Grace at Home No. 512

Hello, friends! I hope you're having a wonderful July. We're now in the time of high temperatures and high humidity. Funny—I've lived in the Southeast most of my life, but somehow the degree of humidity surprises me every summer. It's as if my mind can't quite hold onto the fact that summertime could be quite this oppressive. Do you know what I mean?

I'm very glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we pause to celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some features I think you'll enjoy.

Ever wish you had that one perfect piece of furniture that would just make your room? CoCo from The Crowned Goat shows you how this special French country hutch came to be—and it didn't start out looking like this at all! (You won't believe the "before"!)

Need a new "little touch" for decorating your kitchen walls? Emily from Hunny I'm Home DIY has free printables for you.

Need a bright accent for your midsummer garden? Lisa from Fresh Vintage by Lisa S repurposed an old chair into a planter.

Have you collected lots of stuff that you need to get rid of? Maybe a yard sale is a good strategy for you. Melissa from Blessed Simplicity has some great tips to get you started.

Planning a summer get-together? Pam from Everyday Living will inspire you to create a gorgeous table.

Need a delicious, refreshing summertime dessert? Check out this recipe for Orange Cream Pie from Kimberly at LouLou Girls.

Could your marriage relationship use a little kick? Lyndsey from Perfectly Imperfect has a great idea: a couples' bucket list.

Last but not least, some food for thought. You'll be inspired and challenged by this post on steadiness of soul from Barbara at Stray Thoughts.

Thank you to everyone for linking up!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 511

Hello, friends! How many times have you winced or rolled your eyes when someone said, "The days are long, but the years are short"? Well, that may seem corny, but it seems like 2023 is just getting started, and here we are at the halfway point. Whew!

I'm truly grateful that you've taken a moment to visit me here. I'm proud to host this weekly gathering called Grace at Home, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

Here are some highlights from last week's party.

Do you love a good before-and-after? Then you should check out the dining room makeover from Diane at South House Designs.

Need a small project to brighten up these hot summer days? Julie from My Wee Abode shows you how to create a container garden.

Sometimes having the kids home all day every day can make a parent despair of trying to make a beautiful home. Kathryn from The Dedicated House has some tips for combining a child's needs and a parent's desire for a lovely space.

Looking for an easy and fun treat for July 4? Alea from Premeditated Leftovers has the solution!

Do you struggle with anxiety? In the wake of a global pandemic, I think many of us do. Maria from Krafty Planner has found help in Bible journaling, and she offers a great list of prompts to help with finding peace.

And now back to my introduction of how quickly the days go by. I think you'll find great food for thought in this post from Lisa: "How Are the Changing Times Changing You?"

Thank you to everyone for linking up!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 510

Hello, friends! How thankful I am to say that today is a very special day in my life. Can you guess?

Yes, I was a June bride—38 years ago. It's amazing to me how quickly the years really do fly by! 

You know how the wedding vows include the promise to love "for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health"? Well, this year of our marriage has included some of the greatest challenges to those vows we've ever faced. So I'm really grateful to say that we've made it to another anniversary of those vows.

Now I'm glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some highlights I think you'll enjoy.

Want to decorate for July 4? Here are some ideas for you, and each post includes full instructions for making your own.

Sarah from Must Have Mom made these great utensil holders from canning jars.

Ann from The Apple Street Cottage fashioned giant "firecrackers" from paper tubes.

MaryJo from MasterPIECES of my Life created this cool ribbon flag.

Want to visit with someone who goes all out for holiday decorating? You'll love seeing everything at Debbie-Dabble.

I hope that this summer gives you a chance to get away from home for a vacation. If you'll be doing some hiking with kids, you'll appreciate these tips from Dave and Jamie at PhotoJeepers.

Looking for a fresh new recipe to try? Check out this Cucumber Caprese Salad from Ann at Ann's Entitled Life.

Some of us love the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer". . . and some of us find ourselves a bit discombobulated with the lack of routine. But you can develop good spiritual habits to keep yourself grounded, and Michele Morin has some great ideas for you.

Thank you to everyone for linking up!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 509

Hello, friends! 

My goal in life is not to be "busy"—I'd rather cultivate a life of purposeful work and rest than try to be busy. But this past week I've been both! I just arrived home late last night after being away for eight jam-packed days. I'm grateful to say that I was with friends and colleagues in Colorado for a Renovaré conference and then for the annual retreat of the Renovaré Ministry Team, so it was a good trip! 

And let me show you something. . . during this week, the U.S. Navy has been running a Father's Day message which features my son and grandson! Here's a screenshot of the ad:

That photo was taken on the day my oldest son, a pilot, returned from his last deployment. The smiles on my son's and grandson's faces were shared by all of us who were so grateful for the squadron to have returned home safely to their families.

I'm so glad you're here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Next week I'll be sure to share some features from two parties. For now, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 508

Just like that, it's June!

Oh, friends, I know that sometimes the days seem to drag on and on. . . but truly, the months fly by so quickly. That's why I am honored to host this little gathering each week—a brief pause to celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace.

Here are some highlights from last week's party.

Want to spruce up your home for summertime without breaking the bank? CoCo from the Crowned Goat has some budget-friendly ideas for you.

Niky from The House on Silverado shows you how to create this beautiful display that creates a summery vibe.

Need a jump-start to your budget-friendly summer decorating? You'll like this free printable from Carol at Comfort Spring.

If you need some ideas for kid-friendly summer activities, Natasha from Serenity You can help: check out her summertime bucket list.

Looking for some fresh recipes for summertime? MaryJo from MasterPIECES of My Life shares a bunch of salad recipes and ideas—your mouth will be watering from looking at the photos!

Summertime means travel for a lot of us. If you like to have books to read when you're traveling, you'll want to read Barbara Harper's post detailing the advantages of the Kindle app.

But if you're like me, you may need to think about just how much you're using your phone. For inspiration plus some practical ideas, read this post from Stacy at A Homemaker's Heart.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week's party!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 507

"Whew!"

That's the remark I hear most often this time of year. May is a whirlwind month, isn't it? Somehow I thought that after my kids were out of school this time of year would no longer be so busy. Wrong!

But lots of May activities are fun ones, like graduations. . . or weddings. And I had the privilege of attending the most beautiful one this past weekend.

My darling niece graduated from college a couple of weeks ago, and this past Saturday she got married. Isn't she lovely? And just look at that ring bearer!

It took a lot of doing to get our whole family to the wedding, but what a joy it was to be together. 

And now I need a very long nap.

Meanwhile, y'all have been busy making your homes places of grace and beauty, and I'm so glad to provide a place for you to share the ways you're doing that. Here are some highlights from last week's Grace at Home party.

Need some easy-access storage for your family room but don't have much money to spend? Maybe you'd like to make a cushioned ottoman. Beth from Creatively Beth shows you how.

Would you like to create real beauty in your outdoor spaces? CoCo from The Crowned Goat has lots of ideas that can be completed in one weekend.

Want to create some decor for the patriotic holidays this summer? Carol from Bluesky at Home gives you step-by-step instructions for making these throw pillows.

Or maybe you'd like a super-simple project for updating your summer decor. Debra from Common Ground will show you how to make this garland from seed packets.

Have you seen beautiful pots containing a variety of plants and wondered how to achieve that look? Ann from Ann's Entitled Life will take you step-by-step through the process of creating your own.

If you have little kids visiting you this summer and want to plan some fun activities without breaking the bank, L & L from Our Grand Lives will show you all kinds of things to do with popsicle sticks.  (You'll especially love their blog if you have grandkids!)

Here's a pic of just one of their clever ideas:

One of the most insightful bloggers I know is Lisa, and I love this story about mind-reading. . . and why we shouldn't assume we know what someone is thinking.

While this time of year can be filled with joy, it's also a time of grief for many people. Patty from InstaEncouragements reminds us of five ways to pray in the valley of despair.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week's party!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Grace at Home No. 506

Hi, friends! Welcome to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

This is a special week for me. First, my oldest son turned 32 yesterday. I'm amazed to think that he used to be this little fellow in rain boots. . .

and now has his own little fellow!

And this weekend will be extra-special, because my beautiful niece is getting married. I know I might sound like a broken record sometimes, but it bears repeating:

The days are long, but the years are short.

Now, here are some highlights from our last party that I think you'll enjoy.

Need a small graduation gift? Beth from Creatively Beth has created a free printable of Mother Teresa's "Do It Anyway" statement that would look great in a frame.

Do you enjoy seeing a big remodeling project as it unfolds? MaryJo from MasterPieces of My Life is right in the middle of a bathroom remodel, and she invites us into the process.

Are you working on getting your house decluttered this year? I am! So I was glad to see this post from Alison at Organized Motherhood.

Have you ever bought a bag of lemons and then wondered how you would use them all? Wendy from WM Design House offers 29 different ways to use lemons—brilliant!

And if you need another lemon idea, check out this lemon muffin recipe from Elizabeth at The Savory Cipolla.

Need some non-fiction titles for your summer reading bookshelf? Linda Stoll offers her answers to the question "What books would you take to a deserted island?"

Do you ever struggle with knowing that someone you love is making poor choices? That's particularly hard for a parent or grandparent, isn't it? Michele Morin from Living Our Days has some great wisdom to share.

Thank you to everyone who joined the last party!

Here are the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your life with truth, goodness, and beauty. For instance, I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not to your site's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. If you link a post here, you re giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And please visit one or more of the other participants—that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter