More Updates of Our Family Room

Hi all!

I hope you're all having a wonderful day!  We are finally seeing the light at the end of our frozen tunnel here in Michigan!  Come on, Spring!

Our family room is where I spend most of my time.  The bay window on the left faces the front of our house and gets the warm Southern sun.  It makes this room very bright and pleasant during the day but makes it hard to photograph.

I used to have a seat cushion in this window with lots of pillows but after we replaced our curtains with these rustic shutters the pillows got in the way when I wanted to close them each night.  I've enjoyed having the window filled with plants this winter.

The shovel and rake on the left are from Ballard.  My family says they look like a knife and fork - but they're wrong! Right?! :)  The thing? on the right is from a local antique store.  Anyone know what this is?

The lovely lady at the shop said she thought it was made around 1800 and she guessed it was used to take bread out of the oven... but wouldn't it burn?  And wouldn't the center board get in the way?  I would love to hear what you think! Whatever it is - I love it!

I got this beautiful azalea topiary at Meijer's, a nearby store.  It has been a piece of Spring throughout the long winter. The tile that's in this window is perfect for plants.  I had my herb garden here but it got so cold this winter that I had to move it to a warmer spot.  I'm hoping to move it back soon as I like to have it close to the kitchen.

You can also see my shutters that Mark made in this picture.  I love them and they've been great this winter at holding out the cold.

We took the leather and glass top off this table and Mark made a rustic wood top for me.  I white-washed it and think it's so much better.  I love the wrought iron base and the white top makes it feel so much fresher.

I've had a couple of different things above the fireplace since I last blogged but I think this one's a keeper!  I got this mirror at Joss&Main for $45!  The first time it arrived the mirror had gotten broken in shipping.  I contacted them and they immediately shipped another one.  This one arrived in perfect condition.  (I gave the other one to my daughter, Laura, and she painted it to match her decor and made it into a chalkboard!)  

Originally, the trim and scroll work was a chippy beige and it just looked dirty up against my white walls so I got out the paint brush and made it match.  I love the way the dark wood background ties in the dark finishes of our furniture in this room.

I was concerned when I ordered this mirror that it would reflect something I didn't want to see all the time but from this angle you see the plant shelf that's across the room (above the kitchen) and the chandelier. And when you're sitting on the couch all you see is the white of the ceiling.  Good and good!

I have painted the walls in this room twice since we've lived here and this is always the fun part.  I have to climb up a 10' ladder and then sit on this plant shelf to reach up to the ceiling.  

When I did this a couple of years ago, I panicked, and could not move to stick my leg off the shelf and find the ladder.  By the grace of God, I had my cell phone in my pocket and I called my husband, who was in the garage, and he came and got me down!  The paint job is not perfect but I can't convince myself to get up there again and touch up.  lol

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back in a few days with one of our favorite recipes.  Have a great day and think Spring!  

love and blessings~

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 

I am the Righteousness of God through Christ Jesus!

My daughter was still a little girl when she asked me one day, "Mom, what's your favorite Bible verse?"  Instantly my mind swirled with all the beautiful scripture that I knew, the way God had spoken to me in special circumstances with each one and how it would be impossible to pick  a favorite.  It would be like picking a favorite love song or a favorite day in my life. 

Because a Bible verse isn't just a Bible verse - it's a moment with God.

But the next day I told her that I thought I had picked one.

"He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

The whole story of mankind summed up in one verse.  God made Jesus, who was perfect and Holy and who knew NO sin to BECOME SIN for us so that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD through Him!  Mind-boggling!

God hung on a cross and became sin to pay mankind's debt and because of the life-blood that He shed, I have become 'the righteousness of God!'

I remember the first time I realized what this verse was saying.

I have had a wonderful book for the last 30 years called, "Prayers That Avail Much"  compiled by Germaine Copeland.  I'm on my 5th copy.  My previous 4 copies literally fell apart because I had used them so much.  It's simply the Word of God grouped into topics for you to pray over yourself.  I finally bought the 25 year anniversary copy that's bound in leather like a Bible and holds up much better.

But shortly after having this book I came across a prayer that had 2 Cor 5:21 turned around to first person.  And the first time I tried to say, "I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus,"  I couldn't do it.  I sat there dumbfounded.  Could that be right?  Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, I am now the righteousness of God?  It took me a while and some tears, but I finally got it.

A moment with God.

I finally understood that because of my Saviour Jesus, I am a new and perfect creature in the covenant of Christ.  I am clothed in a robe of righteousness. Because of His sacrifice and my acceptance, I am washed clean and made whole.  When God looks at me, He does not see my sin. Instead He sees the sacrifice of Jesus that I've accepted.

And when the enemy looks at me, He's blinded by the light of Jesus.  When I speak out the Word of God it comes with power and blinding light and it destroys the works of the evil.  I am God's mouth-piece on this earth. It's like the song says - "Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done.  Not because of what I've done, but because of Who You are."  (Chris Tomlin)

And now I remind myself of it all the time.  And I tell others..."You're the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus!"  We need to know who we are.  We need to walk in it.  It's the key to everything else.  It's Christ in us, the hope of Glory.

And because I know that that's who God intends me to be, I have hope that I can live up to that.  I have an image before my mind's eye - a goal to attain. The Word says, "As a man thinks, so he is." (Proverbs 23:7) As I keep this pure thought before me, I begin to walk in it.  

And I become the Word of God.  

love and blessings~

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Romans 12:2

Our Family Room

Well, I didn't plan on being gone for so long!  So much has changed around here in nearly a year.  

I've made a lot of changes to our family room, dining room, living room and guest room but the biggest change has been our kitchen.  And that may be the reason I quit for a while - it was exhausting. 

I will post pictures of it another day.  Today, I thought I'd post the changes in the family room.

The view from our dining room

When I last left you, I was trying to decide on an accent fabric for this area. That's part of what made me pause.  I didn't like anything.  Or rather, I liked everything.  But, I always come back to French Country...and I did this time, too.

I finally decided on a very muted toile that had my shades of blue and tan and brown.  And a beige linen that added that rustic French feel that I love. I still love my white slipcovers that I made.

The table my husband and I made still sits behind the couch.  We still love all the furniture he's made and plan on making more. I've added a basket next to the couch that holds our winter throws.  We've really needed them here in Michigan this winter as we've broken all kinds of record cold temperatures.

I added a beautiful beaded trim to some of my pillows that I made.  This is still a cozy spot to sit next to the fire.

Our coffee table that we made from an industrial cart sits in front of our couch.

I wasn't using my collection of blue and white porcelain for a while but I added it back in and love the fresh contrast that it brings

I'll post some more details of this room in a couple of days.  

I probably won't be able to post daily so please follow me on Facebook - Gates of Crystal or on Bloglovin'.  

Also, if you are a Follower of Christ, please follow me on Summits of Rubies and if you're raising children, please follow my daughter, Laura Myers, on Foundations of Sapphires.  The links are also listed along the side of the blog.
Love and blessings~

 "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. 

Exodus 15:2 

Update:  Thank you so much for all your kind comments. In response to your questions, I will try to give a detailed list of where I got everything.

There are only a few things in this room that are new:
Shutters - painted SW Interesting Aqua
Wall color - diluted SW Interesting Aqua
Rug - HomeGoods
All table lamps - HomeGoods
Floor lamp - Lowe's
Mirror above fireplace - Joss&Main (I painted the trim white)
Armoire - Second Time Around (used furniture store) now Furniture City, Grand Rapids, Mi
Grandfather clock - estate sale
Coffee table - industrial cart from a second hand store, we made table top
2 white chairs - furniture store years ago, I slipcovered them
Bergere chair and ottoman by fireplace - Second Time Around  I reupholstered it
Couch - Second Time Around - I slipcovered it
Table by window - Second Time Around - we put a new top on it
Chairs by window - Second Time Around - I slipcovered them
Sofa Table - we made it
Baskets - HomeGoods
Demijohn by fireplace - Meijer's (but I've seen them on One Kings Lane)
Sign by the door - Joss&Main
Shovel and rake by window - Ballard Designs
Bread shovel? - Antique Store in Big Rapids
Chandelier - Lowe's clearance

I'm linking up with Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphasis Monday 

 A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
StoneGable for The Scoop
Karen's Up on the Hill Something to Talk About
Home Rx - Talented Tuesdays
Savvy Southern Style's -Wow us Wednesdays
Dixie Delights - Share Your Style
From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
DIY by Design Winter Blues Wednesday
It's Overflowing -Share Your Creativity
The Dedicated House -Anything Blue Friday
Posed Perfection Creative Ways
Joy in Our Home Your Turn to Shine