“In Your presence is fullness of Joy. In Your right hand there are pleasures forever more.” Psalm 16:11
My dear friends…I find Joy in almost everywhere I look.
Yes, there is sadness as we look at our world today and the unrest all around us! (The Ukrainians are always in my prayers as well as our fellow man here in America.)
But I find Joy in the smallest things….as well as the bigger picture.
The other day I had a few ladies in my home for our weekly Bible study and a comment was made about my living room decor.
Now, I must ask you a question.
Do you take your home for granted?
For example: do you enter a room daily and really not see it?
Sometimes we have to look through the eyes of others to see what is right in front of us.
You know the old saying: “Can’t see the forest for the trees?”
As the ladies were commenting about different parts of my living room decor, I started looking at it with ‘fresh eyes’ so to speak.
And obviously I liked what I saw or I would never have chosen this particular decor/color.
I mean IT IS PINK!
Pink was once a color that I sorta avoided.
Perhaps it is because of my red hair and I am from that ‘older generation’ that did not mix shades of the same color in clothing or home decor.
We would never have mixed stripes AND florals in our clothing and certain other colors like red and yellow.
We even had a poem about red and yellow, although I don’t remember it now.
I do love my pink decor,…. so much so that it extends into my kitchen, which is visible due to the open floor plan.
I chose the basic white sofa and chairs with the intent of being able to change out the seasons with the addition of pillows or accents, but I find myself drifting back to the pastel pink.
I find joy in this color.
So after my friends left, I went into my living room and sat down in my comfy chair…and I looked around the room, smiling as my eyes settled on different decor pieces.
I held the cute little pink bear in my lap, pressing on his foot as he sang songs and recited “The Lord’s Prayer”, his head bowing as he did so.
And I was so very grateful for my simple pink decor because it pleased me.
It brings me joy.
I was also remembering why or when I chose each particular piece and it brought me more Joy.
I have sat in that room many times and just didn’t see or appreciate the sentiments behind the pieces I had chosen.
I do change it up occasionally, but for the most part, I change it back to my original “concept” or “choices”.
I sometimes move the furniture around, but if company is coming, I move the furniture back to what I consider the best arrangement for the room.
Do you change up your rooms or do you find a decor/arrangement that works for you and you stick to it?
I remember my Mother would never consider moving her furniture around other than to clean under or behind.
But my Aunt moved her furniture around the room every week!
Well, whatever you do, I hope you find Joy in your home and it’s decor.
And if you find your home pleasing, I am almost certain your family finds it pleasing too.
Remember, if Mama ain’t happy…ain’t nobody happy. LOL
It really is the little things that mean the most, if we stop and take the time to look at it and appreciate it.
Joy is out there my friends, if we just look in the most obvious places.
Have a great and Blessed Day!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Such a wonderful post with an important message. I find that when actively searching for joy you will find it.
Your living room is gorgeous!
Bonnie Morgan says
Kari, What a great reminder to see joy everywhere. How nice that your guests comments gave you new eyes for your home. I loved hearing about the memories you have of different pieces in your home. It is good to remember where and when you bought certain items but the older I get I find I don’t remember. I am comfortable with my things that are maybe dated because I am content with them.
I love all your pink.
Kari says
Thank you Bonnie….I have been so Blessed and that It is not something I take for granted as I have been guilty of in the past. There really is beauty everywhere as the zebra waxwing butterflies are proving as they huddle over my herb garden. Thank you my dear friend, I really appreciate you.
Linda Primmer says
Kari, your home is so lovely. Such a joy to see. I am loving the pink. it is so fresh and romantic. The small things in life are so important. Thanks for your sweet comments. Many blessings to you dear Kari.
Kari says
Linda I think of you often and your words of encouragement you gave me long ago in relation to health issues. Thank you for stopping by and I will never forget what you went through and how you have persevered. Bless you my friend
Marge Patricola says
Dear Kari thank you for sharing the pictures of your beautiful home and your wise and whimsical words. It brings me joy and joy is so important to our Heavenly Father. He doesn’t want this life to be a torment. As we go through the peaks and valleys of it we must remember to count all our many blessings and rejoice in beauty all around us! Hugs and love friend.
Kari says
Thank you Marge…I so appreciate your kind words. God is so good to me and I am reminded daily of the sweet joys that are present in this day to day life. God Bless you my sweet friend.
Lynda says
Your decor is beautiful! The pink reminds me of my mom as it was her favorite color and she decorated with it too. Happy Mother’s day to you. 🙂
Kari says
Oh Lynda, I have so many wonderful memories of my Mom as do you….We think of them often and with such glad hearts for the love they gave to us. Mine liked pink too. The picture on the etagere is my Mother holding me as a baby.
Sheri says
I love your living room decor. It’s so fresh and calming. My craft room is pink and white and I love it. So feminine. But not too that males don’t feel comfortable, too! You have a knack my friend!
Kari says
Thank you for your kind comments Sheri…I would love to see your craft room…I know I would love it. Blessings my friend.
Sandy Marshall says
Kari, I love your home. The soft pinks are lovely, and pink is my favorite color. I can remember a time when I was 19 or 20 that I only wore pink. There’s nothing more I love than coming after some time away and sinking into my recliner. Bless and God take care of you.
Kari says
thank you Sandy….we share so many of the same things…no wonder we are kindred spirits….says Kari with an ” i “….LOL
Kari says
We certainly wouldn’t do that, would we Donna…We are to treat each day as a gift and what a glorious gift we have. thank you so. much for stopping by and commenting. God Bless you….
the Painted Apron says
Lovely thoughts and words Kari, there is certainly no place like home, and what joy you feel when you come home from a trip or just a long day at work or doing errands…Joy is sinking down in your private refuge and looking at your favorite things over and over again!
Jenna
Kari says
You are so right Jenna and I know you can appreciate the joy when you go from the beach back “home”. We are so lucky to be able to stop and smell the roses aren’t we? Hugs my friend.
Jan E. says
Great reminder to find joy in the small things. Robert Louis Stevenson said “To miss the joy is to miss all”. Love your soft pink accessories. I too am from that “older generation” plus born a redhead that didn’t mix certain colors. Tablescaping has given me the opportunity to mix all those colors and patterns. Our furniture stays the same but I find joy in changing the accessories during the different seasons.
Kari says
thank you for the Stevenson quote…how true it is. I chuckle when I think back to when we felt we couldn’t “mix” colors. Oh, how far we have come….especially us redheads…. thanks for stopping by Jan.
donnanance says
I love your home! You have put your personality into the rooms, making them warm and welcoming. I feel that our Creator has provided for us and it is up to us to care for those gifts. You wouldn’t take a present from someone and throw it on the floor and tromp on it.