Simplifying - 40 Day challenge

As we recover from a Sweet & Simple Valentine's weekend, the word Simple sticks with me.

A Facebook friend posted the Zac Brown lyrics "Everything I need and nothing that I don't"




Another Facebook friend shared amazing photos of this 600 sq ft home.

We all crave it -- simplicity.


We pin it.


We share it.


We strive for it.



Here's another way to go after it. Simplicity is easier with less stuff! I wish I could call myself a minimalist, but I love flea markets and creativity and bargains to be a minimalist. But, I also believe in short-term relationships! So, join me in the challenge!

Really, the Keep It Shut Bible study and the Best Yes are really about much of the same -- cut the clutter so we can be intentional and full of grace!!

And don't forget to catch us on Reality Renovations on March 21st!!


From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.



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Keeping it Fresh


I'm sure many of you are familiar with one of my favorite bloggers.
Here's a hint: "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful"


The 'Nester' was one of the reasons I fell in L-O-v-e with blogging. She shared this post about painting your floor and it brought back the memory of when I decided to go bold with my floor de aquamarine  -(that was always my favorite crayon).


It was about this time last year when I decided to pour this can of paint on the floor and let my little cowboy have some snow day F-U-N!!



You can see in the drear of winter how this brightened it up!


When we installed our new floors my insightful sister knew for sure I would miss that color and she brought this amazing gift home 8 hours in a van full of kiddos!!


Isn't it gorgeous?!


I know this baby had to be hard to give up and my mama just drooled...


It will always be fun to remember that under the wood lies more of my favorite crayon!

Don't forget to catch us on Reality Renovations March 21st!!

From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.





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Keep it Shut #3 -- Zip your lips & Pray

Now, I'll be honest chapter 4 is an area that just makes me squirm. For a gal who never has a shortage for words --- when it comes time to pray, I always feel inadequate. I'm not talking about praying before you eat, praying with my kids, or praying for safe travels. I'm talking about just getting down to one-to-one, me and God, lingering in conversation. I freeze.

I think it's really because I'm so easily distracted that I know that I will end up feeling guilty for my wandering mind. In the Keep It Shut book I found a little secret that in 30+ years of trying to learn from others, I'm not sure I've ever heard!

Karen Ehman talks about prayer warriors and prayer wimps. As I've already confessed -- I'm the latter. But, Karen points to another one of my Bible heroes - Daniel. Through the tempting years of being a teenager, I often held on to Daniel 1:8 "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself..." Other versions say "Daniel resolved...", but let me tell you my resolve is not so strong. This is one of those verses that the KJV saying "purposed in his heart..." wins for me.

We also see Daniel making a stand in Chapter 6. After learning the king had ruled no one was to pray to any god but the king, we read...

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God,just as he had done before."

 Daniel didn't hit his knees only on the tough times. His knees were calloused and his legs strong. He had been building his prayer warrior muscles long before this. This is where I find that cut in my heart. That little voice whispering. Use the secret you learned and get to exercising. Becoming a prayer warrior takes practice.

The little prayer tip that I learned in the book for the distracted kind like myself -- Pray your to-do list. On the days when it's all you can think of -- hit your knees and ask God to help you remember each task you need to do. Take notes and pray that God will guide you in each step and that your interactions with others will be used for his glory. God cares more than anyone else about the burdens of our heart, both the big and the small.

So, what's on your to-do list today? Has it been covered in prayer?

If you missed earlier posts you can download the first four chapters FREE here.
Keep It Shut post #1
Keep It Shut post #2

Here's a bonus excerpt from the book -- you can go here to print this page 



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Valentine's Party

With Friday the 13th falling in February, we couldn't help but celebrate by inviting a few couples over to celebrate with a  "Marriage Is Scary - Valentine's Party"

My goal for the decor was simple and sweet!

Cowboy is so good to me. I can't imagine what it's like to keep up with the neurotic-ness that I call me. He nailed it! These gorgeous flowers were delivered Monday asking me to be his Valentine. This is special because he remembered that I love flowers on Monday! Then I can enjoy them all week.


So this lusciousness made it easy to make the drink cart festive!


Mixing up the glassware and setting the scene on this vintage metal tray is sweet and not needing to worry about matching glassware -- simple.


A punch of R7 whimsy included courtesy of the boot wine holder. 
Don't mind my bed-head in the mirror. Oops.


Since I've already confessed to being neurotic -- I can tell you when Cowboy came home with cupcakes (not on the list)...I was puzzled. He mentioned he thought that I could use them with the decor. If that's not simple and sweet I don't know what it is.


Here's a little bouquet of flowers tucked into an Early American Prescut glass pitcher.


Setting it off on a red vintage tray keeps it from being to elegant and keeps it sweet and simple.

I always put special thought into making the bathroom feel a little more glamorous. 
It makes guests feel welcome and comfortable.


When guests arrived they were greeted with a smile and a small piece of yarn. After all they're the ones who took the risk and tied the knot -- now they are stuck! As couples mingled before dinner they found other small pieces of red yarn throughout the house and tied it on to their string. The couple with the longest length at the end won a sweet surprise.


Later in the evening, while the ladies made homemade Valentine cards, I gave the fellas a short lesson in floral design and they each presented their Valentine with a bouquet made with their own tow rough, calloused, and very manly hands.


We have to keep them from feeling to bashful about it after all...


The ladies were truly surprised by the handiwork of their husbands!


And these guys are considering new careers...


And at the end of the night, I was able to use our recently installed dishwasher island!!!
We just might have to host a few more gatherings just so I can enjoy this satisfaction...

From R7 to you--
Be a blessing.

If you haven't joined the Keep It Shut journey with me -- check it out!
And save the date -- March 21st -- see R7 on HGTV!





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