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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

July 6, 2012

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 72!

Inspiration Friday Graphic1
Ugh. Anyone else still recovering from 4th of July festivities?
Huh? What?
We can’t hear anything after all of those fireworks!

Well, even if we’ve suffered some hearing loss, at least we can still enjoy all of the eye candy which you will be sharing here!
Before we get to the party this week, we have a little bit of business to take care of.
The first thing is that it is time to announce the winner of the $50 Rusted Chain Giveaway!
And the winner is:
Sally Puckett!!
Congratulations Sally! We’ll be in contact with you so that you can claim your prize.
Next, we are so thrilled to be welcoming a new Sponsor to the Fence!
Linda is the talent behind Drop Cloth Designs
and this gal knows how to rock a drop cloth! Check out these Union Jack Pillow covers,
21 x 21 Union Jack Drop Cloth Pillow COVER ONLY
and lumbar Monogrammed Ribbon & Button Pillows.
Linda’s pillows are all custom and made-to-order which leaves so much room for getting exactly the look and size that you want.
We would love for you to head over and check out more of her incredible shop!
Linda is also the author of the amazing blog It All Started With Paint where she shares even more of her talent, amazing projects and hilarious writing. You will want to pay her a visit there too!

Finally, we are so thrilled to be guest posting on Thursday with Kathy at A Delightsome Life 
as part of this wonderful series! Want to know more about how we blog together? Head on over and read about a day in our blogging lives…that sounds kinda like a Soap Opera doesn’t it?
“These are the Days of Their Blogging Lives”!

All-righty then, let’s get to some Features shall we?

picketfence_20010_thumb[18]_thumb[2]
INSPIRED ROOMS

Erin from How to Nest for Less shared with us her beautiful Craft Room and we weren’t jealous of it at all…nope…not one little bit!
Laura of The Ironstone Nest showed off her incredible Dining Room and you just can’t appreciate how lovely this is until you go over and see the “Before” photos.

MAKEOVERS

Melissa from Shabby Love showed us how she turned an old door into an awesome set of shelves for displaying her wonderful collections in her kitchen. We love the burlap backing detail!
Kimberly of Serendipity Refined did an incredible job transforming an old cabinet into this perfectly beautiful French-y piece.

CRAFTS and CREATIONS
The talented Poppy from With a Dash of Color showed us how to make these beautiful Decoupaged French Pots and her tutorial is excellent!
Kristin of Craftiments put her own spin on things by transforming a thrift store lamp into this Nautical Rope Lamp with an Openwork Globe Shade. So cool!
Craftiments.com:  Nautical Rope Lamp with Openwork Globe Shade
RECIPES and PARTIES

Now if these Pineapple Juice Fruit Infused Popsicles from Homespun With Love don’t say Summer than we don’t know what does!

Sabrina from Neverland Nook  shared with us the recipe for this Apple Honey Lemon Smoothie. We just love the uniqueness of this and can’t wait to try it ourselves!
Jen from City Farmhouse showed us how to take her recipe for Simple Bruschetta and turn it into a delicious sandwich she calls the “Toasted Triple B”. This looks like heaven on a plate to us!
              
OUTDOOR LIVING

Erin from Just Grand linked up this incredible  Outdoor Shower and the only thing we wanted to know was whether or not she was taking reservations at her beautiful beach cottage!!
 Erin’s Outdoor Shower was also featured over at hometalk this week!

Our talented friend Courtney from French Country Cottage revealed the amazing Outdoor Fireplace she built. We just love how it looks like it has always been there and we envision many a Summer evening out there enjoying the glow of the fire.
INSPIRING STORIES

We couldn’t resist featuring this post called, A Male Haven Maven which was written by Leo, husband of Jane from Cottage at the Crossroads. It was so fun to hear about the conference from his perspective and it sure looks like he had a great time, doesn’t it?
And, we tearfully read this post, The Long Good-Bye, shared with us by Rita Joy of Harbour Breeze. She beautifully and honestly conveys the difficult journey of watching her mom battle dementia and the lessons she has learned along the way. We were blessed by her vulnerability and willingness to share her heart with others.
me and mom cropped

If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button code located on our Buttons Page found under our header!

Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook? Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well!
Are you following us on
Pinterest
We sure hope so! BUT…We have a SPECIAL REQUEST of you, if you visit INSPIRATION FRIDAYand like to PINthe great projects you see here! Please pin from the ORIGINAL SOURCE and not our blog…unless it’s one of our own creations, then by all means pin away from here…we won’t mind! 😉
Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week! We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
When you are done linking up head over and party with the other Friday Party Friends:

vif187Fridays Unfolded
Photobucket



Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s some instructions for Inspiration Friday
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!
  • Be sure to link back to your original post  and not just your url (main blog address)
  • Please post our button (code on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY to be featured At The Picket Fence) Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows sometimes we miss some and for that we apologize. It makes us feel good knowing others are visiting people as well! Thank you..it truly means a lot to us
And while it’s not a requirement, we’d sure love ya to be following along with us in some capacity!
Below are some great options!

Email Updates
Facebook Page
Pinterest



This Inspiration Friday Party is Sponsored By:
Drop_cloth_designs_co_union_jack_ad_2_250x125
where you can find beautiful pieces like this:
Rosette Drop Cloth Pillow
Disclaimer: At the Picket Fence may feature any of the projects linked up to Inspiration Friday in other posts or on Facebook, twitter and hometalk with all credit being given to the original source. If you would not like your projects featured please email us.

71 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vivienne @ The V Spot says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    OH MY GOSH! all of your features look amazing! Going to check them out. xoxo

    Reply
  2. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    Great features. I must check out that smoothie recipe. Looks good. thanks for hosting, girls!

    Reply
  3. Jenny @ The NY Melrose Family says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting and for the tip about Hometalk. I love it!

    Reply
  4. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:13 PM

    Just saw your tweet so I came over and linked up. Thanks for hosting! I just found a recipe for smore cream puffs…can you even believe it? Two of my favorite things. :o)

    Reply
  5. Pam - @diy Design Fanatic says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  6. Janel@hatingmartha says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:17 PM

    Thanks for the party! Hope your 4th was great fun!

    Reply
  7. Eclectically Vintage says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:21 PM

    I’m not jealous of Erin’s craft room either … ok, maybe just a tad!

    You girls sure know how to pick winners!

    Here’s to getting your hearing back after the fireworks!

    And Linda does have the most amazing pillows!!
    Kelly

    Reply
  8. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls, have a great weekend!

    Reply
  9. suzyq says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Wow – every one of those features is amazing!!! Especially love the cabinet!
    Thanks so much for hosting –
    Hugs,
    Suzan

    Reply
  10. Serendipity Refined says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:35 PM

    Thanks girls!!! I came over to link up and was excited to see “Grace” featured. Needless to say, I’m shocked and thrilled! Hugs to both of you and have a wonderful weekend! xo, Kimberly

    Reply
  11. Kristin says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Thank you ladies for showing off our Popsicle’s!!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Kirstin says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:47 PM

    Thank you for featuring my lamp makeover. Have a great week!

    Reply
  13. Honey at 2805 says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    Great features again each and every week! Thanks for being gracious hostesses, ladies!

    Reply
  14. Erin~Just*Grand says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    Thank you so much for featuring my outdoor shower! The other features all look wonderful, too. Very inspiring. I will have to carve out some time to visit those other blogs. Thanks again for hosting the party.
    Erin

    Reply
  15. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    Hi ladies. Amazing features, as always. And I can’t wait to read Leo’s story about Haven!

    🙂

    Linda

    (And thanks for the sponsor post …)

    Reply
  16. ✿ⒹⒺⒺ✿@ A Lapin Life says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:24 PM

    Thanks for hosting. Wonderful features this week.

    Dee

    Reply
  17. Kathy A Delightsome Life says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    Hello Ladies – Amazing features – I just love the door and the collection – swooning! The lamp is fantastic, the fireplace – all just too great! I do appreciate you all being one of my guest bloggers – it has been an honor! I do appreciate you hosting too!
    Have a blessed day,
    Kathy

    Reply
  18. SwedishCorner-DownUnder...Pernilla says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    Such a lovely selection of inspirational features! Thanks for hosting!
    Greetings from Australia♥ ~Pernilla

    Reply
  19. Jana@Transformations From the Heart says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    Love the features, really like that outdoor shower. We need one of those.
    Thanks for hosting and have a great day!

    Reply
  20. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Fantastic features. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  21. Poppy says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    Hi Heather and Vanessa,thank you so much for featuring my pots among all the other beautiful features here.I appreciate it so much and I am humbled:) Have a lovely evening!Hugs,Poppy

    Reply
  22. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    Love the features! Thanks so much for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  23. Anita says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    Those popsicles look too good! Thanks for hosting girls!!

    Reply
  24. Debra @ Common Ground says

    July 5, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Hi gals, just linked up, thanks so much for hosting such a great party!!

    Reply
  25. Carrie @ My Favorite Finds says

    July 5, 2012 at 10:47 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Can’t wait to try the Popsicles.

    Reply
  26. Anne says

    July 5, 2012 at 11:02 PM

    Thanks for the party! Enjoy the rest of your week!!

    Reply
  27. Sue says

    July 5, 2012 at 11:16 PM

    Wow! Some really great features this week, girls! I’m so glad I could link up- life has just been so busy and it’s all we could do to get our yard ready for this photo shoot. We spent a very hot and humid day cleaning up the storm debris on Wed. Whew- not fun! Thanks so very much for hosting and for the very, very sweet comments on Hometalk!!! xo Sue

    Reply
  28. Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says

    July 5, 2012 at 11:24 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting ladies! Hope you had a fabulous 4th 🙂

    Reply
  29. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    July 5, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    So many great fearures, off to browse 🙂
    XO

    Reply
  30. CAS says

    July 6, 2012 at 12:28 AM

    Thanks for hosting, Heather & Vanessa!
    CAS

    Reply
  31. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    July 6, 2012 at 12:30 AM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies. And congrats on becoming Hometalk ambassadors! Love that site!

    Reply
  32. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    Thanks for hosting! Hope you had a FABULOUS 4th!!! XO, Aimee

    Reply
  33. FABBY'S LIVING says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:23 AM

    Thank you for having me. Congrats on the Hometalk embassador, wow, but you sure deserve it!
    FABBY

    Reply
  34. ~ Liz ~ says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:36 AM

    I love how you break up your features by category. Look forward to reading the story you featured. Thanks so much for providing the party!
    Liz

    Reply
  35. Peggy~PJH Designs says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:41 AM

    Thanks for hosting ladies! I love all of the features but especially that armoire.

    Reply
  36. Jenny@daysofchalkandchocolate says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    All the features are great but wow, that fireplace is awesome! Thanks for the party!

    Reply
  37. Kerry Rossow says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:54 AM

    As usual, your features rocked my socks! (And, made me cry!) Thank you for hosting- love hanging out here!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  38. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:58 AM

    Love all the features….Linda’s pillows are the best…she sure can work magic with drop cloths…and that Leo…he is the best…enjoyed him and Jane so much at Haven!…and the heartwarming story of Rita and her mom..Thanks for hosting ladies and have a wonderful weekend!!!

    Reply
  39. A Pretty Life in the Suburbs says

    July 5, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Thanks for hosting! I hope you had a great 4th of July!
    Jo-Anna

    Reply
  40. allisamazing says

    July 6, 2012 at 3:46 AM

    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  41. Jen Lossing says

    July 6, 2012 at 4:02 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting. I hope you guys had a great 4th!

    Reply
  42. Addicted2HomeDecor says

    July 6, 2012 at 4:10 AM

    Thanks for hosting such a wonderful party! This is my first time here and I’m loving it! I’m now a follower and would love to have you stop by for a visit! Blessings ~ Judy

    Reply
  43. Meegan says

    July 5, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    Can you believe the fireplace? And the pillow, and the rope lamp?? Oh! And the craft room!! Absolutely incredible features this week!
    Thanks for hosting Heather and Vanessa!!
    Meegan
    What Meegan Makes

    Reply
  44. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    July 6, 2012 at 12:05 AM

    Aww thanks so much for featuring my fireplace girls!! Loving all the other features too-great choices!! I just linked up~ thanks so much for hosting!!

    Reply
  45. Nancy W says

    July 6, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    Thanks for hosting, I just love visiting your blog, so much inspiration!

    Reply
  46. City Farmhouse says

    July 6, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    Hi Vanessa & Heather, Thank you so much for the feature:)!I am LOVING the outdoor shower & of course the beautiful outdoor fireplace. Have a great weekend & thank you for hosting and giving all of us a place to share.
    Jen

    Reply
  47. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    July 6, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    Heather and Vanessa, it was so wonderful meeting the two of you at Haven. Thanks for the feature, and because of that photo, I think more men will be signing up for Haven next year! Hehe!

    Reply
  48. Liz Fourez says

    July 6, 2012 at 12:07 PM

    Lots of inspiration this week! Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  49. Maury Kilgo says

    July 6, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting girls! I hope yall have a great weekend!

    Reply
  50. Kelly Rowe says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:02 PM

    Thanks for hosting lovelies 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend! xo-Kelly

    Reply
  51. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:08 PM

    Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  52. must love junk says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting 🙂
    Susan

    Reply
  53. Heather says

    July 6, 2012 at 3:04 PM

    Wow! I am drooling all over my keyboard looking at all the gorgeous features here! Thanks for hosting the fun and hope you have a fab weekend! Heather 🙂

    Reply
  54. ReiLynnDesigns says

    July 6, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    Thank you for hosting such a great linky party- so many unique and amazing ideas! I think I will be reading blogs for the rest of the day! LOL

    Reply
  55. Tammy says

    July 6, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    Great features…you two really know how to host a party! I am doing my very first one right now, I sure hope it turns out as good as your…well I know it won’t be as good as yours, but one can wish right?

    Reply
  56. Kim @ La Belle Époque says

    July 6, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Thanks for hosting, girls!

    Reply
  57. Debbiedoo's says

    July 6, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    Thank you for hosting. I am so late! I have been a pinning fool at our pin fest! Have a happy weekend.

    Reply
  58. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    July 6, 2012 at 8:59 PM

    Fun features, girls! I especially loved reading Leo’s take on Haven — isn’t he something? Happy weekend!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  59. Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says

    July 6, 2012 at 9:28 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls! I’m working on a little something, I’ll actually be able to play next week =) Love the features, especially that buffet! I am smitten with it!

    Reply
  60. RaNae at Ewe Creek Cottage says

    July 6, 2012 at 11:22 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting your blog is always a joy to visit.
    RaNae

    Reply
    • RaNaeLuvsEwes says

      July 6, 2012 at 11:26 PM

      I signed in with my name and url for my blog and it takes u to a free blog forum I don’t think it is spose to work like that is it?? I am new to blogging I thought if I did that it would link back to my blog

      Reply
  61. Janis@All Things Beautiful says

    July 7, 2012 at 2:25 AM

    Oh girlies…how did I miss you at Haven? I will hunt you down next year! Loved meeting so many great bloggers! Leo & Jane were so sweet (I’m the one “kissing” his head in the pic). Thanks so much for hosting this awesome party!!

    Reply
  62. Dayle @ A Collection of This and That says

    July 7, 2012 at 5:50 AM

    I always enjoy coming here. Great party, and thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  63. Tani@Tagana Rose says

    July 7, 2012 at 2:52 PM

    Thanks for hosting!! First time I linked up here!!

    Reply
  64. Erica {let why lead} says

    July 10, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    You have some really fun features here. Thanks!

    Reply
  65. seo rankings says

    January 12, 2014 at 4:52 PM

    This is my first time go to see at here and i am truly happy to
    read all at alone place.

    Reply

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “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! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November 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!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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