Grace at Home No. 490

Friends! It's mid-December!

Can you believe how quickly this year has gone by? At times. . . especially during many long nights in the hospital. . . time seemed to drag along this year. And yet, of course, time never does drag. It flies. 

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season, I hope you've had a chance to take a deep breath and really take in the wonder and beauty of Advent. My Advent looks very different this year from years past. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen this photo:

My decorating is pretty bare-bones this year. I'm not hosting any parties. But the miracle of the Incarnation is such that, even when I feel desperately alone, I am not. God is with me. God is with you. God is with all of us, all the time.

And today I am grateful to share a little of seasonal joy by welcoming you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are a few highlights from last week's party.

Even though I'm not doing a lot of decorating this year, I surely love looking at beautifully decorated spaces, so I was glad to see this Christmas home tour from Shelley at Calypso in the Country.

If you're preparing for a party and need a wonderful serving tray, you'll love this idea for a DIY snowglobe tray from Nicolle at Our Tiny Nest.

Need a quick, fun little Christmas gift for someone? Check out this darling stencilled potholder from Beth at Creatively Beth.

Are you still trying to think of a special gift for someone? Regina at Saved from Salvage gives step-by-step instructions for creating a keepsake ornament.

Need an easy recipe for a luscious Christmas dessert? Lenny from Fat Dad Foodie shares Chocolate Peppermint Pie recipe, and it looks delicious!

Or for a quick and yummy treat, try the saltine toffee from Jodi at Create Kids Club. She even includes directions for making it gluten-free.

If you want to capture some of the beauty of Christmas in your photos, you'll be glad to learn some great photography tips from Pam at An Artful Mom.

Christmastime is a time of joy for so many—but not for everyone. If you know someone who is struggling with depression this Christmas, you'll want to read this post from Dr. Michelle Bengtson at Hope Prevails.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week'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 space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 489

Hello friends! I am so grateful to welcome you here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

I truly appreciate the many messages of encouragement you left on my last post. My son is continuing to do okay, although it's really hard to wait weeks for a surgical procedure and to be unable to do anything in the meantime. I'm staying busy caring for him and trying to do a little bit of Christmas preparation—so I was delighted to see what all you've been doing to prepare for Christmas! 

Here are some highlights from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

Want to see a home decorated beautifully but simply for Christmas? Check out this tour from Diane at In My Own Style.

Do you have a small space but still want to decorate? You'll be inspired by this home tour from Julie at My Wee Abode.

If you really want to get into the holiday spirit, you'll love seeing how Debbie from Debbie-Dabble has created a Christmas beverage station in her kitchen.

Looking for simple ways to set a festive table this Christmas? Carol from Comfort Spring Station has some great ideas for you.

The Christmas season is a wonderful time, but it can be a difficult time if you're dealing with grief. If you're experiencing grief this season, Kathryn from the Dedicated House has some really helpful suggestions.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week'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 space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 488

Happy December!

Oh friends. I can hardly believe that we're nearing the end of 2022, and while I hate to wish away any time, I can honestly say that I've been in the most challenging season of my life. Many of you know that my husband has endured multiple hospitalizations and several surgeries this Fall. It seemed as if he had finally turned the corner toward full healing, and we were looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving, when we got an urgent text from our youngest son, who lives more than two hours away from us. The next thing we knew, he texted us this photo:

Thank God, this ambulance took him straight to the Emergency Room, where he was seen right away. I spent all of last week in the hospital with my son, most of it in the Intensive Care Unit. I'm grateful that I was finally able to bring him home with me, and he'll stay with me and my husband until he is able to have a surgery he needs. Waiting for the surgery is hard, but apparently people with this condition have much better outcomes if the surgeons wait a few weeks before doing the repair.

We have not had the kind of Autumn we wanted, and we most certainly did not have the Thanksgiving we'd hoped for. And yet I am more aware than ever that there is so much to be thankful for. My husband is alive! My son is alive! We have access to wonderful healthcare. Our oldest son is home from deployment. We have friends and family who have been so supportive through these long weeks spent a the hospital. The list goes on and on, and I am grateful.

And now I am thankful to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the way we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Believe me, friends: this work of reflecting God's goodness and grace to everyone around us really matters. I know at times it may seem as if no one cares, that nothing you do makes any difference. But it does. It all matters.

Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 487

Hello, friends! 

Well, this Autumn just presents our family with one adventure after another. I'm so sorry that I missed last Thursday's party, but we were back at the hospital for yet another complex procedure for my husband. We're hoping that this will be the last hospital visit of the season for us, but we're learning to take one day at a time and to trust God more and more for the outcomes.

Meanwhile, y'all have been busy! And I'm glad to have the chance to share some of what you've been up to lately at today's Grace at Home party, where we pause to celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some highlights from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

Do you ever find pieces of furniture at a thrift store that seem like they might work for you but they just aren't quite your style? You should take a look at this amazing side table remake from Regina at Saved from Salvage.

Do you want your home to be decorated for Thanksgiving but you just haven't gotten around to it (I'm raising my hand!)? Carol from Bluesky at Home shares nine tips for creating a Thanksgiving mantel in just 30 minutes.

And if you need some Thanksgiving decor to use, check out these free printables from Julie at My Wee Abode.

I'm betting you like to read. Do you read mostly fiction or non-fiction? (As the author of a non-fiction book, I'm hoping you read at least some non-fiction!) Lisa from Lisa Notes on Seeing God shares five ways to get more from reading nonfiction books.

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, I'm always looking for new and different dinner ideas—nothing resembling turkey and dressing! Kimberly from Loulou Girls shares a recipe for Creamy Lemon Pork chops that looks delicious.

Are you in a season of needing to trust God more fully? I certainly am, so I appreciate the way Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares her wisdom in recognizing God as her protector.

Thank you to everyone who linked up! I'm so thankful for your presence here.

Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 486

Hello, friends! You all have probably heard these words from L.M. Montgomery: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." Fictional heroine Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables uttered those words, and they're just right for Anne, who lives in the village of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada. 

Well, I'll tell you what. Here in North Carolina, I'm glad I live in a world where there are Novembers! I snapped this photo as I was walking the dog a couple of days ago:

Our trees are gaining their brilliant Autumn colors and leaves are beginning to fall, and we're grateful to finally be past the hot temperatures of summer. What's it like in your neck of the woods?

Thank you so much for all your kind comments about my husband. We're so thankful that he's home and seems to be doing well, gaining strength day by day.

Now I'm glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places o grace and beauty. Here are some features from last week's party.

Are you enjoying having your home decorated for Fall, or do you still need some design ideas? Meagan from Decorative Inspirations can help.

Or are you looking ahead to getting things decorated for the Christmas season? If so, you'll love visiting with Kristin of White Arrows Home.

If you're looking for some unusual Christmas gift ideas, check out this post from Dave and Jamie of Photo Jeepers.

Need to declutter your home before hosting guests for Thanksgiving, but don't have much time? Alison from Organized Motherhood can help you get started.

Do you plan to host Thanksgiving dinner but don't have a big group to feed? You can still make it fun and festive, and Marty from A Stroll Thru Life will show you how.

Do you need a good recipe for pumpkin bread? Here's the best I've ever tasted.

If these busy days have you feeling terribly impatient with yourself, you'll appreciate this encouragement from Lisa of Lisa Notes on Seeing God.

Thank you to everyone who linked up! I'm so thankful for your presence here.

Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 485

Hello, friends. How glad I am to greet you today. 

You might have noticed that I've been absent from these parts over the past couple of weeks.

If you can read the dates on these name tags, you'll know why I was absent. The first is dated October 9; the second, October 22. These are my visitor badges from the day my husband was admitted to the hospital and the day he was discharged. One day short of two weeks at Duke Hospital.

Some of you know that he was hospitalized back in September. This hospitalization was related to that same incident—only the situation was much worse. I'll spare you the details, but I want to say one thing: this might have ended very differently. If not for the grace of God, I would have lost my husband. 

These past few weeks have been really difficult, but the times when God protected and sustained Jack's life have been startlingly clear. I can't tell you how many times I've shuddered while thinking "What if we had. . . ?" I had to turn that thought onto its head and say, "Thank God" instead.

Friends, I can't explain to you how God works, but I can tell you with certainty that God DOES work. Our lives are full of tiny happenings that may seem insignificant to us—but taken together, they demonstrate the work of God. My friend Dallas Willard used to say "The hand of God is best seen in the rear-view mirror." Isn't that right? And once we catch a glimpse, how can we respond? For me the answer is found in the refrain of an old hymn:

Oh Savior, my Redeemer,

What can I but adore

And magnify and praise thee

And love thee evermore. (Frances R. Havergal)

I believe that God continually displays his love for all of us, which is why I am privileged to host the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes and spheres of influence places of grace and beauty. It's my custom to feature posts from the previous week's party, but today I don't have any features to share. I'm sorry about that, but I'm so glad to welcome you today!

Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 484

Hello everyone! I am happy to be here today, sitting in my house with the power on—which was not the case over the weekend, thanks to Hurricane Ian. Although we lost power for three days, we didn't suffer any real damage, so we are thankful. And our hearts go out to all those who suffered dreadful losses. Were you affected by the storms?

Now it's my pleasure to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some features I think you'll enjoy.

Have you decorated your home for Autumn? Here's some inspiration for you!

Wendy from WM Design House created the cutest pumpkin topiary and she shares step-by-step instructions for making it.

Regina at Saved from Salvage made this darling pumpkin from concrete, and she shows us just how she did it.

For a quick project, Julie from My Wee Abode made a beautiful decoration for her front door, and she shows us how to make one as well.

Just want a little taste of Fall? Alea from Premeditated Leftovers shares a recipe for pumpkin pie spiced pumpkin seeds.

Need to get your kitchen organized before the holidays (raising my hand!)? Tracy from Declutter in Minutes has some great tips for us.

Looking for a fun new dinner recipe? Kimberly from LouLou Girls shares a Spaghetti Casserole recipe that looks delicious!

Have you noticed how grumpy people are these days? Jan from Aging with Ardor offers some helpful thoughts about irritability in her post, "The Residual Pandemic."

Thank you to everyone who linked up! Now on to 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 space 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 or sphere of influence 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

Grace at Home No. 483

Hello, friends! Autumn has finally arrived in North Carolina, and I'm enjoying a hot cup of coffee as I write this, especially since the temperature is in the 50's. This time of year is always a little strange in the American South—is it Fall yet? Can we just look at the calendar and not at the thermometer? But now it's finally here. 

My husband continues to improve (you can read about what's been happening here), and I thank you so much for your prayers. It's been a long month, but we're hanging in there.

I'm so glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some highlights from last week's party.

Do you wish you could update the look of your kitchen? Well, prepare to be inspired. Look at this beautiful kitchen from Angela at Simply Beautiful by Angela:

And now look where she started:

You'll want to read her post for all the details.

Maybe you'd just like to tackle a smaller DIY project. How about these end tables from Meagan at Decorative Inspirations?

Or perhaps you'd like to try your hand at a craft project this fall. Here are some ideas for you!

* an autumn leaf wreath from MaryJo at MasterPIECES of my Life

*decorative Fall plates from Carol at Blue Sky at Home

*4 different ways to transform Dollar Tree pumpkins from Wendy at WM Design House

Want a fun visit with someone who goes all out to decorate for the seasons? Then you should check out this post from dear Debbie at Debbie-Dabble.

Need a fun appetizer for an Autumn gathering? Nicolle from Our Tiny Nest shows how to make this beautiful baked brie shaped like a pumpkin.

If you're feeling a little weary and need to be reminded of the importance of your purpose, read this post from Lisa at Lisa Notes. You'll be glad you did!

Thank you to everyone who linked up! Now on to 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 space 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 or sphere of influence 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