Intentional

Hello Spring!

My sister-in-law made me this pretty wreath.

I added the bird nest.

It's been a beautiful week here in East Tennessee.

Have you noticed that some words, thoughts, songs, titles of books seem 

to be the buzz for a certain period of time?

Certain sayings, "buzz" words, #hashtagwhatever?

A couple of years ago, I was trying to find a particular book about interior design. 

Amazoned-it and can you imagine the books out there on design?

I was recently searching to find LaTan Roland Murphy's most recent book, 

Courageous Women of the Bible.  

Of course, my mind new it was something about courage.  

Can you believe the books written in the last few years on Courage?

(hers is my favorite!)

The buzz word now in the decorating world is

#minimalist.

I'm still reading,

Cozy Minimalist Home.

(along with about 5 other books)

Joshua Becker wrote in his book, More is Less, 

"Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value

and the removal of anything that distracts us from them."

Let's stop just a minute and consider, 

What is most important to you?

I started to write, 

"What is the most important "thing?"

But you know, the most important thing to me is not a "thing."

I don't think it is for you either. 

Oh, I love my milk glass and ironstone, my books and little nothings, 

but those are temporal. They are destructible.

Let's break Mr. Becker's words down...

"Minimalism is 

the intentional promotion of the things we value most,"

Intentional...conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful choice.

In the crazy, fast world that we live in, we must make 

deliberate choices to engage with those we love.

I've recently moved some things around to better enjoy my GRANDs, 

because they are the GRANDest, and they are who I value most!

I now have a shelf of pretty tiny ironstone pieces selected only for our tea parties. 

"and the removal of anything that distracts us from them."

If our homes are too full and our stuff too important that we can't enjoy

a tea party on the carpet, maybe we need to consider an overhaul, 

and a trip to Goodwill.

Myquillyn encourages us to find joy in the simple things like 

sitting by a fire enjoying a board game or reading a book.

For the girls, it's a tea party.

"In the same way that we need a rest or a Sabbath every week to help us slow down, 

focus on what's important, and reconnect with God and those we love, 

what if we gave our eyes a visual Sabbath at home?" (Cozy Minimalist)

Have you ever walked into a room and thought, 

"This is too busy!"

I've been thinking the same thing about this shelf that I bought a year or so ago. 

It's beautiful.  It's handmade.  It's natural wood and my husband will not let me paint it.  

He says, "Can we have one thing that isn't painted white?" 

But it's cluttered.  Pictures of the Grands (which should stay out?  do I scrapbook the rest?

I can't just put them in a drawer!),

Milk glass (which pieces do I like best? Which can I put away?),

Books (now, that's a problem)

Magazines (anybody else like to keep magazines?)

A friend responded to a recent post, 

"Minimalist doesn't mean empty."

It doesn't mean no throw pillows, no rugs and no lamps.

It's being intentional.  

It's decorating in a way that serves our families, looks cozy and inviting,

and helps us welcome and serve others who enter our homes.

HELP!

I have some work to do.

See ya later, ya'll!