I saw a sight so strange and experienced something so amazing that it is hard for me to explain it. If you can give me a few minutes, I’ll do my best to describe it to you.
…
Happy Easter!
Bunnies, Bunnies, Everywhere!
To be sure, the bunnies overrunning my house are more prolific than my writing has been of late! We spent the first week of March in San Diego and since then I’ve spent much of my time fighting and then recuperating from an influenza virus. UGH!
“No honey, I did NOT get my flu shot this year but I’m glad you did.”
So today, my words will be few and I’ll simply share a few Spring/Easter vignettes scattered around my house.
This mama bunny cookie jar adorns my kitchen island, along with a pot of lavender and some gold leafed eggs.
Notice baby bunnies peeking out from beneath mama’s skirts.
On my kitchen counter is a tray holding another porcelain bunny.
And one of many nests scattered throughout my house.
The den has gone Green for Spring (more pics showing my bookcases HERE).
Thrifted and painted candlesticks and silver.
Dried hydrangeas from last year’s garden and a DIY moss covered cross.
I shared this photo on Instagram of a collection of vintage pocket watches and a tiny bird’s nest.
Vintage books abound in my home decor.
I found this big bunny in a thrift store last Spring and I’m still debating on whether to leave him “as is” or to paint him. I’m really loving the grey stone bunnies I’ve seen around the home decor stores.
Or maybe I’ll just paint his overalls pink and make him a her!
This is my favorite frame because I can print out seasonal pictures from The Graphics Fairy to change it up for each holiday.
I’ve added one of my tiny boxwood wreaths behind the glass to frame it.
On to my living room and another boxwood wreath hung on a lantern.
A lantern that is filled with more bunnies of course.
I bought this stuffed bunny a couple of years ago because he looks so real.
I love his little chick friends too.
In my dining room an old toolbox filled with lavender sits atop the hutch.
A Spring Bouquet in a garden urn adorns the dining table,
with another bird’s nest for good measure.
One of my favorite things to create displays in is this large cloche that I’ve filled with Spring goodies.
Vintage sheet music with another miniature bird’s nest.
A mix of decoupaged eggs and gold leafed eggs.
A faux chocolate bunny purchased at Stein Mart. This, after using a real chocolate bunny in a floral arrangement two years ago and finding it melted down into the flowers one sunny afternoon.
The weather is very Springlike and warm this week in South Carolina and the pollen is beginning to fly. Hubby and I are working on a solution for keeping the furniture on the screened porch protected from the messy pollen this year. I’ll let you know how that works out! I hope you all are well and that you are enjoying the entrance into this new Season, wherever you may live.
Blessings friends,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace
Monday:
InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, Making Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
Dream.Create.Inspire.Link, MeCoffeeAndJesus,Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky,Time Warp Wife,Solo Deo Gloria Sisterhood,Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, A Little R & R, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat,
KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, YourTurnToShine, Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy, Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday,
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays,TheShabbyNest, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
ShabbyliciousFriday, TheCreativeCollection, Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays, Blessing Counters,Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays,Faith & Fellowship Bloghop, Grace & Truth Linkup, Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories, Dance With Jesus, The Weekend Brew
Saturday:
OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks,
TheInspirationGallery, Still Saturday, Recommendation Saturday, Make My Saturday Sweet
TheInspirationGallery, Still Saturday, Recommendation Saturday, Make My Saturday Sweet
Looking Back While Looking Forward – Top Posts of 2015
Another year draws to a close, and while most people have already put away their Christmas pretties, I linger. I sit beside the fire in the den sipping hot tea and gazing upon the figures on my woodland themed mantle, dusted with shimmering snow. I see the glow of the Christmas tree lights in the living room behind me reflected brightly in the den’s windows before me. The rains pour down outside my windows and the dark clouds have cocooned my home in darkness. Here in my den I find shelter from the heavy winter storm.
Shhh . . . don’t remind me that the temperature outside is in the 60’s and that Christmas is over. Let me spend a little more time enjoying the Wonder of Christmas.
Looking back on 2015 today I’ve compiled the most viewed posts of the year. They are in two categories, Home Decor and Inspirational, since my blog is comprised of both! If you choose to see more of any of these posts you can simply click on the pictures.
Here’s the countdown:
Drum roll please . . . because I’m kinda goofy like that!
10. At Long Last Dining Room Reveal
9. Southern Etiquette & How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch!
8. My Secret to a Great Looking Arrangements Using Faux Flowers
7. Giving Baskets a Vintage Look With Chalk Paint
6. Southern Gardens Tour Part I
5. Spiffin’ up The Screened Porch The Easy Way
4. Decorating With Preserved Boxwood
And finally, in the Home Decor category,
1. Ideas For Adding a French Country Look to Your Kitchen
Next is the Inspirational category which was special to me. It wasn’t just the traffic that caused me to share the top three, but there were also personal emails and stories shared behind the scenes that blessed me to no end as people related to the words God inspired me to write. Whenever I wonder if I should include these posts on my site (because most people don’t want a Home Decor site that is “preachy”), the response I receive back confirms that I am to continue to speak what God lays on my heart. I am probably more blessed than anyone who reads one of these posts by the feedback received.
So, moving right along, the top three Inspirational posts are:
3. Freedom Friday – on Hospitality
2. Freedom Friday – On Forgiving Yourself
Finally, the top post in the Inspiration category was the most heartbreaking for me but also a blessing to have been loved by a dog this good.
1. Freedom Friday – Wise Words From a Dog Named SnoopyGirl
So, looking to the year ahead, I am excited that I’ll be continuing as a contributing author for Faith’nFriends (I hope you’ll all go over to the website and show some of the other writers some love), my friend Debbie Kitterman and I will be teaming up to teach on online course about starting a Mastermind Group, as well as getting our own group off the ground, I’m praying that I will have the opportunity to attend another writer’s conference this year, I’m looking forward to being on the launch teams of a couple of different books that author friends will be releasing in the new year, and I will also be plugging away here at home as I work on my own book and #write365. Of course I will continue to make home improvements to share on Old Things New.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the year with me. I have certainly enjoyed meeting new friends here on the blog and continuing relationships with those of you I’ve come to know and love through this wonderful job I get to do called blogging. I am MOST blessed of the Lord!
Happy New Year and abundant blessings to you all!
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, Sunday Stillness
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, TheDedicatedHouse, HuckleberryLove, CarrieThisHome, Dwellings, ProjectInspired
InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, Making Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
Dream.Create.Inspire.Link, MeCoffeeAndJesus,Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky,Time Warp Wife,Solo Deo Gloria Sisterhood,Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, A Little R & R, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat,
KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, YourTurnToShine, Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy, Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
DIYVintageChic, ShabbyliciousFriday, TheCreativeCollection, Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays, Blessing Counters,Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays,Faith & Fellowship Bloghop, Grace & Truth Linkup, Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories, Dance With Jesus, The Weekend Brew
Saturday:
OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks,
TheInspirationGallery, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Make My Saturday Sweet
TheInspirationGallery, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Make My Saturday Sweet
Freedom Friday – Expectations That Rob us of God’s Best
Hope, or a desire for something to happen, can be good. The Bible says that without hope a people perish. Hope in Christ gives us purpose.
Expectations, as my husband is fond of pointing out, are “resentments waiting to happen,” especially since they can be beliefs centered on a future that may not even be realistic.
Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts. Why? Because though once bound in chains Christ has set me free – FREE to live, to love, to dance, to sing, to be who God created me to be!
In recent weeks God has been speaking to me through other people about some of the expectations I’ve placed on Him for my own life. Now, don’t get me wrong. The Bible is full of promises to those who follow Christ and God is faithful to keep His promises. Those are good expectations to have. My problem is getting ahead of God with this busy imagination of mine and working to achieve the things I am sure think God wants for my life!
Have you ever gotten ahead of God, imagining and planning how your life would play out? Have you ever been WRONG?
The problem is, when we start having expectations of how things are going to be without God’s clear direction we can start working toward our own end rather than waiting for what God wants to do in our life . . . and what God wants is always THE BEST THING for us. Sadly, our expectations can become so targeted that we miss God completely!
Let’s not mix hope with expectation.
My inspiration for today’s FF came from two sources, Pastor Roy of Outreach Church and Diane of An Extraordinary Day. Both have recently shared messages that touched on the time leading up to the crucifixion of Christ and the crowds who were streaming after Jesus, expectations running full bore.
One week before Jesus’ crucifixion (now celebrated as Palm Sunday) Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey just as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. The Jewish people had long anticipated a Messiah who would come and rescue them from the tyrannic Roman Empire, and they became excited at the prospect that this Jesus was the one, their expected deliverer! Palm branches waved wildly and garments were laid down upon the road to carpet the way for Messiah.
“The King who comes in the name of the Eternal One is blessed! Peace in heaven! Glory to God in the highest!,” shouted the crowds (Luke 19:38 The Voice Bible).
As my friend Diane pointed out in her post The Day Jesus Lays it All Down for Us, the people were familiar with the words they were quoting directly from Psalm 118:26 so they should’ve been familiar with the verse that followed in Psalm 118:27:
“Bring the sacrifice, and tie it to the horns of the altar.”
WHOA! Pause and think about THAT!
During the triumphal procession into Jerusalem throngs of people followed after Jesus. As the week moved forward Jesus taught in the Temple daily where the ire of the “religious folk” was raised higher with each passing day; He shared a final Passover meal with his disciples where he warned Peter that he would deny him; He was betrayed to the authorities by one of His own disciples; the crowds began to fall away and finally, when He came before Pilate one final time, many who had followed now turned upon Him demanding his death!
Matt. 27:24 tells us that, “Pilate saw that unless he wanted a riot on his hands, he now had to bow to their wishes, so he took a pitcher of water, stood before the crowd, and washed his hands,” saying, “This man’s blood will be upon you and not upon me.
The crowds replied, “Indeed, let His blood be upon us – upon us and our children!”
Still missing who Jesus was, in light of their own expectations, they didn’t even know the significance of their own words. Indeed, Christ’s blood, spilled out on the cross, would be upon them and upon all future generations.
A covering for sin, bringing life to those who believe and accept Him, and death for those who reject Him.
Expectations caused the people to miss who Christ was just as expectations can cause us to miss “the best” that God has in store for us.
Today, Good Friday, this is what I’m thankful for:
- The blood of Jesus shed for me.
- Robes of righteousness that cover me even when I don’t always get it right.
- God teaching me AGAIN that I need to let go my own expectations and turn every part of my life over to Him . . . Yes, He has my heart but does he have my future, my hopes & dreams, my family, my everything, or am I still holding on . . . just a bit?
- Knowing that what God has planned for my future is far better than my own plans.
- Peace in knowing for certain that He is Sovereign God.
- Joy in walking with Him and learning new things daily . . . and an eternity of new truths to learn ahead of me still!
What are you thankful for?
Wishing you and yours an Easter weekend filled with awe as you experience anew, God’s great LOVE for YOU!
Blessings,
Photos taken at Mount Rainier National Park and Long Beach, Washington
I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Mondays Making Your Home Sing Mondays The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings A Proverbs 31 Wife Darling Downs Diaries The Art of Homemaking Mom2Mom Linkup
Tuesdays Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky Cornerstone Confessions Titus 2 Tuesday Teaching What is Good Time Warp Wife Solo Deo Gloria Sisterhood More of Him Testimony Tuesday
Wednesdays A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Juana Mikels Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays A Little R & R Whole Hearted Home So Much at Home Mom’s Morning Coffee Women with Intention
Thursdays Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays
3-D Lessons for Life/Thought Provoking Thursdays The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop I Choose Joy
Fridays A Look at the Book Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays Blessing Counters Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays Faith & Fellowship Bloghop Grace & Truth Linkup
Saturdays Still Saturday The Weekend Brew
Sundays Spiritual Sundays Sunday Stillness
