"The Heartfelt Home" DIY,Sewing, Decorating, Crafts, Cooking, Sentimental, Homeschooling

39 Celebrations For My 39th Year

2012-02-10T09:56:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago the girls and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with some friends. We always enjoy an afternoon with friends and were excited for days leading up to it, little did I know that I had even more reason to be excited about it. That afternoon is going to shape the next year of my life! I love when I can pin point exact moments that change life for the better. Are you curious yet? It is not a revolutionary idea but the simplicity is what makes it so perfect. Our, my dear friend April and I, simple idea is to intentionally celebrate our 39th year with 39 things. April came up with the idea (she and I both turn 39 this year), her thought is that if 40 is “over the hill” then 39 is the top of the hill. We both feel that this really is a special time in our lives, we are not old enough to be longingly looking back but we are old enough to not be waiting on the next thing …..drivers license, graduation, college, marriage, babies, etc. This time like no other is a place of freedom and contentment, I have never felt more secure in who God made me to be or more at peace with His calling on my life and this

I Want To Celebrate

I want to share my list with you and hope that you will make your own, no matter what year this is.

I am starting this 39th year with great expectation and excitement.

1. The Pearl Event---My precious friend Sibi is putting on the beautiful event and I am honored to go. She planned it on my 39th birthday so what an amazing way to kick of my year of celebration. I can not wait to be in the room with each of these godly women, I can not wait to see God move in the lives of each and every lady there, I can not wait to stand in a room with 200 women and praise The One True God, I can not wait to hear stories of grace, I can not wait to here how Our God saves, heals and redeems, I can not wait to meet new people, I can not wait to make new friends. I CAN NOT WAIT!

Friendship is something I place great value in. I want to invest deeply in those who make my life richer so I have decided that 12 of the celebrations on my list will be about doing just that. Each month I want to have friends into our home and share a meal with them so numbers 2-13 will be for each month.

2. March

3. April

4. May

5. June

6. July

7. August

8. September

9. October

10. November

11. December

12. January

13. February

Marriage is HUGE priority in this phase of my life. The girls are not as needy, now that they are older, and I have more free time to really invest in my husband. I plan to commit more time and effort into making it special, treating it like the thing of GREAT VALUE that it is.

14. & 15. Two weekends without kids

16. Once per week date nights. This does not mean we will be getting a sitter and going out each week but just setting aside time for the two of us with a plan and with no kids.

17. Have a picture made with just Jeremy. Like most couples we haven’t had our picture taken with just the two of us since our wedding. I have a plan for this picture and can’t wait to have it done in the fall.

18. Buy some pretty pajamas. I know my husband has to get tired of seeing me in faded yoga pants and big holey t-shirts.

The next section is about our “haven” or lack there of at the moment. Our master bedroom and bath are the most forgot and neglected rooms in our home. They are the dumping ground for all the things that I like but do not know what to do with……so these things sit in piles waiting in my bedroom. I have decided this has gone on for far to long, almost 14 years to be exact. So this year our bedroom and bathroom are top priority.

19. Sand, chalk, prime and paint all the trim in the bedroom and paint the walls

20. Make drapes, dust ruffle, pillows and roman shades

21. Build and paint bookcase wall

22. Sand, prime and paint furniture and lamps

23. Sand, chalk, prime and paint trim in bathroom and paint walls

24. make shower and window curtains

I want to have more fun as a family this year. I had a “wake up call” not too long ago when I is realized my oldest girl could only have 6 more summer vacations with us before she moves on to her life. I don’t know about you but that got this momma’s attention.

25. Ride roller coasters with my family

26. Have my toes in the sand at the beach, enjoying my favorite place in the world with my favorite people.

27. Family camping trip in a tent ( I will miss my travel trailer but will praise God that it is gone)

28. Spend Christmas in the great state of Louisiana with family celebrating Christ

29. Have once per month family game nights. Let the girls help plan them.

30. Have family pictures made

31. Learn to can with my grandmother and dad

This last section is more personal and all about ME, ME, ME!

32. Read the Bible in chronological order. I have never done this and do not easily put times together in my head so I am excited to read the Bible this way.

33. Start prayer journaling – again.

34. Lose 10 pounds. I would love it to be more but I want to pick a number that I am confident I can do because this list is about celebrating, ha.

35. Run a 5k,

36. Find a new perfume, I am very picky about fragrances and have a hard time finding ones I like. I still like my standard one but want something new.

37. Get a new camera lens. Since getting my camera two years ago I have spent more time taking pictures than ever before in our lives. This entire last year I have taken pictures only in manual and have started (baby steps) to understand how cameras work. I have a passion for taking pictures that I never knew was inside of me. The camera lens is my sweet husbands idea and his gift to me. He has watched me fall in love with photography and encouraged me and taken places just so I could take a picture. I am blessed to have someone know me so well and want me to have the desires of my heart.

38. & 39. are very private and personal so I will not be putting them in print.

As I finish each of these I plan to write about them and mark them off of my list.

How To Makeover a Lampshade

2012-01-11T20:21:00.001-05:00

A few weekends ago Hubby and I got to sneak away and enjoy some kid free time = BLISS. The man still makes my heart melt, oh that is not what we are here to talk about, sorry. While out Junkin' I found the perfect lampshade and by perfect I mean a beautiful shape but a little beat up and dirt cheap. It was perfect for me though because I have been looking for the perfect shade to do a little DIY magic on. You see I have had a vision of a modern glam floating around in my head for months but I could not find a shade to try it on, either they were new and $$$$ or crazy shapes but this one was perfect. To get start I grabbed a can of gold metallic spray paint and headed for the front yard because that is where all classy people do their spray painting.

I spray painted the inside of the shade and I was sooooooo happy with what I saw I went inside and grab another shade to do the same thing to.

The second shade took a few extra coats of paint due to the design on the inside.

Once the paint dried I brought them inside and the next part of the fun began!!!!

I covered the outside of the shades with a cream silk fabric, it was very easy just spray a little adhesive to the shade and turn.

Spray, turn, spray, turn you get the idea.

Once to entire shade was covered I took a razor knife and trimmed the edges of the fabric (not my finger-thank goodness).

Folded the edge under and glued it down.

For the top and bottom edge I use bias tape to add a pop of color and interest.

I simply glued it on using the fold as my guide.

I did the other shade the same way.

I am having a hard time showing you much of this lamp without revealing another project that is still in the works.

But here is the first lamp in all of its modern glam.

Is she not beautiful? I love her!

The gold peeking out is just perfection

and the glow, well the glow is just the best thing.

I am so happy that I have awesome lamps to keep my newly made over sofa company.

Cha Cha

Monday

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2012-01-04T07:24:00.001-05:00

Good Morning,

Hope you are all staying warm.

I just wanted to stop in and let you all know that I have started a photo blog, I do NOT expect everyone to want to run over and follow along but if you would like a peek into our behind the scenes life this would be a great place to get it. Today I did post about the sweetest love note that Faith wrote to Hubby and I. You can see it here

Reupholstering a Sofa

2012-01-01T15:14:00.001-05:00

30+ years later a decorating dream of mine has finally come true.

See this sweet well loved (worn) sofa, it sat at my grandparents for years. From the first time I saw it I have been in love with it. My grandmother saved it for me and a few years ago we loaded it up and brought it to our house. I quickly found the perfect fabric to cover it in and bought it. Then the fear set in……fear of trying to recover it myself and not being able to and fear of paying someone huge amounts of money and not being happy with what they do. So it sat and sat. Until the week of Thanksgiving when I sweet talked my hubby into trying to recover it with me.

The first step was to move it to the basement, easy enough, ha.

Then we got busy doing what turned out to be the hardest part of the whole process-removing all the staples.

It took hours

and many blisters to get to this point.

From here things started getting easier (are you as shocked as we where?). We just started laying the fabric out smooth and stapling around the edges. Piece of Cake.

I cover the staples with fabric glue and gimp and there you have it.

A dream come true

I wish I had tried it sooner and not lived in fear.

Do you have any projects you are putting off because of fear?

Cha Cha

Monday

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Extreme Junkin’

2011-12-28T15:10:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago Hubby and I got to escape for the weekend. We are so blessed to have great friends who planned the perfect weekend for us. One of our days was spend doing some extreme junkin’. I thought I would share the pictures. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T09:50:00.001-05:00

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-16T08:47:00.001-05:00

Do you ever wonder what people are like in real life? Well, this year's Christmas card is a good clue to what our family is like.

Yes, we are odd, goofy, silly, foolish, nonsensical ......you get the idea.

Can we still be friends?

Christmas Décor 2011

2011-12-15T07:43:00.001-05:00

Simple

That was the goal for this year’s Christmas décor. I have already shown you my simple mantel. Today I thought I would share the rest of the decorations.

The girls did all the tree decorating excepted the top part, they did such a great job.

I am excited to be finished shopping and have everything wrapped, ahhhhh!

The girls made gingerbread houses this week, Faith did the one on the right and Grace the one on the left.

If you look close you will see that the gingerbread has been put back together with hot glue. When we opened the boxes they were both in crumbles.

And no Christmas is complete without His presence.

The birth of Christ our Savior, that is really worth a celebration!

A few spray painted and glittered thrift store finds brighten the bookcases.

Hanging this Merry Christmas sign from the lamp shade is one of my favorite ideas this year.

The kitchen is normally where I go all out for Christmas, not this year.

There is no tree, no jars full of candy, no fun garland, no candy wreaths but yet I still love how it turned out.

Maybe simple really is better.

I wish this said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays but it was a dollar on clearance and the colors are perfect.

Speaking of perfect colors, I found this tablecloth after Christmas last year at Kmart and I head over heels with it.

Perfect colors, perfect vintage vibe, LOVE IT.

And last a kitchen towels made from scraps of fabric and a few buttons.

That is our décor this year- much more simple than many and more extravagant than most in the world.

We are blessed and thankful this Christmas season.

Thankful for all we have, but mostly thankful for the one thing that can never be taken from us

ULTIMATE PEACE

found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

He is the reason for this season.

Cha Cha

Braces

2011-12-14T12:51:00.001-05:00

Look what Grace got today!

One more milestone

over and done with.

Time goes too fast.

Cha Cha

Christmas Mantel 2011

2011-12-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

Well Hello There Stranger!

I have been enjoying life with my family, creating memories that I hope will last longer than this Christmas season. I wanted to stop in today and show you all my Christmas mantel.

I decided to keep it very simple this year.

I have had the reindeers for years but gave them a quick facelift with some white spray paint for this year. I am loving the fresh clean look they have now.

I made the stocking last year and they still bring a smile to my face. You can see them here.

But my favorite part of the mantel in the wreath. I made it with magnolia leaves from my yard and holly leaves from my grandmother’s yard. It is the perfect sentimental touch for my Christmas Mantel.

Hope you are all enjoying your time together with family and friends during this most special time of year.

Cha Cha

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Southern Hospitality

Sentimental Sunday #43, Roller Picks

2011-11-20T16:23:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Sentimental Sunday, my favorite day of the week. The day we all gather together and share what we are sentimental about. It can be anything from an item in your home passed down by a special someone or just a few sweet words about something that has touched your heart this week, the goal is to take a moment and reflect.

Today I am sentimental about these roller picks, odd huh?

Most of yesterday Hubby and I spent the day stripping and recovering a sofa that my grandmother gave us. We still have plenty of work to do on it but that is another story for another day. Today I want to talk about what we found deep down in the bowels of the sofa….Yep, the roller picks. Not a single penny or dime but 13 roller picks. You see my grandmother spent many evenings sitting on the sofa rolling her hair. I spent many a childhood night sitting and watching her do this night time ritual. She rolled each strand of hair with great care and patience, the same way she does everything. I have learned many things from watching her example. Today I am happy to be reminded of my sweet grandmother and to stop and be thankful for the lesson learned from her.

So what are you sentimental about today?

Cha Cha

Fall Decorations

2011-11-17T06:56:00.001-05:00

Thought I would share some pictures of what our house looks like decorated for fall. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, Ha.

I have to share them quick before I start taking it down next week. For now the house is in a confused state with a crazy mix of fall and Christmas décor, not to mention all the totes for taking down fall and putting up Christmas.

I think next year I want to find a way to decorate for fall that flows seamlessly into Christmas.

Anyone have an idea for how to do that?

I have found that starting early for Christmas makes the season less hectic and more enjoyable.

I want to be very intentional about the time we have with the girls still in our home.

And not spend it rushing

or us not doing things because there is no time left.

They each love the Christmas traditions that we do and have been playing Christmas music for weeks.

I am wondering how a post that started out about fall decorations has turned into a post about Christmas with my girls.

My mind is a crazy place….understatement of the year !

Any way I love the fall décor in my house.

But I am so ready for the glitz and glam of Christmas decorating.

And more importantly I am ready for what Christmas is all about….

The birth of the One who has the power to change lives. I am more thankful for that than anything.

Cha Cha

Salt Dough Ornaments and Gift Tags

2011-11-13T21:11:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to share a great Christmas craft project today. Salt dough ornaments and gift tags. For pennies you can make a great gift for your family and friends. I am using the ones my girls and I made as gift tags that the recipients can later use as an ornament.

All you need to get started is

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 water

1,2,3 easy peasy!!!

Toss it all in the mixer for a few minutes.

Once it is all combined

Kneed until smooth

I separated mine, so each girl could have one.

Roll the dough ball out on wax paper

Now for the fun part….

Grab a doily and press it into the dough with the rolling pin.

When you lift the doily off you will be left with a beautiful pattern.

Next grab a cookie cutter and cut out your ornaments.

Remove the dough from around your ornament shapes, lift and

place on a cookie sheet and poke a hole with a straw.

Cook at 200 degrees for 5-6 hours.

Take them out and let them cool.

Paint them white, start with the back. After the back is dry, paint the front.

After the paint is dry apply glue to the front.

While the glue is still wet sprinkle with glitter.

Lightly wipe off the top, so that the glitter only sticks in the grooves.

After the glitter and glue has dried seal with a spray sealer.

Write on the back who the gift is to and from and run a ribbon through the hole.

Hang from your gift.

And give to your friends and family.

A simple gift that will become sentimental in the years to come.

Cha Cha

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Sentimental Sunday #42, A Spa Day

2011-11-13T14:49:00.001-05:00

This morning Faith had it in her mind that she was going to pamper her sister and I.

She setup our bathroom as a spa.

Complete with robes, towels, bowls of soapy water for soaking, and extra seating.

She also made sure we had a bundle of magazines to choose from.

She soaked and dried each of our feet, filed out nails

and even put a base coat of polish on before

adding the color.

She did a great job and made sure we enjoyed everything.

Did I mention she had our polish lined up so we could pick our color.

What do you think, should we buy more nail polish?

In the end this is what my freshly painted toenails look like. I loved spending the morning locked up in the ~~bathroom~~ spa with my two girls. I am so proud of Faith and her desire to serve us, I am honored to be her mother.

So what are you sentimental about this week?

Cha Cha

Versatile Blogger

2011-11-09T11:52:00.001-05:00

My sweet friend Melissa from

Gave me the

The rules for this award are:

Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award
Share 7 things about yourself
Send it to 15 other bloggers and let them know you have awarded them!

7 things about me...

Well this is the hard part, I can not imagine any 7 things you would want to know about me – HA.

1. We do not have cable or dish TV, anything we watch comes on Netflix

2. I grew up riding horses – western

3. I HATE large groups of people, totally freaks me out, I am much better one on one or in small groups

4. I live in the house I grew up in. My parents and sister are my neighbors

5. My hidden talent is hoopla hooping

6. My favorite place to be is sitting in the sand with waves touching my toes, I have tried to get bored with this but never have

7. I am a very black or white, wrong or right person. The gray areas in life confuse me.

Okay, that proves it ….

I am boring!

This has me thinking, is there anything you would like to know about me?

If so leave it in the comments or send me an email and I will try my best to answer.

Thank you Melissa for passing this award on to me.

I will be sending emails to 15 other people that I nominate.

Cha Cha

A Thankful Table

2011-11-07T09:02:00.001-05:00

This morning I thought I would share our Thanksgiving Table with you.

We made a Thankful Tree again this year. It is a super simple project to make.

All you need are some braches from the yard, I spray painted mine white.

Cut some simple leaf shapes from scrapbook paper, gather twine to hang them with and markers to write on them and you are set.

I put my braches into floral foam and covered it with moss but it work in a vase like I did last year just as well.

We each write what we are thankful for everyday on a leaf and then hang the leaves on the tree. I can not wait to see the tree full on

Thanksgiving Day

I save the leaves from year to year so we can look back on them and see what was on our hearts in the years before.

Our tablecloth this year is one I started working on Thanksgiving Day last year. I had each person at Thanksgiving dinner sign the tablecloth and then I hand embroidered over each name, you can see where I got my idea here. For the to smallest kids we traced around their hands. Imagine my shock when I opened my Country Living Magazine this month to find a story of a mother who had done this for years. I can’t wait to see mine all full of names and years of love and memories of time spent together with family and friends. My heart aches and my eyes are full of tears just thinking of this. One day this will be a gift for generations of family to come that I am intentionally making today. My hope is that they will see it as a legacy of love and thankfulness and be proud to be apart of this family God has placed them in.

This corner is a beautiful start.

So do you do anything special with your Thanksgiving Table?

Cha Cha

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Sentimental Sunday #41, Vintage Suitcases

2011-11-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

This week I am sentimental about my vintage suitcases.

When I revealed out School Room last year I got tons of questions about where I found them and the answer is …

I do not remember a time without them in my life (because they have always been there, ha). Growing up my family used these and a blue set each time we traveled. Then at some point as an adult I took ownership of them. Now they store extra books and craft supplies. I love that something that has served me my entire life is still working hard.

What are you Sentimental about this week?

Feel free to link up.

Cha Cha

Funky Junk Interiors

Fall Mantel

2011-10-31T12:17:00.001-04:00

I am finally getting around to showing off my Fall mantel. I have to say it is my favorite ever….but I say that every time I change the mantel. I think I might just like change and that is why the next one is always my favorite, ha.

This mantel update is more that just a switch of décor so be sure to scroll down to the end so you can see the before and after and a little how to.

Fall is the best time of year for this mantel because the room is decorated in green and orange already. You can see it on the drapes.

This sweet little carnival glass dish was a gift from client years ago. I love it’s orange shimmeriness (yes I made up that word, at least I think I did, I am definitely taking credit for it).

I made the corn husk wreath last year and it is still the star of the show.

I am head over heels for my extra large lantern. What do you think of it?

The small lantern is pretty sassy herself.

Yes, I love brass and I know most of you will tell me it is outdated but I am going with ….

I am ahead of the design curve.

Our fireplace is one we use everyday during the winter and I am so thankful to have it and the wood to burn. So not only is pretty but it is functional.

Here is a picture of the before, I loved the wood part of the mantel but the dark wood just gets lost on the bricks.

The wood piece also causes problems, it wasn’t deep enough to set stuff on and there was not enough room for the mirror (see how it is resting on the trim). So I sweet talked my Hubby and we got busy making a new piece of wood.

We cut a rough sawn piece of lumber to size. BTW this a piece we had so no dollars spent is NICE.

I got busy sanding it just enough to knock of the roughest edges and then painted it. We love the way it turned out and the extra width and height it gave us.

Did you recognize what my lanterns are?

Yeah, that is right they are 80’s rejected light fixtures.

All you have to do is screw the lighting part out and pull the cord through and you are done.

So for $3.00 I have cool lanterns, much better than paying the $80 for the the Moroccan style one I originally wanted.

And After! Much better right?

Okay that is all for now, hope you are having a blessed Fall day.

Cha Cha

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Pride and Jealousy

2011-10-24T09:56:00.000-04:00

Testing ….

1 ….

2 ….

3 ….

anybody still out there?

Sorry I haven’t been here in awhile. I have had a few things I needed to work out in my heart and head. Have you ever been there? I started the 31 days series fully confident that I could write for all 31 days, I even have most of the post written (in my head, ha!) and the other days I know what I was going to write about just not the approach I was going to take. I am sure most - if not all - of it will end up here in time. I still believe in what I had to say.

For today though I am going to try and give you a glimpse of what I have been struggling with.

So here it goes….

Pride and Jealousy

Two ugly words that can do a number on a girls heart and head.

Have you been there?

My story starts from a struggle of insecurity, this has been a life long struggle for me and one I have to give to God over and over again to be free. The past 8 months or so I have mostly struggled with insecurity over my online shop ( I am purposefully not including a link here, this post is not about getting a sell). It is very hard to move forward with an idea that you believe God planted in your heart/mind and it not be successful, monetarily speaking. I have prayed about it over the months, moved the shop to where I thought it would do better, paid for advertising, given away countless amounts of product, and even participated in craft fairs. All for nothing or what seemed like nothing to me. So I had become frustrated and defeated. This story would be bad enough if it ended there but unfortunately it did not! I let it get uglier, I played the comparison game – yuck I know. I would look at other peoples products and put theirs down so I could feel better about myself (pride is NOT pretty) and I would be jealous of their success.

I felt hurt and forgotten by God.

Stick with me here, I know at this point I am not very likable. I am not sharing all of this so you will not like me or for you to feel sorry for me. I am sharing it because if there is anyone else out there struggling with this and they can find their way back to God and hope because of my honesty…. then it is worth it to me to show my less that perfect self.

First you should know I have spent much time in Bible study over the years and have overcome many areas of insecurity (so I know God to be faithful in this area) but there are times when it has snuck back in. This is one of those times, once I realized what it was I did the only thing I know to do.

I turned to God, I prayed for forgiveness for my pride and jealousy and confessed all the ugly thoughts and words I had about others. Then I spent time in the Bible studying

-Again-

Who I Am In Christ Jesus

and that His plan and timing are perfect.

Today, I write this from a new place. I am happy for others success and I know that God has a plan for me and that I just need to lean in close to Him and He will take care of the rest. I am excited for whatever He has for me and no longer wishing for what others have. That is their story NOT mine.

Source: None via Romi on Pinterest

Now you know the good the bad and the ugly!

If I didn’t scare you off and you want to talk about it more leave me a comment or send me an email

TheHeartfeltHome@gmail.com

I would love to hear from you.

Day 9 of 31 Days to a Heartfelt Home, Sentimental Sunday #40 Time Goes By Too Fast

2011-10-09T08:35:00.000-04:00

Today I am sentimental about how fast time is passing by. See those two girls up there. Somewhere in my head they are still little girls. Not 1/2 an inch shorter than me like Grace is. And how is it that I am only a head taller then Faith. Where has the time gone. I miss little girls giggles and the toddler run. When I saw this picture I was shocked at how Big they are. It made me start thinking about how soon they will really be grown. At 12 Grace is over half way to an adult and Faith is already 8. This makes me want to slow things down and be more intentional about spending time with them. I want to enjoy every day I have left with them in our house. I am so honored to be their mother.

Today I plan to spend the day loving on these two.

So what are you sentimental about this week?

Grab the button below and link up.

Day 8 of 31 Days, Service

2011-10-08T05:35:00.001-04:00

Why do we not service one another?

Can we see the homeless person and only feel their pain if we have been homeless?

Can we see the mother struggling through the store with three small kids and feel her exhaustion only if we have been there?

Can we notice the confused/lost older lady and feel compassion for her forgetfulness and lack of understanding only if we have been there?

I think NOT!

It helps to have gone through the same things that someone else has and there is a wisdom that having walked that path brings. But there are plenty of people who have been through things and never look back to help others. So, I ask again, why don’t we serve others?

I have a feeling that it comes most of the time from a brokenness inside of us. A lie we continue to believe. We choose to believe that we are not fully and extravagantly loved and so we have nothing left to give. I am talking about a heart belief here not a head belief. The type of heart belief that causes you to continually need to eat too much, buy too much, date the wrong guy, pick the wrong friends, hide in social settings, or need to always be the center of attention. The type of belief that has become so much a part of who you are that you do not even recognize it as wrong. This lie stops us from understanding God’s full and complete love for us. That we are His chosen creation, His daughter that he heaps gifts onto out of His adoration for us. His favored child. Until we are full aware of that love He has for us we are left with a gapping hole that we are constantly trying to fill. Which leaves no room for overflow to spill over to others. If we are not actively loving others I think we have to stop and ask ourselves what area am I still empty of God in. Where are you still holding onto words or actions from your past that are keeping you from being whole today? What man means for harm, God means for profit. Bring those hurts and disappointments to Him, find healing in Him, know His extravagant love in a way that is so overwhelming that it can’t help but flow out of you onto others. You will not be able to stop yourself from naturally serving in your daily life because you are whole and you want that so desperately for everyone you come into contact with.

I desperately want that for each of you. Please let me know if there is an area I can pray for you.

Day 7 of 31 Day to a Heartfelt Home, Hands on Homeschool Day #1

2011-10-07T07:56:00.001-04:00

My idea for Hands On Homeschool Day is to spend time learning with my kids not at the school desk. I have a goal for doing at least one thing per week. It could be a craft, a nature walk, a science experiment, a trip to a museum, learning a new skill. I want to create memories and to let them learn about things that interest them. I hope to continue posting about this once a week even after the 31 days are over. I was even thinking of turning it into a link party. Would you join in?

This week for Hands On Homeschool I am going to share some pictures from our trip to the beach. Faith has wanted to be a vet since she was 3 year's old and loves all creatures. The beach was the perfect place for her to observe new animal life. She had me taking pictures or every creature she could find and now wants copies of all the pictures so she can put them in her book and write about them. I love this kid, and if she does become a vet I plan to give her all these books she is putting things in on her graduation day.

What have you done with you kids to created memories recently?

Day 5 of 31 Days to a Heartfelt Home, Spend Time with Each Child

2011-10-05T09:08:00.000-04:00

Something that is key to having a Heartfelt Home is really knowing the people in it. A great way to learn about each member of the family is to spend time one on one doing things they enjoy. This can be a night out to get a pedicure (I have girls) or as simple as reading a book out loud while snuggled up on the sofa. It is not the where or the amount of money spent, it is the time and effort invested. I know with busy schedules things like this can fall through the cracks and be left undone. This happens at our home far more than I care to admit. My solution is to put it on the calendar. Decide how often you want to do this and how much money, if any, you want to spent. Once you have made those decisions put it on the calendar because you know as well as I do that once the kids see it they will not let you forget. Our goal is once a month to do something out of the house with money spent. We rotate monthly which child is with the parent. Also we want to make time to do something small once a week. These will be the times we play pretend or cards, download music, read a book or teach a sewing lesson. Things that require no money and can be done from home. This small step to knowing your child better will grow your relationship in beautiful ways. They get all of your attention and have an assurance of your love and that you are available to them. My love and availability are two of the things I want my children to never doubt so they can be secure of their place in our family.

Do you have special "dates" with your kids?

I would love to hear about them.

31 Days to a Hearfelt Home - Day 4, Marriage

2011-10-04T05:53:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day I am going to talk about having a good marriage and it's importance to having a Heartfelt Home. I have an amazing marriage! Don't get me wrong we still fuss from time to time but ultimately we want the same things so we can get over it. We have not always been in this place in our marriage (I tell you this only to give you hope if you are struggling also), we will both tell you that there have been times when it seemed that we might not make it. So what changed? The most important thing that changed was becoming intentional about putting God first in our lives and becoming active members in church, not just Sunday morning pew warmers. Please know I am not saying you have to work to come to God, we were/are secure in our salvation, you must start there - if you have any questions about this please email me, I would love to talk with you. I believe anytime you are serving God, from the right place in your heart, with someone you can not help but become closer. I saw this illustration years ago and it has always been such a powerful visual aid for me.

Source: stugray.com via Cha Cha on Pinterest

The closer we each become to God the closer we become to each other. So by putting God first in my life my marriage is now better. God's desire is for families isfor them to stay together and will plant like visions in both hearts if they will come to Him.

If you are struggling in your marriage take that hurt and pain to God, he can heal it and give you a new love for your husband---a love that is strong and endless.

A husband and wife who love God and but Him first are the best way to a Heartfelt Home.

If you would like to see all of the series you can click here to see day one and then click on each following day at the bottom of day 1's post

31 Days to a Heartfelt Home - Day 3, Quiet Time

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

I can not imagine where my life or home would be without God. My desire is for Him to come first in my life. Let's be honest though, in this crazy busy world that is an easy desire to lose sight of. For me the only way to make sure that does not happen is to be very intentional about having a daily quiet time with God. I set my alarm each morning for somewhere between 4 and 5am. I know that is scary early to some of you, that doesn't have to be your time. You just need A TIME! I get up while my house is still quiet and before my brain is fully aware of the demands of the day. I pour a cup of coffee, curl up in my favorite spot and I meet God. I have been intentional about this time for over 8 years now and I know because of that I am changed. I think back to the person I was and I can honestly tell you I would not have the family, friends, and life that I have without it. The person I was did not deserve the husband mine has become or the friends that I have made. Because I chose to put God first He has first changed me and after the people around me started to change. My prayer is always Lord change me (or almost always, I still mess up).

During much of my morning quiet time I sit in awe of all my Savior has done for me. He did everything by dying on the cross so all that I have to do is say yes to Him. Reflecting on and feeling that kind love cannot help but change a person. I am still so struck by the fact that He loved me, my selfish self, enough to die. That there was or is nothing that I can do to make Him love me more. I hope you know His love and that you will be intentional about spending time with the One Who Truly Loves You.

To follow along with all of this series click here to start with day 1 and then follow the links at the bottom of the post for the other days.

"*The Heartfelt Home*" DIY,Sewing, Decorating, Crafts, Cooking, Sentimental, Homeschooling

39 Celebrations For My 39th Year

How To Makeover a Lampshade

Reupholstering a Sofa

Extreme Junkin’

Merry Christmas 2011

Christmas Card 2011

Christmas Décor 2011

Braces

Christmas Mantel 2011

Sentimental Sunday #43, Roller Picks

Fall Decorations

Salt Dough Ornaments and Gift Tags

Sentimental Sunday #42, A Spa Day

Versatile Blogger

A Thankful Table

Sentimental Sunday #41, Vintage Suitcases

Fall Mantel

Pride and Jealousy

Day 9 of 31 Days to a Heartfelt Home, Sentimental Sunday #40 Time Goes By Too Fast

Day 8 of 31 Days, Service

Day 7 of 31 Day to a Heartfelt Home, Hands on Homeschool Day #1

Day 5 of 31 Days to a Heartfelt Home, Spend Time with Each Child

31 Days to a Hearfelt Home - Day 4, Marriage

31 Days to a Heartfelt Home - Day 3, Quiet Time

"The Heartfelt Home" DIY,Sewing, Decorating, Crafts, Cooking, Sentimental, Homeschooling