Happy New Year to all! I hope that you had a beautiful and blessed December and are ready to face the coming year with a fresh perspective. There are some who take this time of year for a bit of reorganizing around their homes, especially after all of the Christmas decorations are taken down. I like freshening things up a bit by giving my home a little polish and rearranging things just a bit. If you are thinking about making some changes around your home, I suggest some ideas straight from the first chapter of the book of Genesis, the story of God’s marvelous creation for you to use as your guide.

First, let there be light! Open up those curtains and let the light shine in! Even during the cold of winter we have some days that are not too cold. These are the days that I open back the drapes and let sunshine pour into my home. Sunshine gives a pure, natural light, accepted by our eyesight like none other. Our eyes perceive every one of the four hues emitted by the sun unlike any man-made light sources. Sunlight also gives us a natural form of Vitamin D.

Next, apply some water. This is a good time to start some of your spring cleaning.  Start washing down figurines, inside windows, floors, etc. It is amazing the kind of lift that you can get just seeing things clean and shiny again. It can have a Heavenly effect on how you feel.

Thirdly, once you have finished cleaning with water and all of that is dry, bring in some pretty green plants, forced bulb gardens and flowers to provide a glimpse of the spring season yet to come.

The fourth day of God’s creation once again dealt with light. This is where He separated the day from the night and added the sun, moon and stars. We can add levels of light to our homes with all types of lighting including overhead fixtures, table lamps, twinkle lights and candles. Three levels of lighting in a room will provide you with enough light for general use, small specific tasks and some ambiance or “twinkle” to make your room interesting.

On the fifth day, God created the fishes in the sea and the birds in the air. How can we apply this apply to our homes? Simply by remembering to feed the birds in the winter time or by taking care of your fish tanks, if you have them. Caring for God’s creatures is always rewarding.

The sixth day gives rise to God’s creation of mammals and mankind. This is an easy one for consideration around our homes. Care for all of your favorite furry pets and the people that God has blessed us with in our lives.

There is nothing sweeter than showing our loved ones what they mean to us, any time of the year.

The seventh day is a day reserved for rest and taking time to thank God for all of His blessings on you. Take time to stand back and see that all is good in your home. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and have a great month.

Visit Charlotte at cozyhomecottage.blogspot.com or email  charlottespears5@aol.com.