Another year draws to a close, and while most people have already put away their Christmas pretties, I linger. I sit beside the fire in the den sipping hot tea and gazing upon the figures on my woodland themed mantle, dusted with shimmering snow. I see the glow of the Christmas tree lights in the living room behind me reflected brightly in the den’s windows before me. The rains pour down outside my windows and the dark clouds have cocooned my home in darkness. Here in my den I find shelter from the heavy winter storm.
Shhh . . . don’t remind me that the temperature outside is in the 60’s and that Christmas is over. Let me spend a little more time enjoying the Wonder of Christmas.
Looking back on 2015 today I’ve compiled the most viewed posts of the year. They are in two categories, Home Decor and Inspirational, since my blog is comprised of both! If you choose to see more of any of these posts you can simply click on the pictures.
Here’s the countdown:
Drum roll please . . . because I’m kinda goofy like that!
10. At Long Last Dining Room Reveal
9. Southern Etiquette & How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch!
8. My Secret to a Great Looking Arrangements Using Faux Flowers
7. Giving Baskets a Vintage Look With Chalk Paint
6. Southern Gardens Tour Part I
5. Spiffin’ up The Screened Porch The Easy Way
4. Decorating With Preserved Boxwood
And finally, in the Home Decor category,
1. Ideas For Adding a French Country Look to Your Kitchen
Next is the Inspirational category which was special to me. It wasn’t just the traffic that caused me to share the top three, but there were also personal emails and stories shared behind the scenes that blessed me to no end as people related to the words God inspired me to write. Whenever I wonder if I should include these posts on my site (because most people don’t want a Home Decor site that is “preachy”), the response I receive back confirms that I am to continue to speak what God lays on my heart. I am probably more blessed than anyone who reads one of these posts by the feedback received.
So, moving right along, the top three Inspirational posts are:
3. Freedom Friday – on Hospitality
2. Freedom Friday – On Forgiving Yourself
Finally, the top post in the Inspiration category was the most heartbreaking for me but also a blessing to have been loved by a dog this good.
1. Freedom Friday – Wise Words From a Dog Named SnoopyGirl
So, looking to the year ahead, I am excited that I’ll be continuing as a contributing author for Faith’nFriends (I hope you’ll all go over to the website and show some of the other writers some love), my friend Debbie Kitterman and I will be teaming up to teach on online course about starting a Mastermind Group, as well as getting our own group off the ground, I’m praying that I will have the opportunity to attend another writer’s conference this year, I’m looking forward to being on the launch teams of a couple of different books that author friends will be releasing in the new year, and I will also be plugging away here at home as I work on my own book and #write365. Of course I will continue to make home improvements to share on Old Things New.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the year with me. I have certainly enjoyed meeting new friends here on the blog and continuing relationships with those of you I’ve come to know and love through this wonderful job I get to do called blogging. I am MOST blessed of the Lord!
Happy New Year and abundant blessings to you all!
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, Sunday Stillness
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TheInspirationGallery, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Make My Saturday Sweet
All wonderful posts. I always enjoy your blog so much. Happy new year 🙂
Your dining room is so gorgeous! I like the theme. It’s so heavenly!
Patti,
I thoroughly enjoy looking back and peeking into what lies ahead for you in 2016, dear friend!!!
May all your hopes for 2016 come to be!!!
Happy new Year!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Happy New Year Patti. Our decorations are all still up and will be until January 7th. I worked too hard to take them down so soon. Love your blog and learn a lot from it, thank you for sharing.
I love blogging and Instagram for so many reasons, but one is for the diary they provide. I frequently think I didn’t do much, but when I look back I see that I accomplished a lot in the past year.
Have a wonderful 2016!
I love them all….especially SnoopyGirl. as I lovingly recall our own faithful ScooterDog. She gave us so much and continues to bless our hearts in our memories.
My decorations are still up. Yup, waiting until my Granddaughter and her hubby can come home, which may not be until February sometime….yikes! But if it takes that long then we’ll pretend all the red is for Valentine’s Day!
Looking forward to 2016 with you, my friend….
Happy New Year
I love your French kitchen! Looking forward to seeing what you do in 2016.
Happy New Year! Looking forward to following along in 2016!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
I am back to thank you for Sharing Your Cup. And, each time I visit I notice new things.
I am absolutely in LOVE with the tablecloth from you dining room reveal.
Patti, I love that your blog is BOTH pretty and “preachy” 🙂 but really you aren’t preachy but encouraging. Thank you for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! 🙂
What a fantastically productive 2015 you’ve had and your Snoopy Girl post brought tears to my eyes. My vet has a sign in her office that says “Blessed is he who has earned the love of an old dog.” and truer words have never been spoken. (I’m tearing up as I write this…I love my pups!)
Anyway, thanks for sharing your faith, your home and your lovely words.
Have a great week, Lynn
You had some fantastic posts and I enjoyed them all Patti! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!