A Pretty Laundry Room

Hello again, friends.

We've done some sprucing up in our laundry room recently, and I have a few photos I'd like to share.

This is my new, pretty laundry room...

At some point a previous owner of our house converted an upstairs room into a laundry room.

I've always liked having the laundry upstairs.

It's very convenient.

And since we live in a very old farmhouse, with an unfinished fieldstone basement, it would not be very lovely to spend my days down there doing laundry.

It's much nicer to do laundry upstairs where it's bright.

Nonetheless, we still decided it was high time to spruce the room up.

Here is a before photo...

The plan:

Paint over the blue

Replace the windows

Sand and poly the floor

Make it pretty!

*smile

The kids are at great ages to help!

Roman completely removed the old wallpaper border for me.

I was thankful I didn't have to do it!

They also enjoyed removing old nails, filling holes and wiping woodwork down.

My crew!...

Aren't they cute?

Here are a few during photos...

The room has this very large, blank wall. So I decided to paper it in a colorful vintage rose pattern as an accent wall.

An annoying fact about wallpapering is that you should over-order since you will need more than you think. However, because of pattern repeats, you will have a ton of waste in the end.

It is worth it, though.

I love how it turned out, and I think it fits my old-fashioned house very well.

When I finished papering the accent wall, Micah sanded the floor...

And replaced the windows...

For as long as we've lived in this house, I have had a junky old cabinet in this room to hold my laundry and cleaning supplies.

Micah offered to fix it up and paint it for me.

He made new trim for along the top and bottom and put it up on these decorative wooden feet.

My mother came to the paint store with me to help me pick out a bright, celery green that matched my new wallpaper.

It sure was fun to organize and put all my supplies back in a fresh, new cabinet!

Now for a few after photos...

I put the panes on the new windows and sewed cafe style curtains for them.

Do you like the little trim detail along the edge?

That's my favorite part...

I was given a collection of bird prints recently as a gift, so I decided to frame and hang three of them on the wall above the laundry machines.

It's easy to make out the sparrow and robin, but there's a glare on the middle one. It's chickadees on a pine bough covered in snow, and it is my favorite.

I love looking at them while I stand here folding laundry each day.

Isn't Regal sweet? He loves to be wherever I am. (He's actually sitting right here on my lap as I type this.)

Where are you going? You're not leaving, are you?

I placed a cute plant stand in the corner so I would have something fresh and pretty to look at as I iron.

I leave my ironing board out all the time.

I would really like to get into a better routine of daily ironing now that I have such a pretty room to do it in.

I placed a little chair in front of my ironing board because sometimes Nola or Elsa will read to me in the afternoons while I iron.

They used to just plunk themselves down right on the floor, but now they have a nice chair.

Isn't it a bright and happy room?

I am enjoying it so much!

There's always something that can be improved when you're a homeowner.

I'm glad we took the time to give ourselves a pretty laundry room.

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Regal the Cat

 It all started with a long, bumpy car ride to a place I had never been.

I am not a scaredy cat, or even a shy kitten, so to me the whole thing seemed curiously adventurous!

Where am I going? What will happen next? I wondered.

I was delivered to a family in a large farmhouse and told this is my home now.

It was all so exciting and new!

Many people came to greet me in the kitchen, where I made my arrival through the back door.

The house was loud and full of clamor!

The mama was shuffling around me in her house slippers, clearing off the table, while the children took turns picking me up and playing with me.

Everyone seemed happy to have me there and I heard the mama tell the children to be gentle with me.

Even through all the commotion, I always felt safe.

This is a happy home, I thought.

Finally the dinner dishes were cleared and the mama sat down with me, scooping me into her lap.

"I am your mama," she said. "You are loved here, but I expect you to be a good boy."

I try to be a good boy, but there's so much to explore here that sometimes I get into trouble.

I really like the bathroom sink, but my mama doesn't want me to play in it...

I was told this is my bed, but I don't want to sleep in it...

And when I tried to help one of the kids with their school work, I was shooed away...

I guess I have a lot to learn about the rules.

But then I used my litter box. 

My mama patted my head and said, "Good job!" and that made me feel proud.

They tell me I am an elegant cat, so I was given the name Regal.

I don't know if I like it, but they say I will grow handsomely into my name .

Today, there was a bright sunbeam stretching across the kitchen table.

I love sunbeams!

So my family made a cozy place for me to sit and get warm while watching the birds flit around outside.

I am having such a nice time at my new home getting to know my family.

They are very kind to me and pet me whenever I ask.

But it is exhausting at times. I am just a little kitten in a loud, big house!

So as long as I can take my nap here, and not in my bed, I am content.

The new member of the Downs family,

~ Regal

Ladies Brunch

 I was so blessed this weekend with a lovely gathering in my home.

This past winter I hosted a brunch for the homeschool moms in our church, and it was such a hit that I promised the ladies I'd do it again.

It is so fun for me to set my table, plan a menu, and excitedly await for my friends to arrive.

This time we were bubbling over and extra talkative because months of quarantine had made us miss each other!

I never plan a strict agenda or speech. No one likes to be lectured at, anyway.

Instead, I wish to have a relaxed dialogue where everyone is encouraged and comfortable to share.

We are a close group and get along very well, so there's never any awkward moments.

We talk, laugh, ask each other questions, and pray together.

(The cinnamon rolls hadn't made it out of the oven yet when I snapped this picture.)

It's a special thing to be a part of a church family. But it is all too tempting to succumb to the feeling that you don't fit in.

I've watched this happen many times through the years.

Someone will come to church thinking they'll find a mentor, a program, a class, or a kindred spirit to meet their needs.

Once they realize this doesn't exist, they assume they're in the wrong church and leave.

They didn't find that church was of any use to them, but they somehow failed to consider that maybe they could be of some use to the church!

Don't leave.

Maybe you can be the example and friend you were searching for.

For example, several years ago a woman left our church because she couldn't find the support she needed for her particular life circumstance.

But it makes me wonder... Could she have created the support she claimed our church lacked?

Could she have searched out others in her situation and started a Bible study out of her home?

When I began to feel isolated in my homeschool journey, and wished I had a support network, I sat down with our church directory and sought out all the homeschool families.

I made a list.

I purchased invitations.

I set a date.

I opened my home.

And the response was magnificent!

The seats around my table were full.

And when my friends left, my heart was full.

I no longer felt isolated.

It was so encouraging that we all felt it was necessary to keep our little gatherings going.

So it was such a delight to meet again this weekend.

As always, when I wish to be a blessing to others, they all bless me, instead.

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." - Proverbs 11:25

I am already looking forward to the next one.

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Planting Season

 Somewhere in April, 2020, I found myself sipping coffee up in my front room very early one morning, as is my daily custom.

We call it the front room because it faces out the front of the house, through our large front yard, and into the quiet country street.

At least I was expecting it to be quiet. 

We were all to be home now, staying safe from the killer virus that lurked about in every nook and cranny of life except for in the comfort of our cozy homes.

Spring was trying so hard to arrive.

The early morning sunshine flickered through the bare branches of the trees and in through my front room window, splashing bright light all around me as I sat.

And that's when I noticed it.

Our quiet country street during a nation-wide lockdown wasn't quiet at all!

Tractors, work trucks, and farm equipment were keeping the road bustling hot, and as I sipped my coffee I watched them. One after another passing by my house.

It is planting season, I thought to myself. Bless these hard working farmers. They can't stay home. Harvest will come for them, pandemic or not, so they must plant!

 I took another sip of coffee and the children began to make their way down our open, wooden staircase. 

One by one they trickled down the stairs, shuffling along in their jammies, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

I turned to look at them and say good morning...

I turned to look back out the window at the tractors...

And as if the Holy Spirit lit a warm and comforting glow inside of me, a thought was born that has been my motto for daily living during this pandemic ever since.

I am also in planting season, but with my kids, I thought, prayerfully... 

Mothers aren't that much different from farmers. We plant seeds into our kids every day! And as a mother I will experience a harvest from these years, pandemic or not. I refuse to plant seeds of worry, anxiety, and discontent. Therefore, I will not participate in the hype and obsession that will steal my time, joy, attention and peace.

I stopped paying attention to the news. I stopped clicking on political articles. I restrained from even speaking of the virus around my kids. I deliberately made an effort to live normally and joyfully during those months.

Because even though banks were offering people a 3-month extension on their mortgage payments to help during this catastrophe, I was never offered any sort of extension with my kids.

They continue growing and learning and spreading their wings more and more each day.

I will not get this time back.

"The thief cometh to kill, steal and destroy. But I have come that they might have life. And that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10

(My roses are so nosy. They poked their little heads through the fence to hear what the lettuce and peas were gossiping about...)

So, Micah was back to work the very day they would let him.

We were back in church the first Sunday they reopened.

We traveled this summer and visited friends and family.

And through it all the Lord blessed us tremendously.

I never lost the tiniest wink of sleep over the last several months, for I haven't been worried about any of this in the least.

And we have been happy, healthy and provided for.

For example, last winter, right before Covid hit, Micah came home one day and randomly announced to the family that he had purchased half a cow.

I was a little taken a back. 

That is not what we usually do.

But sure enough, that weekend we were all in the car, heading to a neighboring town to pick up our meat at the butcher.

It filled our basement chest freezer to the brim!

Not long after this, if you remember, the meat prices nationwide sky-rocketed, and many families were left either paying $16 a pound for beef, or going without.

Not to mention, Micah was suddenly and without warning laid off of work during that time, so our budget was tight. 

But we had more meat for our hungry, growing kids than we knew what to do with!

I look back at that and marvel at how God prompted my husband to make that purchase so we would be provided for. We ate so well during those months, and always had meat to share. 

I could record many more stories such as this, of how God demonstrated Himself to us and took good care of us.

I'm sure you have stories, too.

And now we are moving forward, aren't we?

At least we are trying to.

Things don't seem as scary as they did back in early spring.

I still sit each morning in my front room and sip my coffee. 

Soon I will see the tractors and farm equipment on our country road once again. For it will soon be harvest. 

The farmers will reap what they sowed back when the rest of the world was hunkered down, staying safe at home.

I don't know when when my harvest will come.

I only know that this is my planting season.

So I dare not let Coronavirus make me unfaithful.

  Someday I want my grown kids to say to me, "We didn't know our world was in such an upheaval. Our childhood was stable... carefree...  and we were at peace."

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

xo,

~ Courtney ~

For Mothers Who Wish to Keep Their Children Home This Fall

I had touched on this briefly on my Facebook page back in March, but now that we see all that has transpired since then, I will touch on it again.

My two cents for mothers who are considering homeschooling this fall...

In March we were all still green and naive.

Those who were thrust into makeshift homeschooling thought it would only last a few weeks and their children would return to school to complete the year, no harm, no foul.

How wrong we were!

Now here we are, partway through summer with our lives still in an upheaval, and with next school year threatening to be significantly impacted by new Covid rules and procedures.

This isn't leaving us any time soon.

It has some mothers wondering why they should send their children back at all.

Homeschooling has gradually gained popularity over the last 20 years, but even still, most parents choose to send their kids to an actual school. Things are different now, parents are freaked out, and I'm no prophet, but I think we can rightfully anticipate homeschooling to skyrocket this Fall.

One of the reasons for this is that mothers were given a taste of it during quarantine and decided they loved it!

Their children were thriving and they didn't miss the hectic lifestyle of their pre-Covid days.

But for mothers who aren't used to this and question if they can do it, I will offer you a few thoughts to ponder...

First of all, if you choose to leave the public school you need to know that you have been set free.

You answer to no one now.

No one will knock on your door to ask why your children aren't in school. No one will demand to see your curriculum or a certificate proving your credibility to teach them. YOU are the mother, and will be in full control if you choose to do this.

(Please note, this has been my experience in Wisconsin. While homeschooling is perfectly legal in all 50 states, I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with your state's particular laws, as some states are more lenient than others.)

Consider that you are used to getting up and dressed and hitting the road to go someplace else. Well, your home is now your someplace else. You will still get dressed and hair and makeup ready because you will see yourself as an independent contractor.

You can design your child's school year how you see fit, based on their interests, strengths and weaknesses and their abilities. You will learn over time how to use curriculum to serve your agenda, not the other way around.

Secondly, there's no need to worry about if you are qualified. Are you the mother? Mothers make excellent teachers because no one knows your kids like you do. You are beyond qualified.

I will tell you a secret about homeschooling... Academics is not why we do this. Sure, those of us who homeschool have accredited curriculum we've paid for, on-line resources, teacher's manuals, and stacks upon stacks of books!

But a mother home-schools to bind her child's heart to hers.

Homeschooling is being a student of the life God has given you. It is not about mere academics, it's about a well-rounded and happy life.

Thirdly, it would be unfair of me if I did not mention this...

You will soon realize that pouring all your time and energy into your home and family is a tiring, thankless, and isolating job. 

Remember Betty Friedan's, The Problem That Has No Name ?

Women working outside the home is popular because it's there one can receive the accolades, acknowledgement, and pats on the back that we all desire.

All that goes out the window when you choose to stay home.

But just know that we all feel this way. It's normal. You're not doing anything wrong. The trick is to come up with ways to motivate and reward yourself. And of course to remember that we are "working for the Lord and not for men." (Colossians 3:23)

Lastly, remember that whatever you choose for the upcoming school year, kids should not see their mothers anxious or overwhelmed. 

We will not give into fear.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity and can laugh at the days to come."

- Proverbs 31:25

This decision is between you, your husband and the Lord. (I don't care what you do. Your kids are not my responsibility. I am only offering a few points to consider.) Once you've made your decision, move forward confidently!

I hope I've given you something to think about.

xo,

~ Courtney ~

The Secret Garden

Recently, the children and I completed Frances Burnett's The Secret Garden, and it was as lovely as I had remembered it.

The characters in the book had become a part of our lives, just as the characters in any good, absorbing book.

As with all our daily readings, I grab a hold of any teachable lesson or moral to impart upon my children.

This story had several.

I personally know people who will not read (or allow their children to read) anything that does not come from a Christian author.

I understand that. We are strict, too.

However, when reading a classic piece of literature that is wholesome overall, I would rather take the approach of teaching my kids to apply good sense and discernment while reading works from non-Christian authors.

This is a better way, I believe, because as the saying goes, don't throw the baby out with the bath water.   *wink

In The Secret Garden we had an opportunity for that.

Mary and Colin, while experiencing the pleasure of watching Spring come upon their garden, falsely conclude that it must be Magic!

" 'I will go into the garden everyday,' he said, 'for there is Magic in there - good Magic, you know, Mary, I'm sure there is!'

'It is Magic,' said Mary. 

And so, they always called it Magic."

It was at this point in the book that my Nola, who has always had a deep sensitivity to spiritual matters, shouted out, "It's God! It's God who is making the Magic!"

I stopped reading and the children and I had a good talk about it.

"Now, did Mary and Colin make the right conclusion?" I asked. "They were right to know that their garden was alive, and therefore something or someone must be in there making it come alive, but they reached the wrong conclusion." 

When a book reaches a wrong conclusion, you can use it to sharpen you and to further cement upon your heart why you believe otherwise, by simply applying your own good sense to it and not getting swept along.

Much of the book, however, reached the right conclusion, and that, too, was a great opportunity for a lesson.

I loved the concept of the power of thoughts in the very last chapter...

"One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts - just mere thoughts - are as powerful as electric batteries - as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body...

When new, beautiful thoughts begin to push out the old, hideous ones, life comes back, blood runs healthily through the veins, and strength pours in like a flood. This science is quite practical and simple - when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into your mind, one must just have the sense to remember to push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place, for where you tend a rose a thistle cannot grow."

(Our own secret garden...)

This is biblical, you know. We are told to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds." And, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

(Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8)

As long as we're talking about gardens, how are your gardens coming along?

I have some flower beds of perennials, a few planters of annuals, and a tiny little vegetable garden.

I have learned that two rows of lettuce is way too much for our family! We have lettuce coming out of our ears and are frantically eating multiple salads each day just to keep up! haha!

I guess Dickon's advice is right... the simple moor boy who had become Mary and Colin's good friend said this about their garden, "All a chap's got to do to make 'em thrive is to be friends with 'em. Gardens are just like all other creatures. If they're thirsty give 'em a drink, and if they're hungry give 'em a bit of food. They want to live same as we do."

I have remembered that this summer...

They want to live same as we do.

While there is a sense of emptiness to close a book for good, a sense of pining to select a final resting place for it on the bookshelf, the lessons and characters remain with us.

"Where you tend a rose a thistle cannot grow."

Thanks for reading, friends.

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Success at Home

Friends, are you all okay out there?

Our world has gone crazy, hasn't it?

I hope you are peacefully tucked in at home during these unsafe times.

When the world is rattled there's no reason why we can't carry on joyfully in our homes.

In fact, there's probably nothing more significant we can do!

"Lighthouses don't go running all over the island looking for boats to save. They just stand there, shining."

~ Anne Lamott

Christian homes are meant to be lights in this world.

And who's going to keep the lights on, but mama of course!

Friends, let's not abandon our posts!

(Have you ever thought that even if you don't physically abandon, you can still emotionally abandon? If you're home but your heart is so caught up in the news and noise of the world that you cannot function, that is just as unhealthy.)

There will always be turmoil in this world.

But our homes and families need us!

"Do not fret because of evil...

Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."

~ Psalm 37:1a and 3

Being home is more than mindlessly going through the motions of laundry and cleaning.

It's cultivating an atmosphere, promoting happiness, health and well-being, training the next generation and creating life-long memories.

This is worth giving it our best shot and doing it well.

So, how can we have success at home?

I have a few thoughts...

1. Little and Often

The concept here is "slow and steady wins the race." This is better than having bursts of progress followed by a crash because you've run out of energy.

Little and often builds up over time.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

~ Galatians 6:9

2. Ignore what others are doing

Don't compare yourself to other moms. Stay focused on your progress. 

When others have more than you or are doing better than you, realize that it does not take away from what you've accomplished. 

For example:

Imagine you have planted a teeny tiny garden. You love it and tend to it every day. It's a successful little garden because of your care and you are proud of it. But then you see your neighbor's garden across the street. It's huge and impressive! They've planted all sorts of wonderful things, and it looks like something out of a magazine! Suddenly your garden feels underwhelming. Why did I even bother? you may be tempted to think.

But think of this, their success doesn't take away yours. You still have your little garden no matter what happens across the street.

What you've done is still worthwhile. 

3. Understand that nothing goes off without a hitch

I am still learning how to accept this one. But the quicker we accept this, the happier we'll be.

Sometimes life at home with a family can feel like two steps forward, one step backwards.

This is normal, and it doesn't mean you are failing!

Just learn from it and move on!

Lastly...

4. Commit your work to the Lord

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this."

~ Psalm 37:4-5

We are doing Kingdom work so the Lord is on our side and rooting for us to succeed. All we have to do is walk in the way He has already laid out for us.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

~ Ephesians 2:10

Have you ever thought that it is God's will for your life to have success at home?

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will excel in every good work."

~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

xo,

~ Courtney ~