A prayer for each of us...

My husband and I have had to make some big decisions lately, and they weren't easy. In fact it feels like we're wandering in the dark without any clear direction, especially with regards to one very important issue.

There's no real right or wrong answer to our dilemma, but it could be life changing and that's why we want to be clear and sure on what path to choose.

Have you been challenged like this? 

I think choosing between something wrong and something right (through the eyes of Scripture) is much easier than choosing between two good paths. 

We desire to see further into the future to be certain our eventual choice will bring the best outcome, yet that's not what God is offering us. He seems silent. He is silent. 

Patience to wait upon the Lord is something I try to cultivate in my heart - so that it's natural, so I'm never expecting an immediate answer or miracle and probably so I'm not disappointed, but the silence in the midst of waiting is hard.

Years ago it occurred to me that if I don't know what's going on, and God stays silent, then my adversary the devil has no clue either. 

God's 'plan in motion' has been hidden to protect me and its important that I trust Him, have faith in what He's doing and await His perfect timing. I tell you truly, there was great peace in grasping this because I knew without doubt that God had not turned His back on me but was at work 'above and beyond' in ways I would never comprehend.

And it would all be for my good and for HIS glory.

This week's Scripture was a timely reminder for my husband and I that we need to put every hope in Christ, we need to trust Him, follow His lead, read the Word and let Him teach us through it. We can be sure that in His perfect timing He will show us the path to take, He'll point us in the right direction and we shall go forth.

When I saw Psalm 25:4-5 in the signature line of an email from a blog reader (thank you, Jacque) it was quite clearly a word in season, in fact it was prayer to pray every day.

I pray it brings peace and hopeful expectation to you as well.
In fact, I've made this into a free printable so we can frame it as reminder of hope during silent times. Download it here. 

be blessed,

Walk the room - planning the way...

With an entire year to immerse my soul in the domestic arts ahead of me, I've been meaning to fill my diary with all my 'home-centred' ideas so I don't forget them, but...I keep forgetting to write them down.

Do you find yourself doing that?

A great idea (or three!) comes to mind and you plan to follow through but are remiss in making a note of it, so pretty soon you've forgotten what it was?  The story of my life. 

Another thing that stalls my good intentions for bringing some domestic control to my home is feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I see before me and simply not knowing where to begin. 

As I was walking through each room around New Year my memory was jogged by a scene from one of mine and Blossom's favourite lazy day chick flicks - "Under the Tuscan Sun".

(I will just let you know that I fast forward through some of this movie - what we love about it is the entire process of transforming the villa)

Let me set the scene:  the main character, Frances, has arrived in Italy newly divorced, and on impulse purchases an old run down Tuscan villa called 'Bramasole' which she plans to renovate and call home...

 (source)

Naturally there is an aftershock when she takes possession. Arriving with her suitcases and nothing else it dawns on her the enormity of what she taken on, but as she walks through the villa and slowly takes in her surroundings she makes this observation that resonates very strongly inside me:

"Pick one room and make it yours. Go slowly through the house. Be polite, introduce yourself so it can introduce itself to you." 

(Frances Mayes, Under The Tuscan Sun movie 2003)

Over the ensuing months she works relentlessly with the help of some odd Polish handymen...

...to create a home from the rubble.

Even though I am not renovating a neglected Tuscan villa, I do desire to make every room in this rental house a place of 'welcome' and refreshment, a sanctuary even,  so I decided Frances had sage advice for me to draw from this year. 

One room at a time, politely re-acquainting myself with it's nuances, writing myself notes about the things I need, and want, to do with it to fulfil my vision. 

That's when my phrase "Walk The Room" was birthed.

I purchased an inexpensive clipboard, covered it with more of Blossom's scrapbook paper and some clear contact, and set about creating a 'walk the room' planning sheet...

On the top line of my paper I wrote the name of a room, and over a few days last week I 'walked my rooms' and made notes on everything I could think of that I'd like to do for them...

As you would have noticed, I've been in my kitchen a lot this month. 

The kitchen (to my thinking) is the heart of a home, and the projects and chores listed for it on my sheet is longer than the plans I have for my other rooms....

...but each 'walk the room' list is just as important as another.

I will spend my Sunday afternoons reading through each room's plans and decide what I'd like to accomplish over the following week. 

I'm sure I'll add to each list along the way, but I'll also be crossing things off them.  I envisage a lot of satisfied smiles over early evening cups of tea in the months ahead as this house becomes a 'home'.

If you'd like to 'walk the room' in your home too, you can download my free printable planning sheets HERE.

They're not fancy, because this year is about simple.

MARCH 2017 UPDATE

I'm still loving the journey through a life of gentle domesticity and decided to update my "Walk the Room" downloadable sheets for you.

Download the NEW printable sheets here or here.


have a blessed week,

hugs