Winter favorites

This week I've been sharing a few of my favorite things over on facebook, so here's the re-cap plus my favorite things on Amazon right now.

With spring just around the corner, I'm loving all the floral inspiration via Pinterest.
And while I don't ever want chocolate on Valentine's Day,  Olive and Sinclair is my everyday choice. It's all natural & handmade right here in Nashville.

I haven't talked much about my journey using essential oils & I do want to share in depth all about my experience because this collection has honestly been a lifesaver for my emotional postpartum health.
Like game changing. I literally feel like a new person mentally, emotionally & physically when I consistently use them!

And finally; A few of my favorite lovely home essentials via amazon for your weekend shopping, like my everday wrapping supplies, kraft paper, twine & ribbon.
Below you'll find direct links to each item, including my current throw blanket, floral vases, and salad utensils.  Happy Fri-yay!

twine  | stripe ribbon | kraft wrapping paper | salad utensils | glass vase | wool dryer balls | throw blanket

Christmas reflections for a New Year

   

                          Last Christmas season life felt a bit slower. Each day planned and purposeful,

whether it was a day full of baking or a leisurely late night drive.

This year however, I found myself longing to replicate those moments;

 Christmas shopping dates with my hubby, warm drink in my hand, and pressure far from me.

Yet, that didn't happen.

At least I thought it didn't. Honestly, it just didn't look exactly like last year. 

As comparison nagged at my emotions, I struggled to feel that this Christmas somehow was lacking...

didn't measure up.

 Didn't feel like it should, which obviously meant something was wrong.

In the silence, the Father began to reveal that I honestly was longing for an experience. Last years experience

The past. Familiarity. 

The same longing that crowds of multitudes and even His own followers looked for, 

miracles to be duplicated.

In all honesty, Nothing, absolutely nothing was wrong with this Christmas!

What a silly stupid lie!

 A scheme of the enemy to minimize the current beauty of the Father's workings in our life!

The plans we had this year were the plans for this year.

Finishing up our kitchen remodel; chauffeuring teens here and there; 

Opening our home to family and friends that He led to our doorstep.

Date nights on the town exchanged with late night, side by side, online shopping.

In the same way, many missed the Messiah's birth because they misunderstood, 

awaiting for their King to come in the manner their minds accepted.

 I don't want to miss His heartbeat because it looked different last year.

I never want to miss the beauty while longing for the familiar.

 Personally, I prefer simplicity, but I never want to idealize or idolize what Christmas should look like.

 I continually want to walk in step with His movement, day by day. Mindful of what He lays before me.

 Not distracted from what's in front of me, by looking at what was behind.

 

"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.  

 

Why I photograph my "perfect life"

First off, I do NOT have a perfect life! Quite honestly, some days are messy hard!

I wake up before the herd, the house is still quiet; sip my coffee, which the best husband made.

 One by one, sleepy kids stroll downstairs sweetly, then it's all downhill from there.

Sister doesn't want eggs, almost a half gallon of milk spilled, "brother is sitting too close to me"

A headache strikes and you want to go back to bed for the entire day! 

but the day must go on. 

After the breakfast mess is clear, and husband out the door, I long for the lovely, the best things.
  Little Brother wants to read, so we head to his favorite spot.
As he arranges his buddies, smiles his dimpled grin, he snuggles close.
 This time nourishes my heart.  I quickly capture it with a photo. 

As I listen to him read, I breathe deep; all five of my boys have accomplished this childhood milestone.
I recall to mind the hard days of four boys ages five and under, three in diapers. The days I just survived. 

Those days have transitioned into an overflowing home full of books, lego's, and loud drum sets {plural}

During those "routine days" of life when my guys were little, I photographed what felt like the mundane.
Silly boys just being silly!
 Those photographs are treasures to my heart today!
Treasures of encouragement; reminders of lovely days; even the loveliness that I overlooked.
Looking at those photographs today, my heart is bursting!
Bursting with the gratefulness for the reminders of my beautiful, abundantly blessed life!

Some days are tough, I mean tooth and nail tough.
A photograph captures beauty, even in the midst of chaos.
 I never want to overlook the beautiful surrounding me, each and every day!
Often times that beauty is in the midst of a beautiful mess.

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!

one, two, three JUMP

 

Every one of our kids love the trampoline!

      It doesn't matter if it's raining outside, "can i go jump on the trampoline" is currently heard daily.
     While I love that my kiddos enjoy the opportunity to drain a bit of that boundless energy, honestly
    I've heard enough broken bone stories, that occasionally, the trampoline freaks me out,  just a bit!

While my personal fears haven't kept me from letting them have their fun, it has revolutionized the posture of my heart; making my requests known to Him.

  My eyes have been opened to the truth; the Father wants me to pour out my heart to Him all the time!

Communing with Him at all times. All day, everyday, about every little thing on my heart.

   Not just the times when I need the Father's wisdom on how to handle life's situations, or even protection for my child on the trampoline; He cares about every detail of every day.

                                                                                                      

{ "Do not be anxious for anything, but let your requests be continually be made known to the Lord." ~ Phillipians 4:6}

                                        

{our favorite place to be}

Our favorite place to be is together. I cherish our weekends together, nothing planned, just together.

              .

                     Our oldest boys each received a tree to plant from our home school tutorial program;

Sweet Pea helped, Littlest Brother got tired, so did Middle Brother .

 

                                         

  

                          I absolutely love this photo of Sweet Pea! She truly has grown so much this summer .

Her eyes; that smile make me want to slow down time.