18 February 2011

Some homes inspire me. Usually they’re the ones filled – and overflowing – with love, warmth, and joy. There is a special peacefulness that comes along with those characteristics.

We were able to spend an afternoon at the home of some dear friends. The Mrs. has blessed her home with a style that is warm, inviting, and eclectic. She has combined the cabin-feel that her husband desired with her vintage, rustic touch. And to top it all off, they built the home to have a large line-up of south-facing windows which let in the most beautiful natural lighting.

As I looked around the room and the set table before me, I couldn’t help but pick up my camera and capture just a few of the many frames and compositions that were racing through my mind.

It was a pleasure to capture the small, intentional details of a home filled with not only rich, organic foods, but also the joy that comes with knowing our Savior.

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[20] Comments » | Categories: Food, Handmade, Inspirations, The Home, Vintage

14 February 2011

“…while growing old together.”

For years I have watched these hands serve, comfort, build and embrace. My parents are a shining example in their love for one another and devotion to fulfilling the Lord’s will and glorifying Him in their lives with a Kingdom-driven purpose. I am blessed.

[11] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Family, Inspirations, Life

7 February 2011

Sweet Breezy with the snow letters landing ever-so-abundantly. It was beautiful, peaceful, simple. And yet each little snowflake, each tiny letter of Christ’s love, completely and wonderfully complex.

[Today (and every Monday in 2011, for that matter), you’ll find me here. It’s a new site with six photographers, each capturing life from a different angle… click here to visit Six Angles.]

[18] Comments » | Categories: Family, God's Creation, Inspirations

1 February 2011

It was not until a few weeks ago that I first tasted a clementine – little did I know beforehand how delicious it would be! They are a variation of the mandarin orange and similar to a tangerine.

But out of all the citrus fruits, clementines are now my favorite.

Interesting facts: And as a girl’s name, Clementine (Latin) means merciful, mild, gentle. Clementine was the name my great-great-great grandmother went by (it was her middle name), as well as the name of Winston Churchill’s wife.

[27] Comments » | Categories: Food, Life

31 January 2011

[19] Comments » | Categories: Family, Life, Vintage

29 January 2011

[My dear sister on her birthday.]

[9] Comments » | Categories: Family, Food

27 January 2011

…a little girl was born.

Time has flown by since my parents welcomed Breezy into the family. Little did they know then, while holding a precious daughter in their arms, how much would happen in their lives over the next two decades.

None of you can truly understand how thankful I am to the Lord for my sister, Breezy, who has been such a rich source of encouragement, conviction, and inspiration throughout my life.

I pray the Lord blesses you, dearest Breezy, in the coming year with strength and inspiration to persevere with excellence in all that He places before you! I admonish you to fear the Lord, love His law, and keep His commandments in everything you do.

[You can head over to her blog
to give her birthday greetings!]

May this birthday be filled with joy and delight!

I love you, sweet girl! Onward!
Your ever-affectionate sister,

[7] Comments » | Categories: Family

24 January 2011

[29] Comments » | Categories: Food, Inspirations, Life, The Home

18 January 2011

Yes, it is true. The Lord, my great Savior Jesus Christ saved me last month, December 2010.

How thankful and grateful I am for the boldness and humility of a friend in sharing his testimony. The Lord used that in my life as one of the final breaking points of my conversion.

Yes, I did believe myself to be a Christian beforehand. Yet the course of my life I would describe now as three years ignorant; thirteen years in false assurance; a year and a half in miserable uncertainty; and then a day that changed every day, month, and year that would follow.

God showed me through the wonderful passage in Romans 2 that I had spent my life as a “self-seeker,” (Romans 2:8) following me. He showed me my utter brokenness and helplessness before Him. He showed me that my faith up until that time was inadequate—a relying on my own faith and ability to trust, not on the Lord and His strength.

It was painful. But, my friends, “joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Never before had I rejoiced as I did that day. Never before had I understood true peace, true joy, true love. That Someone had laid down His life . . . for me.

Me. The one who is a sinner, the one who was self-seeking, the one who resisted Him.

Undeserving me.

But that, in itself, is one of the beauties of Christ’s love. He takes the weak and makes them strong. He takes the proud and makes them humble. He takes the clay, He molds the clay.

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” —Romans 6:5-7 [emphasis added]

I lay this before your feet, dear ones, desiring the Lord to use my story for His glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom. My pride got in the way from seeing what I truly was. But He changed me.

I beseech you, friends, to work out your salvation with fear and with trembling. (Philippians 2:12-13)

[60] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Family, Life