It's Christmas - In July - With Balsam Hill!

Christmas comes but once a year… OR DOES IT? Don’t tell the folks at Balsam Hill, they celebrate - and decorate - all the year through!

Their special Christmas in July Sale runs from the 1st of July through August 2nd. You can save up to 50% on trees and décor plus get FREE SHIPPING!

It’s always the right time to be thinking of the miracle of Christmas and I’ve never been able to pass up a Christmas shop - or sale - no matter the month displayed on my calendar.

Bring the joy of the holidays to your summer with the steals and deals you can find at Balsam Hill’s Christmas in July Sale!

(Psst: It's also the perfect time to buy a Christmas tree to avoid shipping delays during the Holiday Season!)

There’s a woodland wonderland waiting to arrive on your doorstep from Balsam Hill.com!

Spring Into Balsam Hill Florals!

Vernal Equinox is just days away, but it will take several more weeks before my flower beds, boxes, and potted posies are in full bloom…

And, since no one has ever accused me of being overly patient, I’m getting a head-start on spring with some gorgeous faux spring florals from Balsam Hill.

It’s been a long, grey winter, and I’m in a bit of hurry to experience bright sunny days. My friends at Balsam Hill are helping me with their vibrant Spring faux floral sets! Aren’t they amazing?!

These pictured are from their Sunrise Blooms collection; I’m particularly fond of the bright orange and yellow hues - like little rays of sunshine!

I’ve strung the garlands, hung the wreath, and settled the coordinating arrangement around my front door, and now every time I step onto the porch I’m greeted with such a happy sight! From branch to petal, each are handcrafted into such beautiful lifelike florals you’ll feel like Mother Nature has paid you an early visit and festooned your home in her gleeful glory. (Because while it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature, she’s been known to enjoy pulling the wool over our eyes every now and again!)

Balsam Hill has a wide selection of vibrant blooming Spring florals, each piece beautifully capturing nature’s elegance for that little touch of springtime cheer to last throughout the entire year. (They even have out-door safe collections.)

While we may still be limiting our gatherings to immediate family and those in our personal COVID bubbles, you should still treat yourself, like I did, to some happy moments on the sunny side of life with Balsam Hill Spring Décor.

Color your Easter easy by visiting Balsamhill.com today!

Balsam Hill Faux Spring Florals

Dried Hydrangeas Two Ways

Fall is (almost) here and even though I love the warm summer days, there’s something so heart warming about the changing of the seasons. One of the ways I transition myself and my family into the autumn spirit is by incorporating dried flowers into my home decor.

Creating dried bouquets using the flowers you already have growing in your garden is an inexpensive way to decorate your home while also getting the most use out of your flowers. If you keep up with my social accounts you would have seen an ARRAY of garden and flower photos, and all the ways and places I use them around the farm.

Tending to my flowers makes my heart sing and putting together these bouquets helps keep my creativity muscles in good shape.

I’m going to walk you through my favorite tips and tricks for getting the perfect dried hydrangea arrangement.

• My first tip for making the perfect dried flower arrangement starts with picking your flowers at the right time. I suggest harvesting your hydrangea blossoms after they have bloomed fully, when their color is beginning to turn, and they take on a slightly papery feel and vintage look; this is typically toward the end of summer/early fall.

• Dried hydrangeas can be quite delicate and tend to break easily. If you can create your arrangement or wreath before they get too brittle, it’s often best to do so.

• Once you’ve picked your flowers, trim the stems so they fit in whichever vase you are planning on using for your arrangement and remove the leafs, leaving a few for decorative purposes while they are drying (you’ll want to eventually remove ALL leaves.)

Now this next step is entirely up to you. When it comes to drying out your flowers there are two ways I like to do it.

The 1st way…

• Fill your vase with fresh water so at least half of the stem is covered, arrange your bouquet and simply wait until the water evaporates naturally.

• Allow a few weeks for the flowers to dry completely.

• Lightly spray the flowers with unscented hairspray to help them retain their shape

The 2nd way…

• Begin with arranging your flowers, and then bind them together using twine or unflavored dental floss.

• Secure them to a clothes line or an unused hanger so that they hang upside down.

• Store them in a dry, dark area that gets good circulation like an attic or closet.

• Let them dry for 2-3 weeks

• Place in desired vase

• Lightly spray the flowers with unscented hairspray to help them retain their shape

I hope you enjoy these super easy tips for creating beautiful dried flower arrangements, and then use them for your own home or as gifts to others.

Get creative with your vases and any additional decorations! Place these stunning bouquets in all the different corners of your house like your mantel, dining table or kitchen counter to bring those muted Autumn tones to your decor!

And, write to me HERE and send me pictures of your dried hydrangea arrangements!

Thank You Farm to Feast Sponsors!

There is so much that must go in to preparing and presenting my annual garden gala, Farm to Feast, an event benefitting Point Hope, a voice for forgotten children.

I am so very grateful to the many many people who in small or large ways helped to make the day a success! Special thanks go to the following 4, who have underwritten a great deal of the expenses necessary for hosting over 100 guests, preparing the gardens and grounds, serving a sumptuous meal, and entertaining the masses.

Without their help, it would be very difficult to come together in this way, to support the work of Point Hope, which I am so passionately committed to. My deepest thanks to:

Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins

Representing the works of over 2,000 authors and the world's largest Bible translations, HCCP is the most award-winning inspirational publisher in the industry, publishing bestselling content in every format, connecting words and people together wherever they live, work, or play.

Books like Fighting for My Life: How to Thrive in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s by Jamie TenNapel Tyrone, is her story of accidentally finding out she will most likely develop the disease at some point in her life. She founded B.A.B.E.S (Beating Alzheimer’s By Embracing Science) and through the group, and her book, gives those affected by Alzheimer’s courage and hope. If you or someone you know is living in the shadow of this disease, pick up a copy!

Many of the books I highlight as part of Delilah’s Book Club are published by this group. A Brave Face, by Barbara Marlowe and Teeba Furat Marlowe, was one of the recent ones. I also had these two brave, beautiful, and inspiring women join me on an episode of LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah, my podcast series. Listen in!

And, the autobiography, Grateful American - A Journey from Self To Service, by Gary Sinise is published by Thomas Nelson. It’s about honoring, celebrating, and serving our Freedom Providers and calls upon all Americans to to what they can for those who have done all they can! Gary joined me on LOVE SOMEONE recently as well! Take a listen.

Visit Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Balsam Hill

We welcome long-time sponsor Balsam Hill back to be part of our Farm to Feast event. They have everything you need not only for holiday decorating but all year round for every season.

I’ve been using Balsam Hill decor for all my decorating needs for several years now. Whether I need some really incredible Fall or Halloween decorations, one of the most realistic faux Christmas trees available, along with wreaths, swags, garland, and ornaments for the winter season, Easter and Spring Florals, or to welcome Summer with vivid faux florals and lush lifelike greenery that won’t wilt, turn brown, or shrivel when the temperatures soar and water becomes scarce….

Find it at Balsam Hill, all season long, all year long!

Click HERE to shop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sony/AFFIRM Films

I’m so honored to again have the support of Sony/AFFIRM Films year. AFFIRM Films, a division of Sony Pictures, is the industry leader in faith-based films including the upcoming “Overcomer” in theaters August 23rd.

Make sure you enter to win my Flyaway Sweepstakes to attend the movie premiere in Dallas, Texas on August 13!

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth… until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey.

Filled with a powerful mix of faith, a twist of humor, and a ton of heart, the Kendrick Brothers return to theaters with OVERCOMER, their newest feature following FACING THE GIANTS,  FIREPROOF,  COURAGEOUS, and the #1 box-office hit, WAR ROOM. The inspiring family film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, Shari Rigby, Cameron Arnett, and introduces Aryn Wright-Thompson.

Opening nationwide on August 23, OVERCOMER dares to leave you filled with hope, inspired to dream, and asks the question: What do you allow to define you?

Learn more about OVERCOMER

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back2Back Ministries

We welcomed a new sponsor this year, Back2Back Ministries , an international Christian non-profit organization dedicated to being a global voice for orphans. They exist to love and care for orphans and vulnerable children by meeting their spiritual, physical, educational, emotional, and social needs, so that they might overcome their life circumstances and break free from the cycle of generational poverty.

Back2Back Ministries and Point Hope are perfect allies in the fight for children, helping them to RISE UP from the circumstances they were born into, leaving poverty, malnutrition, and abuse behind. I am so grateful they decided to partner with us!

Learn more about Back2Back HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are in our 5th season of Farm to Feast, and each year it becomes larger, better organized, and enjoyed by more attendees. This was our biggest year yet and we were met with blessing after blessing; a beautiful day, delicious food, a phenomenal performance, and the generous contributions of attendees to further our goal of building a health and wellness center in Point Hope Village, Ghana, West Africa that will benefit thousands of under-served deserving people.

We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you!