"this day"

The sycamore trees are shedding their leaves and the maple trees are dressed in vibrant color.
It's technically fall here in the south, though unseasonably warm days beg to differ.

I certainly am.not.complaining!

Thanksgiving is in less than a week and my heart is abundantly full.

I'm soaking in the striking beauty of colorful weekend strolls, and the everyday comforts of days
shared with the ones I love dearly.

Currently, the kids and I spend as much time outdoors as we can, but when the evening cools,
I enjoy snuggling beneath a cozy blanket with a good book.

I haven't always had the time to enjoy this leisure, however during this season of feeding the souls of my children through excellent literature, the desire to feed my soul alongside them grows as well.

Currently I'm reading through this, this or this book
 this, and this book are on my amazon wish list.

Fall decor is beautifully simple using outdoor elements;
 tree stumps, collected pine cones and branches,

  While fall is the season of layered clothing, warm drinks, and the external beauty on our doorstep,
 my heart is warmed by the beauty of motherhood and friendship.

My husband, our children, are a gift. This day is a gift.

Being mom and wife to these beautiful people in my life, at times can feel overwhelming.

I stagger under the weight of all I feel demands my utmost importance, a weight I'm not meant to carry.

 I can work to the point of exhaustion and still feel lacking. There will always be more....

But when I choose to lay all those expectations, internal and external, at His feet, 

my heart realigns to His plan, for this day.

End of the Year Portfolio {a Homeschool D.I.Y.}

Earlier this year, while listening to a podcast from Sarah McKenzie, my heart jumped at one of her inspirational ideas to create an end of the year portfolio. 

This was one of those I wish I'd been doing this for the past ten years moments.

but it's never too late to start though, right?! Right!!

These portfolio's aren't anything fancy, just personal, which is exactly what I wanted.

I made mine similar to Sarah's, which you can read all about on her blog, Amongst Lovely Things.

I chose to include artwork, a narration sample, book/poetry list, along with photo's of special moments from the year. I think the best part was asking each child what specific highlights of the year were for them.

Compiling these folders encouraged my heart tremendously! Revisiting the moments from the year truly allowed me to conceptualize the beauty we had in our days.

  These portfolio's are such an encouraging reminder of each child's personal efforts and

highlights of my children's life captured, well that's priceless.  

 

Merry Christmas

                                                                Immanuel : God with us 

                                                                   Merry Christmas!

advent + hope

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

  Crisp air, the glow of candle lights, beautiful music, family, traditions, and memorable time together.

  More than tangible sights and sounds, Christmas is glorious because there is hope!

{"and this hope does not lead to disappointment for we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love" ~ Romans 5:5}

 "You have formed us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You" ~ Augustine

 

   Our hearts are full of overwhemling pleasure and friendship with our Father. God with Us to dwell!

celebrating

                                                This week we celebrated this awesome guy!
                       Technically he isn't our "middle child", since we have six, but he is the middle boy.
                           He is fiery and strong, quiet yet deep, task oriented and an avid reader.
                              He's extremely ticklish, with a beautiful face full of adorable freckles!!

Happy Birthday Aidan! You've been the easiest transition of our growing family. 

You're my best friend and I'm excited to see the plans the Father has for you.

celebrating

               every 4th of July our family celebrates our nation's freedom and this guys birthday.

      Happy Happy Birthday to our free spirited, independent, car loving, lego movie making, silly son!

       You truly have opened my mothering heart to embrace the creativity and uniqueness around me.

I'm so very blessed to call you son! I'm honored to watch you grow into the young man God created you to be!

Amber Beckham Photography

I've been longing for a moment to share this post to introduce my lovely, lovely friend Amber!

                                                     Amber Beckham Photography

Amber is my beautiful, talented friend, with an indescribable sweetness and an equally talented, creative eye for photography.

             Amber was my room mate in college, one of my bridesmaids and personally captured the memorable moments of my wedding day.

 

                                                   

  i love you sweet, sweet friend!!

 *********************************************************************************************************************************

                 A while back, Amber photographed this lovely couple with my "i DO" wedding banner.

It's not often that I get an order for wedding decor, but I consider it an honor to be featured in Amber's work as well share in this special day for couples.

       

                             {photo used with permission by Amber Beckham Photography}
                                         you can view more photo's of their wedding here
             
***********************************************************************************************************************************

      Amber also captured these beautiful moments with me and my boys before Sweet Pea joined our family.
                                                 

                                            Words cannot describe how much I admire this girl!
                     Her heart,creativity, passion, and her beauty {inside + out} are beyond words.

She is my recommended local Nashville photographer!

Amber photographs weddings, families, seniors, and newborns. You can view more beautiful photo's on her
                                                  website:  Amber Beckham Photography

                                    You can also find her on facebook here and blogger here

our {family} field day

As a child, I loved field day at school! If I had to think of why, I can only guess that subconsciously,
field day officially marked the end of the school year = beginning of summer!!

Fast forward a few decades, as a home schooling family, the official beginning of summer vacation often gets blurred among the elusive last  remaining workbook pages.

This year I really wanted to mark a definitive "end of the school year".

So, we officially celebrated our family's first annual field day! While I had to push aside all the crafty, D.I.Y. ideas that naturally sprang to mind, my sincere desire was to simply create a memorable experience with the ones I love most.

  

Our day was a complete blast!!
Wheelbarrow races, three legged race, archery, javelin throwing, discus throwing, potato sack race, complete with a balloon toss which ended up as an all out water fight!

                                     

                                                                  WELCOME SUMMER!!