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IT’S TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW

Heart DIY, Heart Restoration, Home Design DIY

As we enter into this new year, somehow this year feels new. Like something different is coming around the corner and somehow we need to get ready for the season ahead… 

cup of coffee and blooming branch
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

What comes to mind is;
It’s time to DECLUTTER! 

It feels like it’s time to get our lives in order and let go of the things of the past to be ready to step into the new day upon us. It is time to rest knowing that we are in good hands and allow the Lord to do the good work in us He has set out to do. Are we ready for what He wants to do in us? Can we let go of control and our own vision of what we think this day should look like and give Him room in our hearts for this moment ahead?

How to get ready for this season
1. Pray and fast. Come in repentance before the Lord allowing Him to move in our hearts 
2. Decluttter, room by room, drawer by drawer, closet by closet. Work through the paperwork that has been sitting on your desk for some time.
3. Set goals. What is on your heart to start? Set goals to get those plans in place and remove what needs to be removed from your schedule. This post should help you get started.

Today as we wait to finalize the deal on a home we are stepping in faith to purchase, I find us in a season of something new and unknown!

This past year has felt like a season of letting go of everything we once knew to be safe and surrendering our hearts to make room for the new. What better way to do this than starting off with a decluttered space and starting new? Need help getting started? Come join my WELCOME HOME COMMUNITY open only for a short time right now where I share weekly challenges to help get you motivated giving you clear direction to get your space feeling fresh, cozy, and enjoyable with friends and family.

Angie

WE BOUGHT THE FARM!

Home Restoration, We bought the farm

We bought the farm!!!! Yes… you heard that right. I can hardly believe it! After looking and praying for almost a year, we finally settled on a property that we kept feeling led to pursue.

We looked at it back in October and it became the measuring stick for all other homes. This years housing market was all over the place starting with not enough inventory and the highest prices we have seen yet, and then overnight it seemed prices slowly started dropping (including our own home we were trying to sell. Read more about that experience here). We came home from looking out of town (we could get so much more land for our money if we went more interior from the coast. The building industry still seems to be thriving out that way too which means more work) when our home finally sold after being on the market for over 8 months! I woke up the next morning after coming back from looking at this property with this strong sense we needed to put in an offer on this 10-acre property. That day our home finally sold!

This home and property needs a lot of work and we were just going into winter making it difficult to live in a trailer while we did updates to the home. They get some good amounts of snow there and let’s face it, living in a trailer over winter is not ideal. So we put in a low offer with no success. Feeling overwhelmed and the sellers not being happy with our offer, we decided let the property go and continued to look.

It felt super stressful trying to find the right house as we needed to be out of our home within the month, until one day we had a family meeting with our kids and decided to not rush finding a home. So we moved into my inlaws basement suite until we could find something we both felt good about. Still, as we kept looking, nothing offered the value that this one did with 10 acres of fenced flat usable land, a large shop, and a home! All the other homes seemed to be the same price as this one and they still seemed to need renos with old finishings and poor layouts.

As we were just getting the last of our items moved into the suite (Did you read our story about the last time we lived in my inlaws suite? At least this time we were down to one teenager instead of 4. Our girls who were renting our basement suite found a different one to move into, and much of our furniture sold with the home too making it a simpler move), when Ryan suggested we see if we could get a deal together with the homeowners on that property. We thought for sure it was not going to work out when our realtor called a week and half later all excited that they said they would take our original low offer!!! And the bonus was this gave us time to get all the pieces together while riding out the majority of the winter in the suite. Spring is such a lovely time to start a reno, so we finalized a deal with the sellers and agreed on a date, and just like that we had a home! Finally!!!

Oh the paperwork though! Buying a home takes some serious time and paperwork to get the insurance and mortgage, and all the other details worked out, so I suggest you give yourself some time when purchasing to get these details together. It all seems to take longer these days with all the info the government requires. Praying and taking one step at a time, all the subjects were finally removed on the house deal. It felt like a complete faith walk to trust this was what the Lord wanted for our family. A larger property… moving our family a few hours away… uprooting our work place to a new location… so many unknowns. It needed to be the Lord’s will if we were to move forward with this home. Lots of fasting and praying during this time to seek the Lord’s will, protection, and blessing for our family. Prayers for direction, unity, faith, and provision as financially it felt like a stretch with the renos needing to be done to the shop, property and home.

This scripture was my anthom during this time…

I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

I can’t shake the feeling that in this year of trusting the Lord and walking out absolute faith and obedience, He has something beautiful in store for us. His promises reign true and it’s in these seasons we are stripped of all we hold onto. Idols and distractions that we put before the Lord needed to be stripped away so we were fully surrendered before the Lord. He needs us pulled away from the worlds comforts to be ready for what the Lord is calling us to. The truth is that there is nothing safe and comfortable outside the Lord’s protection and blessing. We have seen the world shaken (and I believe the shaking is just beginning). He needs to be our portion and ever-present help in times of need. It’s time to let go of the things we hold dearly to… put Him above all, and trust and obey. For His plans and purpose for us are better than we could ever dream or ask for.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5

We didn’t set out for 10 acres. We just were looking for a little more of a yard with a little more privacy from neighbors. We are nervous about the financial investment but we also know when we pray and let the Lord lead, He is faithful to direct our path to where He calls us to. He just wants us to trust Him through the process and He will work out the rest of the details when we do. We also know that He uses these seasons to refine and prepare us for what He is calling us to. It’s a new day with a new season and we are called to new things. Are you ready to surrender all and jump in trusting the Lord to do the good work in and through us, leading us to where He needs us-is calling us-to be?

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Angie

Tips for Teaching Healthy Habits to Kids

Family Life, Heart Restoration

Photo by Pixel

I am all about raising healthy children to see them thrive. Please welcome this guest post by the lovely Savechildren.info…

When it comes to teaching kids healthy habits, parents need to pave the way and serve as role
models. Additionally, it’s important to accept that helping kids adopt habits is a long-term
process in which patience and consistency are key. This article from Safechildren.info will explore
the steps you can take to teach your child some important healthy habits.

Create a Positive Environment

One of the keys to encouraging change is providing your child a positive environment that is
calm, yet stimulating and allows them to learn and grow at their own pace. The environment
should be well-equipped for catering to all their interests whether it be academic, athletic, or
artistic. Here are a few ways to create a healthy home environment:

● Regularly clean and declutter. A cluttered home is a known cause of stress and
reduces one’s ability to focus and learn. Overcome this predicament by regularly
cleaning your home. This can include discarding all excess belongings, maintaining a
habit of cleaning up after yourself post any activity, and having an organized system for
each room.

● Spend time outdoors. Being outside with Mother Nature is a natural stress buster. Plan
to utilize your home’s outdoor space daily for leisure or play. Additionally, you can bring
nature indoors by adding plants such as the garden mum, snake plant, and Boston fern
around your home.
● Promote a positive mindset. Your child will adapt their behavior and habits based on
your actions. Hence, maintain a positive attitude towards situations, whether it be good
or bad. This will result in kids having a natural positive mindset and high self-esteem.
Focus on Healthy Eating
Involving kids in the kitchen is a great way for them to learn about nutrition, get familiar with
ingredients, and be open to trying new things. There is no question that your child’s eating
habits will be inspired by yours. Here are a few ways to help them adopt good eating habits:
● Model moderation and balance. Limit your intake of caffeine. Replace the morning
coffee ritual with tea, fruits, and fresh juices.
● Provide healthy alternatives. When it comes to snacking, avoid buying processed
chips, though being tasty they are devoid of nutrition. Some healthy alternatives include
yogurt, trail mix, popcorn, whole-grain crackers, and peanut butter.
For fussy eaters, the best way to engage them in healthy eating is to make their meals rainbow-
colored. This involves adding fruits, vegetables, and meats to have a plate with the colors red,
green, yellow, white, and more.

Promote Daily Reading

Reading is the best way for kids to learn new skills, develop interests and grow intellectually.
When it comes to reading, give your child complete freedom to choose what they like, which can
span from fantasy to biographies, novels to comics, and everything in between. As reported by
Children’s Bureau, reading provides kids with numerous benefits, such as:
● Development of cognitive skills.
● Promotion of imagination and creativity.
● Creation of healthy attention spans.
It’s best to let kids take up reading at their own pace. As parents, you can develop the habit
through having a daily family reading time, where each member picks a book of their choice and
reads until they are satisfied.

Include Physical Activity

As all parents know, kids are bundles of energy. About Kids Health says that physical activity
should be included in a child’s daily routine as it is an integral part of their growth and development. Additionally, it is a great compliment to healthy eating, helping your child to learn
the basics of maintaining good health.

Here are a few ways you can cater to your child’s physical requirements:

● Go for daily family walks or cycling sessions.
● Allow your child to find a sport they love and enroll them for practice.
● Assign them chores such as gardening, cleaning outdoor spaces, running errands, and
more.

Be Consistent for Long-Term Change

When trying to help your child learn these habits, be open and flexible. Expect your child to ask
questions, provide some resistance, and not be consistent in their actions. Let them take their
time to adopt these habits while having your support every step of the way. Do your part by
modeling good behaviors and providing an environment in which they can explore and grow.
And remember that parenting – and behavior development – is a long game. There will be
setbacks, but stay the course. You and your child will appreciate it in the long run.

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HOW DO YOU CREATE A HOME THAT FEELS LIKE A HOME?

Entertaining, Family Life, Heart Restoration, Home Design DIY, Home Restoration

We all love the feeling of coming home… ok the kind of home that feels like home. IKYK…

Like the kind of home that feels familiar and safe. Where the aromas warm your heart and hold the people you love. So how do you create a familiar feeling home that everyone loves coming to?

Our youngest started a new school in September. He is in grade 11 and our last to finish high school. This change was a big one for him as he has been at the same school since kindergarten. The first day was hard for him not knowing anyone except his one bestie there. And each day has been easier and easier for him though as he gets to know the teachers, find his way through the large hallways, and makes new and find old friends. One thing about this experience is realizing how at home we find ourselves when we are somewhere familiar. Like when we walk into a room full of people we hardly know, how awkward it can feel, and then we don’t want to be there. But as we build relationships, how quickly the familiarity grows making us feel safer and more comfortable, like we are at home. It’s all about the people- to know and be known- and the atmosphere can help so much too! 

It’s interesting as I ponder this. How important it is to gather with like-minded friends and family to share your heart with. We were created for community. And as we open our homes to those we love, I wonder how our family and friends feel when they walk in the door of your home. Do they feel safe and comfortable? Or does it feel overwhelming and cluttered and uninviting? How do you feel when you walk in the door? Do you carve out time to gather together?

How to create a warm and inviting home

  1. Lighting is so important to making a home feel cozy. Bright overhead lights can make it feel cold and awkward. Turn on those lamps and twinkle lights for ease on a dark winter evening.
  2. Throws and pillows make a sofa feel cozy and inviting with lots of texture and comfort for your guests. It also hides a sofa you don’t love so much and incorporates some lovely accent or seasonal colors.
  3. Artwork scaled to the size of the wall and hung not too high makes all the difference in a home to feel more inviting.
  4. Declutter and make space for all your things to be put away. There is nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed by clutter. When your items have a designated home to be put away in, everyone knows where to find them when they need them and it makes for a quick tidy and feeling organized. Creative storage solutions help with this!
  5. Area rugs make all the difference in adding texture, color, and warmth to a space. Especially if you have wood flooring.
  6. Decor can add so much warmth and character to a space. Too much can feel cluttered and busy. Too little can feel cold and uninviting. Just a few pieces such as greenery, florals, lamps, and candles can make your home feel cozy.
  7. Gathering around the dinner table together with good conversation always helps too! Create a lovely ambiance with music, decor, and cozy-smelling candles.

I am currently doing a REEL series with this list on creating a cozy home on Instagram. Come follow me there if you haven’t already!

What are some of your favorite ways to create a cozy home? Want more direction on how to apply these? Grab a copy of my book Redesign where I teach you the simple and easy-to-apply step-by-step process for each of these items and more!

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Blessings! Angela

WE ARE SELLING!

Building our Home, Family Life, Heart Restoration

We listed our home quickly in early spring. Did you catch my series on how we built our home almost 6 years ago? Ryan wasn’t quite on the same page yet about listing our home as we had a major building project going on during this time and we both love our home, but he trusted the process as I felt strongly an urgency to get our home listed. The market was in a shortage frenzy during this time but the week we listed, news of the war in Ukraine hit the news along with rumors of rising interest rates. We quickly got an offer of our asking price. We sat on that offer for 2 months while we searched and searched for homes and waited for our deal to close, but there was a shortage of homes on the market and many buyers so homes were priced high. And during this time our buyers were not able to sell their home while the market shifted back to a buyer’s market. House prices were falling quickly. Our deal fell through and we chose to take our home off the market to get it more “showing ready” for a competitive market.

So we pulled it after the offer fell through. Did a few touch-ups to get it more showing ready and then relisted at a lower price and crickets. Like nothing. Like one showing in 2 months! So here we are waiting, listed, and praying for the Lord’s plans to prevail.

Why are we selling? Our home was a great family home to raise our teens but as they are moving out and living their own lives, we have more bedrooms than we need as we are down to one kid who is quickly living his own life now too. We felt called to reduce our mortgage and have a larger yard and dining room for this next stage of life we are walking into. We don’t always know why the Lord calls us to something but we trust and obey knowing His plans are good.

Usually we would find a lot to build a new home but with lots being few and far between in our town and being high priced and building codes make it difficult to build quickly and inexpensive, we are looking for the right house instead. Which is hard when you are builders and know what works and functions best. We are super picky buyers lol but are totally open and excited to do renos as needed and budget allows.

So here we are… with our price lowered once again. And still in the unknown of where are we going to move and wondering if we made a mistake not closing on that first deal if we would have slightly lower our price. But we had a fleece and I made a promise. Work was busy then so we weren’t in a rush. And then the work ended…

But there is so much more to this!

The Lord has worked out a new humility in us preparing our hearts for the new season we are walking into. , it’s been a season of preparation for something different. Something new. Like a breaking free. I receive promises daily that the Lord is providing and working it all out so I have no doubt this is what we need to walk out in faith right now. We have looked at endless homes and my prayer the Lord blesses each one. Now I know we would have bought the wrong house previously. The Lord has been getting us ready for something better and more beautiful. I keep seeing a yard and a deck. So we search and pray. It’s been painful but I have a new excitement in my belly for what’s around the corner…

I know I know Lord is doing a new thing. He is making a way where there is no way. He is turning this process into something beautiful. Sometimes he does the hard work behind the scenes while we wait. Kind of like pregnancy. We don’t see it other than a swelling belly but behind the scenes, a little person is being grown to be ready for birth. Isn’t that what He is doing now? Birthing something new in us for His kingdom purpose? We all need a lot of work to smooth out those hard edges around our hearts, especially after the season we have all just been in…

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7

Do you feel it too? Do you feel like the Lord is doing something new in each of us? Do you have an excitement in your spirit too? Like there is something big just around the corner? Read more about this here.

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Blessings! Angela