A Time For Everything {A Blog Break}

Are you ready for a long post?

It's my last for a few months,

so I'm going all out with the photos and links...
enough to keep you busy while I'm away!

First, a little wisdom.

In the last year of living again,
there really has been a time for everything.

A time to take a break . . . 

. . . and a time to make some decisions.

A time to dance in the kitchen . . . 

. . . and a time to just be.


A time to celebrate . . .

. . . and a time to give thanks.

A time to be broken . . .

. . . and a time to sing.

A time to be silly . . .

. . . and a time to face my fear.

A time to talk about the way we eat . . . 

. . . and a time to plant a garden.

A time to hit the road . . . 

. . . and a time to come home.

A time to visit Maine . . . 

. . . and a time to read good books.

 

A time to switch things around . . . 

. . . and a time to style my shelves.

A time to admire my girls . . . 

. . . and a time to let them go.

A time to be a homemama . . .

. . . and a time to work with all my heart!

Now is the time to design custom Christmas cards for the most amazing clients. I absolutely love what I do! I get to put my love of words, paper, fonts, photography and beauty to work in a meaningful and personal way that blesses others! What a privilege!

 

My 8th season designing custom cards.

Can you believe I get to do this?

I love it!

As I shift into my busy season, I've wondered how to be both busy and balanced. The Lord keeps whispering a gentle refrain: "Trust me with your time." {Psalm 31:15} It sounds so simple...until it requires something sacrificial. Really, Lord? You want me to let go of THAT?

It's time to take a break from the blog.

I love this little blog space. I love the friends I've made {I enjoyed breakfast with one of them today!}, I love the writing, I love the photography and I'm crazy about sharing beauty and inspiration...but it's time to lay it down so that I can pour my creative energy into cards. {Speaking of laying things down, I love this song!}

Deep breath.
Lord...I trust You with my time.

Christmas cards are my passion, but the season is intense. There will be afternoons when my girls have to fend for themselves, nights when my husband has to go to bed without me by his side and moments when I need all hands on deck to help me in my studio.

My sweet family enters this season with a willingness to give me up...because they love seeing the God-given passion and creativity flow through me. I am so blessed to have their full support!

{I love you, sweet family!}

At the end of the day, I want my family to know that I've used my time well...that I've been honest and intentional with my computer time. And on the nights when I have to return to my studio after dinner, I want them to know I'm doing the work God has given, not bouncing around in blogland. Looks like no more late-night blogging in the bathroom for awhile! Tee! Hee!

I'm no super woman, but maybe

giving up my blog will give me a little extra time

to keep up with the little things...like the advent calendar!

When I told my girls I was giving up the blog, they said, "Oh, Mama! I hope not forever!" Sweet girls, they are my biggest fans. I love that my family knows the real me, yet they still love to find out more about me through my writing and photography here on the blog.

If the family blesses and the Lord inspires, I'll be back to blogging after Christmas. In the mean time, I will miss you, sweet blog friends!!! Thank you for making me feel so blessed and loved here in this little place.

 

The blog world is filled with so many amazing, inspiring, sincere women! {I hope some of them will leave comments below so that you can know who they are and go visit them!} Many of you have reached out and become true friends...a most unexpected gift in this online world!

I wish you all a fabulous fall and hope we'll stay in touch. If you miss me too much while I'm gone {wink!}, you can always send me an email! I'd love to hear from you! Remember: people are ALWAYS worth my time!

Here's to a new season!

Hugs and love,

P.S. If you depend on my blog for card announcements or Open House updates, you won't find that here this season. Please send me an email and I'll add you to my email list.

P.P.S. If you're wondering how to know when I'm back to blogging, you can always subscribe via email at the top right side of my blog {then unsubscribe in the future if you'd like}.

P.P.P.S. I've already thought of a dozen inspirations I wish I had shared before making this decision. It's so hard not to want to share! Do you think I can do this??? Lord, I trust you with my time. Now just help me have some Pinterest discipline, too!

P.P.P.P.S. How's that for the longest post ever?!?! Au revoir, mes amis!

Remembering...

{source unknown}

Ten years later, I'm remembering 9/11 in light of a promise: what man intended for evil, God will use for good {Genesis 50:20}.

Trusting in His goodness,

P.S. For those who are still suffering or struggling to see any good, you are on my heart today. May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you...and give you peace. {Numbers 6:24-26}

My Little Garden Featured on Pinterest

Just popping in to say...

look what the Pinterest team featured on the their blog today:

{Image via the Pinterest blog.}

That's my little wine box garden in the number two spot! I had no idea! Good thing I have friends who keep me in the loop! My friend Jenny says I'm famous now! Ha! Ha! I'm not looking for fame, but it sure makes me happy when people feel inspired.

Speaking of famous, Allison Parker is for real famous! Her photograph of our family landed on the front cover of a national magazine!

{You can read more here.}

I loved this photo so much that I used it for our Christmas card, but a magazine cover? Wow! Congratulations, Allison! Anyone creative and crazy enough to haul an Anthrolologie sofa out to the country for some wildflower shots deserves some serious recognition!

Wishing you lots of inspiration today, sweet friends!
xo,

P.S. If the Pinterest Team could see my garden now! Nada. The Texas drought and heat has taken its toll. Speaking of the drought, I'm praying for the people in the path of all these wildfires. We can see and smell the smoke here in Houston, but I can't imagine being in the fire's path. Lord, please, please send some rain.

Time With Friends

We've just returned from one of our favorite Labor Day weekend traditions: visiting our dear friends and their five beautiful girls!

We're never ready to say goodbye {or to face the Labor Day traffic}, but we're always thankful for time well spent with this precious family. Our girls have known each other their whole lives. It's so sweet to see them reunite each year as if no time has passed.

{2006}
See my little Laura Finley on the left? I'm laughing now,

but those were hard days. This was her typical look before

we changed the way we eat. Now she sparkles and shines!

{2008}

{2010}

Hallie with her same age friend...
though she loves them all like sisters!

{10 years old in 2011.}


{5 years old in 2006.}

Laura Finley and her twin friends:

{You should see these girls play dolls!}

And the same trio in 2006...

Seems like yesterday!

When we got home, Laura Finley cried big, heartfelt tears because she wasn't going to wake up the next day with her "best, best friends." She says they understand her better than anyone else {they get her imagination and love of dolls}. Isn't that the sweetest thing...to feel understood by a friend at such a young age?

I don't blame her one bit for crying. I told her friends are worth our tears because they last for eternity {unlike toys, clothes, dessert, getting our way...all temporary things not worth our tears}.

The mama of these girls we love so much is one of my favorite people on earth. During my low points at Vanderbilt, she loved me well. And you know what? I'd go through a rough patch again in a heartbeat just to come through it with her as my friend! {I love how the Lord doesn't waste anything...especially our sufferings.}

I'm so thankful for the ways God has deepened our friendship over the years. And now...to see our girls enjoy such sweet friendship is a blessing sweeter than any I could've imagined!

Friends are definitely worth our time!

Hugs and love,