beloved weekly shares {39/52}

For the past couple of months, I've been sharing my weekly links on Sundays (for the most part.) If you're quick, you'll notice that a) it's not Sunday, and b) the title for these has changed. Nonetheless, here are some favorite reads and posts from this past week! I especially love the very last one from Sarah Bessey. I just keep thinking about it, so definitely don't skip that one. 

{ the small things blog }
I love this makeup look. Fresh, clean, simple. Also, how stunning is Kate Bryan? Love her. 

{ under the sycamore }
Are you a hummingbird or a buzzard? I know that sounds like a strange question, but just go with it. 

{ emily p freeman }
I just started this book, Simply Tuesday, by Emily Freeman. It's an invitation to slow down and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Really liking it so far.

{ one little momma }
Who knew clogs could be this cute? Are clogs back? Is this a thing? So many questions. 

{ sarah bessey }
How many of our stories do we censor so we don't make others uncomfortable, or to make ourselves feel better? This is my top read for the week - don't miss it!

As always, thanks for reading. I hope this week is on track to be a great one for you!

Also, I have to include a picture of Aven. If not I will receive a snarky text from my mom, and since she reads everything I write, I figure I owe her. Here ya go, mom. :)

This is Aven's first hole-in-one. Little cheater.

sunshine & rainbows

I saw this play on a famous quote written on an Urban Outfitters mug, and I catch myself repeating it constantly. "It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but a good amount of it actually is." Please don't be concerned that I get my inspiration from places such as Urban Outfitters. I will explain. (The mug is sold out or I would link up to it...and also buy it for myself.) 

So many applications for this, but motherhood may be the most fitting of all. 

A good amount of motherhood ACTUALLY IS glorious. That's the secret sauce in this parenting concoction, I've decided. I mean, why else would we sign up for this more than once? So much of it is utter chaos and madness and just....insanity. Some of the phrases that exit my mouth are at minimum - ridiculous. "Aven, honey, we do not high five the dog in the face." And let's be honest, a good amount of it is also just really, really tough. 

BUT THEN. 

In the midst of an overcast day, we catch a glimpse of sunshine that manages to radiate through the gloom and mundane. The sunshine is blinding it's so bright. It comes in the form of a gummy baby giggle. Or witnessing their first unsure steps. Or the first unsolicited "I yuh you mommy." (Actually that last one is definitely a rainbow in my mind. A giant, coloful, unforgettable rainbow.)  These moments - the rays of sunshine and rainbow prisms - shine so brightly, they warm our faces and reflect on our skin and pierce to the depths of our mama hearts. They tuck themselves away to be drawn upon later - a balm for the weary mom's soul, a sweet memory for reflection at the end of a demanding day, a catalyst to the energy we need to survive the all-nighters. So powerful is this light in our world that it pushes out the dark that has come before and repaints the scene in vibrant color.

If today has been arduous or exhausting or marginally insane for you, just wait for it. Your sunshine is coming. The rainbow is forming. Sometimes the light finds you, and sometimes you have to chase it. Either way, what we find in those bright moments is the promise that mothering is good and important work. HARD work, but SIGNIFICANT. So, so significant. 

And worth every cloudy day. The light always wins. 

weekly links: 38/52

I look forward to putting together my favorite finds and reads each week for you, since it's basically an excuse to read all of my favorite blogs and talk about them. Really, I could do that all day every day. I'm not sure what's going on this week, but I'm coming up a little empty-handed. Some weeks there is just less content that I think "Ooh! I want to share that!" and I never want to link up to something that I'm not excited about. So until next week, here are some of my favorite Instagram feeds to follow:

{ kelly jensen }
Mama to five, she takes Sunday pictures with her entire crew. I also just like to hear some of her views on parenting and letting them be little. 

{ jess connolly } 
I mentioned her in a previous favorites post, but really - she is so inspiring and has a heart for women growing closer to God. I am SO excited to hear her speak at Allume conference next month!

{ the nester } 
Myquillyn is one of my favorite home design experts. She is all about making the most of what you have, and her motto is "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" - YES.

{ kelle hampton }
I read her book Bloom when it first came out and have been following her social media ever since. She is an artist of words and her three littles are as cute as they come. 

{ the gray gang }
She is a mom I admire - so different from me in a lot of ways, but I think we have the same heartbeat when it comes to our children. A really gifted writer. 

{ meg legs }
I just love her style. There are a couple of her outfits I would wear every.single.day, no shame.  

{ kelli m campbell } 
She gives me a daily dose of Hawaii, where she lives - be jealous. 

{ angie smith }
She's wordy but that's one of the things I like most about her. She puts into words what I cannot. 


And just because, here's this face, grabbed from my own instagram:

Happy Sunday! I hope this is an amazing week for you. 

weekly links: 37/52

So, I completely missed a week of favorites. It was bound to happen. I feel certain you'll survive, so we're just picking up with my favorite reads and such from over the past couple weeks. 

{ the lively show }
I'll start with this because it's just so random...but do you guys listen to podcasts? My mom likes to listen to them and has sent a few my way that I'm now hooked on. I've started listening to them while driving or doing dishes. I don't even remember how I found this particular podcast, but it's an interview with John & Sherry, the insanely successful bloggers behind Young House Love. So interesting hearing why they stepped away from blogging and how their lives have changed. 

{ incourage }
This is my favorite read from the week, hands down. A beautiful illustration of how the Father loves us, even when we are doubtful and unsure. 

{ uptown with elly brown }
How cute is this Mama Bear baseball tee?

{ jess connolly }
She is one of the most inspired women I read on a regular basis - if you aren't following her on Instagram, you are seriously missing out. This post is a new way to combat envy and discontent.

{ little baby garvin } 
Although this isn't from the past two weeks, I just happened upon it and am in love with this sweet mermaid-inspired nursery. 

{ night owl blog }
The kitchen and I are not exactly friends. I manage enough that my family doesn't go hungry, but I really wish I was one of those people who was good at it and enjoyed it. All that said, this honey BBQ wings recipe sounds like something I can tackle!

Monday is coming! Make it a good one. Let's not just live for the weekends.

when church is hard.

This post has been sitting in the draft section for weeks. I initially wrote it for myself, my way of processing. Typically the things I'm most reluctant to post are the ones that God urges me to share, so here we are. 

It's true; church has been a foundational part of my entire life. But church has not always been a safe place for me. I've seen people ostracized. I've been spectator to the precarious placement of leaders onto pedestals and then of course, the fall. I've felt like an outsider, ignored by the clique of girls in class on more than one occasion. Some of the least Christlike actions and attitudes I've witnessed have been on display underneath a cross. Sometimes church is hard. As a believer who wants people to feel drawn to and welcomed in to the church, those are really difficult things to admit. 

For a long time, "church-goer" would be my claim to faith, emphasis on the building where we went to learn about Christ. Only later in my twenties did I grasp on a personal level that the church isn't a "what" or a "where" but a "who." It's a people that I can be part of where my faith is strengthened and we can collectively brag on our God. 

One day after visiting nearly all the churches in a twenty-mile radius of my home (or something like that) we happened into a completely unique church. These were not perfect people, no. But authentic and genuine? Yes. Striving to make a difference and show the love of Christ as a united body? Yes. 

All of those failed church visits had at least taught me one thing - how to spot the real deal among an alarming number of counterfeits.

Our new church home became the catalyst of my real faith journey. It's where I learned what it truly meant to follow Christ and where I found genuine community - this body of people has loved me and my man and my baby so well. 

weekly links: 35/52

Hi friends! 

Wow, I am behind this week! I recently added something else to my plate....(assistant to a photographer who I LOVE)...so needless to say, my days are very full right now. If you don't know me personally or haven't been reading my blog long, I am mom to 18-month old Aven, and a part-time Registered Sonographer in addition to writing all my words here. :)

So on with today's words!

I'm sharing my favorite reads from last week (week 35/52). There are only four links this week because SEE FIRST PARAGRAPH. :)

{ the nester }
SIMPLE party decor, and using what you have to create a fun atmosphere for guests. 

{ mommy's me time }
I'm not there yet, but I'm feeling for all you mamas sending babies off to school.

{ magnolia homes }
I have loved these old ladder displays for a long time, and I think it's finally time my husband make me one. :) 

{ kate conner }

Finding your "people up close."

Thanks for hanging with me while I learn how to juggle my time, and for giving me this space to write. I am so grateful.