Monday, November 30, 2015

the ocean


One of my favorite things is the ocean. There is something so mysterious, calming, terrifying, and moody about it. How I've always longed to live near it. Sometimes I just imagine hearing it's waves crash along the shore and tasting the salty air on my breath. Any time I would feel anxious or troubled I would run to it and sink into the sand. I would empty all of my troubles into the sea and remind myself if God created something so vast and grand, then He has me too, in the palm of His hand. 



photos and poetry taken from Pinterest 

Franklin, a Family Affair


For our four year anniversary this year we decided to go to one of our favorite places: Franklin, Tennessee. Franklin is a quaint cozy town on the outskirts of Nashville. It is made up of several little boutiques and adorable storefronts, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants, antiques shops, and an old movie theatre. The theatre plays old Christmas movies during the holidays. Franklin really is the perfect little spot to get away and just enjoy being together. 

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

thank·ful: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative


Being that is it Thanksgiving tomorrow I thought I would take this moment to share some of the things I am most thankful for this year:


  • Jesus and what His finished work has completed that my legalism could not 
  • Josh and how he faithfully loves me and takes care of me 
  • my family and that we can celebrate this holiday together 
  • new beautiful friendships that God has brought into my life when not even expecting it. 
  • old friendships that I know are always there for me 
  • our home that has held such precious memories for Josh all of his life and now for me too 
  • that God has provided so I can be a stay-at-home wife 
  • our church for the truth it stands on and how we love each other so well 
  • coffee...need I say more? 
  • that God hasn't given me all the desires of my heart so that He can draw me closer to Him & teach me things I wouldn't otherwise learn
  • Phoebe (my niece) and how her laugh brightens up my day 
  • Spurgeon (the newest addition to our family) and the joy he brings to us all! 
  • Graham (my new little nephew on the way!) 
  • Dad and the doctor who discovered his heart condition before it was too late 
  • tv shows (one of mine & Josh's favorites pastimes to share together) 
  • my blog so I can express myself creatively 
  • photos ...to be able to capture moments and share inspiration to others 
  • my fiddle leaf plant and how I love to watch it grow 


I'm learning to love the "little things" that we so often take for granted. It's not about having more stuff or the best stuff. It's about the people we share life with, it's about the little moments. Those are the things I'm most thankful for. 


Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Ten


Today I thought I would share ten things that I am loving right now. A few of them are new discoveries and a few not so new but I thought I would share anyway! Enjoy! 



1. I do love a good home decorating book. The Kinfolk Home was just recently released and I've been loving browsing it's beautiful pages. The simplicity, style, and emphasis Nathan Williams puts on slow living captivates me. As Nathan states at the beginning of  the book, "Slow living isn't about determining how little we can live with - it's about working out what we simply can't live without." 


2. I'm a girl through and through and what girl doesn't love a good lip color and balm? These ones from Anthropologie are fantastic. Albeit lipsticks come in an assortment of beautiful colors and I love their vintage gold outer shell. They remind me of lipsticks my grandmother would carry in her clutch to church on Sunday. Smith's lip balm comes in various flavors and packaging. Anthro no longer carries it but you can find it in several stores online. Smith's lip balm has a myriad of uses. It aids in the relief of chapped skin, diaper rash, blemishes, detergent burns, rough cuticles, and to soften rough hands, so it's basically like carrying a little first aid tin in your purse.  


3. Community. It's such a beautiful thing. One of the main things I love about my church is the community of believers that live out daily life together. It is not uncommon for me to get a text from a friend throughout the week wanting to meet for coffee, go to lunch, or go shopping together. We have a missional community that meets together every week and eats dinner together, discusses the sermon on Sunday, fellowship, and pray together. Our missional community is made up of mainly college students and I count it such a joy to be apart of their lives at such a crucial stage. We are hoping to do some college outreach soon to get even more students involved. I have another group of girls I meet together with weekly to go through a book study together, hold each other accountable, and share the highs and lows of life with each other. 


4. Which brings me to #4. I am currently going through John: A 12 Week Study (Knowing the Bible) by Justin Buzzard with my wonderful group of girls. It's been a great little study so far on the book of John and challenges me to study the Word and dive in deeper to this wonderful gospel. I love this series and would like to study more of them when I am finished with John. 


5. Ok, lovers of period dramas everywhere: I have found a new favorite tv show! I discovered The Time In Between while browsing Netflix one day. If you don't mind reading subtitles than you have to give this show a go! I have not gotten more wrapped up in a television show in a long time. Set in Spain in the 1940's, a beautiful seamstress sews dresses for Nazi officers' wives while spying on them to get information to the British. Yes, please. Unfortunately, there was only one season created but it's a beautiful story to get lost in. The cinematography, costumes, characters, musical score...everything is perfecto! You're welcome. 



6. Cooking. Yes, I never thought I would see the day when I actually enjoyed cooking but I am beginning to find some small satisfaction in it. Now that I am at home full time I have a lot more freedom to search for delicious recipes and try my hand at new ones (like Julia Child's recipe for mashed potatoes pictured above). I can't wait to try that one. I made a John Wayne casserole for the first time the other night and Josh and I loved it. I thought I would share the recipe here. I have an entire collection of amazing recipes that I have either tried or can't wait to try on my Pinterest board here if you care to follow. Included in my collection is Julia's dish pictured above. 


7. Marble. I have really loved seeing white marble all over my Pinterest feed. Marble utensil holders, marble countertops, faux marble iphone cases, and even marble-looking Apple computer covers. I purchased this marble lazy-susan for my dining room table a couple months ago and adore it! It is so sturdy, genuine marble, swivels perfectly, and looks lovely with a candle or vase of flowers displayed on top.I purchased it for a steal too at World Market.  


8. Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce lattes have always been a favorite of mine so when I discovered they have them available in Keurig cups you could imagine my delight! It's hard for me to have just one a day but I am trying to ration them. They are THAT GOOD. 


9. Capes, scarves, and cape scarves. I snagged this little beauty at a friend's yard sale last Saturday. Anthropologie and it still had the tags on it! I felt like I had won the lottery! I love it so much. I wore it to church on Sunday and I received numerous compliments on it. If you can go out in public wearing a gorgeous blanket around your shoulders, why not?? I have had my eye on this number and have asked for Madewell gifts cards for my birthday so maybe it will be mine soon! Get in my closet NOW! :) Here is another version pictured below. A cape (with pockets!!!) AND a scarf? Oh my. 



10. The Minimalists. I've discovered a new fascinating blog! How to live with less. I am an anti-hoarder to begin with so my poor husband when this is all said and done may have three shirts left to wear. No, in all seriousness, Josh and Ryan have inspired me to declutter my life and make room for only that which "brings joy and serves a purpose." I especially enjoyed reading their post on A Month of Minimalism. Great tips! One quote that I found on their blog stuck with me: "Never underestimate the importance of abandoning crap you don't need." 

I hope you enjoyed my ten things that I'm loving right now. I would love to hear what's making you smile or what exciting finds you've discovered as of late! Leave me a comment! I hope just maybe you saw or read something that inspired you a little bit or made you curious to try something new. 

Until next time, lovelies! xoxo
















Monday, November 9, 2015

Savoring the Season

I'm really loving this season I am in right now. Sure, I still have to check myself at times for discontentment but I am learning to savor the season and just enjoy this time. My husband made the decision for me to come home a few months ago and I have never been happier. Home is my niche. It's where I am happiest and most at peace. It's my heart.  I have so enjoyed cooking meals for Josh, cleaning (yes, I'm that weird Monica-type personality) and making a peaceful, lovely home that he can return to at the end of a long work day. Sure, there are days where I feel like maybe my life doesn't have a lot of meaning but then I am reminded that my greatest job and responsibility that God has given me is to love my husband and to do it well.

During this season I have enjoyed making my home a more cozy haven for our family. Our home is our refuge to come back to from a busy and complicated world. When we come inside it's doors we leave our cares and troubles outside. It's a place of rest and comfort...and a whole lot of love. I've enjoyed blogging about my adventures, about decorating, and just sharing my heart to others. I have found pleasure in spending time with friends, new and old, and developing relationships. I am enjoying every week going to some of our dearest friend's home and breaking bread together with them and some awesome college students that the Lord has brought into our lives. God has given us a community of believers to rally around and support each other through everyday life. That is priceless. I am so thankful for each of them.



I encourage you, wherever you are in life, to enjoy this season. Regardless if you are single, married, a mom, or whoever, the season you are in will pass all too soon. Don't waste it desiring to be in another season. This season God has ordained for me to enjoy my husband, making a home for him, and sharing God's love with those around me. As Anne Shirley would say, "I want to soak it all in." 


"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1



Monday, November 2, 2015

Sweet November


This month is a collector of memories. Sweet November, you always create the loveliest of moments. You remind me of that beautiful chilly day where I stood under the magnolia trees of that antebellum home and said yes to forever with my best friend. You remind me of hiking the mountains (and those muddy, slippery cliffs) with my new husband in Kauai. You bring to memory that fall that I traveled through New England with my Dad after my graduation that summer and the countless Thanksgivings our family gathered around the table and shared what we were most thankful for that year. Yes, November, you are deliciously sweet.