Praying for Your Children......and their children....

We are blessed with four daughters and one son!  One of our daughter's, Kacie, is celebrating today the birth of her twins six years ago!  She was so blessed to carry the twins to full term with a healthy pregnancy and delivery.  The day the twins were born was such a bright and joyful moment in my life to see my daughter and her wonderful husband experience this awesome miracle.  Twins do not run in our family and she did not take fertility drugs of any sort!  They were just a gift from Heaven!  I remember now looking back, and it is sort of funny how Josh seemed shocked with this new responsibility of provision and taking care of his beautiful wife and his babies.  He too has been a gift for God sent Kacie the most amazing partner to share her life's journey with!  From the time my children were small, I was taught to pray for their life's partner and so I did.  Sometimes, because I was so busy with life in general with our large brood of kids, I prayed on the run or had my closet time in the car while waiting in the school line. I love having fun and I love being active but what gets me through a day is being in touch with my Redeemer!   God, in His grace, answered those humble, heart wrenching prayers and they are still unfolding, one day at a time.  I am so grateful for the births of each baby born into our family.  I just love babies in general.  I think about my children and grandchildren all the time! I would love your's too if I knew them! As a mother or as a father or an aunt or uncle or friend, may I encourage to pray for the children in your own life and the children of the world!  Today and everyday, they need our prayers and we need God's grace and goodness and favor, now more than ever. Childhood is such a brief time!  I remember my dear mother in law would tell me this often and I did not fully understand until all of our children grew up, finished college and found jobs miles and miles away from our home.  God will move Heaven and Earth to answer our prayers on behalf of our children, even after they grow up, we can still be a part of their lives through prayer. Do you want to pray more often for your children?  Here are a few simple steps offered by "Moms in Prayer", a prayer ministry for mothers around the world!  1.  That I would be a woman of prayer.  2.  That I would gain a vision for the power of prayer.  3.  That I would seek to become an intercessor.  4.  That I would begin to practice aggressive praying, taking the initiative to pray with others as a way of life.  5.  That I would learn to pray through the Scriptures.  6.  That I would pray without ceasing.  7.  That I would be able to communicate to others what God is teaching me in prayer.  One of the blessings of being a Christian mother for me has been the honor of praying for my family and with friends and others who see prayer as one of God's highest callings.  Always be certain HE hears your prayers.  It's as simple as believing if  we "Draw near to God, He will draw near to you."  James 4:8  

Beautiful Morning and The Sunshine!

There's the wonder of morning, as seen in the beautiful pictures, and the wonder of sunset at evening.  The wonder of sunrise and morning is my favorite time of day which this picture seems to convey, but the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul is the wonder that God loves us in spite of our human and fragile souls!

J. I. Packer says....."What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it--the fact that He knows me.  I am graven on the palms of His hands; I am never out of His mind.  All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me.  I know Him because He first knew me and continues to know me."

 Amazing love that God has for people.....all people.  It doesn't matter who you are,  what you've accomplished or still hoping to accomplish, nor where you live,......God loves you.   His desire for you is uniquely expressed in the Psalms and throughout His Word.  His desire is to have a relationship with you and lead you into paths of righteousness.
God is righteous and righteousness involves goodness, uprightness, integrity, morality, and purity.  In the world, it's hard to live that way......but remember, every morning there is the wonder of a new day and a choice to live for Him and for His glory!  May you sense His love and His grace in your life this week!

An Outdoor Feast.....

One of the JOYS to be taken advantage of by living in warm climate is eating outside! A mere meal can become an outdoor feast! This breakfast  on the screened porch is perfect!  Table settings can change constantly too!  Spring tables are always so pretty!  The white linen table cloth adds just the touch of elegance needed!  Everyday is a GIFT!  I wish we could all live as we felt this were really true!  Spend time with the special people in your life and LOVE them without condition! Life is way too short to live it any other way!  Have a happy day! 

A Mother's Lasting Legacy.....

Mother Love: Giving or sharing tenderness with one's child. This definition is my own. Webster's does not really give a good definition [in my opinion.] A mother is called a female parent or a woman as she is related to her children. This definition is true but rather vague. When I think of the word though......an entire life time defines the word for me. It's all I really aspired to be! Oh, I have had other jobs, such as being a school teacher, also working with adults who assisted children as tutors for children, and working with cancer patients assisting in a resource library, but compared to the role of mothering all these positions pale. I think most women who become a mother cherish the role of being called, Mom or Mommy. A good and loving grandmother cannot EVEN begin to take the place of a loving mother, for that is not our role. The role of the mother is one of God's highest callings! My desire has always been for my daughters to be good mothers, which they are, and any encouragement I am able to give them in their wonderful role of motherhood, I hope helps them with such an important and demanding role. As mothers, the first requirement is strength of character. Each and every day a mother is held accountable by her little child as the child looks to her for guidance over their entire day! Most mothers want their child to flourish, to become all that he or she is capable of becoming. This takes all our efforts and can become laborious, day after day but when that cute little angelic countenance looks up at us.....our hearts melt....with love. Nothing can replace the bond between a mother and her child when it has been blessed and cultivated. I have now been blessed to see all of my children grown. I have not been a perfect mother and they have not been perfect children but in a miraculous way, God gave us grace to develop strong and healthy bonds with one another. Mothers pass on a legacy. If you are a mom, or maybe hope to be one day, may I encourage you to begin your day in prayer, just a simple one liner will do......until you have a few uninterrupted moments to go deeper with the Lord. He is attentive to our prayers. In the book of I Samuel, chapters, 1~2 we hear the true story of a woman, named Hannah, who so desperately wanted to be a mother that before she even had a child, she promised God she would give her child back to God. This is humbling on so many levels and, throughout my life as a mother, there has been so many times that I have had to do this.....give back and start again. You see, childhood is fleeting and you will only have little ones and teens, and young adults a short time under your roof......then they'll be gone! Let me encourage you to slow down, look to God, look to your partnership with your husband and together pray as Hannah prayed, "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord!". I Samuel 1:27~28. Yes, Lord, I do pray that as a mother, you will BLESS my children as I have given them to you! Let us remember as we dedicate our little ones and our big ones to the Lord that they are an inheritance and gift from the Lord! What a beautiful legacy....this job of becoming a Mother!


As Mothers we never outgrow the opportunities we are given to help our children grow in Godliness. As parents, we have much to do with our children's destiny. Give them over to God's purposes and whether in your home or abroad or another state continue to nurture them to become fruitful in Godly living! The best is yet to be!!!! Dear friend.....I am praying for you today! Bless all who read these words from my heart, O Lord! 

Location:Paris, France with Kara

Good Manners.....

Good Manners are always refreshing!  Growing up, I was exposed to good manners through my grandmother who truly enjoyed the finer things in life and enjoyed teaching me and my siblings how to properly set the table for a dinner party during the holidays and other family gatherings.  She was a busy lady as a school teacher and community volunteer but still found the time to teach us what was important to her personally.  I will always remember her dressing in her pearls and heels when we would go out for dinner or to the theater.

She presented me with gift of six place settings of my sterling silver, one place setting a year at a time before I graduated from college.  She purchased the silver box also where they are kept today.  Along with this, she taught me how to properly fold dinner napkins, and use the words, "Excuse me", "Thank you", "No thank you", and "Yes, please".  She wore beautiful hats and gloves and a few of those, I inherited as gifts from her later in her life.  She was what I would call a lady. She carried herself with dignity and grace until the day she passed away. I was sooo blessed by her life!

Thinking about what it means to be a lady is probably not something most young women give much thought about today.  Today the emphasis is placed on sports, education, career, physical appearance and the social life.  Times have changed but the opportunity to develop good manners is still something we can appreciate!

When my son was growing up, he was taught how to always open a door for a young lady.  He was taught that this was the polite thing to do. In today's world, some young women may not care for this gesture, but I still think of it as just plain nice behavior for a young man or really a man of any age.  

In France, one of the proper etiquette's is to say, Bonjour when entering a boutique or shop and to say Au revoir when you leave.  Yes, manners are chic! Manners make a difference.  Etiquette is much more than a set of rules.  It is about connecting with our fellow human beings in a positive and polite way!

It's never to early or to late to begin to develop manners.  We can begin by thinking before we speak.  Choosing our words wisely and guarding our words so we do not blurt out anything that comes to mind.  As I said in the post yesterday, let your words be gracious.......think about how they will be received by others.  It is so easy to hurt someone's feelings with the words we speak or write.

A simple suggestion is to teach your children by allowing them to properly set the table for dinner or breakfast on a Saturday morning when family time is not as rushed or hurried. A simple "tea time" could be an easy beginning. You could show your children how to pour the tea, hold the cup, stir the tea, and place the napkin in the lap. For dinner, you might show them how to fold the napkins properly, where to place the fork, the knife, and the spoon along side the dinner plate.  Then, most importantly, allow them an opportunity to use the utensils properly during meal time. Teach them to use words properly such as , "yes sir" and "no sir".  It may seem foreign to you and to them at first but in time, I promise, these will be the very words and actions which separate the ladies and gentlemen for the ordinary.......manners are always IN STYLE!

UPlifting Words.....

Gracious words are beautiful words!  Gracious words flow like a fountain out of lips that are thoughtful, kind, wise,  loving and good.  In the book of Nehemiah in the Bible, the Word speaks of a kind of patience that God had (and still has) with people who would not listen to HIM.  Even though, they did not listen, God did not forsake them because the Word says...."For you are God, gracious and merciful."  Nehemiah 9:31  Merciful and gracious words  are able to spill out of lips graciously because God is able to change a person's words into a sweet aroma that can fill a room!   He has given us beautiful words to follow and live by.  Everyday HE IS ABLE to pour into our lives living words of TRUTH that can penetrate....... even the not so soft places in our hearts.


We all love to hear words that lift up and encourage!  Encouragement is a gift and the person whose heart is filled with it cannot help but let it spill out.... blessing whoever walks into their world!  God is gracious in placing these people everywhere!  Recently, my husband and I had the honor of attending a beautiful wedding for a friend's daughter.  Truly the entire wedding was a blessing for me because I love my friend so much and to see her happy for her daughter and the love that I know went into the planning of every single second of the wedding day.  Her love was gracious for her daughter and her countenance radiated with joy.  Love spilled out of her lips for everyone who attended!


As I was thinking about that special day, I thought about how everyday,  gracious and loving words should spill out of our lips for others.  Sort of like a fountain that spills water out so beautifully  that we stand in awe!  We remember the sight (or sound) over and over again.  Beautiful words have a way of lingering long after they are spoken.....like the first, I love you!  Remember when you first heard those words.


Our days are filled with many things.  Many things that are necessary to do such as preparing meals, cleaning our homes, working at our jobs, running errands, paying bills, etc. but the day is better and the burdens of the day are lighter when we spend time on what matters. The time we spend with God.  May I encourage you today to fill your heart with what truly matters!  The value of filling your life with spiritual truths is to reach the highest human potential, to have abundant life. For us there is a promise if we do and it is to  "Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ!"   I Peter 1:13  HE has a great and gracious day planned just for YOU!  Enjoy!  

Being Real and Real Beauty.......

Of late, it seems the airways are back at it.....defining "BEAUTIFUL" for our young women and even those of us who are progressing in age! Personally, I feel extremely blessed to be a woman today. Being a woman, being whole, being healthy~ both emotionally, physically, and intellectually~is not always easy but if approached sensibly, we can arrive in a good place. A truly beautiful woman feels good about herself on the inside(her heart or soul). Her life is filled with positive images and positive relationships. It has taken her a while to get there, most often. There are people who sometimes tatter and tear at life and unknowingly at times rip apart the image that God imagined. This can begin many times in childhood and progresses through preteen and teenage years and then on into college and perhaps even adulthood. My heart breaks for a girl or a woman with an image of imperfection and feeling that this will keep her from fulfilling her dreams. I admit, there were times I too struggled, but nothing compared to women today (of any age). The constant need for celebrity updates, the latest fashion trends, magazines with flawless images (which are perfectly airbrushed) add to this trend of being less than beautiful. My prayer and my desire is to see young women and older women return to the right places for their definitions of beauty and happiness. There is nothing like a real example of beauty. If you are a Mother and have a daughter, she looks to you for this image and definition. Words have a lasting impact. A beautiful woman is known by her physical appearance and includes the facets of voice, countenance, and personal qualities that make her who she is. When we look at her we see her as someone unique and special. If you struggle with self-image let me urge you to turn to the Bible for God's definition of beauty. "Look to HIM and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed". Psalm 34:5. Beauty comes from surrounding yourself with the right people, right images and thoughts and the right words. We have to protect ourselves from wrong images and people who seek less than our best. Please do not let another rob you of your joy! Joy and gladness can fill your heart daily when you take the time to fill your spirit with uplifting words, soothing music, and the nature around you! Add a little laughter and you are there!!! It is refreshing to breathe the air and look UP to the ONE who formed you and made you, YOU! Psalm 139

Building A Life With Others.....all in the timing!

Just about two years ago, a sweet friend of ours was diagnosed with cancer. He was a Godly man with a beautiful wife and three amazing children and one grandchild with another on the way.  He was a man building a life for his family each and everyday.  Quickly with this news, people were praying and hoping and expecting a miracle for healing. But, in just a few short months, our friend was called home to Heaven for an ultimate healing in the presence of God. 

 D. L. Moody once said, "Next to the might of God, the serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence for good."  

Our friend, Doug, was a good man. He had done everything right. He was a professional man, a dentist, and devoted his life to caring for his family.  He was loved by everyone who knew him.  His son was my son's very best friend growing up.  Steven spent a lot of time with them at their house and on vacations. Their son, Scott spent a lot of time at our house and on beach vacations also.  Naturally, his wife, Vickie and I shared a friendship as our sons made this so easy. After Doug's passing, we began to have a "girls time" with two other fun friends who we love about three times a year! Let me tell you they are special ladies! We are all within a few years of each other in age and also we had attended Bible studies together. On one of our visits, one of us said, "we should all go on a trip together"!  Running ahead of ourselves with determination and lots of talking, we decided we could do this!

  Now, two years later the dream will become a reality! We started planning this because of what Vickie was going through and the bonds and love we all share are precious because of the sensitivity of her loss.  God's timing is so important in life.  We can run ahead but as life unfolds, one day at a time....well, to me it's just better. Who would have known all those years ago that the bonds that our children had made as friends would be the glue that now would move us forward today.  Truly, we should ask God to help us in everything we do and especially in the timing of being a friend.  For several months, I have poured over the plans for our trip. I have searched for our hotels, our trains, and even a few of the places we will visit and see.  We will begin in London and get to visit with Kara and Phil and then travel to Bath, England and then on to France.  We have a schedule but we plan to enjoy the time together and not rush or insist on seeing more than we are able to see. The joy of seeing England for the first time and spending time with my precious daughter Kara will always be a blessing and a design of God's timing.  The pictures below are from my first trip...a gift!  I have a feeling Doug will be looking down on us and smiling about the timing of this trip for his sweet wife, Vickie! Everyday is a GIFT!  Don't wait to make that call or write and mail that card and appreciate your family and your friends!  Have a blessed day dear one!

Goodness in conversation and a grateful heart....

Beauty found in nature and the natural, unattended beauty of earth's creation is one of God's greatest gifts to mankind! In His wisdom, God gave us such an inspiring and beautiful world to live in! The natural colors of the stone, wood, flowers, and fabrics used above are so beautiful to me and extremely calming. Decorators are using less and less of color and more and more of natural creams and whites! I so enjoy helping other people create homes that are comfortable and beautiful! I like to do this because the home is where my heart is! The beautiful people that live inside your home look to you each for inspiration too!!! Who inspires you? What inspires you? Where do you search for encouragment and direction when you need an answer? Do you turn to a trusted friend? I love the adorable picture above of the two friends sharing conversation and a cup of tea! What is better than wise counsel? As we are about to begin a new week, let me encourage you to arrange your days so that you create an environment in your home where others are loved and nurtured. A house decorated with LOVE is the most beautiful! Before the day begins, you and I have been given a clean slate! Thankfully, it is calm early in the morning. Turning toward the Lord gives direction (not perfection) for our day. We can begin each day by rejoicing in Him and being thankful for all the blessings around us. As you begin your new week, may I share with you a passage from His word than sustains me daily as I look to Him for guidance. In His way and In His time, He truly is able to make all things in our lives beautiful! From the scraps of our lives, He is making something beautiful....even inspiring. "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every sitaution, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable~if anything is excellent or praiseworthy~think about such things." Philippians 4:4~8 May your week be blessed and may your home be a haven or blessing and peace!!!

Changes Around the House....

Throughout our home I have made a few changes over the past few weeks.  No real purchases were involved, only a few changes of a few pieces from one room to another and changing window treatments from one room to another.  I always find inspiration in my home from books that I read or from inspiration from our travels.  I also find inspiration from people.  A kind heart, a warm smile, and a sincerely good person warm my heart as well! I am finding in life, it is the goodness and honesty found in the heart that most often warms a person's home.  The weather has been dismal in our area but in our home it has been beautiful and bright because my family lives with me!  Live your life and let your love of life overflow into the hearts of others!  Everyday is a GIFT!

The Path and The Door....

Imagine travel, especially to somewhere unfamiliar and without a map! We need a map if we want to arrive at our destination in a timely manner.  Today, we have Mapquest, Google map, google earth, and oh my heavens.....so many more!  Back in the day, my day that is,  paper maps were essential when we were planning a trip.  For weeks, we mapped out the best streets, roads, and highways to assist us and guide us to where we needed to be.  Today, we can plan to get to our destination and then type or key in the hotel address and follow the voice on the smart phone.  Times have changed!


What do you think, are shortcuts better?  I think we can all agree technology has changed the way we live and the way to travel to our destination.  Planning is part of the fun for me.  This is where I gain my confidence to actually......GO!  I am one of those who truly enjoys being home but, I have found, you can only see and accomplish so much inside your own home. We have to open the door and get out!!! The good Lord made us a people who need other people and so by getting outside and involved in other people's lives our path is enlarged and our lives are richer. We thrive best emotionally, physically, and spiritually when we share our lives with others. These relationships are a part of the guiding forces of our lives.  We are inexperienced  in too much of life without a guide.  Aside from needing a map to guide me [my husband and I have lived in 9 different cities over 40 years], I have turned to God's Word as a guide. Finding my way around Los Angeles, California helped because I had a map when we lived there, a large multi-page map!


In a similar way, God's word guides me each day on how to live life as a Believer!   The whole of Psalm 119 unfolds as how God's guidance will assist one in life's most practical circumstances.  Psalm 119:105, the psalmist David clearly calls out to God "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  We gain strength from these words as we trust He is able to guide the path of our own life, long range. Isn't that what a path does.....takes us on down the road, so wisely to our destination?  This passage also assures us that "the entrance of The Lord's Words gives light, It gives understanding to the simple."  We really shouldn't hasten ahead without a map or a guiding word.  Yes, the map of God's loving words is able to guide us and also nourish our soul.  God calls this provision, manna.  It is hard to survive for long without nourishment and especially nourishment for the body and the soul.  There is nothing more beautiful than being guided sweetly along the way......today and everyday!  Praying your path will be guided and the door will be opened by His shining Light!  Be blessed my friend....He longs to show you and me The Way!

A Thank You Note.....

Ideas for Just The Right Paper, Pen, and Desk!

There is nothing more beautiful than a sincere hand written note.  Truly, it is a mark of class and good taste.  A lovely way to spend a few minutes telling someone, with gratitude, how much you appreciate their gift or their time spent with you.  It is personal.  In our culture of the masses and the media, it is rare to find someone who personally takes the time to make another feel loved and special.  Our thoughts go into written words so in essence we share a part of ourselves when we write a personal note.  As in speaking, we should think before we write, making sure our words are the right words and sincere.  Then, we should address the envelope carefully.  When our children were young, we encouraged them  to write thank you notes for nice things that had been done for them.  All of them, to my knowledge, carry this beautiful expression of thanksgiving on to others.

Years ago someone shared with me a  lovely book called, Silver Boxes.  It was a book written about words and how our words should be like little silver boxes tied up with silver bows......a special GIFT to others.  Those words have always remained with me because our words should be full of encouragement and grace.  We must choose wisely what we allow to enter our hearts because out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.  Psalm 19:14 says to us...."Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."  Many of the notes that I have received, I enjoy keeping because they serve as little silver boxes of encouragement.

Once on vacation in Newport, Rhode Island, we found a beautiful little shop, called Papers.  The name told exactly what we found inside the quaint little storefront~papers!  All kinds of writing papers were found..... to buy, to order, to customize and for me, since I love paper, it was like....... Heaven!  Selecting the paper one chooses to write on and the pen with which one writes can be an expression of oneself also.  It doesn't have to be expensive to express how you feel and what you would like to say.  To someone like my husband who has a large pen collection, selecting the pen he will write his note with is the most important part.  He is gifted with a beautiful ability to script words.  His handwriting is beautiful.  There is another store in New Orleans, Louisiana called Scriptura and it also is filled of with papers, cards, stationary, and a vast array of books to select and customize one's stationary.

My most favorite letter is the letter that God inspired and wrote to all of us.....The Holy Bible, His written words to us.  "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to may path."  Psalm 119:105  and "The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."  Psalm 119:130  God's love letter to us is available to us everyday and in this new year, I pray that you can begin each day with the most special WORDS ever written.  It's simple......"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:8  Bless you dear one as you write and as you read your notes!!!  Have a blessed and happy day!!!

French Inspired Toile de Jouy: Part II

Toile de Jouy always looks beautiful to me and continually inspires my love of all things French! Many of the original designs give a unique pictorial view of French history and rural life in the French countryside. The fabric was given the name Jouy from the French town where the fabric was first printed in the 1700's. The most commonly used Toile de Jouy has always been printed using a one color print for repeat design on a white or cream cloth. The most familiar print colours are red, blue, black, and grey. When these beautiful designs are used along side a solid or checked or even a striped fabric they become timeless in a room. 

The charm of a French home seems to be the imperfections found in antiques which makes them so warm and appealing. Finding a new piece of fabric to bring the furnishings back to a new life is what makes the hunt for me so fun! I enjoy the search as much as the work! Each day, we are given a day that is ours. God in His wisdom set the boundaries in the earth of day and night. He made the seasons to give the earth it's growth and it's rest. Do you have seasons of growth and of rest? These times are important in all our lives. I think of the season of childbearing and rearing as one of the important growing seasons of a family. Busy, busy, busy! A Mom rarely has time to sit down and a Dad is busy providing the money for this season in the life of his family. It's interesting that many of the toile de Jouy designs include children and family scenes. 

Families are important in all cultures. Families are strengthened by times together of both work and play. Perhaps that is another reason I love these French fabrics so much as my heart totally loves family times! Yes, each season of life, whether at work or at rest is needed in our lives. We are blessed by an awareness of the value of both. Work brings discipline and order into our lives and the rest balances the work and refreshes us so we can do our best when we return to the workplace, whether this is in our homes or an office away from home. It's very easy to get off the path and conform to the pressures of the world. You know.....work,work,work....get more, get more, see more, be more of what the world says is "success". The beautiful words found in Romans 12:1-2 though call us simply to live a different way. A way and a path where our lives are balanced and beautiful between work and rest. Yes, as ideal as the French countryside scenes we see in the Toile de Jouy fabrics.

 The Scriptures say, "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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."

 If we will come early and then often to God in our day, our lives can be transformed into a beautiful tapestry woven by our Heavenly Father. May we seek the Lord's presence in all we do today! Have a blessed and beautiful day!

The Beauty of PINK!

There is a belief that pink interiors are for little girls! I happen to love pink! Practically, when we think of color, we select colors that will be soothing and calming when decorating our homes. Most of the rooms in my home are a creamy white and the color comes from furnishings or accents I have used in the decor. However, the bedrooms are a different story. I selected a soft pink for one of our guest rooms and most people who visit, gravitate to this soulful pink room!

 Actually, pink offers limitless possibilities if you do not go overboard on the shade of pink. The soft shades are beautiful. Perhaps I like it also because it seems to blend well with white. White, like the color of snow reflects more light than any other. In the bedroom that is so popular now, I used accents of white and the good news is by introducing small items of white in various places, they will really pop in a pink room! I used a white coverlet and made pillow shams in shades of cream and white and then added a lovely brocade pillow in silver and pink silk to give the white a bonus pop! Soothing is a good word to describe pink rooms!

A romantic interior is what I am best at creating for others. Everything from the lines in the furniture to the fabric selected for upholstery are combined for just the right look! What has most influenced your approach to decorating? Perhaps it is your mother or a favorite aunt. Perhaps it is a close friend you have admired. I have some lovely French postcards that are soft shades of black and white. The images inspire me.

Our homes do not have to be perfect to be inviting and welcoming. When we greet someone at our door, hopefully our words are welcoming and friendly! After all, people will enjoy visiting and living in your home when you share your joy and your love with them in a place that is both comforting and peaceful! This is what truly makes a home beautiful!!! Have a special weekend! It's Friday!!! 

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue are the words of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears The Lord is to be praised!" Proverbs 31:26~30

Searching.....for God

"If we have a Godly thirst, it will appear by diligence in frequenting the place and means of grace; brute beasts for want of water will break through hedges, and grace-thirsty souls will make their ways through all encumbrances to come where they may have satisfaction." THOMAS PIERSON........... The psalmist, David, in the Bible, sought God, and only God to meet his needs. Everyday is a GIFT and a wonderful way to draw upon the refreshment that comes when we stop our busy lives to be refilled at His table. May we take refuge in the shelter of Thy wings!