Clipmarks | bignosemousie's Home collection

Welcome Home!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:48:02 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: What a nice idea. I'm going to try this. It is hard when you have little kids, because dinner time is always crazy time, but maybe if I get it done a little earlier...

Clip Source: asoftplace.net

What if we greeted our own family with the same attitude and and enthusiasm as we greet our guests? With a big smile, a welcoming hug and a warm “Welcome Home”!

I’ll admit I’m often busy or preoccupied when The Hubster gets home from work. On a good day, he may get a quick “Hi Hon” and not much more.

So today, I’m going to make a purposeful effort to greet my own family with the same love and enthusiasm as I would greet a guest. For me, that will probably mean a big smile, a hug and an undistracted conversation. And this doesn’t just apply to The Hubster. I’m going to give the kids this same treatment.

And if you’re the one arriving home to your family, what if you made a purposeful effort to come home with a loving attitude, a cheerful smile and a warm greeting?

Let’s get to it. Go hug somebody.

Tags: i've missed you so!

Thankfulness Tree

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:32:46 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: This is the second year we have had a Thankfulness Tree. I have some fake branches that I put in a big vase to hold the leaves. I went to a scrapbooking store and used their die cut machine to make many many leaves from paper. If you buy the paper there, you can use the machines for free.

I punched holes in the leaves to hang on the branches without having to mess with string or glue or hangers of any sort.

I place the leaves in a bowl with a pen so any guests that come during November can write something they are thankful for on a leaf and hang it up.

On Thanksgiving we read the leaves and we give thanks for all the friends and family that have come to our house. Then I put the leaves in a bag and date it so we can read them in future years too.

Yesterday, my daughter wrote that she was thankful for "being born" and for "being in this family." I am so thankful for those things too.

Go, get your thankfulness on!

Clip Source: familyfun.go.com

Fill a flowerpot with sand and set in a shapely bare tree branch.

Next, cut a pile of leaf shapes from colored craft foam.

As your guests arrive, have them take a leaf and, with a permanent marker, write their name and the date on one side and something they're grateful for on the other.

To decorate your tree, push a large ornament hanger or straightened paper clip through the stem of each leaf and hang it in place.

Tags: thankfulness, family, thanksgiving, crafts

Pursue excellence, not perfection

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:03:37 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: I want my home to be a blessing to my family and to my visitors.

The best compliment I've ever been paid was "your house always feels so welcoming."

Clip Source: simplemom.net

The definition of a perfect home manager is not getting gold stars in cleaning, productivity, and organizing. Our homes are a means to an end, not the end in themselves. They’re the haven for the people we love the most. They’re where relationships flourish and grow. Those matter. Not the walls.

When you aim for perfection, you’re defeated before you even start, because I’ve got news for you – you’re never going to be perfect. And neither am I. And if you’re like me, when you have false expectations that are unreasonably too high, you get even less done because you’re a bit deflated. You throw in the towel because your home will never be as ideal as you want.

Give yourself and your family members large doses of grace. Pursue excellence in your work, but not perfection. It’s not a contest.

And if you aim for an excellent day with just a few important things on your agenda, I’m guessing you’ll have a better day.

The courage to encourage

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:31:59 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: How can you encourage someone today?

Clip Source: www.incourage.me

I believe that God wants us to encourage one another in our struggles. Hebrews 13:3 says we must “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of (us) may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”

Can you imagine if each of us came along side each other and encouraged one another by sharing our own stories of how we struggled and how God triumphed? If we overcame our fears of allowing others to see our true and vulnerable selves so we could really minister to one another?

The courage to encourage one another.

Tags: i encourage you to speak with love to one another

Organizing tip

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:42:19 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: Martha Stewart.

I have a blank wall in my laundry room that needs something useful like this.

Clip Source: jordanferney.blogspot.com