A Coffee Day

Days like today, I just want a cup of coffee to sip on...all day.
Something like this would be oh so yummy.

We are battling colds, sore throats and ear infections. And, I am SO ready for our home to be free of sickness! It's amazing how being sick totally wipes me of all my energy! But, rainy days should be days where mommies get a break. A day to just sit, sip coffee and snuggle up with a good book and one of these super comfy looking blankets:)

via area linen shop

But, back to reality...Looks like that will not be the case today as I have two beautiful babies to care for and love on unconditionally. Motherhood is something I am still learning so much about...and not a day goes by I don't struggle with selfishness. Motherhood is about self-sacrificing...putting our children before ourselves - making them our priority. Kind of reminds me of this scripture:

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— - fruit that will last— - and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
John 15:9-17

Father, 

May I remain in Your love...May I desire to follow Your written Word...I seek joy, true joy in You...joy that spills over into my family...a joy that only comes from knowing you.

May each day be a total surrender to You...to my husband...to my girls. May I truly learn how to lay down my life for my family.

You chose me...may I never forget that.

May my fruit be fruit that will last...fruit that will lead others to You...that they may "taste and see Your goodness."

And lastly, to love...simply love.

In Him,

Christy

More Bookcases

We love bookcases in our home. Not just because my husband has a love for books, but they are great for storage! Whether to stash the girls' DVD's, toys or books in the den or my love for magazines, bookcases provide a great way for easy storage.

This bookcase was already here in the parsonage. Perfect for the girls to have easy access to their books. And the small woven bins were a Goodwill find years ago. Great place to stash smaller items. The large woven bin was an Ikea find - our make-shift toy storage for the den.

This one is similar to ours - just a newer style. I liked this as toy storage for various reasons: adds texture to the room, isn't hard (bump-proof for little ones! I always fear hard coffee tables with sharp corners especially when babies start pulling up and learning to walk!), lid is lightweight (so when it closes no fingers will be hurt if in the way!), and was a great price (from Ikea - even better!).

 Another bookcase in our den - and another great Ikea purchase.

A similar one at Ikea. I like how this one is off the floor - but, there again, just another place to have to dust/clean the floor!

Measure the height/width/depth of the open spaces on the bookcase and then find baskets/bins that fit or come close to the measurements. Great way to conceal "stuff!"

The large woven bins were a fabulous Target find! I measured the space, took my tape measure to the store and came home with the perfect bins to fit the space! They work great for the girls' large books! We have SO many books! But, the nice thing is I can pull them out to read books with the girls and load them back up when done!

I love cute magazine holders! And, I love these! I have had them for years - another Ikea find.

Maybe one day I'll actually get this digital frame to display pics! Ha! 

What are some ways you like to create storage on your bookcases?

Starting Simple

We have been in the process of painting and updating our current parsonage for the last year. (Insert: we had a baby girl last November = has taken much longer to get things done!) But, so far we are loving the painted rooms and updates we have made to make this parsonage our home. Last night, I decided to tackle a bookcase in our kitchen which has been an eyesore for quite some time. It looks much better now that it is cleaned up and simplified with some matching decor items. (And yes, the blue painter's tape is up for a reason - getting ready to paint the kitchen cabinets!) For any "nook" like this in your house, allow it to be both functional and pretty. I don't try to make my house look like a showroom because having a family of four doesn't lend itself to that type of living! But, I have learned that simplifying and organizing can make the world of difference in keeping our home "more" tidy and functioning well. And it is always fun to find a pretty vase for $3 at Goodwill to bring warmth to a space!

Before: 

After: 

By choosing a similar color scheme for the decor items, the bookcase doesn't weigh down the space. Also, choosing cookbooks that are in the same color scheme and grouping less of them makes the space seem less cluttered. The other cookbooks are tucked away, still easy to access, but placed below in the cabinet area. 

Organizing inside of cabinets makes the space more functional. These bright pink baskets don't quite go with the rest of the decor in the space, but since they are tucked away, it doesn't matter! They were plastic bins we already had so I thought they would work well in the space for odds and ends stored in the kitchen area. 

 A glass cylinder vase is a great way to group items. 

These are our first seashells we've collected since living near the beach. 

Great Goodwill find! $3 Vase!

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Welcome to our Home

Welcome to our home!  After countless hours reading others' blogs, I decided to start one of my own.  My husband and I have been married for 5 years and have lived in our second home for 1 year now.  As a wife to a United Methodist Pastor, our church so graciously provides a home for us.  It has been my love to turn the "parsonages" that we have lived in thus far into our "home."  Parsonages are special homes that have housed numerous pastors and their families.  I love, LOVE creating a special home for our family.  I will be posting various design strategies and simple ideas that I have used to make our parsonage a "Pretty Parsonage" full of love and practicality.