some things

a few things i'm loving right now:

ponytails:

the leaves that are starting to fall in my yard. i have heard a few crunches under my feet as i follow kids across the grass.

a boy working on his handwriting outside:

my bed. i know i'm not the only one who sometimes begrudgingly gets up in the morning. as i pull back those oh-so-soft covers and leave the warmth and safe comfort of my pillow, i often find solace in the fact that i will be back. i'll complete a day and get to come right back here. more rest. more quiet. it will return.

as i prepare for another little show (Oct 21-22, i'll share more soon), a helper with little hands:

it's back. the first batch of baked oatmeal since the change of seasons. oh so delicious:

this song. i get to sing some back up on it tonight and i'm so excited to be a part of it. awesome.

happy friday friends.

His work

i occasionally get to help lead worship at our church. i love doing it. i love singing with the body of Christ- worshiping all together. hearing the united voice lifted to our Savior in adoration and praise is beyond exhilarating.

but He usually does so much more in me on these mornings. because i'm 'leading' in worship i feel oh-so-responsible to be really worshiping. and when i am focusing on each word i'm uttering- really dwelling on the praise and truth leaving my mouth- i can't usually stay the same.

and this was true this past sunday. i started the day living once again on the shaky ground of fear and anxiety. and as i sang, "I will bless the Lord forever. I will trust Him at all times. He has delivered me from all fear. He has set my feet upon a rock." i felt like i needed to stop singing. this was so far from the truth of my past 2 1/2 days.

but the day continued. i sang that song 3 times. and He patiently reminded me that He is indeed my strength. my portion. deliverer. my shelter. strong tower. my very present help in time of need.

so thankful that He faithfully returns me to the truth- in the midst of my unfaithfulness. He's really kind.

hope you have made your peace with saying goodbye to the long summer days and, sorry this is a few days belated, but:

two days.

you know our days around here are far from perfect. yesterday erred on the ugly side. but i'll get to that.

tuesday brought a field trip. to caesar's head. we went in hopes of seeing a hawk. it is a great spot for this season's hawk migration. but we saw this instead:

it was so beautiful. no birds. but a lot of mist.

and a few park rangers that were happy to talk bugs with my little man.

yesterday was full of rain. beautiful cleansing rain. puddle jumping and peanut butter cookies.

but, if i'm honest with you guys (and i try to be) yesterday was mostly full of this little girl and her mischief:

she was on a roll. and by the end of the day we both were done. just done.

she found my bag of early-bought Christmas gifts and colored all over one. she tore down a cork board, piece by tiny piece, that i had 20 minutes before hung up in her room. my contact case landed in the toilet and i found my hairbrush in the garbage can. she was supposed to be taking a bath but, i found her instead standing in the bathroom sink putting menthol rub on her face. got it in her eyes.

and i went to bed feeling like an angry failure. trying to remember that tomorrow would be a better day- that my Savior can and will empower me to do His work in her life. but, as so many of you well know, it can be hard to remember as the sun goes down on a rough day.

today is new. and will not be perfect. inevitably filled with more mischief to add to the list. but He is here. again. always with me.

photo dump

prepare yourselves for an onslaught of photos. i feel like i opened my eyes and saw my kids again this weekend. been a bit disconnected and oh-so-busy. so you'll be seeing the few times we said 'yes' this weekend. always worth it.

the park

a little girl helping to make chocolate chip cookies

i can't stand it either. it's not just you. too cute.

then we made some oatmeal and flour dough for her to play with. and the mess kept growing. she found the flour i had thought i had secured. but it was too awesome to stop.

we had friends coming over that night. as the flour was flying and the clock was ticking, i loved knowing that my friend would rather i said 'yes' to this than say 'no' because i had to clean my house for their visit. after all the fun, i swept. and there was white flour in the cracks in the floor when our guests arrived. but i got this:

beyond worth it.

saturday hit and we took off for hendersonville. got pizza.

and as we drove home, saw a beautiful church with tall tall trees and a terraced cemetery. should we stop...? i don't know...

we said 'yes.' it was beautiful. just breathtaking.

and that is an official photo dump of a weekend for you.

getting lost

things are quiet over here. the day is cloudy and cold. it makes me happy. but the week has been mellow. haven't been able to find my feet very well.

i know you already know this, but-- sometimes things just don't work out like you thought they would. the road you thought was clear doesn't end up at the place you set out for. the drive can be lovely, but when you stop the car, you are confused. "how did we get here? where are we?"

and life here has had a little of that flavor for some years now. i stopped making goals and plans because they never end up being what i thought they would. i know the reality is that i'm along for the ride. Jesus has the control over my life and He is taking me where He wants me to go. do i have a clue what that means? no. He has provided a few broad promises that are my only answer. and my only hope.

He will never leave nor forsake me.

His plans for me are good.

I can hope in my eternal home.

He is good, kind, just and loving.

He is my leader, caregiver, provider (aka shepherd)

He is all i need.

He is. all i need. i will remember. even though i can feel lost and aimless. i need nothing but what He has already given. He will never love me more than now. right now. sitting here with my tea in my little warm house. miraculous.

and more than enough.

Indie Craft

what a weekend we had. party and fun all around. followed by exhaustion and then more partying.

my sister and parents were here to help and we started at the apple orchard. it was, of course, beautiful and peaceful. i hesitated to leave the house with all of its piles and lists of to-dos, but it was the best thing for me. quiet mountains and trees of fruit. a breeze and family. perfect.

and then came the 2nd annual Indie Craft Parade.

it was fabulous.

erica, alli and mom sat with me at different points of the weekend. we sat, talked, and sold pretty things. we chatted with our neighbor, paige (a friend from last year) and her friend tyler. it was a lovely time.

it was special to hang with friends. marco, bess and joey were all near by and i realized how blessed i am to have so many uber-talented friends.

thanks to all who stopped by to say hello. it was so nice to see everyone.

i'll be busy these coming days filling my etsy site up with things and then will probably take a creating break. for just a few days, at least. my hands and sewing machine are tired, but i'm sure they'll be antsy again soon.

happy week, friends. thanks for all the love and support this weekend. truly.

preparing

i've been covered in thread and tiny fabric bits for a few days. as have my sad floors. but it's all going out the door soon and i'm getting so excited.

family is on their way to help me and the kiddos. last minute ideas are being whipped up and things are wrapping up.

so excited for Indie Craft this weekend. hope to see you there! if not, i'll see you monday.

headband sashes. don't worry. they're not done. they will be...

getting ready and letting go

i've been seeing garlands in my sleep.

but we're getting near the end. the Indie Craft is days away and things are getting crazier.

got last year's garland up. and i feel ahead.

in the midst of all this insanity of trying to get things done, making lists and running errands, i've found myself thankful for school at home.

it forces me to sit and work with my little ones during these crazy days. the morning is reserved for school, so i don't worry about what isn't getting done in my sewing corner. i can slow (a little) and enjoy time with sweet faces.

some oatmeal molasses scones to start off our day.

we're hanging on well over here. my back improves every day and i'm learning more about letting go. of everything. He has it all taken care of.

His good

well what a week. full of not a lot.

my back has not allowed me much this week and i've been struggling most days to see His hand in this little twist of things. yesterday began september. ah beautiful autumn. so i asked jason to help me get the wreath from the front door and a change was made.

and that pretty much sums up my accomplishments this week.

though i have been the recipient of more grace and love. i can't take it all in. friends taking my kids. having them for the day and not only making sure they are fed and alive, but genuinely loving my kids for a day. dinner being made and brought, along with my family's needs of bread and cereal. a dear friend joining me over the ironing board and sewing machine, helping me with the looming pile of things that need to get done. and she brought chocolate and izze. what a friend.

another friend prayed for me today as i reached another breaking point. the to-do list only gets longer as i sit on the couch. and i cried and felt foolish and she prayed. this list isn't even exhaustive. God gives so many good gifts. and maybe that is one of the reasons my week has looked this way. perhaps i was forgetting.

well. i'm thoroughly reminded. His good is all around.

happy weekending, friends. may we see His good with each blink.