughter’s bedroom would be my choice. We updated it 8 years ago with one fuchsia wall and three “pepto” pink, colors she liked at age 6. She’d like to have teals and purple now. Since we never got around to adding Tinkerbell, I agree it would be a good change, and I envision some fun free-hand accents. They grow up so quick. It would be great to win a gift card! Looking forward to using Chip It!!

    Reply
  22. Ann says

    May 12, 2014 at 7:21 PM

    I did this with my son, now 27, when he was about 13. It was so fun because he really wanted to make all the choices with me. This is something your son will never forget…nor will you. Enjoy every minute!

    Reply
  23. Julia G. says

    May 13, 2014 at 7:05 AM

    I would paint the master bedroom! The children are grown and gone and it’s just me and my husband, so it’s time to update the master bedroom.

    Reply
  24. Jessica Hill says

    May 13, 2014 at 7:08 AM

    I love that Sherwin Williams tool! Our second floor bathroom needs a facelift!

    Reply
  25. Chelle says

    May 13, 2014 at 7:22 AM

    We’re already repainting the kitchen, living room, and dining room, so I’d really love to redo the master bedroom. It’s been exactly the same for 14 years, and that’s just too long!

    Reply
  26. StablWall Carbon Fiber says

    May 13, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    That design tool is very neat! I would paint my living room if I had the choice.

    Reply
  27. Ashley C says

    May 13, 2014 at 10:27 AM

    I’d love to makeover my daughter’s room 🙂

    demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  28. Audrey says

    May 13, 2014 at 10:34 AM

    Painting is on the very near future at our house and we’re starting with the front room!
    Then it’s on to the kitchen and 2 bedrooms!

    Reply
  29. Natalie says

    May 13, 2014 at 10:55 AM

    I would love to makeover my living room. I just moved into a new apartment and the walls are bare and I have no paint on the walls. I need some new furniture too!

    Reply
  30. Natalie says

    May 13, 2014 at 10:59 AM

    I tweeted under @yarbr012 https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/466275814137688064.

    Reply
  31. Gina M says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:24 AM

    I would love to make over my master bath, and I would start with a new coat of paint!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  32. Gina M says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:27 AM

    tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/466283588397588480

    Reply
  33. Kathy says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:51 AM

    Now that’s awesome, Vanessa! I can imagine how much fun he had! It’s so much fun for us too 😉 I am so ready to paint a few rooms, this giveaway is so timely! I appreciate you hosting,
    Kathy

    Reply
  34. Steph @ The Silly Pearl says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:56 PM

    I would make over our totally blahhhh livingroom!
    It’s great that your son was so involved in decorating his room!

    Reply
  35. Amy Anderson says

    May 13, 2014 at 5:37 PM

    Definitely my bathroom – love your makeover!

    Reply
  36. Laura C. says

    May 14, 2014 at 2:00 AM

    Our basement is the only room we haven’t painted since moving in two years ago. It is painted Dallas Cowboys colors. Not a fan ( of the colors nor the Cowboys)!

    Reply
  37. Alina says

    May 14, 2014 at 7:24 AM

    Our master bath needs a lot of help! We’ve worked on the children’s rooms and the basement to make it a treat for them to play in and have not had time or money for the adults.

    Reply
  38. Sean C says

    May 14, 2014 at 7:25 AM

    This design tool is magnificent. I’d love to paint the living room and dining room.

    Reply
  39. Jaclyn Reynolds says

    May 14, 2014 at 7:58 AM

    I would makeover our main bathroom, it’s been the same gold color since we moved in!

    Reply
  40. Angie @ CCC says

    May 14, 2014 at 11:12 AM

    I am currently giving my kitchen a facelift. Would love to win!

    Reply
  41. ยาลดความอ้วน says

    May 14, 2014 at 10:07 PM

    I’ll right away seize your rss as I can not to find your
    email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve
    any? Please let me understand in order that I could subscribe.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  42. jenn says

    May 14, 2014 at 11:06 PM

    Love what you have picked out! Can’t wait to see the finished results!

    Reply
  43. debbiedoos says

    May 15, 2014 at 6:30 AM

    Sounds like a fun plan in the works Vanessa! I sing that song too on top of my lungs..however, my boys sing a long with me HA!

    Reply
  44. Megan says

    May 15, 2014 at 6:46 AM

    Love the plans! We are renovating our whole house so I’m planning to makeover every room! And I love Sherwin Williams paint!

    Reply
  45. tina voyles says

    May 15, 2014 at 7:46 AM

    I would so love to do something with my bathroom!

    Reply
  46. Destiny says

    May 15, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    We’re working on changing our office into a nursery. So that’s the room in the greatest need for a makeover!

    Reply
  47. lara r says

    May 15, 2014 at 12:05 PM

    I am going to be paining my daughters room. It is so tough decorating for the in between ages. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  48. laura r says

    May 15, 2014 at 12:05 PM

    I tweeted! https://twitter.com/Mommy2kidsnc/status/467017671687811072

    Reply
  49. Bonnie @ Uncommon Designs says

    May 16, 2014 at 4:40 AM

    Don’t laugh but I have 3 different colors “swatches” on my daughter’s walls now because we can not decide! Have to try that paint chip tool out with her! 😉

    Reply
  50. Rebecca Graham says

    May 16, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    My living room needs a makeover. I would start there first.

    Reply
  51. latanya says

    May 17, 2014 at 6:54 AM

    I would makeover the living room

    Reply
  52. latanya says

    May 17, 2014 at 6:54 AM

    https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/467664315450142720

    Reply
  53. MaryBeth (@misaacmom) says

    May 17, 2014 at 9:23 AM

    We really need to make over the kitchen and the loft area.

    Reply
  54. Cassidy says

    May 17, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    I would get trim match to fix up the trim in my house.

    Reply
  55. Wehaf says

    May 17, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    I’ve wanted to repaint our master bedroom (currently army green, ugh) since we moved in.

    Reply
  56. Nan M says

    May 17, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    Definitely my bedroom….I have not idea what I was thinking when I wallpapered the bedroom almost 20 years ago but it is more than time to strip the wallpaper and paint…thinking a nice grey.

    Sounds like a great Memorial Day weekend project.

    Reply
  57. Erica Best says

    May 18, 2014 at 1:10 PM

    i would makeover my livingroom

    Reply
  58. Erica Best says

    May 18, 2014 at 1:12 PM

    https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/468120792660975618

    Reply
  59. D Schmidt says

    May 18, 2014 at 3:07 PM

    I would love to make over my children’s playroom, it’s a very bland color and just not an inviting space for them to play in!

    Reply
  60. D Schmidt says

    May 18, 2014 at 3:08 PM

    Tweeted
    https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/468150668650237952

    Reply
  61. S Hohl says

    May 18, 2014 at 5:15 PM

    I have a 16 y.o. son, whose room I painted/decorated several times in the past 14 years. I know the room needs to be updated (color- Woody’s Boots & Buzzlightyear Blue). Any suggestions?

    Reply
  62. Jocelyn Thompson says

    May 19, 2014 at 12:53 PM

    I am going to make over my guest bedroom. I am still looking for that inspiration piece to inspire the rest of my choices. Paint color, bed covering and accessories…I am looking so forward to taking a picture of the room and trying out the Sherwin Williams Paint Color Visualiser. How fun is that going to be? Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  63. Justine says

    May 19, 2014 at 2:55 PM

    My granddaughter finally got to redecorate her room with her mom’s help & chose purple to express her 14-yr.–old self. Funny thing is that the room was also her mother’s room at the same age & it was also purple! As the grandma, seeing the makeover was very nostalgic!!

    Reply
  64. Angella L says

    May 22, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    I would paint my son’s room, he is moving into his oldest sister’s old room and the color just isn’t going to work for him.

    Reply
  65. Rebecca says

    May 26, 2014 at 1:49 PM

    I would redo my sons room. He is a Terence and wants to change the sports theme he has.

    Reply
  66. Kerry says

    May 26, 2014 at 5:54 PM

    I would make over our bedroom.

    Reply
  67. Neiddy says

    May 28, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    I would like to makeover my master bedroom

    Reply
  68. Neiddy says

    May 28, 2014 at 5:48 AM

    tweeted for a second entry https://twitter.com/neiddy_ruiz/status/471633878181249024

    Reply
  69. mysweetiepiepie says

    May 28, 2014 at 6:04 AM

    I’d like to makeover the kitchen.

    Reply
  70. maria cantu says

    May 29, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    I would makeover the kitchen.

    Reply
  71. Lauren E. says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:17 AM

    I would makeover my bedroom. The white walls are driving me nuts! It needs a major pop of color neyabenz(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  72. Ashley Tucker says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:59 PM

    I would like to makeover my master bedroom.

    Reply
  73. Ashley Tucker says

    May 30, 2014 at 9:00 PM

    https://twitter.com/ajoy1332/status/472588263442489345

    Reply
  74. Wanda McHenry says

    May 31, 2014 at 9:36 PM

    I would makeover my living room.

    Reply
  75. Wanda McHenry says

    May 31, 2014 at 9:38 PM

    https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/472960337160187905

    Reply
  76. Linda Palmer says

    May 31, 2014 at 10:22 PM

    I’m starting with a blank slate. My granddaughter moved out and I’m getting new carpets for that room, spreads, and painting. I’m thinking Plymouth Green

    Reply
  77. Tabathia B says

    June 1, 2014 at 1:14 PM

    I would like to make over my bedroom

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  78. Tabathia B says

    June 1, 2014 at 1:16 PM

    tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/473195598846652417

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  79. Mary says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    I need to redo my dining room, I always use Sherwin-Williams because it is great paint and nice colors.

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
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