I love a random list....

I always enjoy reading blog posts with random lists of things - things she likes, books she's read, favorites. It often gives me pause - what books am I reading? What IS my favorite color? What's the most moving thing I've read or seen lately?



I love the color orange. I would not have said this as a child...or even two years ago.

I'm reading "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten-Boom. Have you read this?

There is always a stack of books, bibles, devotionals and journals on my nightstand. My husband asks me what time the library opens and if the book he placed on hold last week is in yet. Smarty pants.

99.9% of the recipes I've pinned on Pinterest lately contain avocados. This means a.) I love avocados and b.) I can't wait for summer and all those yummy avocado salads and fresh farmers market produce.

99.9% of the recipes I've made from Pinterest lately have been a bust.

I am blessed to have several wonderful girlfriends right now that speak encouragement and loving truth into my life. I have not always had this.

I am learning that the harder I fight against His purpose for me, the more bold and unrelenting He becomes. I am learning that I have to find a way to ditch my insecurity and be confident in who He is calling me to be. This. is. hard.

Last but not least, Downton Abbey. Obessed.

And I cannot leave this post without a photo. My sweet boy.

puzzling

My girl is home today. Not feeling well. Again. She had pneumonia over Christmas break and today she woke with another fever and massive headache. So today we will read. We will puzzle. We will rest.

“The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain common work as it comes certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Hello, 2013!

Things are changing around here. For several months I've been feeling and experiencing a shift in the way I see my life, my photography, my writing (eek!) and how I want to document it all. I don't want my photos to look as they always (or usually) have. I want to feel more connected to every single thing I create - my words, my photographs, the conscious atmosphere I want to create in my home.

this is our story {2013} is a little project you will frequently see here. It will feature pieces of our every day life. I simply want to feel connected to each and every image I post here, to each and every shutter click. My hope is that it will focus on the best things, the nearest things. And hopefully along the way we will catch glimpses of the path of God.

doing it afraid

That's what I'm doing this afternoon. Writing. Like, really writing. Serious stuff that's on my heart, placed their by a loving God who is begging me to write. To write for His glory.

So I'm doing it afraid.

Not afraid of God. Or writing, per se. Afraid of what people will think - or worse, what they will say, about my writing.

You see, when God created me I'm certain that He created a little pocket deep in my soul where He hid this desire to create, to encourage and to write. Yes, I was a Journalism major in college. Yes, I thought I was going to the next hot thing at some major marketing publication or PR firm (stop laughing). Somewhere along the way, I tucked this gift and the idea that I would write seriously on a high shelf, to be dusted off later once my children were all in school and I had more time to myself. And I can almost hear God laughing right now. His plan is for me to write right now. In the midst of ballet lessons, and Book-in-the-Bag reading, making breakfast and folding laundry. He's meeting me right where I am and asking me to write.

And I'm choosing be obedient and to believe for big things. "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." {Matthew 17:20-21}

There isn't a dream He has placed on my heart that is impossible. I'm believing this today.

And so I will write.

crumbs

I have somewhat unconsciously left a good many things alone the past six weeks or so. I can count on one hand the number of times I've picked up my camera. This space has been quiet - I really don't have much to write. That's not to say there isn't anything going on. Much to the contrary, actually. I'm just not sure what it all means or where it's taking me.

I feel like Gretel in the woods following the crumbs "home." I take a few steps and then wait for the next. Outside of my family, these crumbs and this little walk through the woods is consuming...in the best kind of way. And as soon as I feel like I may be on the wrong path or must have taken a wrong turn, another little crumb appears confirming my walk and giving me confirmation to keep going. I have NO idea where this little walk is taking me but I know who is leaving the crumbs. Because of this, I can walk without fear and anxiety.

So, I'm being open. Antennae up.

And honest.

Willing.

Unafraid (most of the time).

Trying not to think about the crumbs that lay ahead, just holding the one that's been placed in my hands.

you are meant to shine

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Marianne Williamson

Go. Do that TODAY. Shine and be the light that He has created you to be. xo

k & k {engaged}

I was so honored to make these photographs a few weeks ago for this very special couple. Seeing them together reminded me so very much of myself and my husband ten years ago. A world of possibilities at our feet. Looking ahead to a lifetime together.

The light was absolute perfection - a gorgeous Minnesota fall night (and for this reason alone I will forgive the NDSU apparel on Gopher territory).