I debated.
Big time.
Should I participate? The tour starts with my dear friend, Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co. and the talent throughout is absolutely phenomenal. I mean, seriously. Amazing. And if you’re coming over from Eileen’s blog, isn’t she just a breath of fresh air? (P.S. Lindsay, Eileen and I are actually only about thirty minutes apart! It was so fun to actually meet in person a few months ago!)
But even knowing that these peers are my friends, will MY home be up to par?
I really want to use red this year but it seems a lot of bloggers are using red and what if someone thinks I’m copying them?
What if my home isn’t perfect by Thursday? I have a newborn. How can I get this done?
(And of course, when I somewhat finished, it rained for three days with intense fog so the lighting was terrible for photographs!!)
For me, decorating started with a red high chair. I let a friend borrow it and she painted it red and when I got it back, surprisingly, I loved it! And you KNOW how much I love my whites.
Last year for Christmas, I stuck with my blues that I love, love, love but for some reason this year, I wanted a cozier feel. I needed more warmth, I guess.
And let me tell you, there’s nothing like bringing a baby home to a decorated house for Christmas.
But then as I sat here all week, I kept wanting to change things around! Which we all knew would happen…
But I didn’t. Because I love, love, love my tree and even kept a few blues.
And I maybe spent $30 between fresh garland and wreaths (a must), some fake berries for 50% off at Hobby Lobby and those adorable skis that I’m kicking myself for only getting one set! I also grabbed some $3 mugs at Wal-Mart on a whim one night because they were red and blue. The perfect mix.
I used red the very first year we lived here so I kept it in a separate box and this year I started with all whites and then barely mixed in red with a few small blues.
Anyway, all of my questions about what the heck I was doing were thrown out the window when I read my first devotion of the Advent season.
And I was reminded again how much it truly isn’t about me.
It’s not about my tree or my mantle or if someone else used red and I did, too, it’s about the cross.
It’s about the stable.
It’s about family.
It’s about the sacrifice of a young mother that labored intensely so that we could be set free.
And a week shy from my own labor (that included medication), I recognize this all too well.
I imagine Joseph wasn’t just waiting expectantly to cut the cord and catch baby Jesus. I imagine him pacing and asking and talking fervently to God. His brand new bride is delivering the Messiah.
Our Savior.
That would change the world.
In one night.
In one stable.
Under one star.
That led us all to a place where perfectly decorated homes are the least of our concerns.
Because He is sovereign.
And faithful.
And true.
So, come, let us adore Him.
In every moment of this holiday season.
Be sure to head to some of my very favorite bloggers ever over at DIY Playbook.
MONDAY: The White Buffalo Styling Co. | House Seven | Bliss at Home | Mimosa Lane | Swoon Worthy | Claire Brody | Nesting with Grace
TUESDAY: The Makerista | Simple Stylings | Amanda Katherine | The Sweetest Digs | Iron & Twine | Style Your Senses | Dream Green DIY
WEDNESDAY: Hunted Interior | Cuckoo 4 Design | The Chronicles of Home | Go Haus Go | Chic Little House | Burlap & Lace | My FABuless Life | Desert Domicile
THURSDAY: Rain on a Tin Roof | Michaela Noelle Designs | Dwellings by Devore | A Creative Day Blog | Restless Arrow | DIY Playbook | Julie Blanner | Craftberry Bush
FRIDAY: Inspired by Charm | withHEART | Dimples and Tangles | SG Style | Brittany Makes | Place of My Taste | Primitive & Proper

i feel the same way every time we do these tours- like mine won’t measure up because everyone’s home is so beautiful and unique! i LOVE your home and i think it’s perfect! i love the touches of red, and that dining area with the wood chairs and pew- awesome!!! your gifts in aqua and red- LOVE!
Thank you!! I was nervous about the different wood tones in there!! 🙂 Merry Christmas, Cassie!!!
Thank you for a lovely tour of your home. A bigger thank you for the reminder to all that this celebration isn’t about us. It’s about a baby who was sent here to set us free. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Amy!! Merry Christmas!!!
Amber this is stunning! And so well written, the reminder about our Savior is perfect. And that newborn, well she is perfect.
xoxo
Thank you, sweet Eileen!!! Merry Christmas!!
You knock it out of the park every time with these tours! So so pretty in every way and the last photo took my breath away. I mean it doesn’t get any cuter and special. That photo!!!!
Oh, Julia! You have no idea what that means to me! Your home was absolutely stunning…I seriously couldn’t stop staring!!! Merry Christmas!!
Enjoyed your beautiful tour and oh my that sweet baby in the basket! FYI the link to diyplaybook is incorrect. It goes to a domain.com page.
Thank you so much, Kim! Just fixed it! Thanks for the heads up!!!
Oh Amber, it’s all so beautiful! I can’t even believe you did all of this and posted about it with an infant. I have always used reds and I was happy to see everyone else going back to it this year!
Merry Christmas my friend! ~Sonya
Thank you, sweet Sonya!!! And me, too! Made my heart happy! Merry, merry Christmas!
Wow, everything is just beautiful! Fifteen years ago I brought home my first baby, born Dec. 8, who was actually due Christmas day, so I can certainly relate to how that feels:-) I was glad to have everything done ahead of time so I could enjoy Christmas with my little one. I can also relate to three days of rain as we were deluged here in western NC as well. Beautiful and warm home you have decorated so lovingly:-)
Thank you, Anita! There’s just something so magical about it, isn’t there? Merry Christmas!!
You certainly did an amazing job and even with a newborn! I could sit in your home and stare at the decorations and coziness of it all forever! Thank you so much for your boldness in posting what the season is really about. It was beautifully written and reminds us that all we have is because of HIM!
Thank you so much, Vicki! That means so much!! Merry Christmas!
Beautiful! Your post gave me chills.
Oh my goodness, thank you, Gina! Merry Christmas!
It’s perfection. Thank you so much for this post…xo
Oh, wow! Thank YOU, Lucy! Merry Christmas!
Your home is so pretty, and I adore your Christmas decor 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much, Katrina! Merry Christmas!
Sweet Amber, I loved reading this! More than anything I love your sweet heart. And ofcourse, your home is so lovely. How in the world you did that with a newborn, I’ll never know! so happy to have you 🙂
Thank you so much for having me, Lindsay!!! You are such an inspiration to me!
It’s real, it’s beautiful, it’s attainable, it’s you. I adored every glimpse of it, but that sweet babe captured my whole heart! Happy Holidays!
Aw, thanks, Julie!! She’s been such a blessing in our lives!!
Your writing is so powerful. Thank you for the great reminder of what the holiday season is truly about. Your home is so sweet and your heart even sweeter. Merry Christmas!
amandakatherine.com
Oh, Amanda! Thank you so much! It certainly doesn’t come from me! Merry Christmas to you too!
Thank you so so much, Amanda. That means so much to me! God is so good!
Amber, I have LOVED my first visit to your beautiful home. Each and every detail is amazing and I have poured over each photo. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so so much, Wendy! Your comment makes my day!!
i love your home tour sweet amber..and congratulations on your most beautiful baby girl!!! merry merry christmas!!
Thank you, dear Paige! Hope your family had a beautiful holiday, as well!!
I’m so glad you decided to join the tour!! I LOVE your home and your style. Everything is looks so cozy and comfy and festive!
Thank you for taking the time to visit, Jenn!!! Thank you for your kind words!!
Love you home and your little touches of red. I love your little nativity as well and I can’t get over your sweet baby’s picture in that basket! Oh and just for the record I don’t look at your photos and think yours looks like anyone else 🙂 stunning!
Thank you so much, Christine!!! 🙂
Amber, I LOVE it!! Right up my Christmas-alley. So cozy and pretty with lots of white and hits of colour. I’m heading off the pin the whole thing!!
Thank you, sweet Krista!
Catching up here, but how perfect is this?! I love all of the super sweet details!
Thank you, Carrie!!!