I haven’t even started decorating trees inside (they are out of box and lights are on..is it weird I like them naked) but we finished the exterior this weekend! Y’all this is a big deal for us because we put out a few wreaths on our three windows and one door in our other house and did a little light up things here and there or luminaries in jars but we never had lights on our house…gasp shock I know! We just both grew up in the country and didn’t have them growing up and never saw it as a priority but last year our oldest put the grip on us with “but how will people know we love Jesus if we don’t have Christmas lights on our house??” Ouch, good one Drew..way to work your mama! So I vowed “next year I will hire someone to put lights on our house, I won’t beg and prod my hardworking husband to add this to his list I will just take care of it and scrimp and save and do it as a gift to my family for the Christmas season” and I did. And it feels good. It’s not much, just one strand on the roof and some trees wrapped (oh how i want to wrap the branches too…maybe next year, apparently its time consuming and costly;;) and a little nativity but here you go..
Our new old house with LIGHTS!
Next year hopefully our sidewalk will be brick and we can do lights around beds and sidewalks…hmmm net lights on rounded boxwood might look good too….look out Clark Griswold!
I worked with Juan Cuellar of JC Landscape to do this and he was so nice! He worked with my budget and didn’t seem to mind I couldn’t go nuts or overboard. I highly recommend him his number is 281-932-9159 just fyi..it was hard for me to find someone and I didn’t want to add the project to my husband’s busy schedule or risk him on roof;;
A view of some of our big tree trunks wrapped..you can see our awesome neighbors across the street got colorful..i love looking out my kitchen window and seeing their gingerbread house! We did use these wreaths (Stratford Spruce 24″) from Balsam Hill (yes they are blog sponsor and I am grateful and excited to be trying out their products this year so far very pleased) so these wreaths have battery operated LED and they are pretty bright don’t you think? I used the same garland over door too! You push the button on battery pack when installed and hung and then they come on and stay on for four house and then off 18 hours.
So deep heartfelt thanks to Balsam Hill to helping us make this dream of lighted wreaths on all windows come true, it honestly probably wouldn’t have happened without the blog/advertising partnership so I am thankful.
We also did a little nativity area on the side of the house. I have always loved these simple silhouette nativity cutouts. So I ordered this one from Amazon and honestly I was a little sad when I saw the size;;; We had it in the front at first and it just looked to small and wrong scale with the house so we moved it to the side yard and our neighbor Jessica was looking out her window and realized it was reflecting on the house and let us know my hubs played with it enough moving it back and forward to make it larger and centered. SO easy and so cool. Henry had to get in on the scene for a bit and play a giant wiseman!
Too funny huh?
Okay and a few shots of daytime and I will stop;
I did just use regular old outdoor red Christmas ribbon for bows and we had to screw them to the wood window sash because our screens don’t come off easily to hang them from inside. But if you can take off screens or don’t have any that is a good option. This blog has a great post on hanging wreaths on windows. I also did paint my door darker (or I should say my friend Reuban did it;) And I maybe need to make bow on door larger (hey its Texas) my bow making abilities aren’t great but it works! And I am still loving these planters from Renovate. These stripe ribbon on topiaries I ordered from Midori. My topiaries are eugenia (spelling that right) from Tall Plants in Houston….they are doing well! They just need WATER!
So there you go… the beginning of our first Christmas in our new home! I will start decorating trees inside tomorrow hopefully. Just two…we have always had just one but we love sitting in our study so much we are doing one in there too this year.
I also want to continue to just drive home the point that I love our new home and Christmas in our new old house is so fun but I am always aware there are so many without homes and hurting all around this world. I know that isn’t why you come to my blog or visit my site to hear that but I want you to know I am grateful and don’t ever want to present a perfect picture. We still have bathrooms that need remodeling, some old wiring to address and our own personal struggles. Just wanted to say that. I also wanted to share one of my favorite worship songs ever. I honestly have been struggling a lot with faith questions and pain in my life lately (wow this got serious fast). I have frankly been pretty angry at God. But I still know to my core He loves me and He is faithful and He sent Christ and then his Holy Spirit to help us bear pain this broken world can bring us and learning to identify with some of his suffering is strangely a blessing..I am not a theologian but I am a lover of Christ and I haven’t given up on God the Father.
Light of the world, You step down into darkness.
Opened my eyes let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you hope of a life spent with you.And here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you’re my God,
You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.King of all days,
Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came to the earth you created.
All for love’s sake became poor.
Hi friend,
First, your new/old home looks amazingly beautiful! What a gift to your family and special memories for your boys.
I hope you find peace with what it is you are struggling with.
xo~Jill
Girl, you just made me cry a little in the frozen foods isle at HEB. I stopped in the middle of my shopping to read lol :). But really, I love your honesty and emotion you share in this post. I understand those feelings and questions too. And your sweet home looks FANTASTIC! Love the “giant wise man”, lol. 🙂
thank you Jill and thank you Erin..that means a lot to me…hope we can meet up soon
Gorgeous gorgeous. Both the outside of the house and the inside of your heart. And a beautiful song of praise as icing on the cake.
Still home with pneumonia and no Christmas decor in sight here…there is still a turkey platter out in the kitchen!
Oh girl….I couldn’t love you more! I so adore you and your honesty and your big heart!!!!! I could go on and on but just know that whatever struggles you are going through…I just know you will work through them and be stronger for it. Sounds so cheesy..but I truly believe it! Gonna put you on my Master List 🙂 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo (and here you are, having your struggles and I am emailing you back and forth about which ginger jars and pillows 🙁 Helps me keep my priorities straight! Thanks for my reminder 🙂 xoxoxoxo
I have recently found you on Instagram. Love your new old house especially dressed up for Christmas. Thanks for “keeping things real”, Holly! I pray all gets better and better! And your decorating inspires me! Merry Christmas!
Karen
Bella & Bambino
Holly, the house looks beautiful. You’ve worked your magic and it shines through. I seem to miss my daughter and her family even more during the holidays. Wonder if this time of year I am just more emotional. I will pray that you work through this difficult time sweetie. Let me know if I can do anything. xoxo
I turn to your blog and Instagram on a regular basis. I get inspired by you! Love your honesty and would encourage you to read the Psalms as you work through things. I just finished teaching it and I have to say that if there were ever raw emotions spoken–the Psalms are it.
Take care.
Lori
thank y’all so much for the encouragement and understanding…Lori, I am glad you reminded me to read through the Psalms someone else close to us said the same thing recently and I never started…i used to read the corresponding psalm to the day of the month but then you never get past Psalm 31…I need to go further..THANK YOU
Holly,
The fact that 50 out of 150 are laments encourages us to take our troubles to God-He can take it. But it’s interesting that most laments end in praises 🙂
Lori
Holly, your home is beautiful and it looks completely magical all lit up at night. I love the nativity…the shadow on the house gave me goosebumps! Henry made an excellent wiseman! 🙂
I love the comment to read Psalms. Two, God can take your sorrow and turn it to good. I love Luke 12:32: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” So tender and comforting. Xo
Your decorating inspires me, but more your honest faith and unashamed love for Jesus shines and gives sweet inspiration to me. Thankful for you. May the tenderness of the season bring healing to your heart and the nearness of God be your good.
Your house looks amazing! But…. just so you know…. I have the Balsam Hill swags and if you let the timer run from now til Christmas….those lights will be not so bright by the 25th unless you change the batteries. So this year I’m turning them off each night and saving that battery power til closer to Christmas or when I’m away over night. Just an FYI!!!
Sweet friend,
Thanks for being real, on the internet and in real life. Life isn’t easy and it’s not always pretty, even when we put our trust in Him. There are lots of mamas out there who need to see that someone as awesome as you has pain and fears and doubts, and I bet knowing that you are struggling, too, made them feel just a little less alone today. Praying for your peace, and loving you BIG.
Hi Holly, I’m so glad I stopped by your blog and read this post from you. Of course your home looks beautiful (really makes me ache for the kind of beauty that is completely absent out here in Northern Ca 🙁 but your words at the end really spoke to my heart. I’m in the midst of a really tough season, and I so appreciate the reminder of the beauty that can be found in identifying with Christ’s suffering through our own struggles. May you and I both know His peace and presence to be stronger than our own pain. xoxo
It is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your home with us and being so real and honest about your life not being perfect. I feel I can relate to you when I read your posts and I glean so much from you and your beautiful design ideas. It helps me so much when I’m designing my own client’s homes. I hope you have a Merry Christmas in your new/old home!
It all looks absolutely lovely! I adore the boxwoods and simple lighting. Thank you for sharing and for keeping it real!
The outside of your home decorated for Christmas is my dream, Holly! I love every detail! So beautiful.