Hearts for Valentines Day.....hmmmm.

I went around the house looking for some hearts for the upcoming Valentine holiday.....I didn't find much to work with, except for what I already have in a few vignettes.

For loving the romantic style, you would think I would have a few more hearts around here!!

Maybe I should take a trip to Hobby Lobby and pick up a couple of things, huh?!

Or, at least pick up a box of cards and hang them on the fridge like when the kids were little....oh wait.....magnets don't stick to stainless steel!!

Maybe the husband will buy me a dozen red roses, and I can put them on the table in the living room...AAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAA

So anyway, I remembered this sweet little pillow...as a matter of fact, now that I think about it, I have another one of these!! Oh my, now where did I put the other one???

Awesome, this place will really look festive with TWO pillows!

If you really love Valentine décor, head over to Larissa Jenkins blog. Her house is amazing, and it's all decorated for the holiday in beautiful candles, hearts, and flowers!!

welchhouse1900.blogspot.com/

I DID get this little dish last year to add a little pizzaz, and put some chocolates on it for the husband as a nice surprise.

Of course, he never noticed the dish....just ate the chocolate hearts, and left the foil wrappers on top of the dish....

I am so happy to be back in the blogging community!

I have to get back to my blog list, and visit the blogs I used to visit....some haven't posted in forever, and switched over to IG...but there are some that are still blogging. I just have to catch up.

I hope you have a wonderful week! 

We are trapped in some arctic air, so it's VERY cold here!

Blessings.

Debbie

xo

We're all in this together...quote by Red Green.

I've discovered over the years that when I get caught up in "things" or "stuff",  happiness fades.

My focus is out of whack...and I get a distorted view of what is really important.

I see "things" that I think I want, and after I get those things, the high only lasts for a short while. I find myself wanting, no, needing more "stuff" to make me feel happy again.

I'm like an addict....craving more.

The depression creeps in, slowly, at first.....until it over takes me....

At my worst, I finally cry out to the only person left that I will even talk to......the One that says, I will never leave you nor forsake you Heb.13:5.

He doesn't miraculously take the depression away, but He walks with me...leading and guiding me through it.

With prayer, and refocusing priorities....relationships move back where they belong!!

God takes center stage, and everything else falls into place.

It takes time...it's a process.

When I first started blogging a few years ago, for me, it was all about "décor", "stuff", "things".

Until I made some REAL friendships along the way, did I realize blogging wasn't just about numbers, and comments, and popularity.

I thought the goal was to get your home into a décor magazine!!!

Which was exciting, and nice, and actually humbling.....but the whole mentality around it ruined a (at the time, life long friendship). A friendship that used to be based on being Sisters in Christ!!! 

But all the "stuff" got in the way.

I still have my lovely friendships made through blogging....you girls know who you are!! Friendships that have blessed me along and through these past few years.

Women that truly care, and love me.

Women that pray for me and my family.  Women that I love.

I know that it's not all about decorating anymore....

yes, I love seeing what people are doing, and scooping up ideas. I like to see what others are doing to their homes that make them happy. I love looking at beautiful things here and on IG.

BUT it's so much more than that!!

It's a learning experience.

You can be as open and honest as you want to be.

You can be as closed off as you choose.

You can be someone that you have always wanted to be.

It's your choice.

You can be all about décor, or all about yourself.

OR, you can even choose to balance the two.....

it's all okay.

Just don't lose yourself along the way.

Su, from Butterfly Bungalow, reminded me to stay true to myself recently....awesome lady....

so that is what I would like to suggest to all of you, too.

As Red Green says....We're all in this together!

Debbie

xxoo

Still here, at our cottage.

Whew....this computer has been out of commission for months!!!

Getting it going again took some doing, so I don't know how long it will last.

I have been on IG for the last few months, but have been missing all the blogs, and my blog friends!!

I thought I would start out with this quote by Dr. Seuss.

Be yourself, everyone else is taken......

The reason I like this quote, is because we had our cottage listed 

for the past six months.  We had no offers in all that time. We did

get a lot of comments on the décor, however....and all of it was

negative.

I thought when you listed your house, it was the home that was for sale

NOT the contents!!

I don't mean to harp on this, but people were just plain rude!

So.....when our listing ran out, we did not re-list.

For one thing, we couldn't find anything comparable to what we

have.. downstate, and for another thing....God seems to have His

own plans for our lives at the moment.

I did purge a few things, but as you can plainly see, NOT enough

things!!

It got to a point when I felt like I was giving up a part of myself.

So......there are some changes, but not a bunch.

Like our sectional sofa.

More practical for our family when they spend time here in 

the summer months.

It might not match the other décor, but that is all a part of

being "yourself".

Sometimes you have to go with what works, and try to "fit" it in.

I will be having a sale in the Spring to sell a few more pieces of furniture, 

and other things that have been here for too long.

After that we are having some painting done, and porches added

to the outside of the house.

One thing that has changed is Cita!! She is part Maine Coon, although you

cannot tell that by her coat.

She is 9 months old and weights 12 1/2 pounds!

Her mother is a tabby cat, and we are thinking(because her siblings had coats like Coon cats, and all have the points on their ears) that the male was Maine Coon.

Cita is a huge kitty!! and tests my patience continually!!

She is, however, very affectionate almost to the point of being obnoxious!!!

I have been baking so much during the cold months....I even take cookies to the kids

at school.   

Oh yes, still doing the teacher's aide thing.

Teaching two Bible studies at the Lion's Den, also.

It's a Christian drug rehabilitation mission north of here.

Funded solely by donations from the community.

I absolutely love it!!!

I prayed for God to give me something...a purpose...directly after we listed our house, the rehab mission opened and needed Bible study teachers. After going in and volunteering, I have been blessed beyond comprehension! Not in a physical sense....no. In a spiritual sense. I have finally returned to my first love....Jesus. The mission wasn't just for addicts....I feel it was for me, too.

So we are still here at the lakehouse….my cottage. We will enjoy what God has in store for us, and be blessed.....and maybe change a few things...while keeping our hearts intact.

Enjoy the weekend!!

Debbie

xxoo