Tag: #target

Calm Amid the Chaos

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In Fire and Rain I was on a mission to find the perfect bench for the firepit area. The bench purchase was a little outside my comfort zone, but I wanted to enhance the sanctuary vibe encompassed by the yard. Well…Tada!

Once the bench was in place, I wanted a little table, or outdoor pouf to sit between the chair and bench. This is the worst time of year to find outdoor furniture, but I drove to all my favorite stores to see my options. Instead of furniture I saw stacks of unopened boxes of Christmas trees. 😮

The table in the photo was at Target, in the Magnolia section with no price tag. (There’s 3 things right there that scare my wallet.) I found an employee to scan it for me, and when she told me the price, I laughed out loud, and exited the store. The next morning the table was still on my mind, but I continued to Google ‘outdoor side table’. I saw one at Urban Outfitters that looked similar, but with shipping it would cost more than the one at Target, so I followed my heart back to Target and gave the table a home.

This entire process brought up the thought of ‘what a year can do’. There’s a noticeable difference in what the yard looks like now compared to last year, but it took an entire year to get it here. We want immediate change, but lasting change occurs gradually over time. I wouldn’t have made these furniture choices a year ago, but I’ve been pondering the possibilities for months. It’s a foundational start, but more time will pass before it’s complete.


I don’t invite people to my home very often, but this year I want them to feel invited in. This space was created to connect and soak up some calm amid the chaos.

Here’s all of the posts about creating spaces:

Wide Open Spaces, Fire and Rain, In My Corner, and Spaces to Grow.


To Be Embraced

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I’m sitting in the middle of my bed.

It’s my favorite spot. My total Zen.

I woke up early, but tried being quiet. Tiptoeing to the kitchen to make a french press of coffee, I closed my daughters bedroom door to let her sleep in.

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I came back to bed with coffee to read my new devotional. The sun is streaming through the windows lighting the room. You could hear a pin drop, it’s that still and quiet.

Are you comfortable sitting in stillness?

Do you allow your life to become quiet?

A Tale of Yesterday

Yesterday, my daughter and I went to Target. One of her favorite bands came out with a new CD, and this particular store had dibs on it’s new release.

We walked into the store and headed straight back to the electronics section. Once she found the shelf of the new releases, her heart sank. The shelf was empty. I looked at the small, empty space where the CD’s once stood, and it didn’t make sense for them to be gone. The space was so small for a band this big.

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They seemed to have plenty of people working, so I made eye contact with a young man behind the counter. He walked over and I inquired about the empty shelf. My guess was they hadn’t noticed it being empty, and probably had a stockpile of the new CD’s in the back. He walked away to find out.

My daughter was probably holding her breath while the salesman was gone, but I decided to walk around and enjoy my surroundings. I found myself staring at a wall of books. It’s good as a writer to see what is popular. Then, I saw it. This one book….

Be Still. There is More.

How are you with waiting?

We could have just left the store when we saw the empty shelf, but I wanted my daughter to see me ask for help. To dig deeper into the situation.

We live in a microwave based world. Technology has conditioned us to want what we want and receive it immediately.

I’m completely guilty of downloading books to my Kindle. It’s fast and easy. The eBook is saturating our world. Will technology replace holding a real book in our hands? Will bookstores become extinct?

The book that caught my gaze while waiting for the salesman, was a recommendation by Kindle months ago. I didn’t download it, and then forgot about it. It was one of those books that needed to be held.

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Thank you for your time.

The salesman returned holding a CD.

I was so excited holding the book, and seeing he had the CD, I jumped up and gave him a huge embrace! I shouted, “I love you”!, not expecting a response.

But you know what? He shouted, “I love you!” back. My heart was full seeing God move in Target.

Thank you for spending your time here with me today. My hope is you feel fully embraced.

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Break Some Rules

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I feel like I have a lot to share.

It’s a matter of stopping long enough to write it out. I am staying home this weekend, so I’ve been going through the house doing things that bring me joy. My daughter left to go visit her Dad, so I started with beauty.

There are not a lot of rules in our home, but for the next three days there are none! My philosophy is, you should know what is good for you, what is bad for you, and do everything in love.

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We love candles. We don’t buy just any candle though, they have to speak to us. Yesterday, we stood in front of an entire aisle of them at Target. None of them were screaming, ‘Pick me!’ I would rather buy one pretty one, that smells divine, than ten less expensive ones that I won’t enjoy. While I was looking them over, my daughter disappeared from the aisle.

She was on a mission to see if she could find one that smelled good, and was meaningful. This is the one she chose, and I knew she loved it for what it said. #Blessed. It also smelled good. She sat down at the table this morning, took the lid off, and lit a match. She knows we are blessed, and has learned the little things make up the big thing.

A Beautiful Life.

Earlier this week, she offered to go to the grocery store, and I happily made the list. She inquires a lot about my childhood, and asks if I had these things as I was growing up. The answer is usually no.

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Something as simple as real maple syrup. This right here is a thing of beauty for me.

I had maple syrup on the grocery list, and this is what my daughter brought home. Does it cost more than the plastic bottle shaped woman? Yes, but not a lot more. Because it is real, it has a lot more flavor, so we use less. We pour it in shallow bowls to enjoy the color, and dip what we’re eating.

She made French Toast before she left, and I told her I would clean the kitchen. Before I started cleaning, I looked for something to munch on. I was craving some Party Mix. Opening the pantry, I saw I had enough ingredients left from Christmas to make a batch.

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My Mother made this at Christmas, and only Christmas. My daughter would be proud that I made a batch today, just because I could. It felt like I was breaking one of those rules that was instilled in me long ago.

I had the ingredients, so why not? Do you need to break some rules? Do you have beliefs that no longer make sense?

We get to choose what we bring into our life, and what brings us the most joy. Do I buy the case of white paper towels at the wholesaler, or do I wait to find a pretty roll, and smile every time I tear one off.

I will choose to buy what brings joy, and enjoy using every single sheet. Paper towels, were on the list, and my girl knows pretty.