As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Saturday, October 5, 2013

CeLeBRaTe!! {Day 5 ~ Inspiration}


At our house, we are celebrators! We never miss the opportunity to celebrate a birthday...and the celebrations often cover several days! Thanksgiving is a big deal. So is Christmas. We celebrate the beginning of all the seasons. We can make an occasion out of almost anything. (Recently, we had iced mochas to celebrate the end of jury duty. It was indeed a happy occasion.)  

I'm not implying that you need to celebrate as much as we do, or to celebrate the same things that we celebrate. (Remember Romans 14:5?)  But since I know you wouldn't be reading this series if you weren't interested in celebrations at all, I'm going to talk about some sources of inspiration.



We are inspired by our own families' celebrations.

When you marry, each person brings his or her own family's ideas and traditions. Think about the celebrations that were meaningful to you growing up. Consider your spouse's celebration traditions too. Of course, you'll also create traditions of your own, but there is something special about incorporating some of the "old" along with the new to continue generational identity.

We are inspired with our own thoughts and desire to celebrate.

Sometimes, inspiration just comes. Our hearts want to celebrate something, and an idea is sprung. We are joyful and we look for a way to express it. You want to find a way to make an old tradition better, and you are inspired with a fresh idea. (Or you color your eggs blue with a natural dying process, and a whole table setting comes to you to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. It's the little things. ~smile~)

We are inspired by others.

Our original copy, published in 1983

One Christmas when I was a very young mother, my mom gave me the book Let's Make a Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson. Within its pages were myriads of ideas for celebrations. Making memorable holidays, making memories through the seasons, making memories with special people, and more. I ate it up. Some of our traditions that were inspired by the book are still a part of our celebrations today!


A recent source of inspiration is the new cookbook Mennonite Girls Can Cook: Celebrations. I was inspired by the celebration musings and memories that the authors shared so beautifully alongside their many recipes.  (To read more about how I won the book and how much I loved it, click ~here~.)

Books, magazines, our friends...all can be wonderful sources of inspiration.

And then there's Pinterest. Inspirational at its best, overwhelming at its worst, but there are certainly ideas to be had at the click of a mouse.


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There are so many sources of inspiration for celebrations. You can never do it all, or even come close. (Nor would you wish to.) What's important is to mark an occasion in a way that is meaningful to you and that fills your heart with gratitude.

What gives you inspiration for celebrations?



This is Day 5 in the series CeLeBRaTe!!  Click ~here~ to see more.



6 comments:

  1. What gives me inspiration? The good examples of others like you! And I truly have loved reading anything by Edith Schaeffer on homemaking and celebrations.

    One thing you touched on here is the importance of including all sides of the family. Even something as simple as a few favorite family recipes can be so important.

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  2. You are doing such a wonderful thing with this! How inspiring. You should make it into an "ebook." And do I remember that Lets Make a Memory Book! I fear our traditions are slipping away (it helps to have daughters, which I don't) but you are definitely working hard to keep and pass them on!

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  3. Many of the same sources as you.

    Mostly we just love to rejoice and celebrate and we look for reasons to do so!

    Looking forward to celebrating visitors soon!

    Deanna

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  4. I enjoy reading your suggestions for celebrations....I think spontaneity and flexibility go a long way in celebrations - finding reasons everyday to express our joy in living.

    When celebrations become cumbersome or competitive, they lose sight of their purpose, don't they?

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  5. What gives me inspiration for celebration, You and other friends here in blogland, Cheryl, you have been such an inspiration to me, I have been so blessed by how you are teaching your daughters how to become Proverbs 31 women, and have done this by example. Thank you for your inspiration.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  6. I'm enjoying your series very much, Cheryl!
    The 'Making a Memory' book is wonderful isn't it? My copy has been put away or given away somewhere - seeing yours makes me want to dig it out again!
    I have also found great inspiration from authors like Emilie Barnes, in her If Teacups Could Talk or Spirit of Loveliness.
    And, yes, you inspire me. Thank you!

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