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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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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

June 3, 2014

Tween Boy Bedroom Reveal & Giveaway!

What do you get when you mix really cool paint technology, one ‘tween’ boy and one mom in denial over the fact that her son is actually a ‘tween’? You get one really cool room makeover AND even better…an amazing bonding experience.

Tween-Boy-Bedroom-Makeover atthepicketfence.com

‘Tween’ boys are an interesting species. One minute still pretending that a giant box is an airplane and ‘flying’ all around with his sister and the next behaving like such a young man that it completely startles you and brings tears to your eyes. Frankly this year has been an emotional one for this mama. I feel tears springing to my eyes at the most unexpected times as I see my sweet boy changing before my eyes. I go in at night while he’s sleeping and brush his hair off his forehead and can’t believe that his feet reach the end of the bed. And then I see that he still has his favorite stuffed horse, ‘Paco’, wrapped around his neck, and I can’t help but feel grateful that, for now, there is some ‘little boy’ still inside. They really are in be’tween’ two worlds, aren’t they? That’s why getting to do this makeover with my own ‘tween’ boy was such a special experience. He was 100% involved in every aspect of it and, no surprise here, was especially excited to get to try the latest Sherwin-Williams technology to help choose the colors for his room.

paint color visualizer screen shot

The Color Visualizer tool was hands down his favorite, and he loved getting to virtually paint the space and see how the color combinations would work together.

paint visualizer from sherwin williams

Once we had selected our colors, we headed out to our local Sherwin-Williams store! They have so many fabulous color options, and we selected SW 6148 Wool Skein for the top half of the room and SW 7533 Khaki Shade for a fun stripe around the room. The employees there even let my son scan the color and watch the tint drop down into the paint can. He loved getting to do that almost as much as going out for a treat to cap off our paint buying date!

painting date

And after all of our planning and hard work we were able to take his room from this…
boys bedroom before

To this!

tween-boy-bedroom

Moving the bed from the middle of the room completely opened up the space and my ‘tween’ told me he really liked being nestled into the corner of the room. He says it feels cozier. 🙂

boys bedroom changes

The new shelving and desk add the perfect rustic meets industrial feel to the room and provide much needed storage and workspace. My boy was very proud that he put them together all by himself…with Dad supervising nearby.

tween boy desk and shelving atthepicketfence.com

A map wall decal hanging on the wall over the desk pulls all of the paint colors together perfectly.

map wall decal

An inexpensive metal folding chair adds to the industrial feel.

metal folding desk chair

And the surface of the desk has a more rustic look.

camera bank

One set of shelves is dedicated to Lego storage and display.

metal and wood bookcase

Chalkboard labels help to keep the colors sorted.

chalkboard labels for Lego storage

The other side of the room has dramatically changed too. Going from this…

boys room makeover before plans

To this! I mean, seriously folks, doesn’t this look TONS better?!

Tween Boy Bedroom atthepicketfence.com

I’ve come to accept that this might be the only time the top of the dresser looks this uncluttered, so let’s pause for a moment while I gaze at it ok?

pause…..

tween boy bedroom dresser decor

Thanks for allowing me that moment! 😉

Paint cans make for fun book ends and also provide storage for all of the strange items that have been deemed ‘treasures’ by my child who likes to hoard  collect things.

paint cans as book ends atthepicketfence.com

A door picked up at a secondhand store became the perfect headboard.

door turned headboard with wall lamp

And a lamp attached makes it the perfect reading spot.

wall light mounted on headboard over bed

We thought it would be fun to keep the stripe going right onto the curtains by painting drop cloth with the SW 7533 Khaki Shade. I’ll show you how I did it on a later date!

painted stripe curtain matching wall stripe

Time seems to be moving at warp speed these days. I look at this boy of mine and can’t help but ache a bit. It’s not that I don’t absolutely love this time in our lives and the young man he is becoming. Because I do…I truly do. It’s just, well, it’s just so bittersweet. If these last 11 years have gone by this quickly, how much faster will these next few years go? So, it may have seemed like we were simply picking out paint colors and putting together furniture, but I know that it was so much more. When I tucked him in on that first night after his room makeover was completed and he said to me, “Mom, I really love my room. It’s cool!” This wasn’t just about a makeover. This was about a memory. A moment in time where we came together and celebrated the fact that he was getting older, changing, growing. And that for all of my “I can’t believe my sweet baby boy is getting so big” and all of his “moooommmm stop smothering me with kisses,” we both know that we wouldn’t trade these moments for anything!

And now, my friends, are you ready for a GIVEAWAY? 

One of you will win a $50 Sherwin-Williams gift card!

  Simply leave a comment here answering this question:

What room would you makeover with Sherwin-Williams?

I can’t wait to hear your answers! Good luck!

Vanessa signature

For more ideas and inspiration follow along with Sherwin Williams on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Pinterest!

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 6/2/2014-6/22/2014.
Be sure to visit the Sherwin-Williams 
brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

91 Comments Filed Under: Bedrooms, Decorating, Giveaways Tagged With: bedroom, decorating, kids rooms

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Comments

  1. JoeyfromSC says

    June 3, 2014 at 3:57 AM

    It looks GREAT!!

    I’d makeover my living room. It needs color & alot of help haha..Thanks for the chance to win!

    Joey

    Reply
  2. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 3, 2014 at 3:58 AM

    Oh my Vanessa…your son must be over the moon happy with is beautifully re-decorated room!…So many creative details…I love how you attached the reading light to the door/headboard…and how you lined up the stripe on the drape with the strip on the wall…I have so many “paint projects”… I currently have Sherwin Williams Macadamia in the media room and it is time for a change after 9 years…so would love re-paint that room with a lighter color…the powder room is scheduled to be painted also in SW Silvermist….You did a magnificent job on the room Vanessa….and great giveaway!

    Reply
  3. JoeyfromSC says

    June 3, 2014 at 3:59 AM

    Tweeted also per the rules:)

    https://twitter.com/JoeyinSC/status/473780837843210240

    Reply
  4. charlene taylor says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:04 AM

    I need to paint many rooms… I’d start with the living room!

    Reply
  5. Denise says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:35 AM

    Your makeover looks amazing! I’m sure your son is loving his room. If I were to win the giftcards I would use it to buy paint for our master bedroom – definitely in need of a change!

    Reply
  6. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:45 AM

    It turned out great, Vanessa! Love the colors and the stripe. Such a fun idea to have the stripe come across the curtains, too. This is a great room that will grow with him. I remember doing my son’s room makeover with him, too. He was a bit older than your son, but he had lots of input and he really loved out his room had turned out, too. I think they feel some pride that they put together such a nice space that reflects their personality.

    Reply
  7. Sari Croson says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:45 AM

    I’d love to paint and redo my youngest son’s room! He is the youngest child of 8 and the last of my 5 boys…all his furniture and things are hand me downs! I’d love to make his room special and “his”!

    Reply
  8. Nancy Sharp says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:55 AM

    What a great job and wonderful memory! I especially love the door headboard with the lamp attached. Thanks for this clever remodel.

    Reply
  9. Judy Wilson says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:00 AM

    My daughters bedroom! We are getting ready to turn it into a teen room 🙂

    Reply
  10. martina says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:19 AM

    WOW Vanessa what an awesome transformation!! LOVE his new desk and shelving and love that headboard!!

    Reply
  11. laura@top this top that says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:31 AM

    hey vanessa- his room looks awesome. just love that idea of the door for a headboard and the light above it. i am sure your little man just loves it.

    Reply
  12. Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:57 AM

    This room is so awesome! I love that industrial looking folding chair. The bedding and curtains look fantastic too. What a great room!

    Reply
  13. Ashley C says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:02 AM

    I would love to makeover my daughter’s bedroom!

    demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  14. Kelli says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:07 AM

    I have a whole new (to us) house filled with builder beige … so I have plenty of options! My boys’ room is probably next on my list though 🙂

    Reply
  15. Amy Kaminski says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:07 AM

    I love this room. I think you hit the “tween” theme right on the head.

    Reply
  16. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:22 AM

    I LOVE the door and lamp headboard!!!

    I would redo my living room. I’m feeling like it’s too dark. I want bright and airy and cool.

    ~Cheryl

    Reply
  17. Pamela says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:36 AM

    It turned out fabulous Vanessa! I love his new desk area.

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:40 AM

    I’m in the process of making over my den so the first thing is getting paint!!

    Reply
  19. MARY MOUGEOT says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    My den for sure, have a nice day…

    Reply
  20. Judy says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:56 AM

    The room looks amazing. I love the stripe around the room and it’s so cool that it continues on the drapes. It’s the perfect boy tween room.

    Reply
  21. Ashley @ Cherished Bliss says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:01 AM

    OMG girls, this is seriously adorable! I am still doing a superhero room, I can’t imaging having to do to the “big boy” room! We desperately need some better lego storage though! Those things are like dust.. they go everywhere!!

    Reply
  22. Bonnie @ Uncommon Designs says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:15 AM

    Fabulous room!! Love the colors and fun industrial accents! I would redo our room over..it needs to be freshened up!

    Reply
  23. Anna says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:38 AM

    Wow, LOVE it Vanessa!!! What a fabulous makeover!!!

    Anna 🙂

    Reply
  24. anna chan says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:06 AM

    I love what you did, I think I would try to a makeover of my ‘tween daughter’s room, you should see the closet, it really needs some organizing!

    Reply
  25. the misfit says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    What an awesome makeover! (I can’t believe he assembled his OWN shelves. My husband doesn’t even do that – ha!) I came over from the Nester’s to see the tour of homes (will find that next) but figured I’d enter the contest first. I’ve painted lots of the house, but I’ve been toying with the notion of a stencil treatment in my room, and SW makes such great paint, I bet it would only take one coat!

    Reply
  26. Teresa S says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    Love his new room. I would love to redo my guest room.

    Reply
  27. Ellen says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    I would paint my guest bedroom. Where did you get the boxes that the Legos are in? Did you paint them to match dresser?
    Love the room. Where did you get the map decal? Sorry about all the questions.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      June 3, 2014 at 10:23 AM

      Hi Ellen! I LOVE questions!! 🙂 The Lego boxes I picked up at a store called Fred Meyer and they were already that color so thankfully I didn’t have to paint them. And the map decal I found on clearance at Target but I’ve seen a lot of them online too through Amazon or Ebay! Thanks for stopping by!
      Vanessa

      Reply
  28. Cheryl says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:00 AM

    I’ve been waiting for the big reveal! It looks fantastic. I know what you mean about time flying. My 15 year-old just told me she wants to pack away some of the things on her shelves for the attic. That is SO hard on me! But she is growing into a wonderful young woman and for that I am grateful. I would re-do my basement family room. It’s on the list for this summer. I want to bring my husband’s Coke collection out of the attic and give it a fun, vintage feel.

    Reply
  29. Megan says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    Love this space! The door headboard with the light just gave me so many ideas for all the old doors we have lying around from the new place!!

    Reply
  30. Susanne says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:41 AM

    I love your son’s new bedroom. I would paint my kitchen. It needs HELP!!!! Thank you so much for the giveaway. I love reading your blog.

    Reply
  31. Mary Stewart says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:41 AM

    Love that room! I would makeover my office. I need to add another desk/computer area for my granddaughter. The desk and chair in the tween room would be great for her!

    Reply
  32. Jeannene says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:58 AM

    HI,

    The room looks great. I would make over my bathroom that has ugly 90’s wallpaper and depresses me every time I’m in there!

    Reply
  33. Joetta Colquette says

    June 3, 2014 at 11:36 AM

    I and my daughter would love to paint her bedroom~ We painted her furniture last summer-desk and hope chest in purple, and two bookcases in aqua-all match her quilt, shams and curtains 😀 LOVE what you did in your son’s bedroom~

    Reply
  34. Pam says

    June 3, 2014 at 12:16 PM

    I love the makeover. I went through the same thing a few years ago with my now 16 year old son. You are so right-time flies!
    I would/am going to make over my laundry room. It needs a boost. Looking for the perfect color. I am a teacher so it is my summer project!

    Reply
  35. Christina says

    June 3, 2014 at 12:52 PM

    Just discovered your blog yesterday and I’m enjoying it! Getting ready to redo my 10 yr old sons room this summer so I really appreciated this post. I’m looking forward to doing this project with him. Thanks for the ideas and encouragement!

    Reply
  36. kathy millimen says

    June 3, 2014 at 1:49 PM

    Moving from Memphis to the Atlanta area.Have a whole new house to paint! Starting with the living room! Enjoy your time with your son. time flies! My son is 22! I swear he was 11 yesterday!

    Reply
  37. Valerie says

    June 3, 2014 at 1:59 PM

    I would finally finish our master bedroom, which still has not been painted since we moved in 6 years ago 🙂

    Reply
  38. Natalie says

    June 3, 2014 at 2:04 PM

    I need to makeover my living room because there is no paint or pictures on the walls. Winning this gift card would help buy quality paint!

    Reply
  39. linda says

    June 3, 2014 at 3:32 PM

    Would love to do a family room makeover. Have my curtains made now on to the paint! Love your bedroom makeover!

    Reply
  40. Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    That looks so great! I would make over my son’s room … we’re just about to update it and a gift card would be awesome!

    Reply
  41. Kelly @ thelilypadcottage says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:22 PM

    So fun, love the new look!

    Reply
  42. Gee says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:49 PM

    ON wow!! How perfect . I remember those days… they grow and change almost daily. Pulls at a mommy’s heartstrings so. You surely did a wonderful job Vanessa. Perfectly ‘tween.
    Hugs, Gee

    Reply
  43. Melanie says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:56 PM

    Great job on his room! I need to paint our dining room.

    Reply
  44. Suznne says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:08 PM

    The room looks fabulous – simple changes, huge impact! I’d love to know where you purchased the lamp over his bed.

    Reply
  45. Heather B says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:38 PM

    I would start with my master bathroom. It is a cotton candy pink color that I really do not care for.

    Reply
  46. Sandi Allen says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:44 PM

    Love your son’s room makeover

    Reply
  47. Sandi Allen says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:46 PM

    Love your sons room, makeover.
    I would make over my bathrooms.
    Thanks for the chance

    Sandi Allen
    sandraallen260@centurytel.net

    Reply
  48. Katherines Corner says

    June 4, 2014 at 6:03 AM

    I am sure your son is loving his new space. You worked hard at creating terrific room. Hugs P.S. I invite you to share at my hop tomorrow.

    Reply
  49. Everdry Wisconsin says

    June 4, 2014 at 6:08 AM

    I really like the industrial feel of this room, it’s very rugged. The addition of the headboard is a very neat touch too 🙂

    Reply
  50. Cheryl says

    June 4, 2014 at 6:37 AM

    I would make over our bedroom. I painted it green when we first moved in and can’t seem to make that color work. I need something more neutral.

    Reply
  51. Yvonne says

    June 4, 2014 at 7:03 AM

    My son’s room needs to be transformed into a sewing room for me. A new coat of paint would be a wonderful start.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  52. Tami says

    June 4, 2014 at 10:57 AM

    I adore the make over great job I was wondering were the shelves came from thanks

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      June 4, 2014 at 4:15 PM

      Hi Tami! The shelves and desk are from Target online. 🙂

      Reply
  53. Rebecca Hackman says

    June 4, 2014 at 11:31 AM

    Oh my craft room seriously needs a makeover. This would be prefect!

    Reply
  54. Rosalind says

    June 4, 2014 at 1:09 PM

    The room looks great. I would redo my living room and hallway. I am ready for a change.

    Reply
  55. Cindy says

    June 4, 2014 at 3:03 PM

    I would paint my family room. We’ve been in our house for 3 1/2 years and the walls still have only white primer on them.

    Reply
  56. Andrea says

    June 4, 2014 at 3:47 PM

    I would love to re-paint our downstairs.

    Reply
  57. Kim R says

    June 4, 2014 at 6:47 PM

    I would makeover our guest room from the current “blah” color.

    Reply
  58. Teri says

    June 4, 2014 at 7:20 PM

    My powder room is in need of a make-over. New paint would be a great way to start! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  59. heather says

    June 4, 2014 at 10:28 PM

    I would make over my living room with Sherwin Williams.

    Reply
  60. minneapolis roofing contractors says

    June 5, 2014 at 12:43 AM

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  61. Alina says

    June 5, 2014 at 6:06 AM

    I would love to paint my master bedroom and bathroom with this paint. Love how the room turned out!

    Reply
  62. Alina says

    June 5, 2014 at 6:11 AM

    Here’s my tweet about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/AlinaConn/status/474538859204968448

    Reply
  63. Doris says

    June 5, 2014 at 9:33 AM

    Our master bedroom needs some oumph!

    Reply
  64. Eric says

    June 5, 2014 at 9:34 AM

    We are retouching the nursery. The gift card would help for sure. Thanks

    Reply
  65. Mariam says

    June 5, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    I am in the process of bringing a fresh touch to my kitchen for summer!

    Reply
  66. Suzanne @ Princapecos says

    June 5, 2014 at 10:05 AM

    We’ll be moving to a new rental home across the country within weeks — don’t know yet which space will need a fresh touch!

    Reply
  67. Sean C says

    June 5, 2014 at 10:12 AM

    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/connsean71/status/474599486573277184

    Reply
  68. Sean C says

    June 5, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    We’re planning on painting the guest bedroom and this would come in handy.

    Reply
  69. Jenny says

    June 5, 2014 at 2:34 PM

    Great job, his room looks Awesome. I would repaint our bathrooms with the Sherwin Williams paint. They really need it.

    Reply
  70. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    June 6, 2014 at 12:52 PM

    I love the new paint color! And I love how the stripe around the room lines up with that stripe in the curtain!

    I desperately need to paint our 1/2 bath! It’s a mess!

    Reply
  71. Anna says

    June 6, 2014 at 4:26 PM

    I would LOVE to paint almost any room in my home! I am actually DIYing it to sell!! Your son’s room looks great…we have eight children!! Your blog is great. Blessings on you both.

    Reply
  72. brittany says

    June 6, 2014 at 7:59 PM

    I would do my master bathrm. It needs it bad.

    Reply
  73. Julie Spear says

    June 7, 2014 at 11:53 PM

    What an awsome room and cool that you did it together, and will have that time-stamped memory :=) thr room turned out great, my favorite part is the stripes and how they coordinate with the map, and the industrial furniture is beautiful and per fect fora still growing boy… I mean young man!! I would re-paint my kitchen, I have got to cover over a painting mistake that I made in there…and soon, LOL!!!

    Reply
  74. D Schmidt says

    June 8, 2014 at 6:13 PM

    I would paint my upstairs bathroom, the colors are too dark for the space

    Reply
  75. Amy S says

    June 9, 2014 at 7:35 PM

    Our master bathroom for sure! It really needs a new coat of paint…the pale green in there is so boring!

    Reply
  76. MARTHA says

    June 10, 2014 at 11:22 AM

    My bedroom sooooooooooo needs updating !!!!!!!!!!!! TY

    Reply
  77. rachel says

    June 11, 2014 at 7:02 AM

    Nice job!! I want to paint our hallway.

    Reply
  78. Debbie B says

    June 12, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    i’d like to repaint my spare bedroom

    Reply
  79. Tabathia B says

    June 13, 2014 at 7:22 PM

    I would make over my living room

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  80. Tabathia B says

    June 13, 2014 at 7:24 PM

    tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/477636746675761152

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  81. maria cantu says

    June 18, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    I’d like to redo our bedroom.

    Reply
  82. Theresa N says

    June 19, 2014 at 1:28 PM

    My guest room really needs a new do.

    Reply
  83. Rebecca Graham says

    June 21, 2014 at 12:10 AM

    I would give a Sherwin Williams makeover to my living room.

    Reply
  84. Betty C says

    June 22, 2014 at 4:47 PM

    I love the way the room turned out. I’d like to redo my bedroom but my living room needs it more.

    Reply
  85. Betty C says

    June 22, 2014 at 4:48 PM

    Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/480859666281693184

    Reply
  86. erica best says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:50 AM

    i would make over my living room

    Reply
  87. erica best says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:50 AM

    https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/481871736598585344

    Reply
  88. Nancy says

    December 29, 2014 at 7:45 AM

    Hi! Where did you get that plug in sconce. The room looks great!

    Reply

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  1. 10 Ways to Re-Purpose Old Doors - Megan Brooke Handmade says:
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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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