ABIDE BEAUTIFULLY

Home. Isn’t it a beautiful word? Well, it’s really more of what the word brings to mind. Maybe it’s memories of the place you grew up, or where you currently wake up in the morning; but to me and probably so many others, home is much more than just a roof over our heads. Home the place where life unfolds, where friendships are formed, discipleship happens, and love grows. In my opinion, home is one of the greatest places for ministry that we will ever have. I want my home to be a place where others want to be. I want it to be a beautiful, loving, and peaceful place for me, my husband and others to relax and enjoy. But let’s face it, making a home beautiful can be expensive, right? Yes, it definitely can, but the wonderful thing is that it doesn’t have to be! One thing I have found that I really enjoy is redoing used furniture. This can be a great way to beautify your home without spending an arm and leg! I like used furniture for several reasons: Price. If you look a...

Fall is one of my favorite times of year! Even though it’s been very warm here lately, the calendar shows that Fall is right around the corner! I like the crisp cool air, bundling up in sweaters and boots, and enjoying a hot drink under a warm blanket. One year for Christmas I gave my husband a handmade blanket that is soft and cuddly. It was one of those heavier types that is just so comfortable to drape over yourself. However, it was a bit more manly than my taste so I decided to make my own blanket. I had a beautiful chenille blanket with fringe that I had purchased secondhand. Sadly, one day some of the fringe got caught in the vacuum cleaner... you can imagine what happened! Even though I thought the blanket was beautiful it seemed a little fragile to me, so I decided to cut it down, attach it to another blanket, and make it into a throw that is easy to pull up over you as you read a book or chat with a friend. This is a great project for salvaging those old...

I’m a homebody. There is just something about sitting on your own couch, with your own coffee  mug, surrounded by things that you think are beautiful. Since I got married, my husband and I have done a lot of traveling...I mean a lot! We have stayed in many hotels and people’s homes, and even though we are thankful for God‘s provision to provide a roof over our head and a bed to sleep on, after a while it can be draining. Around a year ago we purchased our first travel trailer! It’s a small little thing - a 17 foot Viking. It’s kind of funny how small it looks compared to some of the big fifth wheels and RVs we have seen at various campgrounds. But, it has served its purpose well! It took some work to redo, but I’m so glad that it now looks more like a home than a hotel room! Paint probably made the biggest difference in the redo. The walls, cabinets, countertops, dinette, and table were all painted...and what a transformation! The faux shiplap was drawn on using...