“A welcoming home is where real life happens. It’s where personalities are nurtured, where growth is stimulated, where people feel free not only to be themselves but also to develop their best selves. That caring, nurturing quality – not the absence of noise or strife – is what makes a home a refuge.” ~ Emilie Barnes

Raising Resilient Children {suggestions from March Ensign}

* Pray to understand your children's strengths and how to help them with their weaknesses.
* Be patient and realize that children need time to develop resilience.
* Strive to understand that mistakes and failures are opportunities to learn.
* Allow natural, logical consequences to serve as the disciplinarian.
* Respect children's decisions, even if their poor choices lead to lost privileges.
* Refrain from berating children for breaking the rules.
* Do no discourage effort by criticizing harshly.
* Rather than praising accomplishment, encourage and praise effort.
* "Praise your children more than you correct them.  Praise them for event heir smallest achievement."

"When we cultivate a mood of calm repose in our homes, we are scooping out a space of refelction and wonder, for contemplation and reverie.  Our children are exposed to incessant commotion in the world that exists beyond our walls.  Let home be the place where they can find the peace and quiet to make sense of it all."       Katrina Kenison

Decorating with Empty Frames

bakowbabble.blogspot.com

alifeofblue.blogspot.com

Bird Cages

I struggle with the symbolism of a bird cage but I like they way they look at they remind me of one of the better parts of my mission. My first area was isolated and only a handful of people in town had a car. Every one rode bikes. Family of 6 on one bike. And they would take their birds for bike rides to keep them happy. It was charming in the purest sense of the word.

Old Windows

I have a real thing for old windows.

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/10/house-crashing-inspired-inexpensive/

Decorating with Stripes

Again, I love stripes.

Tents and Forts

I love having my own spaces around the house and at work. I have always liked boundaries around my areas. I suspect that because of this I will enjoy the years ahead of creating these same kinds of spaces for Lucy. I love these ideas.

Chalkboard Looks That Work

To Keep Things Organized

Around the house

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

http://blog.hannamac.com/2010/12/26/mias-nursery/In Photography

ashelyannphotography.comFor The Kids

http://www.momtastic.com

To Make Life Cuter

Organized and Cute Bathroom

Brilliant Ways to Use the Walls