autumn arrived

fall is here. oh it is glorious.



we finally had a weekend full of nothing. it was wonderful. as we prepare for another trip this week, it was good to just sit and be together.



got a new camera. and been having fun exploring with it.







oh that face. can't take it.

also worked on some fabric composition notebook covers this weekend. they will be gifts for my niece and nephew this week. gotta say-- i love them. why didn't i have these when i was in middle school? i feel like they could have made the years bearable. maybe not...

my brain is empty this morning. may each of our Mondays be filled with brain-empty surrender.



and one more time... happy fall, friends.

a thursday

the husbands were out. the children were pj'd. and my fellow-mom/dear friend and i were climbing the stairs to set them all up in their little roosts. in rooms that are not my own, but have grown to be extensions of home.

my now-four-year-old boy took baby naps in these upstairs rooms while friend and i drank tea and spoke quietly of weighty and silly things during (now extinct) nap-filled afternoons. and now his sweet lanky form fills the guest bed and the girl is in the pack and play nearby. friend's sweet ones sleeping a wall away and welcoming me into their night-lighted haven to give goodnight kisses. a last conversation about mysterious animals as a blond one rests on my lap, then kisses, love and goodnights. babes that aren't mine, but have grown into my heart-places.

so i descend into the lamp-lighted space. and we fall into conversation again. the one that began years ago. a friendship that has spanned years, and grown into this mature comfort of home.

i don't think i need to tell you: blessings. rich heavenly blessings.

balance

i so often get to the end of day feeling like i didn't do what needed to be done. either i ignored my kids all day, but my house is clean, or i sewed all day and ignored both. i don't think i've ever spent a whole day ignoring everything and only playing with my kids. sad. so yesterday i tried something new for me. i started the day with one particular thing i wanted to accomplish in each of those three areas.

so i folded laundry, read books with my kids, we made cookies together, and i read my book during nap time (i did other things too. just made sure to do these). it was a good day. and i think i want to continue my effort in being mindful of these three things. i'm so often only concerned with myself.

but i was reminded yesterday, as i tried to find a solution to my often frustrating days, that i'd forgotten... rest. stillness. dependence and rest. i can accomplish nothing on my own. i so easily forget.

so here's to more rest. more dependence. the purple clouds are just now being touched by the beginnings of the day's sunlight. and i right now strive to surrender it all to my Creator. every minute... the hours... they are not my own.

the capital and my little smarty

we were in DC for the weekend. i had to be there for work and i dragged everyone with.





kate spent the day at a friend's house playing with a little girl her age (thank you felicity and isabelle!). so while i was at meetings, jason and samuel had a little day out at the capitol.



i got to meet up with them in the afternoon for a bit. and it was just such fun.





we went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. and oh my. for those of you who don't know my son-- this is his heaven. he watches planet earth like it's a cartoon. loves learning about food chains and 'habitaps' (that would be habitats). a little 4 year old scientist.

he just freaked out everywhere he turned.







and then we were at the Braves/Nationals game. open air stadium with friends and ballpark food.







just the happiest of days for this little guy. and he just spreads the love. as he smiles and points, exclaims and teaches ("the T-Rex has big teeth Daddy because he eats other dinasours") you can't help but smile along.

so the next morning, we were getting ready to go.





stopped by the Jefferson on our way out of town.







we were exhausted as we took off. we definitely got our walking in. well... jason and i did.

it is such a good thing, to step out of your home and life, and just be you outside of your daily constraints. we were just us. and it felt nice. i love my little family. God is so good.



and it's good to be home. and as the rain falls today we are still settling back into our little home-space. good to be back. so good to rest together.

may your week start out with some rest as well, friends. may we all be continually resting in His provision and care.

ah rain

freshly back from a short-long trip. we are exhausted. and the rain is a glorious gift. so peaceful. nestling us back into our sweet home space. i have so many great photos from our trip. this little 4 year old was in absolute heaven visiting the Museum of Natural History. will do soon. going to rest today. and just enjoy the rain. it's been a long time coming.

the ordinary

back to life.





the (sometimes)calm and ordinary.



little ones complaining. the not-so-little ones complaining (me? never). there are innocent questions from small mouths about what it means that God knows our feelings. there are filthy floors, laundry piles and dusty corners. goodnight moon readings and curls i just can't control or get enough of.





and i'm delighted to be here. this weekend God reminded me of His patience. His forbearance. His powerful working Spirit that is changing me. i can see the difference. He IS making me more like Himself.

through less of me. less confidence in my abilities. more prayer. lots more prayer. and less control. so that i feel like i'm floating on a lake. my ears below the surface-- the surrounding sounds gurgling and unclear. surrendered to the clouds above, the creeping green on the edges. and He is just doing it around me. in and through me. without me.

i'm not sure i'm making sense, friends. but i sit here typing tonight very grateful. that He has me in His hands. that He is so very kind to me. intimately aware of my heart and slowly changing me. grateful.

change of plans

what a weekend. it started in the Tennessee mountains during a women's retreat.



some friends and i have been planning the worship for weeks now. we've practiced and prayed. I was so looking forward to time with women i have wanted to know better, times if intense worship, and some solitude in the trees with my Father.

Well He provided, but, of course, differently than i had expected. we did have an incredible time of worship on friday night. to hear 170 daughters of the King lifting their voices to Him in praise-- oh i just got chills typing it. such a special time.

however, the retreat was to be 2 days and during the first night there, we discovered bed bugs in our rooms. oh yes. you read that right. bed bugs. now, i never saw one in my bed. after hearing the news, i packed up and got outside just as fast as i could. but... it was a little freaky.

so we couldn't stay. and everyone packed up and left 24 hours early. i was so disappointed. i had wanted so badly to wander these beautiful grounds and commune with Him and my surrounding sisters.





so we had some abbreviated sessions all surrounding our beautiful gospel, had one more time of worship. and then we all split up. and instead of walking the wilderness, i was here:



uh-huh. the weaverville laundromat. with three fabulous women (and one adorable little)



we partied at the laundromat. laughed, bought plastic bags for our clean clothes to go in, tried to be quiet and inconspicuous when Beth found a bed bug on her arm (!!!). but we commisserated, listened to the live banjo music outside and ate pumpkin icecream. yum.





and i got to go back to the early girl. man i love that place. it makes me happy.





we stayed in a hotel in asheville and had a wonderful time. and as we sat enjoying our breakfast the next morning, there were pauses of silence as we thought about heading home to our little ones- the lives that daily await us. so different than our quiet breakfast.

it was a delight to spend time with my three fellow-laundresses. and it was an unexpected weekend, to say the least. refreshing in a different way and relationships were strengthened not through the long talks over hot coffee that i had envisioned. but instead over bugs, a pile of quarters and a hotel sleeper sofa.

He surprises me so often. and i'm not always good at adjusting to His plans. His good gifts are still there, but i am stubborn and unwilling to see. but He was again faithful to give. good gifts.