Your Home a Haven for Fall

I love Fall. This time of year is my favorite!  I love the cooler temps, beautiful colors,  pumpkin spice everything, and get togethers with family.  I just love Fall! 

I love to decorate my home every year around this time.  But, I've been thinking about it more lately as to why I do this.  Why have a rubbermaid of pretty things to only bring out for a couple of months a year?  Why go through the house and box some things up just to take out others? Why bother?

 As keeper of my home, it's my responsibility to make this place our haven. We find many references in scripture to this.  Titus 2:5 speaks of women being the "Keepers at home" and the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 looks well to the ways of her household.  I truly believe that one of the ways to do this is to keep things fresh, clean, and ready for the season.  It makes my children excited for the upcoming days and how things look in our home!  Children need the security of knowing that their Momma loves her home and wants to make it beautiful for their Daddy, and for them as well. 

I have found that to do this it takes just a little planning, a little creativity, and a love for my home.  I have also found that it does not take a lot of money.  It really doesn't!  It also doesn't take an updated, everything-perfect home.  We've decorated in rental homes, duplexes, mobile homes....wherever we were together was our home! My children are very quick to pick up on the attitude that I have for the house God has me in.  If I always see the room that needs to be painted, the door that is falling off the hinges and the dirty-needing-to-be-replaced carpet, then I've missed it!  I've missed the beauty of a place where my children pillow their head at night.  I've missed the place where they will look back with memories (whether fond or sad.)  Look beyond what needs to be done and see the potential your home has!  When you see it and embrace it, your family will too!

As I decorated this year, I intentionally mostly used things I already had.  I bought a few small things, but used a lot of stuff from years before.  I also used other decorations that weren't necessarily for Fall, like the silver tray and glass cake stand.

Dollar Tree also has so many cute pumpkins, candles and decorations!

It was also fun bringing out some buffalo check.  Beth had been given a fleece buffalo check throw that she let me use.  And I had a buffalo check scarf.  I also found 2 pillow covers for $5 each at Hobby Lobby.  I think it all goes together very well!

My family was so excited when they saw the decorations.  I had a few projects for them to help me with, too.  One inexpensive thing Callie did for me was so layer a glass vase with green and red lentils and white beans.  She then tied some raffia around it and Voila!  Adorable!
The important thing is that they love their home and how it looks.  They knew they had a part in it, too. 

In the front of my Bible I have my Lifetime Goals listed.  One of them is to make my home my family's haven.  This is one way of how it happens.  So thankful to be the Keeper of my home!  God is so good!

Having boys....

 ...means having a collection of dead spiders on your porch. I honestly don't get it.  At least they are dead!

Fall on Storybook Farms

Happy Fall Y'All!  October is here and almost through.  Could it really be fall yet?  In North Central Florida, sometimes it's hard to tell.  We've had the low temps dip into the 50s a couple of days.  It feels wonderful!  But, most of our highs are still in the 80s.  We'll take it though!  It was a super hot summer, and the break from the heat is marvelous!  One way to tell around here that Fall is near is when you see all the pine needles falling.  I love the rusty orange color of pine needles and how they blanket the yard.   It's so pretty!

It's been fun sprucing up a few things and making our outside look a little more fall worthy.

Our pepper plants have been growing like crazy!  As you recall, my husband and I don't do so well growing things.  So, to have something outgrow its pot is amazing.  We priced some large pots and wow, they are expensive!  My creative hubby decided he would build me some instead.  I love them!!

Not too long ago I found these neat plants growing on the side of our porch.  They just came out of nowhere!  My Mom said they are called "Wandering Jew" plants.  Aren't they so pretty?  I decided to transplant some to a few different pots and they are doing great!!

I put some in my pot of Mums.  This is the first year my Mums have done good.  I usually kill them within the first couple of weeks.  But, every year I buy them.  It's tradition!  I think I've figured out a few things on Mums.  They like water.  And in this climate they need water twice a day.  I also waited this year to buy them in October.  I usually get so excited that Fall is on the way that I buy my Mums in August or September.  It's just too hot that time of year and they burn up.  I waited this time and they are doing great!!

I also added the Wandering Jew to Callie's plant that came from my Mom's clipping.  This was a plant that was given to my Mom at my Pap-paw's funeral.  It's so nice to see it thriving and doing so well!

 

We also found a couple of cute decorative pumpkins.  We choose to not participate in Halloween.  So no jack o lanterns for us.  But, I love to decorate with whole pumpkins.  Micah and I found pumpkins on sale at Aldi's for $2.49.  We bought a couple and he wants to learn how to roast pumpkins so we can make some fresh pumpkin desserts.  So guess what is on the Fall Bucket List? :o)

Sweetie Pie and Josie Pie are growing like crazy.  Still not my favorite animal on this little farm of ours.  But, I'll be happy when we have the bacon!

Our three goats are doing surprisingly well!  We've not done the best with our goats and keep trying to build our little herd.  These three have been growing and doing good.  Our hope is for goat babies soon.  I hate to put them on a deadline, but now is the time! 

So that is what Fall looks like around Storybook Farms. A lot like summer.  With a little chill now and then. And lots of beauty!

Am I a gardener?

Hardly.  But that's what it felt like when Mom asked for a cutting of my Wandering Jew plant!  I've never been asked for a cutting off of any of my plants before!  Thanks Mom!  I feel like the color of my thumb is trying to change! :o)

Freedom Joy's Dedication

 Last night we had Freedom's Baby Dedication Service at VSIBC.  It was such a sweet time!

Elisabeth sang, "Lord Bless our Home"

 Patrick gave a "charge" to the parents.  He reminded everyone that this is actually more of a parent dedication than a baby dedication.  It's a time for the parents, in front of witnesses, to dedicate themselves to be the parents Freedom Joy needs them to be.  They dedicate to live for the Lord themselves and set a wonderful example for her to follow.  It's such a special service!

Then, the ladies gathered around Tabitha and prayed for her and baby Freedom.

And the men gathered around and prayed for Joshua and Freedom.

Seeing this picture just makes me tear up.  You see the love our church family has for one another.  They genuinely care. And love abundantly.  I cannot imagine living life without my church family!

We were so thankful to have my Mom and Dad to be able to drive up for the Dedication! And, of course, we are so thankful that Grammy and Marc now call Fort White home!

 

All eyes on baby Freedom.  She is so loved!!  We praise the Lord for this new life into the Gimenez Family.  I'm thankful for her Godly parents and that they seek to glorify the Lord in all they do.  God is so good!

Safari So Good Ladies Conference

Several months ago a fellow Pastor's Wife sent me a message and asked if I would be willing to be a workshop speaker at their upcoming Ladies Conference.  I knew we had already registered to go to the Peoples Baptist Church Ladies Conference in McDonough.  So, I didn't think I needed to have 2 conferences back to back on the calendar for our VSIBC ladies.  Patrick and I prayed about it and decided this would be a good Gimenez girls trip, and we decided to go.  I am so glad we did!

We made a quick stop at the beach on our way.  Even though we are in Florida, we are in the middle of the state and about 2 hours from any beach.  It was nice to stop for a moment and hear the seagulls and smell the salty sea.  I love it!

I invited my Mom to come and join us.   I am so glad she did!  We were first in line to arrive at the conference.  Our men would have been so proud!  (all of them like to be early!!)

It was so good to be all together for this conference.  Bible Baptist Church in Palm Harbor does a wonderful job for their Fall Friendsy!  (Isn't that the cutest name!)  They are so organized.  They have to be, the place is packed!!

Brenna won a prize for one of the games. 

 And Mom was the first door prize winner!  We were so excited when they called her name!

That night at the hotel we had lots of girl talk, pizza and laughter.  I love my girls!!

Then, Saturday it was back to the church for more Ladies Conference fun!  

The topic for the session I was to speak at was "Tree Top Living"  and how to have a joy-filled life.  I was so thankful for all the lessons the Lord showed me as I was preparing to speak.  He spoke to me first, which is such a blessing to me!  I'm going to give the same devo to my VSIBC ladies at our next meeting.  So, I'll share the devo on my blog soon.

Tabitha played in the elephant march game.  It was so cute!

 I was so glad Mom was there.  We had so much fun together!  A Godly Mom is truly a treasure.  I love how she loves my girls and me and loves to be with us.  Making memories is a wonderful blessing!

Then, it was time to head home.  Of course we had to get some Twistee Treat Ice Cream to help us home!  So thankful for a great conference!