Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I had to snap a photo of this sign on a hiking trail near our house because it is one we don't see very often. We know the sign is there for a reason and choose to only hike this trail in early spring before the snakes are out. On other trails we typically see bear warning signs and we heed those as well, carrying bear spray and making noise as we hike. Signs are meant to prepare us and warn us, to help us. God gives us signs-- in his Word, during our time talking to him, with our intuition, and in our guts. He also gifts us with discernment to understand and make good decisions. Many of us ignore the signs. We are swayed by lies, manipulation, flattery. We can ask God for the ability to distinguish and recognize his signals that are meant to protect us and aid us. This week, let's ask Jesus to help us perceive what is true and good and right and to see and regard his signs so we can act on them.

Level Wall

I am a big believer in using what you have to decorate with because it makes your decor unique and personal and affordable!

After finding a few more wood levels at the thrift store last week to add to my collection, I decided it was time to actually use the levels for something other than dust collectors. 

After adding tin to my wall space above my kitchen cupboards, I knew I needed SOMETHING above my French doors.It took me a bit to decide what I wanted on the wall. I didn't want a sign with words, I already have plenty of those. I didn't want typical art because that is a challenge to see above a door. Ding, ding, ding--the old, wood levels would be a perfect addition for the rustic, industrial, farmhouse look I am going for.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Winter is in its final stretch and I know many people are feeling weary. We are tired of being sick with colds and flu, restless indoors, longing for more daylight. We look forward to the newness of all things spring--we crave renewal. Do you know what restores your spirit? For me, renewal comes when I get outside, spend time with God, or meet with friends who make me laugh. Jesus needed time alone with his Father and he made sure to take it. With our busy, full schedules we need to purposefully take time to do the the things that recharge us. During this season of Lent (six weeks before Easter) ask God to renew your spirit. Work into your schedule time to spend alone with Jesus and time to discover and actually practice those things that refresh you.

Old Door Hall Tree

When hubby sent me a picture of this old door last summer (or was it the summer before?) and asked if I wanted it for $5, I quickly said, "Yes, please!"

The problem is, it got tucked away in the garage and I forgot about it. But, I rediscovered it this fall when we got our third garage bay cleaned to hold a car. 

It is a smaller door with great, chippy paint. I knew it would make a great backdrop for a hall tree.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I recently saw a saying that said, "If you can't be kind, be quiet." How often do we say something that we later regret? Our words--my words, your words--have power. We can use our words to encourage, soothe, uplift and inspire others. We also can weaponize our words by grumbling, gossiping, disparaging, and lying. Here is the thing that I think many of us don't realize--not only do our words have power, BUT we have power over them. We can indeed be silent when we have nothing nice to say. We have the gift of being able to ask God for help with what we say. We can ask him to guard our words, to speak in such a way that our words give life rather than demean. Before we head out the door, heck, even before we get out of bed, let's ask God to guard our words throughout the day. Let's ask Jesus for help to say what we need to say and to keep our mouths shut when we should. 

Rustic Industrial Wall

The space above my kitchen cupboards has been calling for SOMETHING for a few years now, but I have not been sure what. I am a little weird about completely decorating above cupboards. I never want it to feel like a store display, don't want fake plants that get greasy and dusty, never wanted anything too small.

Thus, it has stayed plain, empty, lonely, sad. 

(See how I painted my cabinets HERE.)

I thought I would put pallet wood on the wall, but for some reason, haven't. And then this past week, I decided I wanted tin up there instead.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! How did you celebrate Valentine's Day? Did you profess your love with gifts, good food, a special date night? God wants every day to be a type of Valentine's Day--to share and show love to everyone each day. What would happen if every day we chose to simply love each person we interacted with--no judgments, no thinking about past wrongs, no bringing up differences--just paying the debt of love first? We are obligated to love our neighbors and our neighbors are all those that we interact with daily--the store clerk, the person behind the wheel in the car in front of us, the mom complaining on social media. God does not tell us to fulfill his law by judging others, by pointing out each other's faults, or by any of the other ways that aren't loving. When Jesus died on the cross, he unleashed the ability to love without reservations and conditions. Let's practice God's law that is above all others--love well.

Footstool Makeover

Some things are a "no brainer" when it comes to deciding if I should buy them from the thrift store. This little footstool was one of those items.

It looks like it went with the 60's and 70's blonde painted provincial bedroom sets that were in oh so many little girls' rooms. How I loved those sets but alas, never had one. I don't remember any of my friends that were lucky enough to have the matching sets having a little oval footstool. This was sturdy, dirty as heck, and only $3.

I sanded it lightly and painted it a light grey color. I then distressed it on the edges and used stain over the grey paint. This works great as a footstool in front of a favorite chair,

or tucked in the kitchen as a helper to reach the tall cupboard spots.

It makes a great stepstool in a bathroom for littles to reach the sink.

A little paint makes this little footstool current and a perfect little farmhouse piece. Yay for paint and good finds!

Rusted Flour Tin DIY

Oh, how I love throwing things into the fire--tin things that is! This time I put a Christmas popcorn tin with snowmen on it in the fire. This is what it looked like after it came out of the fire.

I then painted it white and rusted it in a tub with hydrogen peroxide and salt. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Life is busy, there is always 'something". Life does not and will not stand still, but we can. God talks about pausing, being still, going to a quiet place throughout the Bible. He knows the value in practicing the pause, in rest. God even built in a day of rest into each week and commands us to keep practicing it. We have all mastered busyness so well that we have to actually work at pausing, practice being still. Stillness is the place where we let go and allow God to work, it is where we renew our spirits, where we hear his voice. Today, not matter how much you have to do, take some time (at least 30 minutes) to be quiet, to be still. Turn the phone to silent, the TV off, settle your brain and simply rest.