Quiet Voice

This business of fighting for your dreams and trying to write about it isn't for the faint of heart! I'm beginning to think I need an embedded reporter! As much as I'd love to write from the "front lines" as we chase our dream, the reality is it's hard to write and fight at the same time.

The small post I did manage to write this morning has disappeared, and I'm too tired to try again. {It was about blessing the name of the Lord in the midst of sufferings.} Oh, well. Perhaps I should honor my quiet voice today.

{source}

Before I go, I want to thank you again for your encouraging comments and emails. I haven't been able to reply all of them, but I want you to know that your words have strengthened my spirit! They were just what I needed this week!

Happy weekend, sweet friends!

Fighting For Your Dreams

Dear friends, I can't thank you enough for all of your excitement and encouragement in response to the big news. It means the world to me right now. On the days when I feel overwhelmed with emotion, fear and even criticism for doing something so crazy, your sweet words cheer my heart and remind me that what we're doing is REALLY AMAZING!

I'm honored that people I don't even know are inspired by our dream. Today, the talented Heather Bullard was so inspired by our dream that she included it in her Friday Favorites. {Heather, I can't wait to order one of your chicken coop designs when we get to Franklin. Talk about dreamy!}

A special thank you to those who've introduced yourselves for the first time! I love you already just for the way you've reached out to encourage me! And a huge thank you to those who've shared Nashville/Franklin connections. Keep them coming! I feel like God really is going before us in this move, and you are the proof!

{Believe has been my word this year;

bought this pillow at Marburger.}

I believe in our family's dream with my whole heart, but some days, I wonder what on earth we're doing. The doubts and fears creep in and I wonder if we can really do this...if we should do this. As the tears flow, I wonder why chasing a dream is so dang hard. And that's when it hit me:

YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS. 

I used to think dreams just landed in your lap and unfolded effortlessly...that if they were meant to be, they'd just happen. But the truth is, there's a whole lot of wrestling that goes on behind the scenes of a big dream...wrestling with yourself {and all your fears}, wrestling with what others think {not everyone will approve}, wrestling with the world {full of obstacles and traps}, and wrestling with what we believe. {Can God really be trusted?}

{Pinned here.}

I'm beginning to believe that the wrestling is as important as the dreaming...that how you fight for the dream is as life-changing as the dream itself. One thing's for sure: chasing a dream can wear you out. That's where I find myself today...absolutely exhasuted. But in some ways, worn out is just where I need to be in order to freely receive all that God has for me. Otherwise, I'm too fearful, distracted, "capable" and proud to acknowledge there's a better way than my way.

How about you? What dream are you fighting for these days? Is there something stirring in your heart that you're afraid to follow? Let me encourage you as you've encouraged me: GO FOR IT! Dream big and fight hard! You're worth it!

{Love this print so much that I had to share it again!}

Happy Friday, sweet friends!

 

Chasing Our Dream {And Moving to Franklin}

My head is spinning, my heart is racing, the rain is pouring...and we're MOVING! We're taking a giant leap of faith and chasing the Franklin Dream. {I still can't believe we're really going for it!}

When I spoke our dream out loud to you a few weeks ago, I had no idea what would come of it. All I knew was that after almost two and half years of dreaming quietly, it felt right to speak up...to trust God out loud.

When you start dreaming, you have no guarantee of how things will turn out in the end. Maybe that's why dreaming always scared me. But this place of not knowing provides a fertile ground for faith and trust to grow. This is the gift and beauty of dreaming, my friends! Trusting God with every step {and trusting that He is good regardless of what happens to the dream} has increased my faith more than anything else in life.

I can't wait to unpack more of the story with you in the months ahead, but for today, I just wanted you to know the big news. I'll close with an email I sent to friends just a few days ago:

Dear Friends,

I'm a predictable, always-the-same kind of girl, so I feel a little out of my element to be the one with big news, but here it is: this summer, our family is taking a huge leap of faith and moving to the small town of Franklin, Tennessee. The news just became "official" today as the last door opened.

Gulp. We're super excited to follow a country dream that's been on our hearts for a couple of years, but leaving those we love and all that is familiar here in Houston won't be easy. (I'm misty-eyed even as I write this.) I'm the girl who said we'd never move...especially with all of our family here, JD's private practice, a home and neighborhood we love and a school we adore.

But dreams are crazy things. And sometimes, the craziest dreams just might come true! After much prayer and countless conversations, we feel a tremendous sense of peace about this crazy dream. The girls are beyond excited (another confirmation for us). We're dreaming of chickens, fresh eggs, a garden, a bunny, a dog...I think I've always been a country girl at heart! And the beautiful thing about Franklin is that you can do all of this just 25 minutes outside of Nashville! Oh, my...and four seasons, live music everywhere (for the two musicians in my family!), rolling hills...don't you think you should come visit?!?!

There are so many stories I could share from the last few years that have pointed us in this direction. Some have been gut-wrenching, some have been joy-filled, but all have been used for good in the end. We're feeling more FREE and submitted to the Lord than we've ever been, and THAT is a blessing!

We'll be in Houston until at least mid-June. Hope to see our Houston friends before we go!

Blessings to you, my friends!

love and hugs,

 

Beauty in the Fields {Marburger}

Lord, what would You have me share today? The most obvious thing on this Good Friday would be to share some Easter Thoughts, yet I find myself itching to share the beauty I captured with my camera at Marburger on Tuesday.

I won't try to spiritualize shopping, but I will say that beauty, whether it's revealed in a sunset or in a field full of antiques, points my heart toward God. I find myself giving thanks for beauty in the most unexpected places!

Are you ready to see some serious beauty in the fields? Enjoy this overflow of inspiration from opening day at Marburger!

{Shades of Grey; turns out, one of these lovely ladies is a blog reader!}

{I bought this one!}

{Lovely styling by Judy at J Hill Designs.}

{J Hill Designs}

{J Hill Designs}

{2 Lucy's; sweetest blog reader ever. Thank you, Tracey, for all

of your sweet words of encouragement about what I share here!}

{2 Lucy's}

{My neighbor bought the Bibles. Aren't they awesome?!?!}

{Kimberly Williams, who you can also find at MAI.}

{You know I had to buy this!}

And to think that there was so much more!

Beauty abounds, my friends!

Happy Easter!

P.S. Did you know there's a new {free!} app that will serve as your Round Top guide? More on that here and here. Thanks for the scoop Gretchen! So nice to meet you in the fields.

P.P.S. I had to shoot fast because of the body-to-body crowds on opening day, so I don't have all the sources. If you know one, please let me know! I'd love to share!