Look for the Flowers

 

Right now, I have about 10 books on my kitchen table. 

 

I've been so overwhelmed with feelings of darkness and despair that I've

failed to see that there is a purpose in this season.

 

 It is in finding I AM that I am able to find who I am.

 

While I am learning from HIM, I am continuing to consider the home.

There's more that I will share in the days ahead, but today's

message is simple. 

 

I'm scanning the book by Jen Scmidt, Just Open the Door.

At the end of each chapter, she give practical suggestions,

Tidbits to Elevate the Ordinary.

 

These were some of my favorites.

 (I may or may not have shared a post like this before.  It feels like I have.)

Create a friendly and inviting front door area. 
Maybe even paint the front door. 
Put a new Spring wreath on the door. 
You've seen mine before.  It says you're welcome.

Personalize a message to your guests on a chalkboard.

 

 

This is a simple one. 

 I have Scripture on one of my chalkboards--if you can see it.

 

 

Stimulate the senses. 

 

Smell. 

Add fresh cut flowers--or weeds.  There's a story behind this. 

I'll share at the end if you hang on long enough. 

If not, enjoy the weeds, but you'll miss the flowers.

 

Granny always had pork chops cooking on Fridays. 

The smell of pork chops frying in lard grease takes me back to a dirt road in the country

 with Granny in her home-made apron

standing on the screen porch with the door open awaiting our arrival.

 

Taste

At mama's house there was always something to eat. 

Sunday nights there were grilled burgers, sometimes

banana pudding, sometimes carrot cake, german chocolate cake or

my favorite pound cake. 

The kids who we enjoyed later remember chocolate kisses and Vienna sausage.

 

The girls played "Mommy" and "Bruce, Bonnie and Dale."

Both girls wanted to be "Dale." There was always Grandaddy and the pond

 for fishing and ducks to feed with Nanny.

 

Touch/Sound

Lay your hand on those precious babies

and pray blessings over them.

Speak life into them.

What is your tone?

Remember Moms, we are the thermostats of our homes,

 and we set the temperature for our families. 

 

Make your home a safe place for kids to hang out. 

Create a shelf of snacks that are open to the neighborhood kids. 

But set boundaries!  They can't drink out of the water jug. 

Maybe the water hose, but not the water jug.

 

 Our family of six had a neighborhood of 15-20 kids. 

The kids came from across the cotton patch, across the yard,

down the road and even across the 4-lane (that was our interstate) 

for backyard baseball, riding bicycles to town to get penny-candy,

 hide and seek, and war.

It was a safe place.

 

 

 As the little ones turned into teenagers,  it became a place for heart to heart conversations,

instruction and counseling, and Bible study for those same children. 

My mama and daddy's home was the gospel come to life.

 

Jen says,  

You don't start the open-door legacy with an HGTV design home or Spic and Span.

No need to search Pinterest for a gourmet meal. 

A bag of chips and a jar of salsa left out on the counter and lemonade for the kids will do. 

 

A pot of coffee and a store-bought cookie is what you'll probably get at my house. 

Then again, I may go to Publix and get a slice or two of carrot cake.

 

 

I opened the sliding door this morning to breathe in the fresh air. 
Thankfully the wind wasn't blowing the aroma of the dog food plant in my direction.

 

I had been dreaming of our annual vacation spot to Hilton Head
 that hasn't happened since our move to Nashville.
I was taken back with the aroma of Confederate Jasmine which lined our little villa.

 
I went closer to observe the back of our lot.  (I don't do outside unless there is water.  I don't like to sweat and the only time I get to the back of the lot is on July 4 when we are shooting fireworks.)

 



  

To my pleasant surprise, I wasn't imagining the aroma.

I found wild jasmine and honeysuckle.

Oh, the smell delighted me!  A real gift from God this morning.

I wanted to get a good photo.  (It didn't happen! I should know

I'm not a photographer!  Please!)

 

Picture the scene. I was bringing the senses inside. 

I stood up in the chair to get a photo, hit my head on the light fixture,

the glass shattered, I fell out of the chair. 

Thank God the frig was there to break my fall.

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm glad I didn't look and just see weeds.

I noticed the flowers.

I'm glad I didn't let the brokenness keep

me from seeing the beauty. 

 

Look for the flowers.

See the beauty, not the brokenness.

 

This makes me smile,

 

Bonnie