Artfully Fashioned Entry

This artfully fashioned entry merits a prominent spot with this beautiful heirloom, a bow front chest. Settings that start with furnishings passed down from one generation to the next help a room or an area take shape. Both culture and charm have a say here as you walk into this beautiful home. The other photographs are the same home and we clustered together items of similar details where the style the client wanted, which is relaxed, seems to clearly be accomplished. We enjoyed working together to achieve the look she wanted for her home. Balance is the key!

The President's Room

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived but if faced with courage it need not be lived again." Maya Angelou

On late Tuesday evening, the last of the Kennedy brothers, Edward Moore Kennedy, passed away. I have always loved history and have sought to instill in our children a deep love for our country's heritage and encouraged them to respect those individuals who have served as a source of strength and inspiration to make our nation great. As our children were growing up, we made trips to Washington, D.C. regularly and stopped along the way at Williamsburg, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Stratford Hall, Gettysburg, Hyannis Port on Cape Cod, The JFK Library in Boston, and many more noteworthy historical locations. Often times we did this type of vacation because with a large family, history vacations were both educational but a bit less expensive than the exotic locations they might have preferred as kids. I believe though, that this gave them all a love for history and a yearning to live selfless when concerning their rights and freedoms. In these travels, we began to collect books on the Presidents and cities that have a political history rich with the early years of the United States of America. We even enjoy a room in our home, called "The President's Room" where we enjoy reading and sharing this collection of books. I have always enjoyed reading about the Kennedy Family and have read and enjoyed learning about their approach of service to our country. President Kennedy approached obstacles and decisions with wisdom, honor, and above all, courage. On January 20, 1961 during his Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy said these prophetic words, "And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country." In reading, we are able to understand that his brothers and sisters did also, so to the family of Edward "Ted" Kennedy, my heart is extended in sympathy. A life well lived deserves respect. He taught other Americans to tolerate and respect each other and to remove racial, religious, and other social blinders. He, like his brothers shared the values as well as dreams for peace and prosperity. His life may not have been perfect, but he and his family did much for our great country. The photograph above is from our "President's Room".

"To the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, that will be; We unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection and for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty which we have enjoyed; We most humbly offer.....our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations." George Washington, 1732-1789

The Heavens

This photographer captured an amazing view in the sky of what appears to be a beautiful HEART shape........

"Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds!" Psalm 36:5 His love for you is beyond your understanding. Look up.....He longs to show you His majesty. Turn your eyes to see the beauty and glory of His creation. Ponder the vastness of His abilities. Do you know that you are a vessel than He lives through? How precious to understand and sense that He reaches from the Heavens deep within our human hearts to convey His love for us. It is then, when our hearts are full and our hearts are open to His working that we can then be the vessel that He can use for His amazing love and glory to be shared with a world that desperately needs His loving and kind touch. The heart, intellect, awareness, mind, inner person, inner feelings, deepest thoughts, inner self.....that is the heart. "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 May your day and heart and your home be filled with joy and His goodness.

Sleep Well.....

Earlier this week, my husband, Steve constructed this headboard and he and my daughter, Kristen, finished the upholstery work in just a couple of hours. Building the frame took around two hours so in an evening, they used their time to make something extraordinary. They did a beautiful job, working together from start to finish!!! They laughed and worked along side each other giving each other instructions about what the other should do.....all in fun of course! They finished their work beautifully and now we have a new product that we can offer. As they were working, I thought of a passage in the Bible that continues to bring blessing in our lives........

'Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home, or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 MSG

I remember discovering these words when my children were very young and was overwhelmed with the instructions and the urgency to live out those words daily in my life. Honestly, I am still developing ways to live out my days in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. Truly I believe that He is urging us to live for Him in everyday ways and as the beautiful song goes....."Lead Me to The Cross, Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember Redemption's hill where Your blood was spilled for my ransom. Everything I once held dear I count it all as lost.....Lead me to the Cross, where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees....." Our children, whether we have a new baby or an adult son, take their cues from us and I have to ask, am I laying down the things that do not matter. In my understanding of this passage of Scripture the Lord is saying lay down those things that do not matter and talk about the things that really do and then live them out ....before your children, your family, your friends and then share the Lords love with anyone who you sense needs some extra love.

In Praise of Water.....

Undoubtedly the most wonderfully inexpensive relaxation ritual we may do as women is bathing. It is essential in every culture and, each culture it may seem, has its own bathing rituals. In Exodus 2:5 the Scriptures say, "Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the river-side." It was while bathing that God brought a whole new purpose to her life with the discovery of baby Moses in a basket made of reeds. I doubt our times of relaxation will be quiet so dramatic but, depending on the time and the surroundings that one might find themselves in, often determines the amount of relaxation time that one has. Perhaps your schedule could allow you once or twice a week to make a habit of taking time to ease away the stress of your day. Perhaps your evening just once could be an unhurried luxury, and if you have a small baby or children, then I know that is very difficult and you might say, "are you kidding?" That day will come dear one....I promise. But, if you find that you can empty your mind and fill the bath, relax your body and cleanse the soul and lift your hands in PRAISE to the One who made the day for you, then you will find that a soothing effect will come upon you. Women of all cultures for centuries, the wise ones at least, have added natural ingredients to their bath water for a way to survive. Sparkling eyes, healthy sparkling bodies, need rest and restoration. I hope this week you might find the time to be restored! "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the Sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory!" Psalm 63:1-2