Grace at Home No. 427

Sometimes I approach a day thinking "This is a red-letter day!" This is usually when there's something really special on my calendar. Today is one of those days--it's my middle son Preston's 28th birthday. And what a special, wonderful son he is! Here's the latest photo of the two of us.

But sometimes a day is special not for a fun reason like a birthday, but for a somber one. Today is also that kind of day. A good friend of ours died this week, and today we'll be attending his memorial service. He was just 59 years old. His wife is only 58. We are shocked and dismayed.

Isn't that the way life is? The good mingled with the bad. Sunshine AND storms. 

Our friend's death has made me think deeply about how I want to be living my life. I know for sure that I want my sphere of influence—my home, my family, my work, my friendships—I want everything I touch to be full of grace. And so I am grateful to host this little party celebrating all the ways YOU make your homes full of grace.

Here are some highlights from last week's party.

If you've done any furniture shopping lately, you know that prices have really risen—which makes shopping for secondhand furniture a must for many of us. But what if you find a wooden piece that needs serious repair? Kristi from French Creek Farmhouse shows us step-by-step how she rescued this beautiful dresser.

Now that summer is here full-force, you might be longing to brighten up the rooms of your house. If so, you'll be glad that Penny from Penny's Vintage Home shows us her summertime kitchen.

Do you like to decorate for patriotic holidays like Independence Day? If so, you'll want to see how Paula from Sweet Pea made this fun wreath. (After a long career as a teacher, Paula writes the best tutorials!)

If you'd like to decorate with red, white, and blue in a more understated way, take a look at this post from Julie at My Wee Abode.

Longing to make meal planning simpler this summer? Alison from Simplified Motherhood has some great ideas.

Here's an intensely practical post: Kristi from French Creek Farmhouse shows you, step by step, how to sew a ladder stitch.

And if you'd like some good advice for summertime reading, I know no better guide than Michele Morin from Living Our Days. 

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your own home with truth, goodness, and beauty. 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 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 your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter