{thankfulness} under-armour cold gear, cold hands and candles

{intentional thankfulness}

I love this time of year.

{choice}

 Snow often appears literally overnight

blanketing everything with a peaceful white dusting

to welcome an expected and welcoming warm golden sunrise. 

The children are giddy with anticipation of snow activities.

Candles, fireplaces and little fairy lights become well used

to warm the evenings and light up dark corners

and the sounds of holiday music is heard throughout our home.

And outside gets all dressed up for winter, too.

We painted our whole kitchen in chalkboard

a few years ago and I use the walls quite often 

to write lists, verses to remember, thinking processes

or just funny things that the kids say.

This morning, the kids helped to make a list called

THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS

about winter.

The list is quite long I am happy to say.

Sledding, hot cocoa, our advent calendar, stockings, hunting,

hockey games, basketball, Christmas light drives,

snow, secret Santa, turkey with stuffing, 

Grandma's corn casserole (not mine. just grandma's)  

making deer and goose jerky with Dad, white lights,

candles, fireplace, baking, giving, Christmas music, 

family gatherings, pine trees, snow angels 

and building a snowman, hot cider, warm soup...

I realize that my attitude and outlook about the coming 

inevitable sub zero frigid temperatures

is as real as the choice that I have 

physically before me right now.

I am sitting in front of a window and can feel the warm sun 

on my face and at the same time my fingers are freezing.

We haven't turned on our furnace yet and there are areas in our home that are nice and cozy with a space heater.  

There are also areas that remind you to wear 

your slippers and long johns!

I recently read an article written by an adult 

reflecting upon memories from childhood about the heart

 of their mother when it would snow.

She would look out the window and smile.

This mother's attitude left quite a positive impression

on their, now adult, child.

"She smiles at the future..." Proverbs, The Bible

What a good thing to teach.

Smiling at the future.

Smiling in gratefulness out the window

 seeing with the eye what is, 

hoping in the heart for what is yet to be

Looking ahead, shunning worry and fear, 

while embracing hope, joy and peace.

There is a prerequisite I believe:

Trust.

That mother had to have trust in something much bigger 

that could go much farther than her physical eye could take her.

Faith, not sight.

'"In everything, give thanks."

"Really?" I would ask.

"Everything?" I asked in my mind as I would read that verse.

That sounded crazy.

Often impossible.

Ah.  Must be supernatural.

We may never understand the depth of the rewards

of being grateful.

It releases something within us and around us

that promotes joy, peace, contentment...

And just ask my family.

They will tell you I often fail in this, but I'm trying

Several years ago I wanted to fast,

to give up something that can get in the way

of physical, emotional and spiritual health.

As I was praying about what to give up: food, coffee, media, etc.

I had a thought.

"How about grumbling? Complaining? Discontentment?

Oh, don't get me wrong, it's not that I have

 a nature bent towards negativity.

It's just that I had a house full of busyness with normal 

loads and loads of laundry, lots of messes, chores,

an unemployed and thus unhappy husband, bills,

a dying mother and uncertainty all around me.

"Give thanks."

"Really?"

And a wise friend stated 

"Give thanks in every situation...

not for...

but in."

It is a truth that is simply profound.

I may never fully understand it

but I believe it.

Oh, and we finally broke down and turned on our furnace.

It was 9* the other night.

I'm grateful for heat...

Thanks for reading.

Have a thankful day!

deborah

welcome {defined}

wel'come

/'welkam/ 

n.  1.  an instance or manner of greeting someone

v.  1.  greet (someone arriving) in a glad or friendly way

Elements of a welcoming space:

*comfortable seating, providing a posture for rest or conversation

*soft lighting, natural sun even moon and stars if possible, 

candles or small garden lights

*fresh flowers speak of life and beauty

*music chosen and tailored specific for the occasion

*and a cup of hot coffee, tea or other beverage

Clean and simple space, uncluttered to give room for life

with added touches to say 

"You are welcome here."

Using all five senses creates a place for community to be shared.

I have studied interior design for years and played with ideas

most all of my adult life.  I guess you could say I grew into it.

After my husband and I married we set up our first home and neither of us had a clue of preferences, etc. 

 We used hand me down furnishings like the chest of drawers 

that I bought from a college friend for $5,

a clean lined sectional from a thrift store 

that was manufactured in the 50's

(that would be awesome to have redone but then it was...?)

and a bedroom set from a garage sale.

My husband even tried to build us a clothes rack...

There's a funny story there and if you know him ask him about it.

It's a belly laugh waiting to happen! :)

Things can evolve and take time to discover.

I love burlap, old wood and vintage patina but simple and clean

and it is a surprise to me when others love my work

and ask me to decorate for an event, 

a wedding, a party or business display.

I have so much fun doing these things

that when I go to 'work' it seems like I'm going to 'play'.

When I step outside and look around at creation

I see 'welcome' written everywhere!

  

 w  e  l  c  o  m  e.

Have  a beauty filled day!

deborah

dream {defined}

dream

/dream/ n. (dreem)

 1. a series of thoughts, images, and sensations

occurring in a person's mind during sleep

v.  1. to experience dreams

2. to contemplate the possibility of

deborah

mud pie and a tiara

mud pie and a tiara

{my china cabinet}

I have a good friend who said to me

"That picture.  That's it. that is who you are.

That is what to write about."

I love to tell stories,

not because I'm so important.

Or want to be narcissistic. 

But to be real and encourage others.

{To In-Courage}

I'm fine tuning.

Waiting.

Learning.

Seeking.

We'll see.

Happy weekend!

Deborah

Thoughts, Oatmeal and Grandpa...

My Oatmeal Grandpa

I spent this morning catching up on housework

that got a bit out of control 

from taking an afternoon away to the lake.

(but so worth it!)

All the kids, plus four friends, 

are volunteering this week at a friend's church

to be group leaders at Vacation Bible School.

So after dropping off a truck load of smiling kids

(well, most of them...the ones with their eyes open anyway)

and husband to their designated places of responsibility,

I came back home and got to work.

After I finished the massive mountain of dishes

I decided to take a breakfast break.

(I'm not a breakfast person)

"What sounds good?" I wondered.

Oatmeal.

With strawberries.

And almonds.

And maybe even a banana.

I always think of Grandpa when I eat oatmeal.

{photo taken with my I pad... After breakfast, actually, just for the visual. 

Sorry, no banana. I ate the last one

and the peel in the trash can didn't seem to...photogenic}

As I sat and ate my breakfast my thoughts settled on Grandpa.

And I thought of all the times he would feed me and my two older sisters and younger brother on our way to school.

Oatmeal.

Malto-Meal.

Grandpa passed away two years ago.

Every one knew him a bit differently.

To four kids, he was Dad.

To Grandma he was Edward Charles, her husband of 70 + years.

To me, he was the one who called me Peanut

and gave me attention.

He gave me Oreos and black licorice, my buddy as a child.

Grandpa.

And just like any other friend and family gathering,

whether wedding or funeral, 

stories were shared at Grandpa's funeral.

and I looked down at my bowl of oatmeal.

The strawberries were quite ripe when I added them

to the mixture of fruit and almonds.  

They were almost bitter, sort of like dehydrated fruit might taste.

And I thought of some of the stories that I heard 

at Grandpa's funeral.

Nothing to horribly terrible.

Just a bit obnoxious and surprising, to say the least...

{Overly ripe, almost tart and bitter strawberries}

We all see what we want to see in certain situations.

I needed a hero.

I looked for it in Grandpa.

We all remember what we choose to remember.

And then my thought turned towards how 

God sees us.

And how He forgets when we ask His forgiveness.

In fact, there is a sea named after this.

It's called the Sea of Forgetfulness.

He even spans the horizon with 'remembering no more'

in a statement when He says he forgives

as far as the east if from the west.

Like the bitterness of the almost dehydrating strawberries

in my oatmeal,

so can all my failures, mistakes and disappointments

season my perspective of myself or those around me.

My phone is ringing!

Kids are out of VBS!

deborah

perfectly {imperfect}

Love at first sight...

Some would look at this table 

and see junk...

I saw it as a desk 

positioned perfectly 

in the center of a cozy  little office

{for me!}

with a white and burlap french chair 

pulled up to it, ready for business.

hmmm...

One wall, a black chalkboard,

and the other walls washed in an aged 

gray and taupe chippy patina...

The back wall would house the vintage hutch

that I've admired for years at my sister's house.

{that she asked if I wanted since she was moving}

yay!

After the hutch's treatment of a color change,

{it's red, like but not love}

it will hold books and 'ingredients' 

for further inspiration.

Burlap curtains to shield unsightly supplies

on the existing shelves,

a warm fuzzy rug,

{I have the perfect one in storage!}

and to top it all off,

a chandelier.

{sigh}

Can't wait!

I am surprised at my own giddiness over 

this little project and have realized...

I've never had

 my own room.

Except for the nursery at the hospital...

likely not even then.

{It was a very, very small town}

This adorable table was just collecting dust

over in the quiet corner 

of an abandoned little shack

on my father's farm.

Instant {imperfectly} perfect inspiration.

Usually, when I do projects like this

I just dive in and get it done.

Then think 

"I should have taken before pictures."

This time I am.

I'll post them when I'm finished.

I'll be back.

{Clara's Pathway}

Photo taken at the end of our street.

Hope you can 

get out and enjoy 

this beautiful time of year!

blessings,

deborah

un adorned

{un adorned}

Grey, gray, greige.

Some think of this color as drab.

Like a day void of sunshine.

Plain and blah.

Not me!

I love grey.

I'm not grey.

{hair}

And I'm certainly not neutral. {convictions}

But I am intrigued with this color's

low profile and ability to bring ease to a room.

{ahhh}

Take a look for yourself.

I have a family room that is needing a fresh outlook.

 Maybe something simple.

 And unadorned.

 Primitive and relaxed. 

{currently red. not so calm}

 And I heard that there is a huge sale at Sherwin Williams through the 8th of July... Hmmm.
 And I have a teenager who owes me household tasks as payback for the HUGE fee 

that our cell phone company charged us, even with insurance,

 to get her a replacement phone after hers got wet while volunteering at Vacation Bible School. :]

 I'd better get going. Un adorned is awaiting.

 {images Anthropology}. love. 

 deborah

pure vintage

Vintage by Nina

Simplicity 

is the ultimate sophistication.

Albert Einstein 

 In thinking about these words

 of Mr. Einstein this morning,

I thought I'd take a minute and simply post the quote 

with a fittingly proper photograph.

A quick post and then move on with the morning, right?

In my search though, I came across a beautiful book 

that was being promoted in a recent giveaway

and want to take a minute and show you a few pages.

Vintage by Nina

simple.

purposeful.

comfortable.

conversational.

functional.

pure.

resourceful.

welcoming.

inspirational.

treasured.

Ahhh... love!

Sandy over at My Shabby Streamside Studio

{Here's a map to her place:} myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com

has all the information that you need

to find out more about this resource from Sweden.

Have a beautiful week!

deborah

{simple joys}

{Simple Joys}

I ran acrossed this photo

the other day

and finding it was like a mega-dose of

good medicine.

I could just sit and stare.

Such sweet joy on her face.

This little peanut

is now a junior in highschool!

I was gathering photos

because I was asked to teach

  100 little girls

about how they they were

 made special.

So FuN!

{sneek peek}

If your father is a real King

that makes you a real princess.

"God is the King of all the earth."

Psalm 47:7

While teaching the lesson

I got to read to them 

Psalm 139

"...all the days ordained for me

were written in your book

 before one of them came to be."

Love that.

In this crazy world

it is reassuring to this

mother's heart

to know that

Someone is always there.

What little things are bringing you joy?

Xo deborah