Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Love, a simple, four letter word that seems easy to say for most, but hard and confusing to practice. The bible says a lot about love and I am spending some time looking at and trying to learn how to better love from the many verses on it. The definition of love in Corinthians is widely known, and it sets up great standards, but it is also impossible for humans to consistently attain. What I think is less recognized in these verses, are the aspects of God's loving character. God's love does not have conditions, we do not need to earn it--it is patient and kind and humble. The fact that my faith all too often looks like me apologizing to God and feeling guilty for not trusting him or not having enough belief tells me that I do not fully grasp God's loving characteristics. He is not sitting around waiting to punish us, devising hoops for us to jump through so that he will love us more. When my limited thinking and human interpreted faith tells me differently, I am choosing to look to God's authentic nature and breathing in his unconditional love. 

Simple Spring Mantel

Happy March--it sure is coming in like a lamb and I am loving it. Sunshine and grass starting to green up meant it was time for some spring decor. A few simple changes and additions and my mantel is ready for all things spring.

DIY BOHO Plant Stand Made From Thrift Store Finds

Today's Thrifty Thursday post was going to include a tour through some of my favorite thrift stores, but alas, that will have to wait. A heavy snow storm this morning screamed, "Stay home, stay in your pajamas until 2, create with what you have." So, that is exactly what I did and this is what I came up with--a BOHO plant stand.

BOHO Twine Jute Wreath

Sometimes, I have no idea what I am going to create. I have no plan, maybe a general idea of what I want, but how I am going to get there and what I am going to end up with is a surprise to even me. I knew I wanted some type of wreath with a spring vibe so I grabbed a few thrift store embroidery hoops and some jute, twine, hemp cord--whatever you call it, curled up under a cozy blanket and started experimenting.

After a few hours (and a few Gilmore Girls episodes) I came up with a boho, spring wreath.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! No, that is the answer to the question this verse poses, but it sure hasn't stopped me from trying. The past two weeks have been a lot like this picture--out of control, wild, messy, and cold. I got stuck in Montana a couple extra days and still had bad roads for my solo drive home. One kid's car broke down in -22 temperatures and we weren't there to help him through that. My eldest and his very pregnant wife have Covid. My youngest, a college freshman, planned a three night getaway over the long weekend to visit a friend in Nashville--it turned into an eight day trip, with five cancelled flights. After hours and hours on hold, the sixth try on the third airline is getting her home as I write. And, there have been other hard things these past few weeks that I have asked people to help me pray over because I believe in the power of prayer. I trust God and his word, I know he loves me and wants the best for me. BUT, I am still working through letting go of worry. I know worrying seems to give me some sense of control when I really have none. I also know worry accomplishes nothing, is unhealthy, and is part of being human. I don't have any great answers to get over it, but I have made baby steps. I verbalize something like, "This worrying is not helping, stop." I stay busy, breathe, read the Bible, visualize hanging out in happy places, and minute by minute I am learning to trust that Jesus has got it covered.

Thrift Store Cutting Boards

Last week on Thrifty Thursday I shared a couple wood cutting boards from the thrift store. This week I am sharing how you can easily add a little something to them to make them fresh for your decor.

Displaying wood cutting boards helps to warm up an all white kitchen. I love the white subway tile and shiplap in my kitchen, but it can be cold. Using the cutting boards helps to add some texture and color.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I am not a big fan of winter or the cold. BUT, I continue to strive to find good things about my least favorite season and to embrace and experience winter in a way that feels okay to me. I see the beauty in winter landscapes, I am trying new to me outdoor activities, and realizing that with enough layers on, I can appreciate this season. Today is Valentine's Day and it is a day filled with a lot of expectations, love, joy, disappointment, and everything in between. In other words, it's a day much like everyday life. Love, winter, life-- they all become what we choose to see them as and are what we make of them. Love looks differently for each of us and even though it is all around us, it comes to us in unique ways. Love is not an agenda, it is not a prescribed way of being or acting, but it is a sharing of ourselves. And in order to share ourselves, to love others, we need to first find some things that we love about ourselves. When we do that, then it doesn't matter how we spend a day devoted to love and romance because we know that it surrounds us. Seek out the good  in each other and let's practice loving ourselves so that we can better love each other.

Thrift Store Finds, Neutrals

Today I am sharing some of my recent neutral, natural inspired thrift store finds. 

I think that it is easier spot items at the thrift store if you are looking for a particular color or texture. That doesn't mean you don't look at the other things, but when you tell yourself, "Today I want to find some natural colored items," it seems easier to discover what you want.

This wood bowl with a lid is clearly missing a handle. I think it might have been an ice bucket, but there is no plastic container in it and it doesn't have any signs of water damage, which other wood ice buckets I have found do. I have a few ideas for how I want to use this--stay tuned.

I have been looking for good, solid wood cutting boards to help warm up the white subway tile in my kitchen. To clean thrift store cutting boards lightly sand them by hand. Wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water. wipe them with some bleach and when completely dry, rub coconut oil into them. Be sure to check for cracks or splits before buying thrift store cutting boards.

The old mirror belonged on a medicine cabinet, it is heavy and has a great, chippy finish to it and was only $5. I will hang it over my chest of drawers in the bedroom.

The crock has no markings and I do not believe it is old as it has a hole in the bottom. It is heavy and will make a cute, outdoor planter.

Baskets always deserve a look at the thrift store. Examine them carefully as they often have broken reeds. This little palm frond one fits perfectly in the tarnished silver holder and will get a plant in it when I find the right one. Other ways to use thrift store baskets--as lamp shades for hanging lights, to organize the pantry or bathroom, flat baskets look great on a wall, they dress up plastic plant pots. Baskets add natural texture and warmth to a room. 

The fabric is a curtain. I used some of it for my Christmas stockings and will make pillows with the rest. Always look at the linens for repurposed pillow fabric or for a small piece for recovering a chair seat. In the basket is some dyed jute in natural colors. The craft sections at thrift stores have a wealth of supplies and are appreciated since the nearest craft store is about an hour away.

So, today's thrifting hints are:

*Look for a specific color, especially if you feel overwhelmed at thrift stores.

*Check out the baskets at thrift stores.

*Look through the linens for "fabric" and explore the craft section.

*Wood cutting boards are plentiful at thrift stores and can be cleaned.

Chippy Thrift Store Wood Crate

When I find something I love at the thrift store and can instantly think of three or four ways to use it, it typically is a no-brainer when it comes to deciding if I should buy it or not. AND, when the item has a lovely chippy finish in my preferred accent color (blue) and it is only$6, then it becomes a heck YES! Such was the case with this wood crate or box.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! The saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words 

 can never hurt me" was one I grew up with. But, we all now know that this adage is certainly not true. We know that words hurt and heal, bring peace and strife. God's WORD and his words matter, so much so that his Word even became flesh when Jesus was born. While all of God's words are good and important, I do not want them to be hollow when I share them with you. When I share Bible verses, I want to be sure to not do so out of context and I do not want to use verses without letting you know how his words feed and speak to me. This verse tells us that God's WORD has purpose and is sovereign and will accomplish HIS goal of grace. Because I do not want to share something empty and something that can be misconstrued, I will not post every Sunday because honestly, sometimes I have nothing to say. When I do post, I hope to convey how much Jesus loves us, is for us, and how he walks with us in this crazy, hard, wonderfully wild ride called life.