Counting My Blessings

A Heavy Heart

The past few days have been heavy. I did not know Charlie Kirk personally, but I was familiar with his work. While I did not always agree with his political views, he was first and foremost a brother in Christ, a husband, and a father. To hear that he was so brutally murdered simply for speaking, debating, and seeking to shine light is both horrifying and deeply troubling.

What shakes me even more is witnessing people publicly celebrate the violent death of another human being. Such cruelty, such callousness—it reveals something very dark about the state of our society. My heart grieves for his family and friends, for our Christian brothers and sisters in America, and for the wider world in which hatred is allowed to fester so openly.

On Community

After sharing a simple Instagram story—a photograph of Charlie Kirk with a few words of sorrow—I immediately saw my follower count drop. A sharp decline, just like that.

Now, let me be clear: I have no concern for vanity metrics. Numbers on a screen do not define me, nor do they measure the worth of my life. I come from a time when relationships and real connections meant far more than “likes” and followers.

What I do care about is the kind of community I nurture around me. If those who unfollowed me are people who would celebrate the violent death of a Christian man, then it is best that our paths diverge. We clearly do not share the same value for life, compassion, or truth. Circumstances such as these always reveal the true heart of people.

Drawing Nearer

And so, I turn my gaze back home and count my blessings. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, I am reminded of the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who share our values, who offer encouragement, and who seek light over darkness.

Even in sorrow, we can choose to draw nearer to God, to hold fast to His truth, and to be grateful for the community of faith He gives us.

Counting My Blessings

In times like these, when the world feels harsh and unsettling, I find myself cherishing even more the peace and beauty I can create within my own home.

Home is where we practise gratitude in the ordinary, where we nurture our families, and where we remind ourselves that God’s goodness is still all around us.

One of the small yet meaningful ways I mark this season is by showering our home with autumnal touches—simple decorations that speak of warmth, abundance, and the comforting rhythm of God’s creation.

My hops garland arrived from Huskin Hops on Friday. I absolutely love decorating my home with natural material, usually gathered from nature on my walks.

I had seen hops garlands in various places over the years and really wanted to have one for my own home. However, our previous home just did not lend itself to a hops garland. We didn't really have a natural place where it would hang.

Our new home has a lovely inglenook. The moment I saw it I knew that I would be ordering a hops garland for my autumn decor. It has not disappointed! I absolutely LOVE it!

Of course, I have added a few other autumnal touches because September 1st is autumn for me. There's no waiting until the autumn equinox in my home. I want to get every ounce of autumnal goodness from the season before we transition into the festive season.

So the candles are out and the house fills with the scent of apples, cinnamon, pumpkin and spice each evening.

Autumnal pictures have been hung...

Corners of my home are lit with fairy lights and adorned with garlands and much loved homespun decorations have been brought out of storage and now take pride of place for another autumn season.

Books are being gathered in preparation for longer nights and cozy days. I'll share my autumn book basket in another post. I have added some lovely books to my home library over the last few months that I am excited to share with you.

I love the changing light at this time of the year, it comes in gently and pools in little puddles of warmth throughout the house at different times of the day. What a lovely small blessing!

I have always paid attention to the simple, small things and I love making my home a haven for my family and for those who cross the threshold. Last night, I overheard my husband telling my daughters boyfriend that after a long day at work, he always got excited about coming home because it was his 'happy place' and it was made so because of the love lived within its walls and the care taken in making our home a haven. 

I was so touched by that. That is exactly why I do everything I do, and why I place such value on the simple things that go into running a home.

I want my Biblical womanhood, love and faith that I hold in my heart for my Lord and for my family shown in practical ways through the canvas of my home and it appears that my husband has felt that. It touched my heart hearing those words. 

Thinking about it later on in the evening, I was reminded of the importance of the woman in the home. We set the tone, we are the thermostat to the atmosphere of our home. We can bring blessings in so many ways. Be encouraged. I know it can often feel like a thankless and overlooked task. But what we do matters. It brings blessings!

Before I go, I wanted to share a beautiful playlist that I came across the other day. I hope you enjoy listening to it as I have and may it be a blessing to you.

May your homes be filled with faith, love, peace and joy this next week.

Seasonal Living in September: Welcoming the 'Ber' Months

 The Seasonal Home in Early Autumn

The approaching autumn brings a gentle shift in the air—a coolness in the mornings, the first golden leaves crunching underfoot, and a quiet turning inward that seems to come quite naturally as we prepare to welcome in a new season.

Early autumn always brings with it a sense of settling. The light softens. The evenings come sooner. The pace slows, just a little. There’s a deep comfort in the changing season, a rootedness I always look forward to.

In my Seasonal Living in August post, I mentioned how I would mark each month with seasonal themes that helped shape our learning and home life. Now, though the season of homeschooling has passed, I find myself still looking to the calendar and the natural world as gentle guides for how I care for my home and heart.

Autumn invites us to look inward—not just within our homes, but within ourselves. And in a world that often rushes headlong through the year, I want to pause and dwell in this moment. I want to notice the beauty, the comfort, and the provision. To let the Lord remind me that He is present in every season, both around me and within me.

🍂 Biblical Encouragement for the Homemaker’s Heart

There’s something profoundly spiritual about this time of year. The harvest season has long been a symbol of gratitude and dependence on God's provision. As the trees let go of their leaves, I’m reminded to let go too—to release the things I don’t need to carry, and to trust in the One who provides what I do.

“Come before Him with thankful hearts. Let us sing Him psalms of praise.”

—Psalm 95:2

In these quieter days, when the world outside begins to hush, I’m turning my attention more intentionally to home and heart. I’m asking God to make me sensitive to His rhythms, to help me honour Him in the small, unseen acts of homemaking, and to fill this season with His peace.

🍁 Early Autumn Homemaking Rhythms

Autumn homemaking doesn’t need to be grand or hurried. It’s the season for softening, for making things cosy and warm, and for drawing our families close. Here are a few gentle shifts I’m making around our home this season:

✨ Create a Cosy Atmosphere
Soft blankets are finding their way back onto armchairs. Candles are being lit earlier in the evening. I’m tucking away the lighter summer décor and pulling out warm amber tones, soft browns, and rusts. Even something as simple as a small pumpkin on the kitchen windowsill feels like a quiet celebration of the season.

🍂 Autumn’s Bounty
The kitchen begins to fill with richer scents—cinnamon, apple, roasted vegetables, and slow-cooked suppers. I find joy in baking again. A batch of apple muffins or a simmering pot of soup on the stove fills the house with warmth. I might even attempt a new recipe or two—something comforting and nourishing to match the mood of the season.

🌾 Preparing the Home
As we begin spending more time indoors, I like to refresh the spaces we’ll be using most. I’ll give the sitting room a bit of a tidy, perhaps add a seasonal cushion or a dried flower arrangement. These aren’t tasks so much as gentle rituals that help me mark the changing days.

🍎 Simple Autumn Joys

The beauty of autumn is that it doesn’t demand much—it simply invites us to notice. Here are some quiet pleasures I’m leaning into this month:

• Wandering through crunchy leaves with a warm scarf and a brisk breeze

• Collecting conkers and acorns on a walk through the park

• Sipping hot tea while reading by a rain-streaked window

• Lighting the first fire of the season

• Setting the table with seasonal touches—a mini pumpkin here, a linen napkin there

• Pressing leaves between the pages of a book, just like I used to as a girl

🕊 Tending the Heart

As the world quiets, I’m leaning more intentionally into quiet time with the Lord. This slower season lends itself beautifully to reading Scripture, journaling prayers, and simply sitting still in His presence.

I don’t want to miss what He might be whispering in these quieter months—those small nudges that are so easy to overlook when life is loud and busy.

And Finally...

Early autumn invites us to return home—to settle into rhythm, to light the candles, to fill the pantry, and to wrap our loved ones (and ourselves) in warmth and grace.

My prayer is that this season will be one of reflection and peace. May we not rush ahead but savour what is. May we be mindful of the beauty tucked into ordinary days. And may our homes, whatever their shape or season, be a haven of comfort, welcome, and faith.

As always, dear friends, thank you for walking this journey with me. I’d love to hear how you’re embracing early autumn in your home—do drop a note in the comments or come visit me on Instagram.

With warmth and gratitude,

Shirley Xx