As we approach Christmas, you may or may not feel like decorating based on a whole number of reasons.  But, if your reasons have anything to do with the state of your current house…this just might be for you.   Especially at the holidays, take time for making your house your home.

 

Advice for Making Your House Your Home :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

As I was looking through some past posts, this one popped out at me and I thought that I would share the link with you.

It’s all about making your house your home….and my experience of doing that last fall.

Funny how things change overnight.

We were working at making that rental “our” place.

And here we are now, with the rental sold in September, and still no job prospects.

We put everything in storage and we’re living with friends while the hunt and rejection continues.

It seemed pointless to move a commercial moving van full of stuff, when we had no idea where we would end up.

We’re blessed to have such good friends…I only hope that we are able to bless them during this time as well.

 

Now…making my house a home seems like light years ago.

But, one thing I know for sure.  The advice I gave in that post, is good advice which I’ll need to remember in the next leg of my journey.  Maybe it will even help you right where you are now.

You’ll love this…When you read the post I reference you’ll be interested to know, that the comment I made to the “orange tinged” window trims, I actually painted the trim a few weeks later as I embraced the importance of making your house your home.

Blessings!

Diane

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Comments

  1. Linda says

    I hope you have safe travels! You are blessed in so many important ways and you are a blessing to others. In this transition time, may you find comfort in God’s timing and peace.

    • Diane says

      Linda…we had the best roads! I am so grateful. And God protected us from an accident where someone didn't use the length of the entrance ramp and nearly ran into us. So grateful for the prayers of many. Plus...it was so good to bless my husband’s parents. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words of encouragement…it means so much! [hugs]

  2. Gwen says

    You’ve been in my thoughts and I pray too. God knows. I do not understand but you’re teaching us a lot!!!

    • Diane says

      You have no idea how much that means, Gwen!
      Thank you!! [hugs]

  3. Mel says

    Your husband was right–and I seem to recall that little change laid claim to the room being one of the favored to decorate and have guests in. Oh, you made it a lovely place of welcome to any heart that visited….physically or virtually.

    I don’t possess that innate ability to take a space and suddenly convert it into something different. BUT that doesn’t stop me from trying bitty things to make a change that fits the season or circumstance. I wish I did possess that talent. LOL I’m more of a ‘change a table tray’ kinda gal….. Oh, but the garland and lights are getting strung by he-who-whistles-holiday-songs-as-he-creates and I adore the lighted bits he’s already created. It’s his favorite season and he knows no limits….LOL It’s awesome to watch the joy in action.

    *hugs and prayers for a safe journey and a bountiful hiatus*

    • Diane says

      Oh friend, you are so kind and encouraging and affirming. Thank you for that. 🙂 By the way…tray tables are just as grand…just smaller in scale. 😉
      I love that he’s whistling and have a ball doing the decorating. That is a true blessing. [hugs]

  4. Helen says

    Diane, what a terrific friend you have to show you how great your own ideas were/are. Wishing you and your family a great new adventure. It’s great to have your best friends at times like this. Hope you visit and keep in touch.

    Helen

    • Diane says

      Oh Helen….she is a new friend…but definitely a caring one.
      Thank you for taking the time to pop over and leave your sweet words.

      Wishing you an extraordinary weekend.

  5. Sandi says

    Adding little touches to your display of china certainly lends a special holiday feel in one’s home. I love your red transferware. Thanks for sharing at my HOME.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    • Diane says

      Isn’t it just the simplest of things that give that holiday feel?
      Thanks for your kind words, Sandi.
      Hope your weekend is extraordinary!

  6. So pretty!

    • Diane says

      Thank you Sherry. I’m so blessed to have received my Aunt’s transferware.

      Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!

  7. Wishing you a wonderful holiday experience! Moving is so hard, but when you find the right place you will make it your home. Thanks for linking to TTF!

    • Diane says

      Oh Linda…I so look forward to that day. You have no idea.
      Thank you for your kind words. 🙂

  8. Diane, I enjoyed your post since we are in a similar situation. Having sold our home to move in and take care of my dad we have all of our stuff in storage in another state. I hope everything works out well for you and thanks for linking to the Open House party!
    xx,
    Sherry

    • Diane says

      Oh yes…my stuff is about 6 hours away. 🙂 But…there’s a silver lining too, if we choose to appreciate it.
      Surely your dad is grateful to have you there.
      Thanks for popping by Sherry! Hope you’re feeling renewed and rested from your getaway!

  9. Oh so pretty! Sending you holiday blessings and good luck wishes as you continue your employment and home search! I hopped over from Funkie Junk 🙂

    • Diane says

      Awww…Darcie…you are sooo sweet and kind. Thank you! 🙂

  10. jeanetteann says

    I am just visiting from Home and Garden Thursday. I do hope all will be well with you and the New Year brings much
    Hugs

    • Diane says

      You words are like honey…thank you Jeanetteann. 🙂

  11. Your post really hit the mark. I love my home and the ways it is changing. Sure there are plenty of things that, had I enough resources I would love to change, but I find the challenge to find inexpensive ways to improve things so much fun!

    Here’s hoping that the new year will bring your hubby a job, and a permanent home for you both! I’m not just hoping though, I’m praying!!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

    • Diane says

      Thanks for your kind words. 🙂 You have no idea how much they mean.
      You know Deborah, my outlook on home decor and making something from ‘nothing’ is a true blessing in disguise. What a huge departure from when I was first married, with a good income, purchasing new furniture at Ethan Allen. Today…I would do it all differently….and have more fun. There really is a silver lining in our clouds…yes?

      Prayers are powerful….”they make things happen.” That’s from the NIrV. Sometimes a kids’ edition says it best. 😉 Thanks for your powerful prayers. We are trusting God for his very best.

      I appreciate your friendship Deborah. 🙂 [hugs]

  12. Kathy says

    Wonderful post – it is so marvelous that you have such great friends! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    • Diane says

      It was a blessing to have such good friends. We moved away recently and miss them very much.
      Thank you for your kind words, Kathy. 🙂
      Blessings!!

  13. Jan says

    Hi Diane. This time I’m visiting from your post at The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Your advice about decorating for yourself and your loved ones and not giving a hang about what others think is something I’ve advocated since I started blogging about home things. By definition, one CANNOT be extraordinary if one is constantly striving to keep up with the Joneses, and their equivalent in all the decorating and D-I-Y and home blogs available for one’s viewing pleasure online today. At worst in those circumstances, one is merely trying to keep up with rich pocketbooks, a battle this poor (relatively speaking) woman will never win, dollar for dollar! At best in those circumstances, one is observing the works of truly gifted individuals who can turn “trash” into treasures, albeit with a lot of work and effort. I admire and know I don’t want to work that hard, myself. I work hard enough at my full-time job! So, I’m not “climbing the stairway to heaven” by trying to buy my way there in the sheer number of goods I can spend spend spend on! Anyway, it often seems to me that a lot of those restless women who are the owners of some of those blogs have a degree of dissatisfaction and unhappiness in their lives that speaks volumes more than their beautiful surroundingss that they are never satisfied with after a few days! Rooms the cost of which would feed a family of four for a year! Happy Holidays to you and your family and may 2014 hold special blessings for YOU.

    • Diane says

      Jan…your words are so very true…”By definition, one CANNOT be extraordinary if one is constantly striving to keep up with the Joneses…”
      Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.
      Our culture breeds discontent and it really takes some intention to turn our heads and choose to be happy in our own skins and in our homes without comparison. It’s a continual battle to some degree. You’ve sparked a thought about how I may help people to go both directions…Hmmmm. As writers we have a certain power to influence. Let’s do our best to help women express their creativity with contentment.
      Blessings!

      • Jan says

        Hmmm, now you’ve got me curious as to what you have in mind. And thanks so much for visiting my little blog, I appreciate it. I do love those three little deer looking up into the sky at the great Star in the East.

        • Diane says

          Jan…I certainly want to be careful not to nudge anyone down the road of discontent. Without realizing it…we sure can do that. Aside from that…you got me thinking. Thanks!!
          Hope your weekend is Extraordinary!!

          • Jan says

            Diane, I cannot imagine anyone less likely to nudge me to discontent! I guess I have a tendency to be a rabble-rouser, per the old-fashioned term, and it’s in the genes. I don’t know when it became such a sin to be a non-compliant someone who points out greed and general overall ickiness, and I don’t care if it’s “bad manners” to do so, especially doing posts at blogs, but that appears to be the standard these days, and that makes me even more discontented! I don’t do it often, I generally rein myself in and remember the old “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”, and usually I do that — don’t say anything at all at the risk of being rude, nasty, etc. etc. But you know, that is how the world got to be the way it is now, by people who felt things were going wrong NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT because it was BAD MANNERS! Now how silly is that! Sometimes people are so BLIND to what they are saying and the effect it can have on a soul, and they need to be called out for it. But that is not what I was thinking in regard to your comment. Nope, I was thinking you were thinking about getting a community of like-minded souls together to maybe do something crazy like, everyone who agrees donates five canned goods or $5 that otherwise might be spent at the Dollar Store for this or that to beautify our homes. When we should be beautifying ourselves — inside. Well, I guess it’s a crazy idea. But I’m a rather whacked out soul at times, what can I say, LOL! I don’t have the followers that you do. Hint hint. BTW, during your 31 days series, I tried to and hoped I did some good in the ways I can. It’s good to be reminded of those things, Diane, and I thank you once again for reminding me.

          • Diane says

            Oh Jan…thank you so much for your thoughtful remarks.
            Seriously….I am afraid that sometimes I just might give too much attention to the stuff of life.
            Thanks for your words of encouragement. 🙂
            You know…I don’t think the point should be don’t say something if you can’t say something nice. Instead, when things do need attention…we need to speak to them in love. However…that is a difficult line to walk. :-/ I know. 🙁
            I love your idea to do something as a community to impact our world. Hmmmm…. The wheels are turning.
            You ARE extraordinary Jan!!

  14. Megan McD says

    My grandmother had a set of green transferware similar to your red dishes in the picture that I always just loved!

    • Diane says

      Oh Megan…what a treasure. I read the word “had.” Does that mean someone else has them now?
      I almost didn’t get my red dishes. But, on one of my annual pre-Christmas visits to FL to see my aunt, I mentioned that I would LOVE to have her dishes, someday. She said…”These everyday things?” When you live with them everyday for 50 or 60 years I guess they don’t seem so special. Well someone did pack them up and send them to me upon her passing. And I am lucky that the whole lot didn’t arrive broken. I lost several…but for a setting for 10 or 12 I have most of it.

      Wishing you the merriest of Christmases!

      • Megan McD says

        My grandmother moved into an assisted living facility back in July and my uncle took all the transferware…except one little creamer! I took the creamer to have as a keepsake. 🙂 On the bottom of it it says Enoch Woods Castles, Blarney, Wood & Sons England.

        • Diane says

          I feel badly that you only have one piece of the set. But, you have a piece!!! Yay!! And a very special one too!!

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