Believe

Yesterday I spent some time reflecting on my vision for this year.  The first Monday of the year is a day where I dream about where I want to go over the next 365 days.  Here is what I came up with.  This year I am going to step out in faith and explore new areas where I may be used to serve God and bring Glory to His Name.  The top areas up for consideration are singing, writing and public speaking.

In my marriage my vision is to be intentional and purposeful.  To create deeper unity in our marriage, and for Shane to be my number one priority.  My hope is also to take two trips, just the two of us this year.  Proverbs says that wisdom and knowledge are costly and marriage is something worth investing in.

In my parenting I want to be aware and sensitive.  The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.  Pr 20:5

In my relationships I want to be observant of those around me.

In my relationship with the Lord I want to believe Him and trust Him.  Being mindful of lies and falsehoods I've been claiming as truth and turning away from wrong thinking to depend on God.

Life is more simple than we make it out to be.  It gets cluttered up and then it gets confusing.  This is where I've decided I want to go this year and I'm going to do my best to keep a smile on my face and walk this way.

Christmas Tour Of Homes 2010

Come on in and I'll show you our Christmas decorations for this year.  I don't know where my manners are that I'm so late in doing this.  I sure do hope you'll forvive me.  This year we did a lot of entertaining at our house.  One of the series you'll be finding on my blog in January is How To Entertain.  So, first things first, my bedroom.  Words cannot describe how much we enjoyed having lights in our room.  I slept with these on every night.  Is there a creative way to incorporate a strand of brightly lit garland over your bed year round?

Christmas 2010 II

This ornament came from a very special couple to me, Kime and Tina.  Tina went to be with the Lord and every year I hang this ornament I am reminded of how precious she and her family have been in my life.

Hanging stockings from the armoire that keeps my china and decorations was born out of necessity.  In our old house we did not have a fireplace.  So, the stockings were hung by the china armoire with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. 

Christmas 2010 III

You may remember my Jesus Skates...this is them and they make me so happy.

Christmas 2010 IV

Can you believe New Year's Eve is tommorow?

I fill the cleaning monstor settling in.

Sale ad's with photos of Rubbermaid bins on sale.

The bare trees outside.  It all makes me ready for a blank slate and a new start.

Do you wake up one day and just go, Yep, today's the day all decorations come down and we clean up and get ready for the New Year?

We are not quite there yet.  My boys are puny right now so we're enjoying our lights a lot still.  Laying low at the house, watching movies and eating good food.

Do you have big plans for New Year's?

Warm Drink Station

During these chilly months it is nice to keep a warm drink station set up. (take your cups out of the bag). As friends and family drop by you can offer them coffee, hot cocoa, hot tea or apple cider. This is a round container of sugar (Great Value Brand). To make it cute you can take a pretty piece of scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby and wrap it around, securing it with a piece of Scotch tape.

Orange Spice Tea

1 18 oz Tang

1 cup Sugar

1/2 cup presweetened lemonade (Kool-Aid)

1/2 cup instant tea (unsweetened)

1 3oz apricot gelatin

1 tsp. cloves

Combine all ingredients. Store in airtight jar. Add 2-4 TBSP to each mug of hot water.

The stockings were hung...

Come on into my bedroom and let's talk. You may remember me saying I wanted to do this. Well, turns out cute little Christmasy mittens were hard to find. Never fear, Targe' came to my rescue. In my opinion the little girls Christmas socks are much more fun than the little mittens. If you are wanting to do something like this in your home don't go buy clothes pins. I have 94 extras I'd be happy to share with you.


Every night I sleep with these on. My bedroom feels warm and cozy with the glow of the twinkly lights. Do you think colored twinkly lights have a more warm feel? I do.
So, last night after I tucked the Superheroes into bed, I gently shut their door and stepped out into the hallway. My eyes landed on a discarded t-shirt, inside out, thrown on the floor. There was also a small piece of construction paper. As I walked toward the kitchen I passed another room where pillows, crayons and other things were carelessy tossed aside on the floor.

And there I stood, tired and faced with a choice. I could go crawl into bed, under my cheerful garland and try to go to sleep. Problem is, waking up to clutter of any size does not start my day off right. I set my mental timer for 10 minutes and started grabbing things and quickly putting them away. 20 minutes later the clutter was all put away and I went to bed knowing this morning I'd wake up to a clean house.

7:19am Today: I woke up knowing it was going to be a productive day. Can you ever just sense it's going to be one of those great days? It's like the productivity hops onto the dust bunnies and just dances around the house. I'll spare you the details but it has indeed been a productive day.

Wrapping up here are a couple thoughts for you to think on:

• If clutter makes you shut-down, pick it up. In a busy time of year your home should be your haven and place of rest. The place where the memories are made. 10-20 minutes makes a world of difference in the way your home looks
• Lastly, invite God into the details of your day first thing in the morning. You and I both have lists of all we'd like to accomplish and allowing God to put in and take away what he desires is the best way to live.
  
  

Mitten Garland

This is a picture I snapped out of a magazine. Stop the world, how cute is the garland draped across the headboard with mittons clipped on? I'm adding white lights to my headboard garland. We've been in the mood to decorate for Christmas since early summer. When I say we, clearly I am referring to myself and the mouse in my pocket.

Usually I go for glitter, red, white and lime green around the holidays. Everything is big and whimsical.

This year I'm feeling the more natural look. Natural greens draped over the mantel, white lights and lots of white and lime green tablescapes. Can't you just picture a table covered in a white tablecloth. White dishes. Lime green accesories for the centerpiece? Granny Smith apples. Green Grapes. Which leads me to the next thing I want to talk about.

Ivy.

Some of our neighbors have ivy growing up their houses, around their front doors and I LOVE IT. Really. Love it. Not the kind of love your preacher refers to when he says society uses the word Love flippantly. I really love ivy growing up houses. God, my husband, my kids and ivy. It's true. Oh, and world peace.

The question I'm pondering in my head...can you plant ivy in urns on either side of the front door and train it to grow up your brick?

Oh the deep thoughts that never stop.

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Winter Mantle

Seasonal decorating adds a lot of character to your house. It helps me enjoy the season a little more too. My winter look consists of silver beaded garland, tall silver trees, glass ice skates, candles, clear snowflakes, glass and candles. I filled the hurricane on the far right with Epsom Salt to make it look like snow. The rest of the stuff are things I scored on after Christmas clearance sales.

I love these ice skates. They are my two very favorite ornaments that I am re-using for Winter. Now if we can just get a for real snow day!

All the silver, white, and lights make me happy. Strands of white lights are $ .30 at Wal-Mart right now. I bet you have something you could spray paint silver and sprinkle with glitter.

Take some flower vases that you are not using right now, turn them upside down and top them with white votive candles.

Blue accents would be really pretty too. I wanted to spray paint twigs from the trees outside and put them in a vase filled half way with Epsom Salt (snow) but I ran out of room. It's cute though, really cute. Whether it is a centerpiece for your kitchen table, the top of a bookcase or a mantle, a little touch of Winter indoors is peaceful and serene.

I just added this post to The Inspired Room Winter Ideas page.