The Belong Tour

Recently I was contacted about The Belong Tour, a twelve city event brought to you by the creators of Women of Faith. I'm not going to lie, I'm really excited about this! Here's a little video clip sharing what the tour is all about:

  

This tour is bringing together amazing writers, musicians, poets, and friends who aren't afraid to get real and share stories from their own lives, as well as wisdom to teach us how to navigate through our own lives.

I've shared this with you all before, but life can get hectic and challenging. During this last year adding Hannah to our lives has been the best thing, but it's been creating a new normal. There were times when I missed my friends, felt alone, and totally felt at a loss as to how to be the best mom and wife in the midst of everything. Not only that, I had to go back to work and manage that on top of trying to tackle the to-do lists that are ever present. There were many times when I felt like I was running on fumes, and I bet many of you can relate.

That is why I am so excited about The Belong Tour! It's a place that is bringing together women so we can embrace our stories with courage and honor. It's a wide open space where women can share, heal, connect, learn, laugh. It's an opportunity for us to to dive into who we really are at our core, and how we can best become who we were created to be.

A Thousand Splendid Suns- Book Review

Everyone in awhile I read a book that is important, A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of them.  Although fiction, it's depictions of life in Afghanistan during the last sixty years or so historically accurate. 

We follow the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila who are brought together by tragic circumstances and once they meet their lives will never be the same.

This story is both tragic and beautiful. It makes me appreciate the life and freedom I have here in the U.S., as well as helps me understand what happens when greed and power meet and the collateral damage that follows.

If you read only one more book this year, this should be the book. 

Five Minute Scrapbooking Pages

Today I thought I'd share some more of my five minute scrapbook pages. I love scrapbooking and plan to spend a few hours each month staying caught up, but that means my pages need to be done pretty quickly! Here are some current(ish) ones I thought I'd share. Maybe they'll give you some inspiration too!

Pick a picture to focus on- This is one of my favorite pictures! Keeping the rest of the page pretty simple helps keep the focus on the image you love.

Use Me

A few years back I was very inspired by a boy's devotion to God as a teenage. He even preached at a local church with the cry of his heart saying, "Here I am Lord, Use Me." This really stuck with me and inspired me. I worked to make this the cry of my heart too.

Then, I got busy with life. Taking care of the kids, keeping the house clean, spending time with my husband, teaching my students, and trying to fit in my devotional time each day....along with about fifty other things. I forgot my heart's cry. Then just this last week I got an email from a lady who told me I had written exactly what she needed to hear. She wasn't even sure how she'd come across the blog post, but it was like it was written to her. I was so humbled.  I had forgotten that God could use me right where I was, and in the busyness of life, just like he can use you too!

I believe God purposely brings people in and out of our lives for a reason, sometimes we are the teachers and sometime we are the ones who are being taught. Maybe it's our kids, our co-workers, that lady behind us in line at Target, or someone reading something we've written on social media, whoever it is, interactions aren't accidental.

God has given me this platform for a reason, and I shouldn't take it lightly, just as He is giving you opportunities each day to impact the people around you too.  It can be easy to second guess our value, but if no one else, we are who God is using to speak to our kids. I was recently having a conversations with Grant about the verse, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." I told him that before we talk we should think about if what we say will make us feel good, the other person feel good, and God feel good, if not, we shouldn't say it. That right there was God using me, not only to teach my son, but also to remind myself, because I know I need to think about that just as much as Grant does. ; )

I am grateful for that lady's email and for each of you and I want to encourage you today that God can use you right where you are as well.

I picked up this top at Old Navy on clearance lately, it's out of stock but this is Gap's verison and it is super cute too. The Clare cardigan from J.Crew factory remains my favorite, admittedly, it didn't stay on long, as I got to warm, but I wear these like crazy during the school year and have a half-dozen colors. My wedges are also sold out, but I love these on super sale and totally would have bought them if I didn't get these ones first!

Oh, and my necklace is a teething necklace, I got it on Jane.com and Hannah is a fan. We have the drool and the chewing down, but no teeth yet!

Time Flies

This summer Grant learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He was playing with the neighbors across the street and came home wide eyed to share the big news. After that I had him practice quite a bit, which is easier said than done in a neighborhood full of hills. Then just a few days ago Grant wanted to go the "long way" around our neighborhood on his bike, while I pushed Hannah in the stroller. And he did great! All I could think was how proud I was of him. When he got his bike a few years back he could hardly go the "short way," which was basically around the block with his training wheels. He was scared to death of hills and the idea of gliding as well, so this is a pretty big accomplishment!

While I am so happy for him, at the same all I can think is "slow down time!" It's hard to believe Brian and I known each other for a decade, been married for nearly nine years, Grant is six and Hannah is seven months old. It's all been the blink of an eye. I can tend to constantly be looking forward to the next thing, which really causes me to forget to enjoy today and what's going on now. Yes, being a mom is exhausting, but their is no place I'd rather be than with my family.

As the new school year starts my time with the kids and Brian decreases greatly. I'm really going to be working to spend quality time with them each day. The rush of dinner and cleaning and baths makes the time fly, ends up with me just checking things off my list. I want to work to be present at home, off social media, and remembering how quickly time flies and work to enjoy the time I have with my family now.

I recently scored this top in Old Navy for $5. I love the cute and style. It will easily transition to wearing for school with my white jeans too, which I love. I have a handful of these cardigans from J.Crew Factory. I love the cut and style and they are the perfect laying piece for a tank or over dresses for school. I just ordered one in white too, which I'm looking forward to getting. My old one from Kohls needed to be retired, so it was time to buy. : )

Winter Garden: Book Review

Last week I finished reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, and let me tell you, it was amazing! My first Kristin Hannah book was The Nightingale, one of my favorite books of all time, so I was excited to see this one was finally available at the library.

In this story, Meredith and Nina are sisters, who are now grown, but have tried to earn their mother's love for most of their lives. Their mother, Anja, who is of Russian descent is as hard as stone. She had a life before them, a life full of mystery. It isn't until the girls' father makes the girls promise to get to know their mom before he abruptly dies that their mom's past begins to surface.  

This story is beautifully written and full of mystery. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to find common ground, and this story will take Meredith, Nina, and Anja on a journey of discovery that will change each of them forever.

Thanks!

First off, thanks for all your thoughts on my Norstrom post on Friday, I'm glad I'm not alone! I feel like so much of life is about balance. That doesn't mean everything needs to be equal, but that we spend our time and energy in the right places. When too much is spend in the wrong areas, everything around you suffers. I am so far from perfect, but working to use the time I'm given well. It's so great to hear that so many of you feel the same way. : )

 I wore this one day last week, but plan to wear it for one of our work day's before school start. I love the pattern mixing and jewel tones are my jam!