Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Slow Day





























Donuts
Coloring Books
Leaves dipped in wax saved from last Fall
Fall Scrabble - just see how many Fall themed words you can come up with!
Pumpkin Cookies

Monday, September 28, 2015

Fall Mantel


Just a few simple changes to welcome Fall!

- leaves dipped in wax from last Fall
- printable on mini clipboard



Tell me what you've done for Fall so far!

Friday, September 25, 2015

Simple Weekend Beauty


Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Being a Student


Lately, I have been really craving time in God's Word. Time spent in study. My first thought is to feel guilty that I am not in a Bible Study and haven't been for a few years. But then I think about my life - raising three busy children, home educating them, managing the home God has provided for us and all that entails, serving, loving on and having friendships with others.

Then perhaps I might think that I could look on Amazon and find a great study and order that. But, then God reminds me that I don't need to be in a Bible Study to study my Bible. He gently nudges me with the truth that all I need to study His Word is the desire to crack open the Bible and a soft teachable heart to learn.

So grateful that this is something I can do right in my home and even in the midst of crazy. Please know that I am not discouraging participation in Bible Study outside of your home!!!! In fact I might be a teeny bit jealous.

Right now, my job is to be the one doing the investing in the three souls entrusted to my care. I need to be fed regularly by my own personal study and listening at church with an open heart. And when I find myself with a few minutes, I want to pull out a journal and my Bible and just read and listen.

How do you really dig in to studying the Bible?

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Slow Day





This Slow Day was so slow I only took a few photos :) How are you slowing lately?

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Quietly You


Every so often I have this desire to really quiet my life. I know, I know - you hear it all the time in my slow mantra. But this is different. It is more of a withdrawing into small-ness, letting the world go by without noticing, just doing what we were created to do quietly.

Our world now is so noisy. And sometimes it might feel hard to be heard when your platform is of such emphasis and so many are climbing up on their own platforms also. I've never seen this space as a platform, but more of as a table of offering.

Me being me, offering it to God. Sharing and processing and creating.



When we had our quiet long weekend, I was reminded that I will continue to write and study and take pictures and create beauty and serve my family lovely meals whether I take pictures of them or not, whether I can share my beauty with others or not. We had an amazing fajita fiesta for David's birthday {thank you, PW!} and I resisted the urge to take a photo and post it to Instagram. I just wanted to quietly be me in that moment.

You've heard the thought - find that thing you are willing to do for free and do it! When we find that thing {or more than one thing} it usually makes us so alive, so ourselves that we would do it no matter what. We can't help it.

That is right where God is. He made us, He designed us and for a lovely purpose - to bring Him glory!

We are still serving as a family, but I'm not going to keep making a list here about what we did because it feels like putting it on display. Even though that is not my motive, my motive is to encourage and inspire you with ideas to serve as a family, yet I want to be careful not to give that impression. Just to quietly do what we know we are called to do. Quietly serve those around us.



I am always writing, I fill journals and type huge Word documents and write on any scrap of paper or receipt I can find in my purse. I can't help it. It is part of me and it is something I will continue doing in an honest response to being the me God created.

It seems to be hitting me at home too - I'm wanting to quiet spaces by removing a layer and just enjoying a simpler version. Not sure where to start on that one yet, but am looking for opportunity.

This post went a different direction than I thought it would - and is sort of all over the place. But, here it is - a quiet offering of me being me and praying it glorifies God.

What is that thing you would do for free? If nobody saw or noticed? What is it that makes you feel most yourself?

*Photos: ordinary quiet from our house lately*

Monday, September 21, 2015

Lean In


For the past few weeks, I've consistently had one hymn stuck in my head. It comes seemingly out of nowhere and takes up residence and I sing it over and over throughout my days.

Come, Thou fount of every blessing...

I've enjoyed looking up and listening to various versions - here are a few favorites if you want to listen too:

Sarah Noelle
Sufjan Stevens
David Crowder
Chris Rice
All Sons & Daughters

And, then this on She Reads Truth: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

When there is a consistent thought on my heart like this, I long to know why it is there. Lord, I am listening - what do You want to say to me? How do I take this message and make it mine? What do You want me to do with it?

It's a tricky balance, this wanting to lean in to what God is laying on the heart and not going overboard. And, overthinking is one of my trademarks.

For now, I am listening. And singing!

Do you have a song stuck in your head/heart lately?

Friday, September 18, 2015

Slow Fall Weekend



Our recent long weekend started with lots of gray weather and rain, I started a batch of Homemade Apple Cider and, as you can imagine, our house smelled amazing! These were the only pictures I took the entire weekend. We celebrated David's birthday, stayed home a lot, watched a movie, I read a book and did a little thrifting.

It was ordinary and slow. It was glorious not to have a big agenda! We ate cereal for breakfast and leftovers for lunch, inspiration struck for some updates I've been wanting to make to the girls room! It was not overly productive or life-changing but we were ourselves and together and that is such a gift, my friends!

To be able to be completely yourself, and at rest in that, alongside your loved ones - a gift indeed!

What are your favorite things to do on a day when you have more flexibility and freedom from your regular schedule?



Thursday, September 17, 2015

Slow Snips