The coffee is perking in the coffee pot in the kitchen downstairs while the sun is peeking up from behind the hill in the front of the house. The kitty purrs and rubs against my legs. She is fed, petted, and then I plod down the steps toward the sweet “gurgling” of the coffee pot. A cup awaits, poured by my thoughtful husband. The hot beverage is foamy and slightly sweet. Cup in hand, I move towards the fireplace and stand in slippered feet while sipping the warm liquid. My mind races to the day ahead of me. So much to do. So much for which to prepare. If my body kept up with my thoughts, I’d be doing a 100 yard dash up the stairs right now to get ready for the day, but no – first I must still my heart in God’s Word. I sit. I read from my worn, lovely copy of the Bible. I hear God’s voice. I bow to pray. I seek direction for this day. My heart is quieted.

It is then that I reach for my planner book and pen. I scribble plans and priorities for these twenty-four hours, hopeful that I might accomplish these things on my “to-do” list, knowing that the Lord could change these plans. And that will be the Best plan. Today is His day. This year is His year.

Have you quieted your heart with time spent with the Lord yet today? It’s easier and a stronger pull to check all our social media first, isn’t it? To see what is going on the the world, instead of what needs to be going on in our hearts. Nothing will be right this day if our heart is not first right with God.

I’m asking the Lord to help me make better use of my free minutes this year. Instead of making a New year’s Resolution, I’ve set a goal to accomplish some projects in the next 100 days, which will be April 11, 2014. I chose 100 days, because it’s a short commitment. The end is in sight. I have several things I’ve been working on for the last couple of years (gasp!) that I’m desiring to complete. On Friday, April 11th, I’ll share my progress with you, but will also update along the way. I’ll be a little generic, but let me share the three things I’m going to be working on:

New Years Eve is a the day we all turn around and take a peek behind us.  We like to remember where we’ve been, what we did, and what was accomplished.  Those are the things memories are made of!

For the believer, this day is more than just remembering the good times; it’s also a time to look and see if what we’ve done in the last year has been effective in an eternal way.  Whose life have we touched?  Have we changed others’ perspectives about their lives and their trials because of the Scripture with which we gave them?  What biblical truths and principles have we poured into our friends and family?  How has our marriage pointed the world to our Savior?  How have we grown individually closer to the Lord in this last year?  How much more of His Word do we know?

If you sigh when you read those questions because you didn’t accomplish as much as you’d like, then you have a whole clean slate in front of you, starting at this new year.  Be sure to come back for some simple encouragements tomorrow about how to branch out in this next year to accomplish those goals the Lord brings to your heart. I won’t be writing about making resolutions, by the way.  =)

In “blogosphere” review of my year here at RefreshHer, I thought it might be interesting to see the most popular posts from 2013. Let’s look at the five top viewed posts, starting with Number Five and working our way to Number One!

#5 Unexpected and Inconvenient
#4 Hosting a Pinterest Party
#3 House Cleaning

#2 Full of Excuses

#1 Mothering for the Lord

One of my favorite personal memories from this past year was the day we came to look at the inside of this house for the first time.  I knew it was what I had prayed for the minute I walked through it.  My husband and I were on the stairs when I asked if he would pray with me that the Lord would give us this house, if it was His will.  Dale took my hands, and we prayed in the stair well.  Then the day we moved in, we stood in the same place, held hands, and thanked the Lord for answered prayer!   What is a favorite memory of yours from 2013?

Happy New Year!

With love,

Happy Post Christmas!  You probably didn’t check blogs yesterday, and I didn’t write a post, so take a look at my photos from the last two days and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Keep refreshed!

Merry Christmas!  What a special day this is for those of us who know Christ as our personal Savior.  How thankful I am that He left the glories of heaven to be born in a humble manger bed.  When I look at my home, I think about the fact that Christ didn’t have a home while on this earth.  His grace enables you and me to enjoy so many blessings…all because He came!  The greatest blessing is a relationship with Him.  To walk with Him and know Him, to allow Him to make sense of all the hard things in our lives; and to One Day be with Him is the greatest blessing.

As I show you the rest of my picture tour of my home, I’m very mindful of the truths I just mentioned, and give Him the glory for the grace blessings He pours out so abundantly.  Without Him, my house would just be a structure.  Because of the Lord Jesus Christ, my house has become a home where love abounds through Him.

Now, on with the last half of the house tour…

The three bedrooms are upstairs.

The first guest room…

I have a full-length mirror hanging inside my closet. The first reason is obvious, but I also hung it there so it would reflect the fireplace in the bedroom.  I love that I can see it there!

There you have it, friends!  Thanks for stopping by for a virtual visit.  Stop in for a “real” visit!

No matter where you live, it is a gift from God, whose Son left His home to make a way for you to be saved.  Now He’s gone to make a place for us in heaven!  Rejoice in His birth on this Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

With love from my country home,