I thought you might like to see my finished projects that I’d posted about a couple weeks ago. This is my entry table, so my guests will have a spring-y welcome when they enter!
See you here Monday!
Freshen Up Friday
Making your own Spring Floral Arrangement
A fresh spring floral arrangement can be a beautiful addition to your home, but have you seen how expensive they are in any store? Goodness, I only want to buy some flowers – not the whole Biltmore Garden! Seriously, even at bargain stores, a prepared arrangement is super expensive! This is where doing a little DIY comes in really handy!
I have been looking to purchase an arrangement for our church, and could not ask the church to spend $150 (at half price) for an arrangement! So, after weeks of endless searching for something that didn’t cost as much, I decided to make one myself. I’ve never arranged a large, silk arrangement before, but I was desperate!
First, I found something I liked that I would try to “copy” – not completely, but it would give me a good starting point. I found this made up at Hobby Lobby on sale for $150: Thanks for the idea, HobLob, but I’m not buying it!
Next, I went through the store with this picture on my phone, and I selected the elements I needed to make something similar. I chose:
- A container
- Floral foam to fit inside (You need this to hold the flowers in place)
- Tall grasses
- Tall “airy” type flowers
- Large, full flowers for bottom
- Small flowers for filler
- Architectural detal – Moss ball
- Spanish moss to hide the bottom of the stems
As I selected each item, I popped it into the container to give me an idea if it would be right, always using my picture as a guide.
I came home and popped each item into the floral foam. I chose not to use any glue so that I can pull out and add summery flowers later in the year. I want to get my money’s worth!
Rule of thumb is that you need something high, something low, a pop of color and a couple different textures. Click on the picture to get a little closer look at the details.
One of the best things about this project was the final cost – It came to $72! That was buying the items at half price. If they’re not on sale at Hobby Lobby when you go to buy them, they probably will be the next week.
I loved having this on my dining room table, but of course, this arrangement is now sitting in the church auditorium. Now I need to make one for myself! It is such fun and so rewarding to know you saved so much money making it yourself! Why not refresh your home for spring and make an arrangement for your table? Hobby Lobby’s florals are indeed half price this week!!!!!
What scares you about trying a project like this? Remember, you can pull things out and rearrange if you don’t like the way it looks!
Our church is starting a week of meetings this week with Aaron Coffey and his team. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us! See our website for details.
Stay refreshed,
The Wasted Time of Unforgiveness
It was just a little lovers quarrel between two neighbors, David and Rachel. Then every week after that for forty-two years, he wrote her a love letter, asking her to forgive him, and every week she promptly burned the letter. Her heart was stoic and unforgiving. Finally, he summoned the courage to knock on her door and ask her to marry him. She said yes! They were seventy-four years old when they finally married!
Sad story, isn’t it? To have wasted forty-two years that they might have shared loving one another instead of holding a grudge. As I read that story recently I thought about how easy it is to think you’re so right that you will not forgive. Satan feeds us lies:
- You could not possibly give in because by doing so, he wouldn’t learn the lesson he needs to learn.
- Forgiving would rob you of the joy of hurting him like he hurt you.
- Forgiving would make you a doormat.
Yes forty-two years is a long time, but do we have a right to hold a grudge for forty-two days? How about forty-two minutes? No, forty-two seconds might be more like it.
We might all admit it’s wrong to stay angry and unforgiving, but HOW do you forgive? How do you let go of your right to stay angry? How do you let go when you’re sure you’re right and he’s wrong? The biblical answer is to see yourself standing before the cross. Are you behind your husband because you don’t need God’s forgiveness as much? No, we must see ourselves standing side by side before a bleeding, dying Savior who forgave us though He had done NOTHING wrong. We forgive because we are forgiven.
We forgive in God’s strength alone. We cannot muster up enough gumption to do this in our flesh. Our flesh believes the devil’s lies and “burns the letter.” But when we come to the Lord, we ask Him to give us the grace to forgive.
We forgive because it makes us like our Savior. We let go of our right, as Christ did and we bear His likeness so that a watching world may see His life in us.
Recently my husband said to me something that touched my heart. “Whenever we’re angry with one another, let’s just embrace.” You know what happens when you do that? The anger melts away. Humility and vulnerability are involved and the tensions are released.
What issue stands between you and your husband? No matter how big or small (and most times it’s the little things that get blown out of proportion that cause the most grief), there is nothing that is worth wasting forty-two minutes, hours, days or years over. Humble yourself and make it right.
Do it today. Time for your love is passing and you’ll never get it back.
Lovingly,
A Peek From My Porch
I have really creative daughters, and since I birthed them, I like to lay claim on those talents!
When Whitney, aka, Come Home for Comfort was visiting me last weekend, my unorganized linen closet, and her wonderful ability to turn clutter to calm came to mind! After I whined told her about my mess, she happily agreed to give it her best and get things in order. Here’s a little (embarrassing) peek at the before…
When Whitney saw my disorganized space, her nice way of agreeing that it needed attention was to say, “Well, at least nothing is falling out on your head!” =) She was right – that was about the only positive thing about my closet!
She did her magic, and the results are so nice, I look for excuses to open those doors and stare inside! If you want to see how she transformed this area, continue reading by clicking here!
When you go to her blog, you’ll see how good she is and why I tap into her abilities! Thanks for stopping by for a peek! What do think of my closet space now?!
With love from my country porch,
Ten Things Television Cannot Do for Your Family
Our family loves to watch The Andy Griffith Show – it always make us laugh! The Barefoot Contessa cooking show is a favorite program on the Food Network; it always inspires me to get in the kitchen! There are a handful of old movies I have enjoyed and watched again and again. I say that first so you’ll understand that this is not a post bashing television entirely. It has its place when used wisely (like anything else!).
There was a young visitor in my home who frequents my house who recently asked, “Is your TV EVER on?” I told him that it is on occasionally, but that we don’t ever just leave it on. The television being left on for the majority of the day is, I believe, a common occurrence in many American households. I’ve been doing some thinking about the question from my young guest, and came up with the reasons why I don’t leave the television on. Again, I’m not saying a person should never watch television; I’m talking about having it on for the majority of the day.
A television babysits, entertains, fills a mind, teaches, occupies, and replaces our presence,
but what can’t television do?
- It cannot look a person in the eye. It’s impersonal, distant, removed.
- It cannot have a conversation. It cannot ask or answer a question. It does all the talking.
- It cannot provide a peaceful atmosphere in your home. Television is all about drama! Leaving it on creates noise and unrest rather than peace.
- It cannot create a loving home. Creating anything takes a person’s mind, strength and love. A TV has none of these.
- It cannot listen.
- It cannot touch.
- It cannot hold someone accountable. It won’t tell you how long you’ve been watching.
- It cannot show emotion.
- It cannot encourage creativity. It does all the creating while the watcher, well, watches!
- It cannot pause to allow you to listen to God. It takes someone to turn off the set so that there is time to hear, listen and obey. That someone would be us!
Some encouragement about when you do watch:
- Recording shows is a great way to use your time more effectively. Then you can fast forward through commercials!
- If you have to watch a show “live,” mute the commercials, which are always very loud.
- Set a time limit as to how long it will be on.
- Make it a reward – not a babysitter.
- Try to do something else while watching – Iron, fold clothes, knit, cut out coupons, etc.
- Don’t watch any show where people are doing/saying anything you wouldn’t allow a guest in your home to do or say.
- Don’t watch anything you wouldn’t ask the Lord to sit down and watch with you (He’s there!).
Just some food for thought. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on this subject. Please, no anonymous comments. =) Thanks!
With love,
RefreshHer 