From the Front Porch
Happy Friday from the front porch, sweet friends. We hope your week has been all that you’ve needed it to be. Thanks so much for spending time with us today.
I’ve been thinking a lot about influence this week because we had to finally break down and buy a new lawn tractor.
Our John Deere (JD) is about 13 years old and while we’ve tried our best to extend the life of it with maintenance and repairs, it officially gave up on us this week.
The original plan was to upgrade from our current JD model because we loved it so much. But we couldn’t find a single JD lawn tractor available in our state.
So, we decided to try a different brand and made an appointment with a local hardware store that also sells farm and tractor equipment.
The minute we walked into the store, I knew we were in trouble though.
Despite not having any other customers inside the store, we couldn’t get the people at the front desk to help us. Figuring they were just busy, we found the lawn tractors and got all the model information ready to go.
Our only pause was there were 2 slits in the seat which we knew would cause significant tears within a few weeks. So, we waited to ask if they would be willing to change the seats out for us and the owner said no almost immediately.
I don’t know about you but there was no way we were about to pay $5K for a new lawn tractor that was already damaged.
Feeling frustrated, defeated, and honestly discriminated against (why is mask shaming still a thing?), we made our way to Lowes and found a sales associate that went above and beyond to try and help us.
While she didn’t have what we needed at her store, she was able to check the company’s inventory and send us to another location about an hour away.
Racing against the clock, we drove to the second Lowes location, and as we got out of the car S noticed a well-loved leather wallet that looked like it had fallen out of the truck parked next to us.
She opened it up hoping to find an ID and it was filled with a large amount of cash, a checkbook, and at least 5 different credit cards. No playing, it was like someone’s entire financial life was in that wallet.
We quickly found a Lowe’s associate who immediately ran to up an older gentleman in line trying to pay for supplies completely frantic he had lost his wallet.
Just this week I was telling a friend I don’t believe in accidents or coincidences. I believe in divine appointments.
I’m 100% sure we had a divine appointment with the gentleman who lost his wallet that day. The ironic thing is, had the owner of the original hardware store we visited not completely dismissed us, we would have missed the divine appointment entirely.
The whole experience made me realize, you don’t have to have a large following on social media, a big blog, a high-paying job, or a political career to have influence.
If you’re an associate at any store – you have influence.
If you’re the CFO of your company (hey, sis) – you have influence.
If you’re a teacher of any kind – you have influence.
If you’re a spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, caregiver, neighbor, friend, or coworker – you have influence.
If you’re working in your community from a trash collector to a librarian to a firefighter to a nurse – you have influence.
If you’re the leader of the casserole patrol making sure sick, grieving or misplaced families stay fed – you have influence.
Even if you only have an audience of one, you still have the ability to influence.
It only takes a single moment and an opportunity to change someone’s entire day.
A million times over thank you for being such a positive influence on me this week and for all your sweet comments and kind words from our Encouragement of the Month post.
Your comments completely humbled me and made me melt in the best possible way. I treasure each of them and I’m grateful to have you here.
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
This pretty home looks like it could be straight out of the English countryside.
There are so many beautiful spaces in this portfolio but the Gentleman’s House stole my equestrian loving heart immediately.
Love the subtle pops of blue in this Draper Colonial.
A 1920s Tudor Tour from Whittney Parkinson Design
This is such a beautiful way to commemorate the end of the summer.
Speaking of which, love this gorgeous flower arrangement so much.
One of my all-time favorite blogs celebrating my all-time favorite season.
So excited to try this creative idea! My nephews have been calling me almost daily to talk about Fall and all things Halloween.
How to Add Rustic Fall Décor to Your Home (immediately made me wish I had hydrangeas to dry)
5 Easy Tips for Hosting a Backyard Tailgate (such a great blog hop)
The hobby you should try next, according to the enneagram (I’m a 3, you won’t be surprised at all by the one they suggested)
8 Compliments Your Kids Are Dying to Hear
10 Healthy Habits of Happy People
How pretty are these needle minders?
Super excited about this show! Fall always feels like a great time to refresh things, especially where decluttering and organizing is concerned.
The news about Instagram I knew was coming but didn’t want to hear or believe (as my baby sister says, “It’s time to get on board, CoCo, times are changing”)
Words to Live By…
Books of the Month…
**(Amazon Affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost for you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
- September: Living the Simple Luxurious Life by Shannon Ables and New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.
- October: On Purpose by Tanya Dalton and Feels Like Home by Marian Parsons
- November: Cozy White Cottage Seasons: 100 Ways to Be Cozy All Year Long by Liz Marie Galvan
- December: Dream Big by Bob Goff
On the Menu this Week…
Week of September 4 – September 11th
09/04 Saturday – Red, White, and Blue Summer Salad
09/05 Sunday – Labor Day Charcuterie
09/06 Monday – Labor Day (US) 25 Labor Day Recipes for a Mouthwatering Cookout Meal
09/07 Tuesday – Quinoa Enchilada Bake
09/08 Wednesday – Fall Chopped Salad with Spinach, Butternut Squash, Apples and Cheddar
09/09 Thursday – Healing Chicken and Rice Soup
09/10 Friday – Spinach Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Vegan Feta
09/11 Saturday – New York Style Pizza
09/12 Sunday – French Onion Chicken
Sweet Treat to Try this Week…
64 Gorgeous Labor Day Desserts
A Few Fun Finds We Spotted Online at Amazon and Target This Week…
(Amazon and Target affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost for you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
** Indicates additional colors or options available when this post was originally published
**Sweater * Bottles * **Ceramic Pumpkin * **Tunic Top
Mascara Primer * **Purse * **Plaid Pillow * **Candle
**Mascara * Light * **Cardigan * **Floral Print Pillow
Door Mat * Dried Wheat Bundle * **Lint Box * **Loafers
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog Recently or the Archives, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…
It’s Up To You… (August Encouragement of the Month)
Home Decor and Decorating Books Coming Out This Fall
Pumpkin Spice Golden Milk Latte
Elegant Fall Home Tour (last year’s Fall home tour)
September Bucket List…
- Celebrate September Birthdays
- Celebrate Labor Day with Shrimp Rolls
- Fly the Flag for Patriot’s Day
- Try the New Apple Crisp Macchiato from Starbucks
- Create a Fall Bucket List
- Decorate the House for Fall
- Decorate the Porch for Fall
- Make a Courageous Choice Daily (even if it’s a mirco one)
- Schedule a Sisters Zoom Meeting
- Read the Book of the Month
- Keep Sundays Sacred
September Simplified and Organized Home Challenge…
Focus of the Month: Fall Planning & Seasonal Activities
- 09/03 – Fall Bucket List
- 09/10 – Transition Seasonal Items (coats, sweaters, ski gear, sports equipment)
- 09/17 – Purchase New Planner and Set Goals
- 09/24 – Family Calendar & Set Family Doctor Appointments
TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember, and Upcoming Posts…
- 09/06 Labor Day
- 09/06 Rosh Hashanah
- 09/11 Patriot Day
- 09/11 Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop all about Chalkboards
- 09/12 National Day of Encouragement
- 09/12 National Grandparents Day
- 09/15 Yom Kippur
- 09/18 National Clean Up Day
- 09/22 First Day of Fall
- 09/25 National Daughters Day
- 09/26 National Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day
- 09/26 National Pancake Day
- 09/28 National Voter’s Registration Day
- 09/29 National Coffee and National Starbucks Day
As always, we appreciate you more than you could ever know, and we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing. We can’t wait to share even more with you next week!
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.Many blessings,
CoCo
I love the term “divine appointments”, CoCo! It’s so apt. And yes, I totally agree – everyone has influence, even if you don’t realise it. If you interact with people in any way, you have the capacity to make someone’s life better or worse, even just for that day. I am so glad you made theat gentleman’s day better, I bet he was really grateful to you. PS: I’ve just moved into my new house so I am browsing your blog a bit – there’s so much inspiration, thank you!
So excited for your new home, Katerina! It’s such a big moment so you should definitely be proud. I hope you guys make lots of extra special memories there. Despite our afternoon not working out as planned, I’m thankful we were there to find the wallet as well. I would be so panicked if I lost my purse! I’m thankful we’re able to rally around each other, planned or unplanned. It makes such a huge difference. Sending you lots of hugs for a happy week, CoCo
Wow….as a mask wearer myself, I am saddened that you faced that discrimination, my husband and I ask nearly daily “what is wrong with people?” Praise God you were there to save that gentleman from financial ruin and can see the joy in God’s plan. I hope you get many years of use out of your new mower! 💕
Thank you so much, Marci! It was definitely a strange experience, to say the least. We’ve been wearing masks since my aunt found out she had breast cancer because we know there are thousands of people just like her that aren’t able to protect themselves despite being fully vaccinated. A million times over thank you and your husband for wearing one too. It means so much! We’ve already tried the new mower out and so far so good. I hope your week has been filled with unexpected blessings, CoCo
Beautiful post! In fact the best I’ve read all year! Please know that this was so meaningful to me and many others I’m sure!
Such a sweet and thoughtful thing to say, Betsy, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I hope your week has been filled with all good things, CoCo
CoCo, I really enjoyed your story about the Tractor and helping the man find his wallet. It really puts things in perspective. I know I have thought these same things when you plan on one thing and it takes a 180 and you end up doing something unplanned because it was suppose to be that way. We never know what God has planned for us and we never know when something small becomes large for someone else. If we all have learned anything in the last two years, it is to roll with the punches and make the best of it.
YES, YES, YES to everything you said, Mary, I couldn’t agree more 🙌 Over the past few years I’ve definitely come to appreciate the small things are the big things. You never know when you’ll be given the opportunity to step up and make or change someone’s day so it’s always best to be on the lookout. He can even use our frustrations and 180’s for good. Sending you hugs and hoping your week has been blessed, CoCo
Sweet CoCo you melt my heart with every post. I agree I’m a believer things happen for a reason. Thank goodness you were there. That man would have had to go through so much turmoil.
Thanks so much for sharing my rustic home décor post. it means the world. I am drying hydrangeas right now in my basement for my fall decorating.
I can’t have fall with no dry hydrangeas EVER!
I appreciate your sweet and kind words so much, Cindy, thank you! I’m all kinds of excited to see everything you have in store this Fall. Especially, where your hydrangeas are concerned. It would not feel like your signature style without them. Sending you hugs and hoping you’ve had a purpose-filled week, CoCo
I like your phrase “divine appointment “
Thank you bunches, Gail! Hope your week has been filled with extra special blessings. Hugs, CoCo
Oh my heart. You touched me in a seriously awww way with this post. I am an influencer! What a wonderful post this is! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you so much for your sweet and kind words, Crystal! I really appreciate it. You are definitely an influencer 🙌 Hope you’ve had a great week, CoCo
what a great story…I am a firm beleiver in what is meant to be, will be….You were supposed to be exactly where you were at exactly when you were…..Divine intervention…..Thanks so much for sharing it with us!! Loved all the apples in this post and your Cider bar!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
hugs,
Debbie
You always leave the most thoughtful comments, Debbie, thank you so much. I would be totally beside myself if I ever lost my big ol purse so I’m really thankful we were there to help him out. It was divine intervention for sure 🙌Heading over to catch up on what you’ve been up to this week and sending you hugs, CoCo