joy dare...2.12.2012

for you

for me

I've tried to write this post about 3 times now

and

 I can't quite figure out what I'm trying to say

or 

how to say it

so

I will  do the obvious:

quit trying 

and

just 

 let it speak for itself.

continuing to count to 1000 ...see what it's all about here

thankful for these gifts:

  HE is with me

  HE delights in me

  HE rejoices over me 

the heart of the home...my REAL farmhouse kitchen..part one

 While we're finishing phase 2 of the pantry

I thought I would give you a bit of history of my kitchen...

This is  peek at what my farmhouse kitchen 

(be WARNED-not for the faint of heart) 

looked like

 15 years ago 

when we first walked in the door 

to take a look at our new home...

• yes, that is the same pantry that I showed you last week
• yes, it was dirty, mouse-infested, and scary
• yes, those pantry cabinets were the only cabinets in the kitchen

• yes, that was the kitchen sink (back in the corner-behind the wall)
• yes, it was in the pantry
• yes, that is a chimney and the washing-machine hook-up

• yes, the  *kitchen*  was empty except for the...
• yes, that is a  built-in china cabinet 
• yes, that doorway lead to the bathroom,
• yes, there were 4 doorways
• yes, the floor was that gross,
• yes, I was in love with this house,
• yes, I had a vision of what this house  could be

and

yes, we bought the house!

without one minute of hesitation...

If you're like me,

 you like to see

 before and afters

and all of the details.

This is a rough floor plan of what we started with.

my favorite carpenters

hard at work

ripping out the old

and 

putting in the new

You should know:

this is how we like to buy 'em.

I like my houses old 

and 

I like 'em original.

I want to work beside  My Mr.

and beside my children

to make the  house into our home.

At a price we can afford.

Here's a peek...at where we ended up.

This photo is a couple of years old-

in the height of my *shabby chic* days.

Come back for part two to see  a few more details

and

to see my new farmhouse style.

White Wednesday @ Faded  Charm 

Vintage Friday @ Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday @ Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
PRIMP Your Stuff @ (PRIMP)

be happy...

 I don't know what makes me cry the most...

(happy cry)

Baby G is a ....GIRL!

(our grandbaby boy to girl ratio is a bit lopsided 8:1)

 or

seeing this pin on pinterest by mrs g

with the caption

"mom, I want a chandlier in the nursery"

(that's my girl!)

 or 

these pins by big sister

of projects to make 

(that's my girl, too)

for the  spring arrival 

of  baby  G

We are beyond excited!

And so very thankful...

(all photos pinterest except ultrasound)

a great love...

I will praise you, Oh Lord my God,
with all of my heart;
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depth of the grave.
Ps. 86:12

HERE is a post I wrote 1 year ago. 

 Today, as I  reflect again, 

I can honestly say that I am thankful 

for 

those difficult years.  

The Lord used them in a mighty way 

to teach me so much  

 about His love, grace, and faithfulness. 

And isn't that what this season is all about?

thanks on wednesday, too

In the silent times : seek God

In the painful times : praise God

In the harried times : hallow God

In the terrible times : trust God.

And at all times 

at all times

Thank God.

Ann Voskamp~One Thousand Gifts

read more from Ann here...

because thanksgiving is more than a day

There are pies waiting to be baked,

have a wonderful day of giving thanks...




don't forget to enter here

giving thanks on tuesday...

To give thanks

 is an action 

and 

rejoice is a verb 

and these 

are not mere pulsing emotions. 

While I may not always feel joy, 

God asks me to give

thanks in all things,

 because He knows 

that the feeling of

 JOY 

begins in the action of THANKSGIVING.

Ann Voskamp ~One Thousand Gifts

~~~~~~~~~~~

visit  Hope-filled living  to see 

my guest post

on one of my favorite holiday traditions

It's a rare Christmas post before Thanksgiving...

Remember to sign up HERE 

to win this book if you haven't already.

thanks on monday...

‎Thanks 

for the seemingly insignificant... 

this the seed that plants 

the giant miracle 

in the midst of it all." 

Ann Voskamp~One Thousand Gifts

Be sure to enter the give~away   here  

on giving thanks...sunday edition

 ‎As long as thanks is possible... 

then joy is always possible.

Ann Voskamp ~ One Thousand Gifts

I've been wanting to do a post on this for quite awhile now. 

 My words are inadequate so I'll let this review do the talking.

This book cut straight to the heart of loss 

and asks the questions you are afraid to ask.

 It goes straight to the issues.  

Just like you, 

Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. 

Forget the bucket lists 

that have us escaping our everyday lives 

for exotic experiences.

'How,' Ann wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of 

deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? 

What does the Christ-life really look like 

when your days are gritty, long--and sometimes even dark?

 How is God even here?'

In One Thousand Gifts, 

Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings

 and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline 

of chronicling God's gifts. 

It's only in this expressing of gratitude 

for the life we already have, 

we discover the life we've always wanted...

a life we can take, 

give thanks for,

 and break for others. 

We come to feel and know the impossible 

right down in our bones: 

we are wildly loved--by God.

Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories 

of the everyday 

give you a way of seeing 

that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, 

a way of being

present to God that makes you deeply happy, 

and a way of living that is finally fully alive. 

Come live the best dare of all!

I love this book.  


After my Bible, it is probably the 2nd most 


influential book I have read in my adult whole life.






Truly, it is life-changing.




I have an extra copy that I bought just for you. 



It will change  your life, too.




Or maybe, you already have it 


and would like a copy to give away.




Either way, leave me a comment on this post to win.


Put it on  your blog for a second chance.


You know how it goes.

Giveaway will end next Sunday, Nov. 27

Join me in giving thanks...


this week I will be sharing a few of my favorite quotes...