Hope

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.” - Anne Lamott

If you are going through hard things, in a tough season, feeling hopeless, raw, or exhausted, this is for you. 

You are not alone friend, and we're in this together.

XO,

Happy Earth Day

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend enjoying this lovely planet of ours!

XO,

Courage = Confidence

Have you ever taken on a project that required every ounce of your courage to see it through? 

Something you know was meant for you, and would help you grow, but darn-it if it didn't scare the crap out of you?

I spent the past two Saturdays working on my scare-the-crap-out-of-you project in the most beautiful space full of light and nature...

and I discovered that when you decide to use up every ounce of courage available to you, it looks a lot like confidence.

It may look on the outside like you have it all together, but inside you are holding on for dear life.

But when you don't give up, and decide to hold all of your scared parts together, magical things can happen. 

Like this cutie patootie snail.

I also learned that you can turn a daisy into an echinacea flower with a simple addition of purple and brown.

So the next time a project comes up that scares you, remember that you don't have to be 100% confident, you just need to gather up all of your courage. 

I promise it will work!

XO,

{making the most of the morning}

Slept through my early alarm this morning and I really could have let it throw off my entire day. But since I wasn't able to get my shower before the boys went to school, I took a walk and discovered all sorts of beauty including this fuzzy guy... 

I discovered one on my last walk too. I think I've found a new morning walk goal!

Our neighborhood is so lovely in the morning sun, and it is filled with all sorts of intricate mushrooms right now. I find them so intriguing! I want to study every little detail.  

Thankful for the ability to be flexible and see opportunity instead of frustration this morning. My hope is that you can do the same!

XO,

{getting unstuck}

I felt stuck this morning. Kind of like I was in the same fog as our backyard this morning.

I was struggling with my drawing. Having a hard time feeling relaxed. Being annoyed with myself for feeling stuck. You know that cycle, right?

So I forced myself to take a walk. And just like I thought...it loosened up all of that yuck that was bogging me down. 

Here are a few bits of my walk including a new friend who I bet is going to turn into something even more beautiful soon...

What is your favorite "get myself unstuck" activity?

By the way I even pulled weeds this morning and enjoyed it. This sabbatical is doing weeeeird things to me! 

XO,

{shoes and morning fog}

I have a favorite spot in our local park that I intentionally drive by as often as possible.

This morning it was looking particularly ethereal, with the crisp morning air creating wisps of fog where it met the water. 

Contemplative is a word that describes me on any ordinary day, but the past few days I have been feeling stretched thinner than usual by worries both near to my heart and those of strangers, and finding a way to take what I define as personal flaws and showcasing them at the front of my mind. Giving them tiaras and trophies like they deserve to be applauded. 

Last night I picked up my devotional (Savor by Shauna Niequist) and the day's passage was about grace. How fitting.

"Grace isn't about having a second chance; grace is having so many chances tha tyou could use them through all eternity and never come up empty. Its when you finally realize that the other shoe isn't going to drop, ever. Grace is an even better gift...its forgiveness without forgetting, which is much sweeter than amnesia." 

Amen. 

Forgetting isn't really possible So let's do our best to forgive, and be thankful for shoes and morning fog. 


XO,

{new in the shop}

I'm beyond excited to announce that I'm now offering notecards in the shop!

While sitting in my parent's garden one breezy summer evening, I was inspired to draw the salvia blooming next to my chair. That doodle was the inspiration for the Backyard Garden Collection. 

This collection is available as a set of four notecards, or four prints in a choice of two sizes.

Everyone loves receiving a hand written note in the mail, and these notecards offer lots of lovely white space inside to jot down happy thoughts.

And the prints will make a lovely gallery collection above a sofa or bed.

Hope you love them as much as I do!

XO,

{hello friday}

Hello Friday! So happy to see you. {smile}

Hello my big 5 year old boys who rocked their annual check-up...

I know...this it total blackmail material for when they are 15 and have their girlfriend over. 

Hello to a new phone that I'm loooving...

And a new cover on its way to me...an owl of course...

Hello to cleaning out my closet...

You can check out what I'm selling over at @thisgirls_closet!

Hello to enjoying nature...

We have two squirrels that have become "pets" of sorts...the boys named them Bob and Jerry. We've been feeding them all sorts of random snacks. The winners so far have been slider buns, pretzels and apple peels. I kinda sorta love that the boys enjoy the squirrels since I have a bit of an obsession with them. :)

What are you saying hello to today?

Linking up with...

{the best part of life}

You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence, 

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 

 -Psalm 16:11

I've walked this path for many years. It is on the college campus where I work. It winds through a beautiful backdrop of old trees and criss-crossing sidewalks. Along the path, there is an large tree swing made out of weathered wood planks, freshly painted white adirondack chairs for students to sit and study, and squirrels scurrying around searching for their next meal.

I especially love walking through the shadows stenciled onto the pavement by the dancing leaves. 

The path I use to deliver mail or visit the bookstore, now has a whole new meaning. I walk along it, sometimes taking shortcuts through the grass to the next piece of concrete, until I get to the other side of campus, where my boys are attending preschool. 

I feel blessed to have them so close to me during the day. 

This vast plot of God's creation being the only thing that separates us.

And for the opportunity to slow down after a long work day,
to appreciate the beauty of nature,
and anticipate the treasures that are waiting for me at the end of my journey.

Eternal pleasures indeed.

 

{patio face-lift update}

A few weeks {or has it been months?} back I told you all about a little face-lift I had in the works for our patio. Here is my original post where I showed you the before of the space...

And my inspiration board including some great pillows I scored on sale from Kohl's...

I'm happy to report that the pillows looks great! I was worried that the colors wouldn't all go together but they are perfect. We haven't gotten around to buying an outdoor rug, and definitely won't this year, but just the pop of color from the pillows and some flowers on the table go a LONG way.

Here are a few updated photos!

I still can't believe that IKEA sells this solid wood set for $100. For all four pieces! Crazy.

We've been enjoying some relaxing meals out here with the boys and our extended family.

And I've even managed to keep these flowers alive for a month! Now THAT is crazy. ;)

Now that the weather is cooling down, I love to sit out here with a cup of coffee and listen to nature. I'm especially looking forward to fall evenings and adding some autumn touches to the table! Wanna come over for a coffee date? ;)