Lilacs, Tabletops and Minivans

Hi all!

We've got so much going on right now!  Sorry I haven't had time to post.

Our new grandbaby is due in a month and my daughter is slowing down.  We've been helping them find a new vehicle that they can fit their whole family in!

My husband recently built a table top for their kitchen table. Remember the chairs I sanded and painted in our entry hall?

Well, I also painted the base of the table and we're replacing the top.  We're hoping to have it done and put together next week and I 'll tell you how we did it.

I'm also making some changes in our dining room right now and should be able to show you next week. And a few other projects are in the works.... :D

The lilacs are finally in bloom here in Michigan and they're beautiful!

They make the whole house smell wonderful!  Growing up in Colorado, they have always been a favorite of mine.

Have a long, wonderful weekend!  I'll be back next week with a few finished projects!

love and blessings~

"Children are the heritage of the Lord; the fruit of the womb His reward." Psalm 127:3

Ears to Hear

More than 20 years ago I met a lovely young Christian woman who talked passionately about eating healthy, growing your own vegetables and God's plan for our health.  I remember listening to her and realizing that I wasn't really 'hearing' her.  Somewhere in my heart I knew she was right but I wasn't able to repent of my ways.  And I knew it.

But about 9 years ago, the Lord took me on a journey.  He told me to study 'light' both in the Word and in science.  And through that study, I began to understand what this woman was talking about and make changes in my life.

Jesus talks about having "ears to hear" (Matthew 11:15).  He often encountered people who could not 'hear' what He was saying.  I have learned, the hard way, that people often are not willing to hear what God is saying.  I have learned to listen to the Holy Spirit before ever speaking to someone what's on my heart.  I have learned that speaking before they're ready to hear can often cause their heart to harden.

I have often over the years asked God why He chooses to not reveal His Glory in more obvious ways. And one day He spoke to me and told me.

He told me that when He reveals Himself, people have two choices;  they can say, "Yes" or they can say, "No."  Because He knows their hearts, He chooses wisely to wait until they're ready to say, "Yes."

We need to follow this wisdom.  Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing and He only said what He heard the Father saying.  We need to listen carefully before we speak or act.

Often times I have wanted to share with people but stopping to ask My Father has caused me to remain silent.

But God also tells us that "the prayers of righteous avail much!" (James 5:16)  I like the Amplified version.  The earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working.)

Earnest, heartfelt, continued prayers can open ears!  Continued prayers can soften a heart and make a way for a person to 'hear' the love of the Holy Spirit.  And maybe you'll never get to say what's on your heart, but someday, somewhere, someone will share what was on your heart - what is on the Father's heart - and the person will 'hear.'

love and blessings~

Running with the Horses

After my post on my Tuesday,  I got looking around our house and realized there are so many things in our home that remind me of our faith in Christ.  But one of them may surprise you!

A few years ago, a beautiful Godly friend of mine began to be drawn to horses.  Over the years, she has shared with me several beautiful teachings that she's found about how the personalities and character of horses reflect submitting our hearts to God. These teachings so beautifully illustrate how sensitive horses are to their master's touch, how they submit their wild wills and become tame and bond with their owner and how a horse will risk their own lives to save the lives of their masters.

I think I have at least one of these teachings on a hard drive we have.  I just got a new laptop and am trying to figure out how to copy things over to it.  When I figure all this out, I will share more of these wonderful teachings.

But my friend's love of horses became my love of horses.  And every time I see a bold stallion, his mane being tossed in the wind, I think of being a wild warrior for God; completely submitted to His will, obedient to His gentlest command.

I had this picture above our fireplace for several months. I had replaced it with a mirror when I posted our family room a couple of months ago but lately, I've had it up again.

I've also put my little running horse back on the table.

My husband and I both grew up, met and married in Colorado. We still wear our cowboy boots and he still has his cowboy hats, so some of my love for horses comes from my childhood.  Lately, I've been gathering some other horsey things and trying to fit them into my decor.

I found this picture many years ago in a French Country Style book.  Recently, I found it again on the internet.  I just love this!

Here's my version - haha!  I think I'm going to have to decide if I like horses or gardens better!

I've been filling my French shopping basket with walking sticks.  I found this horse at HomeGoods.

I've also got these great....umm....what are these things?  I found them at our local antique store. Anyway, I really like them and keep thinking they'd look neat hung on the wall like this.  Maybe over a window?  Or somewhere in our entry hall.  So I carry them around a lot and hold them up and look at them but I haven't found a place for them yet.  lol

So, I don't know if horses are very French Country.  I love all the sheep and cows and dogs that so many bloggers have in their homes.  I have several cows too that my son's friends think are funny. (Is that cow hide rug made from that cow on the wall?) They obviously don't know anything about decorating!  :)

But I think my favorite are horses.

love and blessings~

 "The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Judges 6:12 

Joining these parties:
Savvy Southern Style
Home Remedies RX
French Country Cottage
the Charm of Home
Dwellings
Coastal Charm

God in Our Home

Blogland is made up of such a sweet bunch of people!  And you always have the nicest things to say. I appreciate every kind comment and also those that remain quiet when my ideas aren't great!  lol

But the comments that I have loved the most when people visit our home or my blog is that our home feels so peaceful and happy.  I'd like to think that you can 'see' God's presence in our home.

You've probably noticed that I have several things that have scripture on them around our house but I'd like to share with you some of the things in our home that have meaning to me and that reflect God's goodness to me.

I love this scripture.  Many may imagine God as a disciplinarian and He is, for our own good, because He loves us.  But He's also that Daddy that takes such joy in His children's accomplishments. This scripture always reminds me that God "likes" me.

I used to have 'the benediction' painted around our entry hall.  I loved knowing that people received a blessing every time they entered our home or left.  I've missed having it here since we redecorated.

You can also see the angel by our front door.  It's since been painted an antique white.

Sometimes I look at our entry hall and try to figure out how to have the Benediction in here again. For the time being it's reduced to this.

But almost every thing in my house has a spiritual meaning to me.  I'd like to share with you the reminders of God that are in our house that you may not realize.

One of my favorites is this picture of a door.  I bought this when we lived in Virginia and have always thought it was beautiful.

I really can't say why this seems like such a Godly picture to me.  It seems to hold a promise of an intimacy with God; of entering the Holy of Holies, of peace and joy in His garden.

 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20

I love it and am always happy when it works with my decorating.

I haven't shown you this picture before.  I'm sorry this photo is so bad.  It's very cloudy and rainy here today and I've been 'cheating' and using old photos.

It hangs in our hallway.  I'd like to get a frame for it.  It's two people thanking God for their food.  I love it because it's very French and very Godly.

You may have noticed the Fleur de Lis above our stove in our kitchen.

 A dear friend gave it to me because she knew how much I love these.  The Fleur de Lis represents the Trinity.

The three sheaves gathered together into one entity.  The French had this symbol on all their shields and swords as a tribute to their faith in God.

I have several more things I'd like to show you but it is so dark here today that I'm not able to get any good pictures. We're supposed to get some sunshine tomorrow and I'm hoping to get some good pictures and share some other things that I see as Godly in our home that may surprise you.

We're also working on a new table top for Laura's house and some other projects that I hope to share soon.

Have a wonderful day!

love and blessings~

 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,'  Matthew 28:19

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm joining these parties:
A Stroll Thru Life
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Cupcakes and Crinoline
Savvy Southern Style

Lots of Changes Coming!

Happy Friday!

I hope you're all surviving the wild Spring weather!  It's been relatively calm and very beautiful here in Michigan.

Our 18 year old son lives at home and is attending the nearby university.  He was a little guy once and his bedroom has been upstairs.  We've suggested a couple of times that he move to the basement bedroom and recently he made the decision to change his headquarters.

It makes a lot of sense. The only time any one goes in the basement right now is when my husband uses our weight room that's down there.

I made them a 'man-cave' and they're not using it!  :)

 There's a wet bar and mini-fridge, a pool table, a weight room - you would think it was a guy's paradise.

But the good news for me is that now my husband is going to move his office upstairs so that we have two guest rooms on our main floor.

And that means I get to put together a new guest room!

I have a great pair of twin headboards that Mark made a couple of years ago out of shuttered doors. And I have two twin beds put together in the basement to make a king-sized bed.  And I have a beautiful desk that I love and I haven't had a place for. So the only thing I'll need is a night stand. I've been planning this day for a while.  ;)

I've also been pinning guest rooms trying to decide what direction I'll go.

I think this is my favorite.  What a pretty combination - very soft lavender walls with lots of white. I can't tell what fabric the window treatment and dust ruffles are made out of but I love the color combination.  Of course, I don't have these wonderful beds which really 'make' the room!

I love this combination of beige and toile and this room has the same beautiful style of bed spreads.

The room below is Pamela Pierce.  I love the rolled up comforters and her signature beige and confit of pink roses.

This room is closer to the size of our very small room.  Beautiful simplicity.

I think I'm going to go very soft and neutral with not a speck of blue.

So in the next couple of weeks we'll be moving furniture up and down two flights of stairs.  And I'll be repainting a couple of rooms.  And we're still waiting for our new living room window.

Lots of fun changes!

Have a wonderful weekend!  love and blessings~

"Do not hesitate to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware."  Hebrews 13:2

I'm joining these parties:
A Stroll thru Life
CedarHill Farmhouse

Fake Hinges on Our French Shutters

Hi all!

I'm just dropping in with a short post today.

I mentioned yesterday that I was disappointed that we couldn't figure out how to get our gate hinges on our functioning shutters.

So about 2 o'clock this morning, I got an idea! I always hope when I wake up in the morning that I'll still remember what I thought of in the middle of night and I'm thankful that I did.

I have some left over foam board from a previous project.  I traced out the shape of one our hinges and then cut it out with a small utility knife.

I first tried painting it with black satin wall paint but it refused to dry.  So I got out my oiled bronze spray paint and tried it.

When it dried it looked metallic!  Perfect!  I also painted a few upholstery tacks that I have.

I put my foam board hinges on the shutter with the upholstery tacks and you honestly can't tell the difference!

So, you tell me....tacky or ingenious?

I'm happy!

love and blessings~

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17

French Shutters

I love our French Shutters that we added to our home a few years ago.  

When I originally began redecorating our main floor I made drapes for all the windows. The fabric I chose was a sand-colored faux silk. I spent a lot of time sewing yards and yards of drapes, lining every one, sewing a valance for the bay window and when I got all done I didn't like them.
At all.

When I made the change to shutters, I finally had the look I wanted.  I can't ever imagine going back to drapes and the wonderful thing about them is if I should ever change my color scheme, I can just paint my shutters.

These shutters sat on the floor for a few weeks before we got them hung.

Most of the shutters are nothing but bi-fold doors made for closets.  They come in three or four different sizes and I've used the widest ones in these rooms. I originally wanted my husband to help me build all the shutters but he looked so tired when I brought it up that I immediately dropped it. (It can be hard work for a husband to have a decorating/blogging wife!)

He did make the shutters that are in our bay window.  I couldn't find any other solution that had the exact dimensions to fit the window and I have never been surprised that I actually like them the best!

I recently added a handle to each side of these shutters.  I got these gate handles at Lowe's.

The only ones that are functional are the ones in the bay window and the windows flanking the fireplace.  The rest are decorative and we are still hoping to figure out a way to make them open and close easily.  The windows are so wide and the shutters are so heavy that the only way we think would work is to attach the original hardware for the bi-fold doors to the window frame.  We'll see. I'm happy with them the way they are right now.

The bay window is on the front of our house so we need privacy there at night.  The windows on either side of fireplace face the house next door and we also like to close them at night.

The shutters that are just decorative are all on the back of our house.  There's nothing behind us but rolling hills so I never worry about privacy. I have moved them by hand during the winter when it was really cold. The wonderful thing about all the shutters is that they keep the heat and the cold out so well.

The doors were already primed white. I started by painting them SW Interesting Aqua and the next lighter color on the paint swatch, Racing the Rain.  I would paint whole sections in each color always leaving some of the white showing through in places.  I wanted a very uneven look. When the two shades of blue had dried, I dipped a damp rag into SW Chateau Brown and rubbed it into the corners and edges, getting an antique, old look.

We added gates hinges to the outside shutters on each window.  They are also just decorative and don't function. We couldn't figure out how to get these to function because of the width of the shutters.

I was disappointed that we could not add the hinges to the shutters that function.  The shutters would not open and close all the way with them on. We were fortunate that these doors fit the width of these windows perfectly but I would love to see these hinges on them when they're open.

The decorative shutters are sitting on the floor but I have the right amount of shutters to actually close off each window.

Our shutters have dramatically changed the look of our house.  It's much brighter without any drapes or valances and I love rustic feel it gives to our house, balancing out the feminine colors and furniture.

Our son's bedroom is upstairs and has a very large window facing South and he's asked dad to put a shutter on it to keep out the summer sun.

love and blessings~

"I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth."  Psalm 89:1

Bi-fold doors - Menard's (they are significantly cheaper at Menard's than at Lowe's)
Hinges and handles- Lowe's (Menard's did not have them)
Paint Color - SW Interesting Aqua, SW Racing the Rain, and SW Chateau Brown

I'm joining these linky parties:
Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
Common Ground
From My Front Porch to Yours
Stone Gable
Home Remedies RX
French Country Cottage
Dwellings