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  • Create Some Space

    I started waking up with the words in my heart "create some space".  One of those "God whispers".  I don't know why.  I just know I need to. 

    "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." Hans. H.

    Stuff was weighing me down.  It sneaks up on us a little here, a little there.  Every once in a while, we have to hit the reset button and lighten the load.  Simplifying is good for us.  Good for our home, our budget, our time management...

    Creating some space by simplifying and reducing keeps my house running smoothly.  I'm more organized.  Less stuff = less maintenance. 

    So, I had a huge giveaway pile, a huge throwaway pile, and a small putaway pile.  A couple more deliveries (giveaway pile) and I'm done!  Woohoo for more space! 

    Some tips for creating more space:

    1.  If we haven't used it in a year, it's time to go!

    2.  If it isn't useful and/or beautiful, it's time to go!

    3.  Surround ourselves with the things we love.

     

  • My Birds

    "My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."  

    Founds these whimsical red birds and just knew I had to give them a homeThe little yellow bell = extracited!

    "Monday, Monday, so good to me,
    Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be"

    I hope you all have the Monday of your dreams!  May your hair be good, your mind extra-sharp and creative, your children sweet and mannerly, and your husband dear as ever!  Blessings beauties!  

  • Chalkboard Table

    I've been thrifting for a smallish square dining table for our smallish kitchen since we moved in a year and half ago.  I finally found the perfect size, shape, and priced table.  It came with two chairs and I just so happened to have two smaller black chairs that I salvaged (for free).  The top needed refinishing and the chairs needed reupholstered.  I used leftover upholstery that someone gave me and I was inspired by We Are THAT Family to use chalkboard paint for the table top. 

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    The kids LOVE it's functionality and I love the whimsy!  I don't want my house to be super-serious. 

    Thanks Chief for being my sander/painter.  :)

  • Home Sweet Home

    "Home sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn't find it here, one doesn't find it anywhere."
    M. K. Soni

    I took a fun quiz to determine my home decor style.  

    My results:

    You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

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    I love, love, love this color palette!  

    My favorite decorating philosophies, 

    1.  It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.  (Thanks Nesting Place)

    2.  Surround yourself with the things you love.  "If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." - William Morris

    How about you? What's your decorating style?  Take the quiz.

     

  • The Church Pew

    The church pew use to sit on my carport. 

    Then I moved to SC, and it was in our rental house kitchen

    Now we live in the Elkanah House and the church pew needed a new place and a new look. 

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    This was my inspiration for the new look.

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    Yep, it's still hanging around.  I'm kinda attached to it.  It's the starfish that does it for me. 

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    Well hello there!  :)

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    I'll end with the roses that I just can't stop smelling.  Can't you just smell them too?  Seriously. 

  • Joyfully at Home

    I work in the home.  My job is to take care of the children, keep the home, educate the children, and prepare our meals. 

    Our society frowns on my job.  It suggests loud and clear, "Homemaking is not important.  It's just something we do to save money on childcare."  But on the contrary, I stay home with my children because I love it! 

    There are hard days and there are days that end in utter exhaustion.  But the work I do is meaningful.  I love being busy at home.  My home is a sanctuary for my family.  I try to create an atmosphere that they can't wait to get home to. 

    I want our home to be joyful.  Full of laughter, music, good food, delightful smells, happy times, and wonderful memories.  I believe the mood of the home contributes to a positive attitude in our children and provides relief from stress for husbands. 

    For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

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    It makes me sad when I think of wives and mothers rushing through the day, longing for bedtime, and waiting for their time to come when they leave the home and do something "meaningful". 

    What do you do when you find that you just aren't that excited about being home?  Laundry, diapers, and cleaning just isn't doing it for you.  Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it.  We have to practice being joyful.  Turn on some happy music.  Sing and dance as we go about your day.  Include our children in our activities.  Make a game of folding the laundry and let them help us.  And if we still aren't feeling it?  Sing with thanksgiving and let our visible joy be a sacrifice of praise to our heavenly father.  He will reward us by turning our faking into making.  We'll find that we really do feel joy in being busy at home. 

    I often sit down and brain storm ideas to make our home more comfortable, more relaxing, and more joyful.  It might be a new recipe to try, a scented candle, better organization, or a fun activity.  The most important thing is that we embrace homemaking.

    For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Phil 4:11-13

    Need a fun activity to try?  Homemade Edible Playdough

  • Crafty Saturday Evening

    I've been longing to change up our front door wreath.  After I took down the Christmas decorations I went back to the old stand by from Summer/Fall.  

    THEN I found this

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    over at Edie's blog

    Isn't it glorious?  She probably means it for a christmas wreath but oh. my. goodness.  I want my own version as an anytime wreath.  So, here's what I came up with:

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    Details:  It's dark outside. The "T" is still wet.  Why wait for the paint to dry?  What's the fun in watching paint dry?  The wreath is from our Christmas stash.  The berries are from the Family Dollar.  Discounted from Christmas.  Four bunches of them were $1.28 $1.27 (Thanks kind lady in line behind me for giving me a penny.)  I cut the bunches apart and stuck them around the wreath in a clockwise direction.  The starfish and the "T" came from the craft store and were $8ish.  (Too lazy to dig the receipt out of my purse for the exact amount.)  The paint for the "T" is leftover from some projects I did in the girls' rooms.  I LOVE my 

    < $10 wreath!

    P.S. Edie is a beautiful and uber cool blog lady who sadly lost her home to a fire just days before Christmas.  Check out her blog and most of all pray for Edie and family.

  • Elkanah House, Part 3

    The Kitchen

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    So happy to have a dishwasher!  The rental didn't have one. 

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    We'll also replace the light fixtures and the sink.  For today, there is banana bread and a pot roast in the oven.  Mmmm...  Enjoying my simple country kitchen. 

  • Elkanah House, Part 2

    The Living Room

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  • Elkanah House, Part 1

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    (So that text is way smaller than I thought.  It says, "Coming Soon!  Additional living space.  Farewell, garage.")

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    To be continued...