Angela Block- Home

Love coming home

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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!

REDESIGN BOOK

REDESIGN BOOK

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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.

Stay tuned and sign up below for more posts right to your email!

Blessings! Angela

The gathering

Entertaining, Heart DIY, Heart Restoration

A couple of days ago I heard this cute little rhyme running over and over in my head. I couldn’t quite make it out why and what it meant… “A little bit of this, a little bit of that”. Then the next day it hit me… The Gathering. With just a little bit of this and a little bit of that, how many times have we heard Grandma or Mom say the same thing as they cook in the kitchen with the simplest of ingredients only to produce the most amazing meal!

THE GATHERING- A couple of days ago I heard this cute little rhyme running over and over in my head. I couldn't quite make it out why and what it meant... "A little bit of this, a little bit of that". Then the next day it hit me... The Gathering.
Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Pexels.com

We saw this last fall when our area was hit overnight by flash rain that caused massive flooding throughout multiple cities across the lower mainland. People were displaced in a moment while driving or even in their homes that experienced major flooding. Whole communities and farms were wiped out in a matter of a couple of hours but lasted months! Some were stuck for weeks with little ways in and out of the cities as major hwys were severed due to mudslides and some are still recovering. It was something we have never seen here before and I have lived here my whole 42 years! Many were helicoptered into other cities and churches, homes and shelters opened their doors. These days, we usually see a church culture that runs to Costco to get all the necessary supplies. This time with little access in and out of our city, not many were able to make it to Costco to save us, and our grocery and big box stores fell short of supplies with few trucks able to stock us back up. So there was a call to the community for help. After a couple of years of isolation due to our fav virus 😉 that shut our world down, people were hungry for purpose and community. All hands came on deck as different churches, communities, and shelters put out the call for supplies, and so many volunteered and gathered what they could find or they had on hand. With a little bit of this and a little bit of that… there was no lack! There was more than enough! There was even abundance! We saw the five loaves and two fish happen before our eyes and everyone finally felt a sense of community, something that we had all craved the past couple of years.

Driving through town during the flood. BC was impacted deeply .


What a difficult moment that was for many, all the while seeing the glory of the Lord’s provision at the same time was amazing! I feel like we have all been waiting in expectation. That something is coming… and soon! What is it? We really do not know, but I feel like it’s going to be amazing. I see the awe that will be on our faces. I hear the groaning of the earth under the weight of sin and people crying out for justice and righteousness. Those with ears to hear let them hear. It’s time to be delivered. Just like in pregnancy. The time of preparation is almost over and the anticipation of something joyful bursting through!

This is the hour of deliverance. The Lord is delivering His people out of Babylon, similar to when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. I believe it’s a picture of us breaking free from the things of the world that have kept us bound our whole lives. We are breaking free of what breaks the Lord, if we trust Him. It’s definitely a faith walk right now. Programs and religiosity are falling off, strongholds and clutter are being removed, and we are moving forward in freedom into a new season of simple, faith filled, and organic living. As I am writing this, I saw a picture of when I was a little girl (back in the good ol’ 80’s;) ) sitting on grandmas front step eating a popsicle and some watermelon, smelling the roses, playing with my cousins and siblings. Aren’t we all craving that simple life again? Away from the clutter and intensity of this busy world we are living in?

In preparation for the call in the days ahead, we listed our house. We were not quite ready to move when we listed. Our house wasn’t ready and work was really busy. We didn’t know why we were listing, but we felt an urgency (ok I felt the urgency) to list. We quickly had an accepted offer, but it fell through. While I didn’t understand why we needed to sell, I keep seeing a picture of what we needed to move into and what seems to be coming down the pipeline. Anyways, the deal fell through, and here we are months later relisted… waiting in anticipation in a slow market. Many friends are in the same boat waiting to sell, wondering where we will be placed for this day ahead.

For us, I see a home with a large backyard of some sort with a garden… and maybe a fruit tree or two. So here we wait, search, pray, and rest in the Lord trusting that as the markets are crashing around us, that His timing is perfect and the wait is almost over. I pray His timing and plans will prevail for all of us as we trust in Him for the unknown days ahead. And that eyes will see and hear to be ready to come back to the Father’s heart as their refuge. And we would come together as a community to weather the storm together.

I don’t know what’s around the corner, but as I spend time with the Lord I feel so excited and anxious for something big around the corner. Something hard, amazing, and special. And all I can see is our homes being a place of refuge for those around us. A place for people to gather and rest. Community, fellowship, and rest. We may not all be called to move homes, but we are called to surrender our lives before the Lord, simplify the busy and the hustle, step into our calling, and gather together with like-minded friends, and serve those around us.

Are you ready? Do you see? Do you hear? Are you walking forward in faith? Or hiding in shame and fear putting your trust in something that will fall?

So, a little here, a little there… keeps coming to my mind over and over again. Does this mean that the Lord is saying He will provide in the coming days of lack we see around the corner? With a little here and a little there, we will have an abundance of resources when we gather together? Will this be enough for us and the harvest of souls searching for more? I fully feel this! All we need to be is generous and obedient to what He has created us to do for this next hour. When we pool our resources together and plan accordingly for the season ahead using our unique gifts, quick to share, and open our homes and hearts to those around us (with some discernment), we will see no lack.

Let’s get ready for the gathering, my friend!

The Lord is showing me that when we apply this to everything we do… cleaning, work, building something, and most importantly gathering our resources together as a community, we will have more than enough and the Lord will create something beautiful!

THE GATHERING- A couple of days ago I heard this cute little rhyme running over and over in my head. I couldn't quite make it out why and what it meant... "A little bit of this, a little bit of that". Then the next day it hit me... The Gathering.

Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved. ACTS 2

Feeling encouraged friend? Grab a copy of my book Redesign to get your home ready to share in the gathering together and get cozy with those around us.

Blessings! Angela

DREAMY HOT CHOCOLATE DIP

Entertaining, Home Restoration

Happy New Years friends? Who doesn’t love a whipped chocolate dip? I fell in love with this recipe years ago and have brought it to parties ever since. It makes a perfect Christmas party or new years party treat as you can use any cookies or treats you may have too much leftover from Christmas! It is always the first thing to get gobbled up at a party. It’s so yummy, you may find yourself eating it all on its own:).

Your ingredients

Whip your whipping cream

Add cream cheese and whip

Add the rest of the ingredients- Vanilla, cocoa, and icing sugar

Whip until well mixed and peaks form

pour into a large mug and serve with fruit or cookie treats

Looking forward to all the New Years’ celebrations. I love to decorate with a banner, table runner, some fancy drinks, and of course all the twinkle lights. Happy New Years friend! What are your plans to ring in the new year this year?

DREAMY HOT CHOCOLATE DIP

A whipped chocolate treat that makes the perfect dip for fruit and cookies and treats

  • Mixer
  • measuring cup
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2-2 cups icing sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla

  1. Whip the whipping cream until almost set

  2. Add cream cheese and whip until peaks form

  3. Add cocoa, vanilla, and icing sugar. Mix slowly so it doesnt poof out of mixer

  4. Whip until well mixed and peaks form

  5. Add cocoa or icing sugar to taste if needed

  6. Pour into large mug and sprinkle with mini marshmallows and cinamon if desired so it looks like hot chocolate

  7. Plate any cookies, treats or fruit ready to dip. This is a great way to use up any leftover Christmas treats and makes the perfect party platter. It is always the first to disappear at a party!

Angela

A reflection for 2021

Family Life, Heart Restoration

Wow! I know we say this every year, but where did the time go? How has it been a year already? And wow! An interesting one at that. It felt intense, to say the least. Amiright?

So many big things happened this year amongst all the world chaos too including fires just a couple of hours away from us, to floods wiping out many our hwys and many of our local farmers. Its been such a difficult for year those affected.

Between illnesses, supply chains, and natural disasters on top of everything we are processing from the world around us, it’s felt intense. Intense is the only word that can seem to describe it.

In all this we know that Heavenly Father works through the chaos to draw us back to His heart. Be needs us to trust Him like never before. And more and more we are seeing a day that there is no other hope than Him.

It was a busy year for us personally with some renos and starting a custom new build for some lovely clients.

Our kids have moved out and then in and then out again lol! Including our 19 year old nephew. Its such a fun age watching them fly (and praying endlessly for them🤪🙏🏼) Anyone else with young adults?

But with our middle graduating from high school and starting her career as an EA, our oldest working and our son back in school this year (he didn’t want to homeschool again haha), life feels sweet to see the kids grow up and learn how to do life. I look forward to the future for them praying they stay close to Jesus in these hard unknown days.

So in all the unknown and the endless processing constant changes happening around us, I can help but feel some joy for the days ahead. There is something simple and new Heavenly Father wants to do in our lives as we draw close to Him.

The beginning of the year I had the words breakthrough. I believe that’s what’s happening right now. The intensity brings forth breakthrough to be ready for the new season ahead.

So as you reflect on this past year friend, ask what did I learn this year? What can I let go of to be ready for the new season ahead? It’s amazing to see how much we have grown through the hard and unknown. And how much joy and peace we find if we stay anchored in the one who knows the future.

I focused my time on working for our company this year it continues to grow. And then pulled back from blogging this summer to soak up, breathe and get inspired again. I am excited for a fresh vision on what is around the corner. I cant help but see a lot of change for the year ahead. You ready?

Change can also be good if we embrace the beauty of the moment and the simplicity of the new. Time to let go of the old season and get ready for the new days ahead friend.