tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post2958995874815076328..comments2024-03-28T18:13:21.626-04:00Comments on Imparting Grace: Christmas decorating in real lifeRichella Parhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353214472648623583noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-41580886629613875332012-12-05T12:33:11.948-05:002012-12-05T12:33:11.948-05:00It was so good and reassuring reading that someone...It was so good and reassuring reading that someone else has organizational problems, (and a peeing (only once in a while) dog). So many of blogland's contributors seem to live the lovely, perfectly organized life. Their dogs even seem to be perfect. I tend to create major chaos when I create and decorate, and sometimes my little dog creates a drop or two of his own chaos. I've discovered it is a lot easier to go ahead and love my little dog and myself anyway. It's just that there won't be too many full room makeover photos ever on my blog, because my life mostly just doesn't go that way. The perfect decorating examples are fun to see and do inspire me, though.susie @ persimmon moon cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01653330247272673990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-19041660493504884612012-12-03T14:45:28.842-05:002012-12-03T14:45:28.842-05:00Well, I just got off the phone apologizing to the ...Well, I just got off the phone apologizing to the dentist because I forgot my appointment which they called to remind me about on Friday. Then, I read this and it made me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one. I needed that reminder that God loves my forgetful self. My dining room looked like your guest room most of last week until I finally got all the decorations up. Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05682121666614270827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-73081895705910821652012-12-03T09:12:47.730-05:002012-12-03T09:12:47.730-05:00Oh Richella, if you could see my living room right...Oh Richella, if you could see my living room right now. It. is. CHAOS! And I'm still in my jammies. Right there with you, I needed to read this! :) xoxoMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11998834833645862095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-72388384071508054182012-12-02T22:04:42.591-05:002012-12-02T22:04:42.591-05:00haha...you would not have wanted to see my house a...haha...you would not have wanted to see my house a few days ago...I couldn't figure out if I was decorating, wrapping presents, sewing or cooking dinner - house was a disaster - so you are not alone in your chaos!Patti @ Pandoras Boxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168379052525278502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-62629838195135081502012-12-02T18:00:58.503-05:002012-12-02T18:00:58.503-05:00Thanks for being real! My water got shut off a few...Thanks for being real! My water got shut off a few weeks ago because of my lacking in the paper organization department.I felt like the "only" one. Thanks for the reminder that Jesus loves us just the way we are!! Lindseyhttp://www.harpersvillehome.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-52348736584660775982012-12-01T14:45:44.207-05:002012-12-01T14:45:44.207-05:00Ha! I love this... last week my livingroom looked...Ha! I love this... last week my livingroom looked like there was a battle between Fall decor and Christmas decor. Actually, it was more like an explosion! (think I will post my pics of our mess, too)Darcie (My Modern Country)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05380360257572778860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-53645421004173012092012-12-01T13:11:11.237-05:002012-12-01T13:11:11.237-05:00Love this post. I am currently living in crazy tow...Love this post. I am currently living in crazy town. Our tiny house is a wreck. The Christmas tree we bought is WAY TOO BIG and we're going to have to sell 2 children just to fit our family in the living room now. There is laundry everywhere, nothing to fix for dinner, and far more than I wish I had to do before next Saturday...when we host our first-ever {very imperfect} Christmas party. Where is a lady's maid, a cook, and a housekeeper when a girl "needs" one? : ) Marian Vischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02149389508879901827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-31065988738336872902012-12-01T10:20:45.946-05:002012-12-01T10:20:45.946-05:00Thanks you so much for the admission. We struggle...Thanks you so much for the admission. We struggle so hard with the image hype that we wear ourselves out and forget to enjoy the holidays. I copied the scripture and I am going to put it on a pillow to look at when I feel overloaded. Look your blog.Anita Langfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-89552444443336511032012-12-01T08:57:57.913-05:002012-12-01T08:57:57.913-05:00Richella, thank you for sharing with such honesty....Richella, thank you for sharing with such honesty. Why should we pretend to be perfect? We are beautiful in God's sight - imperfections and all! Like you, organization is a challenge for me, and it's a constant struggle. Thanks for reminding me to keep a sense of humor about it.<br /><br />I think your guest room is lovely, and I enjoyed both before and after pictures. I'm looking forward to your Christmas decorations going up. It's "deck our halls" day here at our home - been waiting for December to finally get here. :-)<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14921234463617674458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-88176868159976269752012-11-30T20:12:29.382-05:002012-11-30T20:12:29.382-05:00Such a beautiful post. I am mostly organized. At...Such a beautiful post. I am mostly organized. At least when it comes to stuff I can control. My stuff. My hubby's stuff and my son's stuff? Not so much. I've tried changing them, but I've pretty much given up. This is a reminder that God loves them just the way they are, too. And, no, I'm not perfectly organized all the time either. So, I must show them the grace that I've been shown.<br /><br />http://www.domesticblissdiaries.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09436036572780759085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-78183494946570475742012-11-30T19:34:51.161-05:002012-11-30T19:34:51.161-05:00I just loved reading and seeing your "organiz...I just loved reading and seeing your "organization". My living room looks<br />like that, including garlands and needles on my living room carpet. I am<br />glad that I am not the only one that is not finished decorating. We are not<br />perfect and God knows this. It is more important to share your time with your family and dust will just have to wait.Laura M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-9121035683899774132012-11-30T19:25:47.975-05:002012-11-30T19:25:47.975-05:00Hi there, I'm so glad you posted this but have...Hi there, I'm so glad you posted this but have to tell you that your guest room looks mighty tidy.<br />I unpack all my ornaments and decorations and lay them on the coffee table and couch in the living room. Until they are on the tree, it is such a mess. I have never been good at packing them up either, I wrap them in newspaper or tissue and put them in a box, in no specific order. I pity my daughters when the time comes and they have to go through all the boxes. If you think this is bad, you should see my sewing room; I don't have a large table and so right now there is tons of stuff on the floor. <br />I'm so glad the Lord doesn't judge me by how neat and tidy I am.<br />Hugs tonight.<br />NoreenNanaNor'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03608980502430055753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-91491656358349431572012-11-30T19:22:55.565-05:002012-11-30T19:22:55.565-05:00My guest room looked like yours with all the Chris...My guest room looked like yours with all the Christmas stuff scattered around, but it eventually got cleaned up and is once again ready for company.<br /><br />Beautiful words, Richella. I often worry that some folks in blogland feel very compelled to try to be too much like some other blogger at the expense of their wallet or their self-esteem. I truly hope that is the rarity. We all have talents and hopefully can be authentic.An Oasis in the Deserthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03775583025686145582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-91690112595599634922012-11-30T18:29:45.482-05:002012-11-30T18:29:45.482-05:00Probably our most memorable holiday was when the k...Probably our most memorable holiday was when the kitchen sink decided not to work on Thanksgiving. Sigh....sink full, no plumber within a 100 miles...afterwards, dirty dishes, pans, etc. piled to the sky. After that event I just accept what comes my way. (smile...should have done that from the beginning. Huh?JMDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03639819967286148205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-54672841391575416602012-11-30T18:16:45.164-05:002012-11-30T18:16:45.164-05:00Richella, this is a great post! I was never able t...Richella, this is a great post! I was never able to keep a "picture perfect" house until this fall, once BOTH girls were off to college. Even now, laundry and dishes can still pile up...but, I don't feel bad about it at all. It's called, "real life"; and I just go with it...lol!Shenita @ Embellishments by SLRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10162513189227788677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-36437057864640660952012-11-30T18:15:48.092-05:002012-11-30T18:15:48.092-05:00BLESS YOUR HEART!!! as my grandmother used to say....BLESS YOUR HEART!!! as my grandmother used to say. =) I am absolutely the messy type, but you know what? I've noticed that I gravitate to other people who are also messy types. Messy types tend to be deep thinking and deep feeling creative types. Those are my kind of people! And I always giggle to myself when company tells me how "lovely and clean" my house is...That's because I knew they were coming over! It's nice to hear that God wants me to be me. The real me. Thanks. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-35619956575598465272012-11-30T17:50:51.292-05:002012-11-30T17:50:51.292-05:00I needed this today, thank you. I am like you and...I needed this today, thank you. I am like you and am still telling myself that it is ok to be me but I sure admired those organized folks and I was at work....home is a different subject. Surely we have gifts they admire:)Terri at Finder's Keeper'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885148229437253811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-47676456366655204242012-11-30T16:40:41.307-05:002012-11-30T16:40:41.307-05:00I used to be the squeaky clean, organized, nothing...I used to be the squeaky clean, organized, nothing out of place woman. I wish I could still say that, but having two growing children and renovating an old house finds me quite the opposite these days. Thank you for reminding me that God's okay with that and he loves me anyway. I needed that today. Happy Holidays!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18308451204015282108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-29506595731078030582012-11-30T15:33:54.510-05:002012-11-30T15:33:54.510-05:00Oh, thank you! I just started bringing up my Chris...Oh, thank you! I just started bringing up my Christmas tubs this afternoon. Nice to know I'm not the only one with tubs and stuff around. <br /><br />I think we help each other as women when we are more honest with ourselves and each other. And let's give ourselves grace to say that it's OK if we don't decorate a lot this year, and maybe it's enough to just keep the kids clean and fed right now. <br /><br />And Shelly, my heart goes out to you. At certain stages of life, it is very difficult to be organized, and some of us have a harder time with it. I very much recommend trying Flylady.com, try her Baby Steps. <br /><br />Thanks for making a space here for us to be honest!<br /><br />Linda B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-79427645920242297692012-11-30T14:23:56.537-05:002012-11-30T14:23:56.537-05:00I have been slowly bringing up my bins from the ba...I have been slowly bringing up my bins from the basement. Last year I decorated the entire house the weekend after Thanksgiving but I took things a little slower this year. Of course, I still have boxes all over! Oh well! Have a nice weekend!<br />-ShelleyCalypso In The Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10264873052810117169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-34819658350472867222012-11-30T14:09:30.945-05:002012-11-30T14:09:30.945-05:00I loved this post. I have been drooling over pictu...I loved this post. I have been drooling over pictures of your home and have been kicking myself for not having the ability to maintain such perfection. Glad to know that deep down we are all the same. Merry Christmas to us! :) Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12945264080694886265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-64047381608857880182012-11-30T13:39:54.950-05:002012-11-30T13:39:54.950-05:00What a wonderful verse to remind us of God's l...What a wonderful verse to remind us of God's love, especially when we can be so harried this time of year. Your mess looks wonderful compared to mine.Cathiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-66912029579695951072012-11-30T13:33:20.272-05:002012-11-30T13:33:20.272-05:00Hi Richella...thanks for being real! I love you t...Hi Richella...thanks for being real! I love you that way! (:>)<br /><br />I think your home is lovely...and I do enjoy the pretty pictures, and the posts that show us how you are decorating, or how you are crafting etc. I am glad to hear that you are not perfect...and that your place might look messy from time to time too! And it cracked me up that you even told us that your dog peed on the rug!!! (:>)<br /><br />I know most of us don't show the pictures of the dishes in the sink...or the piles of laundry, or in my case, my dresser with my jewelry laying all over the place, or my shoes in piles in my bedroom and master bathroom..or my closet needing to be cleaned out and organized. Ha!<br /><br />My front guest bedroom is where I sit and get on my laptop computer. I treat this room like a den. I sit in my wing back chair by the window and look out the window, and read books here too. I have a little tv in here, so I am often watching tv and eating breakfast, lunch, or snacks in here, so the napkins pile up, and so do books, movies and the cd's that I listen to on my cd player/radio. This is my little haven!<br /><br />My guess is that most of us "live" in our homes, and that they aren't just show-places! (:>)<br /><br />Thanks for being candid with us Richella. I can't wait to see the pretty Christmas decorating soon.<br /><br />Love, Linda<br /><br /><br /><br />Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751356958497450109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-32559990647838705882012-11-30T13:28:33.444-05:002012-11-30T13:28:33.444-05:00Haha! That's what my living room has looked l...Haha! That's what my living room has looked like this past week! It's such a blessing that God knows we can't be perfect... and neither can our house. Thanks for keeping it real!Krystle @ Color Transformed Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13853003828644411789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758915940467026052.post-11021144416284275472012-11-30T13:12:18.896-05:002012-11-30T13:12:18.896-05:00Lovely post Richella!
Isn't it so great to kno...Lovely post Richella!<br />Isn't it so great to know that the Lord loves us just the way we are! And that He is working continously to "finish that good work " in us, to be more like Him! I generally keep a clean house but please don't look in my linen closet! Yikes! I do straighten it out when company comes though. But after all, I'm just a work in progress ;-)Veronicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06175220398984549505noreply@blogger.com