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Every year, a local group of builders in our town joins forces to put together the most incredible show neighborhood. When we recently visited, I spotted some adorable trends for home decor that are really unique. I also got a lot of good ideas for our new build.
Built in bunk beds are definitely trending. Several designers opted for turquoise and pink in girls' rooms and navy/khaki in boys rooms.
Shiplap continues to be a trend, however, if you are not ready to commit to the work of installing it, you can try a wallpaper or other faux wood solution to try it out. Although it is really popular at the moment, it does look a little less polished, so it may not remain for much longer.
Hospitality is something I grew up with. When I was an infant, my mother ran a bakery, and I went with her. She would nurse me and I would sleep soundly in my bassinet while she helped customers prep and plan for their special events. Eventually, she sold the Caramel Bakery and dedicated her time to her family, and especially her children. She would throw us fantastic parties and bake the most elaborate cakes! Someday I can share some of those family photos with you, because she did an incredible job creating experiences for us. That's what hospitality is about: creating experiences and memories for the ones you love most. After all, what can you keep but memories? As my own children have grown into toddlers and preschoolers, I find it all the more fun and fulfilling to throw parties to celebrate them. With my son's second birthday party around the corner, I will be sharing that event as one of my first recent events. In the meantime, I will share some past events that we've hosted: baby showers, girls' birthday parties, patriotic parties, Thanksgiving parties and maybe even our wedding! Today, I'll share Thanksgiving ideas from a farm Thanksgiving we had a few years ago.  Our Thanksgiving party was a pot luck for nearly 100 people. We hosted at my parents' farm and we had an absolute blast! Above are the most adorable table decorations that we set all throughout the barn. Tables were bedecked with burlap and felt and we used pumpkins and other harvest-themed vegetables to decorate.  There are certain foods that just lend themselves to being presented in a precarious, but elegant way. Baskets can be used to serve rolls, fruit and even chips & dip.  Sometimes it's easy to forget the little details like salad dressing or salt & pepper, but they can make or break the meal for some of our guests. Something to add to the Evernote list!  And of course, we can't forget the turkey! There are various types of kale that make a perfect garnish (and your health-conscious friends may think it's a special superfood salad to enjoy with their beets.
So there you have it! We had a wonderful time. It was simple, but elegant. What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition to share wiith your loved ones?? The heat steams up from the sidewalks and the patio. One more day without a cloud in the sky, with an early sunrise and a late sunset. It allows you to put away the business of the fall and the winter and spring. It allows you to forget. Forget the schedules and the school day rush. Forget the cold and having to put on shoes before you step outside.  We have a lovely garden this year. Normally we are overrun with strawberries, but the strange weather kept our plants from bearing much fruit this year. What we had, we enjoyed early in the morning, just me and the two little ones.  We picked them in our pajamas and ate them before our morning Bible story. We marveled at how our Maker could bring such sweetness out of the ground. And such vibrant red!  Now our peppers are starting to ripen. The cucumber plant and pumpkin vine that the neighbor brought over are both flourishing. We will be ready come October. Once the tomatoes start to redden on the vine, we will have enough for a lovely salad.  Living close to the earth in this way illuminates the creativity of our Creator. He inspires, He infuses our lives with vibrancy... and intrigue... and mystery. He delights us with sweetness and the satisfaction of nurturing something as it grows out of the dirt beneath our feet. What a miracle.     Dress the little ones up, but let them get their knees covered in grass stains.   WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President & CEO Catherine Glenn Foster of the leading pro-life advocacy group Americans United for Life (AUL) has issued the following statement:
"Americans United for Life congratulates Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Based on his strong, twelve-year record on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, we believe that Judge Kavanaugh will be an originalist Justice, committed to the text of the Constitution and to the rule of law, including legal protections for human life. This is a seminal moment for America. It’s a crucial chance to shift the Court back to a majority that does not look to Roe and Casey – two of the worst examples of judicial activism – as their legacy. We urge the Senate to confirm Judge Kavanaugh swiftly so that he can begin serving our nation by the start of the Supreme Court’s next term in October." AUL, the nation’s premier pro-life legal team, works through the law and legislative process to one end: achieving comprehensive legal protection for human life from conception to natural death. As women of faith, we have to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Just because a person is dependent on someone else does not mean that person's life has to be at the mercy of the other. ** Addendum July 11, 2018** In additional research, I have also found that Judge Kavanaugh may have a history of assuming the government should/does have a compelling interest in cases when the defendant's only claim to be heard is that they were offended. Although frivolous lawsuits and Supreme Court over-reach is absolutely a concern, I believe our number one concern should be to stand blameless before our Maker. To that end, we have to consider the following: 1. Will this man stand up for biblical values? 2. Will this candidate serve the people, but more importantly serve a higher moral authority? As someone who has made a multitude of hires over the years, I know that you can't always find your dream candidate for the role. Of course, the more due diligence you do, the better off you will be, but the fact remains that no one is perfect. Additionally, there is always more to consider than a single issue. "refugees around the world. Read this special series from Global Sisters Report. Don't forget that building a culture of life isn't only about one issue. "John Gehring, Catholic program director at Faith in Public Life, a national network of justice-focused clergy and religious leaders, tweeted Tuesday, the morning after President Trump announced Kavanaugh as his nominee to the high court. Gehring said he hopes Kavanaugh, a Catholic, would also support the sanctity of life around issues of poverty, inequality, climate change, racism, guns and treatment of immigrant families in detention." |
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AUTHORSCornel Warren, Managing Editor of Live with Heart & Soul, shares her heart as she reaches Christian women with timeless, beautiful content to encourage and inspire their walks with God, themselves and those around them. |
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