Thankful Home,2015

I'm going to be honest, this year has been a difficult year to decorate for fall.  My dad passed away after a very brief and unexpected illness in late August, so bringing out the "Thanksgiving" décor has been a challenge.  But at the same time, I know I have so much to be thankful for.  I had 55 years with an amazing father who loved the Lord and loved his family.  I have had 34 wonderful years with my own sweet husband who loves God and his family as well.  I have three great kids, a sweet daughter-in-law, a step grandson and a new grand baby on the way!  Her arrival should be by Thanksgiving, which in itself is enough reason for me to pull out the decorations and proclaim my thankfulness to the Lord for His great blessings, which are far more then I deserve!

Many of the decorations for this fall are ones I used last year.  Like the sign on my fireplace mantle, made by my sister who has a shop on Facebook called White Hen.  But that's what is fun!  Pulling out familiar favorites from year to year and adding to them.  Putting them in a different place, or arranging them differently will make them seem fresh and new.  This year along with the sign, I added some silk fall leaves placed in a white pitcher on the mantle.  I wish we had beautiful fall foliage here in Florida, but the leaves won't change here until December so I have to settle for silk to bring fall color to my southern home. 

On the coffee table, a simple arrangement of a few pine cones in a white bowl was the perfect touch along side some candlesticks in the rustic, hand made wooden tray, made by the same wood worker who built my farmhouse table. 

Above my occasional table in the living room, I love using my home made chalkboard as artwork. I surrounded the chalkboard with more white ware. It's always so much fun changing out the message seasonally.  This year I opted for this simple, yet important reminder.

In the entry, I added this coat rack and above it I hung a sign I purchased again from White Hen.  I love this verse.  Even though it is perfect for the season, I intend to keep it up year around.

In the dining room, I went with natural elements using more pine cones.  I also used nuts, acorns and some wood elements.  This old stump piece is one of my favorites.  I admit I use it just about year around.  The wooden basket with the pumpkin arrangement came from "Farmhouse Wares".  An online store. 

On the hutch, I continued the natural theme by putting nuts in an apothecary jar and using pine cones here and there.  I love how the browns play against my white ware.

 

So, even though I didn't do a lot of decorating, my house gives a nice hint of the season.  Just enough to be a sweet reminder of what it is about.

So as you approach this season of gratitude and look at all you have been blessed with, I hope you too can have a thankful home as well as a thankful heart for the blessings God has granted you with this year.  And know they are always gifts of grace and far more then any of us deserve.