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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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April 2, 2012

Why doesn’t Good Friday feel very “good”?

Every year I find myself compelled to go.
I know it will probably feel painful and even a bit dark.
I know I will once again sit in a pew with tears streaming down my face as I recognize how unworthy I am to be treated as someone of worth. 
To be valued, treasured, sacrificed for.

If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”?

good-friday1.jpg
source

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.
The songs are upbeat, hands are clapping and everyone is dressed in their Easter best.
Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”?

It feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to sit in the pew on Easter Sunday and 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 and I will sit in that pew surrounded by my family and celebrate with the best of them! But I can’t skip ahead in the story.

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
John 17:1-5

He knew what was ahead.
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?

It is hard to comprehend isn’t it?
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit.

source

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.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10

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.

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:28-30

Why is it called “Good Friday”?
Because that wasn’t the end of the story.

It was just the beginning!

As a family, we are preparing our hearts for this coming week and we will be reflecting on the “goodness/holiness” of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

One way we are doing that is by making all of it seem more tangible to our children.

My son made this little Resurrection Garden when he was in kindergarten.



I just love how real it made it all to him.

And, if you come back tomorrow, I’m going show you how to make one when we participate in this fun party! We hope you will join us by sharing your own Spring and Easter projects, crafts, decor and recipes.


 And as always, thank you for joining us for this Simply Sunday at the Fence,

Vanessa

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25 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Good Ideas, Holidays, Simply Sundays

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Comments

  1. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    April 1, 2012 at 1:47 PM

    Beautiful post. So perfect for the season. God Bless. Marty

    Reply
  2. LDH says

    April 1, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    It is hard to comprehend! This would be perfect to share on my Think on These Things today.

    https://gratefulprayerthankfulheart.blogspot.com/2012/03/think-on-these-things-7-pierced.html

    Reply
  3. LDH says

    April 1, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    It is hard to comprehend! This post and your words would be perfect to share on my Think On These Things today!

    Reply
  4. Hibiscus House says

    April 1, 2012 at 1:59 PM

    You have put into words what I could not, thank you.
    Dolly

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    April 1, 2012 at 3:14 PM

    What a heart wrenching post. How lucky we are and how unworthy…and we go merrily on our way sometimes without a second thought of what was done for us. Beautiful Palm Sunday post– xo Diana

    Reply
  6. Lori says

    April 1, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    Just got back from Palm Sunday mass. The teens did a presentation of the passion play, always brings tears to my eyes. I love holy week.

    Reply
  7. Michele @ The Nest at Finch Rest says

    April 1, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    A stunning post in every way.

    All I can say is AMEN, sister!

    This was really beautiful, heart-felt and extremely well written.

    It is a gift, and one I gladly receive. Thank you so much.

    God bless you and yours this most Holy of seasons.

    ~Michele

    Reply
  8. Carol says

    April 1, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    Hosanna!

    Reply
  9. Gypsy Heart says

    April 1, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    Beautiful ~ thank you so much for sharing! I, too, sit in tears and wonder how He went through the crucifixtion…and He did it for each of us. There is no love like it.

    Brightest blessings for you and yours,
    Pat

    Reply
  10. andrea@townandprairie says

    April 1, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    I sobbed today when we sang, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” I do every.single.year. I feel like a quiet heart sometimes in a mob-action filled world. I think that is the way with most true Christians. I made a post today on how to braid your Palm Sunday palms. I’ll share it tomorrow at your bunny hop!

    Reply
  11. Vicki says

    April 1, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Amen! Amen… I too sit in tears, tears of joy, to be forgiven, no questions asked. No love could be bigger or more joyful! Thank you for sharing, you said it beautifully!

    Reply
  12. Angela says

    April 1, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    It’s so true about Easter. It’s humbling to think the sacrifice he willing made us!!! Thank you so much for sharing this today!
    Hugs,
    Angela

    Reply
  13. Thoughts for the day says

    April 1, 2012 at 10:30 PM

    I just loved your honesty… the questions, the raw open feelings, very beautful … may we always remember HE DID IT for us…!

    Reply
  14. Michelle Paige says

    April 1, 2012 at 11:45 PM

    Such a truthful, lovely post! Thank you!

    Reply
  15. chateau chic says

    April 2, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    Amazing Grace! Amazing Love!
    Thanks for this wonderful post, Mary Alice

    Reply
  16. Debbie says

    April 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Beautifully expressed.
    Resurrection is impossible to experience if we don’t involve believe that first there was/is a death. It’s the death that makes it all so “good”.

    Isn’t that the way it is for all flesh? If we don’t really believe we were once dead but now live, maybe…just maybe… we’re like the Bruce Willis character in that movie (can’t remember the name) who doesn’t know that he is among the dead himself?

    Anyway. Rambling.
    Great post, Vanessa.

    Reply
  17. Debbie says

    April 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Sixth Sense. That’s it.

    (and I don’t know where that word “involve” came from in my comment. Must have been one of the dead people.)

    Reply
  18. Sue says

    April 2, 2012 at 12:47 PM

    The traits of unselfishness, caring, and love are everything we should emulate from His sacrifice. It isn’t always easy to do. We tend to be self-centered and greedy quite often. What wonderful food for thought, Vanessa. Hope you enjoy a wonderfully special Holy Week. xo Sue

    Reply
  19. Tammy @BeatriceBanks says

    April 2, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Loved this post! The reason for the season! So thankful for God’s grace.
    Happy Spring and Easter!

    Reply
  20. Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques says

    April 3, 2012 at 2:06 AM

    Wonderful post…I’m so glad you did this for the link party. Maybe it will touch someone’s heart today!

    Reply
  21. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    April 3, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    Thanks for sharing your heart. His redemption is the greatest gift for sure!!!

    XO, Aimee

    Reply
  22. Sarah says

    April 4, 2012 at 6:38 PM

    Thank you for such a moving post. It made my day 🙂 I’m so glad I found your blog!

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    April 4, 2012 at 9:40 PM

    This post is beautifully written, Vanessa. It warms my heart that your Grandmother will spend her first Easter in heaven.

    Love you,

    Mom

    Reply
  24. sneakypie9 says

    April 5, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    Love this post, thank you for sharing the amazing love of someone dying for us!

    Reply
  25. Laura Ingalls Gunn says

    April 7, 2012 at 1:14 PM

    Praise be to God! How thankful I am. I just adored your resurrection garden.
    This past Tuesday I featured vintage inspired resurrection eggs that I made. If you have a moment take a peek.

    Reply

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The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts o “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Happy first day of summer dear friends!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted something new here but life has been crazy. I’ll have some new photos of house projects and life events to share with you soon but, got now, I’m just going to enjoy this gorgeous first day of summer after our ridiculously long, wet spring. ☀️
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

Welcome June!
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
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