A Purposeful Peek

Love crosses oceans. It doesn't stay in it's own little corner of the world, minding it's own business...even when the world is in turmoil, and fear abounds in hearts everywhere. Today, the love of my life is on a plane home from Africa. He has spent the last week and a half in Mushayamunda Village, Zimbabwe with a team of servant-hearted, courageous people, who went to love and serve in the name of Jesus despite the current state of our world. Plane crashes. Ebola. ISIS. The list could go on and on, and the news reports do nothing to ease the minds of travelers.  In addition to the international threats, there are countless domestic reasons my husband could have stayed home.  A two month old baby and a wife left to be a temporary single parent. A recent move and the uncertainties of unemployment... But he went. Because over 50 years ago, love crossed an ocean. In 1958, a physician in Winston-Salem, NC uprooted his young family from the safety of suburban America a

Today, Charlotte and I attended a baby shower and got to see three of my adorably pregnant friends! Through our conversations about pregnancy, labor, and newborns, I was struck by how beautiful this season is for each of us and how I already look forward to journeying through this cycle of life again someday.   Newborn babies bring fresh hope, inspiration, and beauty to life. You just can't help but smile when you look at them, and suddenly the world seems right... so here are some of my favorite smile-makers from Charlotte's newborn photo session when she was a wee 10 days old...  Photo credits: Holli @ HolliB Photography Motherhood is no joke; the nights are long, and some days are extremely hard. But when I look at these sweet pictures and realize how fleeting this season is, I want to savor every single second!  So, to my beautiful pregnant friends,

Charlotte Ann, You are TWO months old today! Just when we think you can't possibly get any cuter, you continue to fascinate us with your adorable developing personality. In the spirit of this Fall season, we've deemed you our "Little Pumpkin Spice" because your sweet personality definitely has some spice to it! (Not to mention, your hair is the color of all things fall :)   You tend to be very vocal, and you are already very opinionated about everything from how you want to be constantly moving to the way you want your left arm un-swaddled and positioned just so before you will fall asleep.  Speaking of sleep... we have finally turned a corner, hallelujah!  Around week 5, we moved you from sleeping in our room to sleeping in your own room, and you truly sleep better in your crib. You've gone from hour long crying sessions at night, fighting every urge to close your eyes, to now (most nights) being content to put yourself to sleep in your crib after bei

My favorite color is October.  It's the color of seasons changing and new beginnings. It's the color of abundant life and celebration. It's the color of all things vibrant, warm, and cozy.   It's the color of pumpkin spice lattes, boots and scarves, state fairs, football, and family gatherings. It's the color of crisp, sunny days and cozy, cool evenings. I'm so glad I was born in October.  This month, I have been so loved and celebrated by the life-giving relationships of my family and friends.  These people have honored me in the most thoughtful ways as I enter into this new decade of life...  Birthday cake with girlfriends on a Sunday afternoon with the sound of our kids playing in the background. Pizza night with my parents over good conversation. Daddy-daughter brunch date and my first lesson in firearms at the gun range. Shopping date and girls' lunch with my Mom. Romantic Italian dinner with my favorite guy followed by a moonlit walk around