I’m a self-professed 90% girl when it comes to projects. I have a tendancy to get a home project or room makeover about 90% complete and then I either run out of steam or get distracted by some other project I’m longing to get started on. One of my goals for this year was to finish what I start and I’m so proud to say I have completed my front porch summer makeover. I mean, it’s only July 25th, right? 🙂
This is one of those posts where you’ll get the “More” part of Decor & More. You see, there’s a good excuse reason for being a 90% girl. Actually there are five good reasons…
We’re the very essence of the word “more.” We’re a blended family. A happy, nutty, chaotic blended family.
A lot of our family gatherings take on this mentality…
or this one…
In my defense, only the 4 big kids here belong to me… but the other 3 are related (and willing participants in the nuttiness!).
I could do post after post on “how we do it.”
Humor is a big help.
Flexibility.
Patience.
Compassion.
Understanding.
Forgiveness.
And then there’s our cornerstone…
Prayer.
Two different families. Pieced together by love.
Stitched firmly with prayer.
Daily prayer. Not just the dinner table variety.
Sleepless nights of prayer. Because I don’t know of a parent of teens and young adults that doesn’t have sleepless nights.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 (NIV)
Is it any wonder that this finishing touch for my front porch spoke to me?
Especially during these crazy summer months of endless doors banging with comings and goings, sky high grocery bills to feed my crazy crew plus all the extras that show up for gaming, swimming, and hanging out, beach towels and flip flops strewn about, late night cookie baking sessions that don’t quite get cleaned up… you get the picture.
On a typical summer day that involved multiple packs of hot dogs being cooked (and a pizza or two, I believe), kids plus friends in and out and up and down, cars coming and going, a termite repair man trying desperately to complete his job amid the chaos looked at me scratching his head.
“Ma’am?…. How many kids do you have?”
It must have seemed like many more than there actually are. I know that feeling. 🙂
I explained who was who… and who belonged to whom.
The puzzled expression persisted.
“How do you do it?”
Easy answer.
I was provided this {in}spired deal by Dayspring Products and {in}courage. The story, however, is my own. Get your own {in}spired deal HERE and enter code JOY2012 to take 25% off in July. And read more {in}spiring stories HERE.
What’s your story?
I could use a step-by-step tutorial of how you do it, but I love the idea of “stitching” together two families, it’s a beautiful concept. I grew up in a blended family (actually a series of them), and it’s so much more work than a “traditional” family, but now as an adult it’s just more fun, more siblings, and more people to play with my kids!
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
I love this!! Ya’ll have such a blast together, and it shows in your smiles! 🙂 Your porch looks great, btw! I just love that old watering can.
This was a nice post.
~Bliss~
Lovely post. And a lovely porch, too. 😉
this is my favorite so far!! wonerful post, girl! 🙂
The Brady Bunch, The Brady Bunch, that’s the way, you became the …
you guys are fabulous – look at all those smiling faces! That termite guy doesn’t know what he’s missing!
Kelly
Your porch is gorgeous. So clean and fresh. I wont even share pics of mine…ugh! Love the family pics. You guys look like fun!