~A Thought On My Heart

 Today I would like to share a thought on my heart and that is that we should take care of the items we have in our home.  I remember long ago when I was in Junior high gym class and there was a girl who always carefully folded her clothing before putting it in her bin, while the rest of us  carelessly tossed our clothes into the bin.  This left a lasting impression on me and led me to want to care for the things I owned.  

As I have talked about before that we live in a somewhat disposable society and I want to fight against this habit in my own life.  One way that I do this is by having anything that comes into our home have a place so that it does not become clutter.  I am far from a minimalist so I have learned to create homes for my things.  I use bins for under bed storage of my planner supplies and things of that nature.  They are easy to access when I need something, and I know what each bin contains.  I also use bins down stairs to hold holiday decorations and random items I want to have on hand.

I truly feel that when everything has a home and not shoved in a pile in a closet (that we don't even know what all is there), then we can enjoy all of the abundance we have in our lives.  When I personally care for what I have it fosters a heart of thankfulness for all of the blessings that God has allowed into my life.  

This was just a little thought on my heart this morning and I thought I would share it.  Thank you for stopping by blog.  May God bless you and keep you in His loving care.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli

~A Little Thought In My Heart

 Today I was reflecting on times gone by.  I enjoy thinking of days of old, when life was different than it is today.  Times when pioneers had to possess skills that helped them to have food and clothing and live without running water or electricity.  I am thankful to books that were written about those days and how things used to be.  I am thankful that I live in a time where I can have climate control and running water, but I can't help but feel as if we are missing something in our currant day.  

I like to think about times when people didn't have as many luxuries, but what they had was truly special to them and they took good care of what they owned.  It makes me sad to see how much of a disposable society we live in.  So, I try to foster within myself a spirit that is thankful to our Lord for my many blessings.  I try to curate in our little home items that are special to our hearts and make for a cozy feel for myself and my family.  I have no desire to live in a fashion where I have more excess than I know what to do with.  I want a heart that is content with the simple joys this life can bring.  

Today I am thinking of how blessed I am to have a God who loves me.  I am thankful for my family and my friends who mean so much to my heart.  I find when I take the time to think of all my many blessings I have a heart that is truly content and at peace.  

I want to thank you for stopping by my blog.  I hope you have a cozy day.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli

~A Peek Into Our Weeks

Here is my precious little grandson Leo.  Lauren and Leo went to spend some time at my parents house a couple of weeks ago.

Here is a Christmas ornament that my darling niece Lilah got for me when she was on vacation.  I will cherish it always.

My daughter Megan moved out of state, but I have a room waiting for her when she comes to visit.  This vanity was mine when I was a girl and I have stocked it with perfumes that both of my daughters will like.  Even though they no longer live here, I want them to feel they have a place of their own when they come visit.

 This is the top of my little closet.  It makes me happy to open it each day and see my little display.  I am a big believer of keeping things neat and tidy and decorated in a way that will bring your heart joy.

This is a book that I am reading.  I am loving it.  It is about Christmas and how it was celebrated during different periods in America.  

All is quiet in our little house today.  My husband and son are out working on one of my husband's properties.  I am using my time to rest because I have been sick for a few days.  Despite feeling sick, my heart is full.  I am so thankful for my family and getting to see my children grow and bloom into adults.  I am thankful for our little house and how it has been a comfort to me through out the years.  

It has been a little hard for me having Megan move, but I also am happy for her to start her life as a young adult.  I find comfort turning to God and reading my devotionals and Bible.  When I spend time in prayer I find such a peace.  I want to thank you for stopping by my little space.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli

~A Peek Into Our Weeks

This is my desk area in my bedroom.  In most of my rooms, I keep things a bit more simple, but this makes my heart happy.  

In the evenings, Steven and I watch an episode of I love Lucy and read the Jesus Calling devotional.

Here is Steven helping our grandson push a little cart in a nearby town.  When our children were little, we would visit this town and our children would push these little carts in the market and pick out a treat before heading to the park.  My son Justin just turned 17, and for his birthday, he wanted to take Leo to do the things he and his siblings did when they were little.

Megan arranged a family zoo day the other weekend.

Here are the children looking at the otters.  Megan loves otters.

I changed my planner's decor.  It makes me happy to open this planner when I see the cute decor in the front.  

 Here are some beautiful flowers Megan and her boyfriend gave to me for Mother's Day.  What a sweet blessing.  

My daughter Megan is moving out of state very soon.  It is hard to let children go, but that is just part of being a parent.  

It is a quiet morning in our little house.  I want to thank you for stopping by my little blog.  I hope you have a cozy day.  God bless you and keep you in His loving care.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli

~Our Christmas Room

When I was a little girl, my family lived in Orlando Florida.  They had a shopping center that had a Christmas store.  I loved visiting it, and having the feeling of Christmas any time of the year.  One of my favorite songs is Keep Christmas With You, from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.  I always dreamed of having a room in my home where I could enjoy cozy Christmas feeling any time of year, and I feel blessed to have our little Christmas room.

I love the cute Christmas decor, but I always keep it front and center that Christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift ever given to the world, Jesus.

I have a Christmas countdown that starts January 1st.  

I like having some soft Christmas blankets ready to snuggle under for warmth and coziness. 

Here is my old fashioned radio surrounded by a cute gingerbread display.  When our children were little we used to make gingerbread houses and it was such fun!

Each year I like to put together a Christmas planner.  I started mine for this year yesterday.  I find when we plan early, it makes for less stress during the Christmas season. I enjoy the cute Christmas decor in my planner, but truly all you need is some paper to make Christmas plans ahead of time.

Here is the index for the lists that I will have.

I enjoy using cute stickers to adorn my lists.

 Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love listening to Bing Crosby christmas music and thinking back to my childhood Christmas days.  On the left this is a picture of my sister, Tricia and I with Santa.  I love having pictures of my grandparents out.  I miss them, but I do know that I will see them some day in Heaven.  

I want to thank you for taking time to stop by my little blog.  I hope you have a cozy day.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli

Here are some blueberrys that are drying in our little kitchen.  The cute little colander was a sweet gift from my cousin Teri.

As always I am working on laundry.  It feels so good to care for our clothing.  I know it is a blessing to have laundry machines in our home.  I didn't always, so it helps me appreciate them now.

Here is a little reading nook I have set up in our home library/workout room.

 This is a little Kitchen Prayer I have hanging in our kitchen.  I found this while my husband and I were thrifting a while ago.

Here are photographs of my grandparents that I have displayed in my Christmas room.  Looking at these brings me such comfort.  I was so blessed to have them in my life and I love them so very much.

I love how the light changes in our little living room through out the day.  It is such a blessing to have a place to relax and spend time with loved ones.  It also makes me happy that my husband has a comfortable space to have some down time and enjoy his sporting shows.

I want to thank you for stopping by my blog.  May God keep you in his loving care.  Have a cozy day.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli
 

~A Peek Into Our Weeks

I just love Easter so very much.  One of my favorite songs to listen to is called, It's about the cross by go fish guys.  It is not meant to be an Easter song, but I think it truly embodies what Easter is all about.

I have linked the YouTube video of the song in case you would like to hear it.

I have been enjoying my Bunny Cake candle.  I got this years ago when we were on vacation in Branson.

I have not been melting wax the last couple of years due to the fact that after having Covid my smell was not working very well.  I am happy to say it has almost come totally back.  I organized all of my wax collection last week and made up a melting basket.  It just makes me so happy to be able to enjoy this once again.

This is what I call my Childhood Memories Museum Closet.  Over the years I have collected items that have special memories of my childhood.  When I sit and look upon these items, different memories flood my mind to times gone by and it just brings me such joy.  It is like I have curated my own special museum.  I also have a sticker book with stickers from my childhood that I enjoy looking at as well.

Here are a few of the books that I am reading.

 I am still in my spring cleaning and organizing mood.  It feels so good to be getting everything in order, and let go of things that I don't use or need.  I do this little by little so that it can be an enjoyable process.  I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog.  I hope you have a happy Easter.  God bless you and keep you in His loving care.  Hugs to you.  ~Juli