{someday cottage}

 as i sit here on this may morning, nickle creek playing, i am day dreaming of a porch, the creak of the screen door as i walk outside.  the cool air caresses my face as the wind gently blows.  i dream of a rocking chair with a steaming cup of coffee.  back and forth.  back and forth.  here there are no cares in the world. the birds' song fills my ears with delight.  they sing to one another.  the crickets, the tree frogs, all that's alive in nature joins in with the cottage song.  as i sit alone with my thoughts, i relish in the peace of the moment. the smell of the earth blows by and i breathe it in full.  breathing in and out, allowing the air to completely fill my lungs, reminding me i'm alive... it's a little slice of heaven.

the sheets are white and crisp in this cottage and the beds are many. life lives here. family and friends are welcome and many come.  they're happily invited to enjoy and experience the wilderness that surrounds.  the lovely creation that captivates. 

love is found in this cottage.  

there's laughter, yet sometimes tears, as life is experienced, discussed, and lived.  there are children playing here. in the tall grass.  the unseen creek.  the girls giggle with laughter and the sound of their joy is intoxicating. the boys explore in search of all the wild animals and the many, many adventures they can find.  

the bright warm sun shines in the windows by day and the stars and moon by night. when day has gone there is a warm fire burning in the fireplace. smoke slowly rises from the chimney.  chatter fills the kitchen as a delicious dinner is prepared with love and care.  games are played, words are exchanged... love is found in this cottage.  

the floor boards are worn from the many feet that have walked across them and they creak as they go.  the character of this cottage is pure joy.  if the walls could talk, oh the stories they could tell of the life that's been shared here.  stories of family, of romance, of babies snuggled, of friendship.  stories that are so full of life they overflow and become part of this cottage.

love is found in this cottage.

this is the cottage i'm dreaming of...

 

 (this beautiful painting is by katie daisy which you can buy here.  she inspires me.)

{happy.day.dreaming}

aw

{can you spare $1? :: the elders' african adoption}

meet my beautiful friend wynne elder.

i had the pleasure of meeting wynne in dallas, tx in 2010 at the love affair photography workshop.  wynne is one of the most fun, loving beautiful souls i've met.  she's a photographer, Jesus lover, loves all things camp, and she has a heart for africa and orphans that is SO inspiring!!  i would be lying if i said i wasn't jealous of the fact that she went to africa 3 TIMES last year. i digress...  ;)

when i think of people that leak Jesus to all those around her, wynne is definitely on that list.  joy simply flows from her being.

wynne and her husband have decided to adopt their first child from africa, who they've already named camp elder after their love of camp, and we have a chance to help!  

let's face it...  the reality is that the cost of adoption is very expensive and not everyone is called to it, but why not help out the ones who do feel called and are willing to say "yes"???
 
give1save1 is an organization that's set up simply to help with the cost of adoption.  it's easy.  every week they're sponsoring a family and you give a $1 ... YES JUST ONE (OR 10:) ...to bless their socks off and help with their adoption.  how easy is that?  it's life giving folks!

take look at the elder's story and please take the time to give $1 this week

it's our way to do what james 1:27 calls pure religion

{religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, 

and to keep oneself unstained from the world. james 1:27}

{GIVE TODAY BY CLICKING HERE}

{aw}

{instagramage :: summer 2011 wrap up}

 summer is coming to a close folks and we've got hurricanes and earthquakes to escort it out!  i'm excited because hot is not even the way to describe what this summer has been here in NC... more like sweltering!  i'm ready for fall and for a new season in this life, in more ways than one.  i don't want to wish the time away so today i'm taking the time to look back over the great times i've captured via instagram this summer and cultivating gratitude for all the amazing blessings in my life!

: kayaking and picnicking on beech mountain : many dinners with friends : snugly puppies  :

: beautiful summer skies : crafty craftiness : rediscovering pencils and graph paper :

: coffee mornings in my kitchen : music that sings to my soul and sunsets that do the same :

 

: golden tans and hippie sun dresses : banana chocolate pancakes on saturday mornings :

: coffee : virginia creeper trail with the whole fam : goodies from anthropologie sales : 

: seeing my work in print : fun treats from etsy : nights out in NoDa : clouds and storms :

 : lots o' spray paint : movies in the park : flowers from friends who care :

: Truth, Truth, and more Truth that my heart REALLY needed to hear and believe :

: red, red wine : new chacos : radtastic parental units : and so much more!! :

thanks summer 2011!  you were an interesting, yet blessed one for sure!

dear fall, 

all i have is one challenge for you.  

{BRING IT}

i double dog dare you...

aw

{cute + trouble + a side of hilarious}

i miss this kiddo. 

after spending last week with her in the mountains, i realized that the character traits that can drive you absolutely bananas in a 3 year old, will be her greatest traits one day... or her biggest challenge.  that child is stu-born!  regardless i'm blessed to be her aunt.  can't wait to see this little peanut develop into the beautiful little gem God has created her to be... until then i'll pray for patience and love for this little nugget.  i miss her.

{sista.love}

a few photos.

via 6 year old niece #1

do we look alike or what??  twins?  nope.  8 years apart? ... yep.

aw

{welcome.to.vacation :: 2011}

i'm currently on vacation.  a whole week of it.  amen and amen.

we tend to joke in our family whenever we go on vacations that "the griswolds are on vacation again"  whether it's "the griswolds go to the beach" or wherever, we always have a goofy, good time.  we're into day 3 and life is good.

happy father's day!

 {happy.monday}

aw

{camp.tiny ::: for all you mommies out there!!}

hey hot mamas!  i know that summer is just beginning, the kiddos are home for a few months, and i can't help but sharing this awesome tool with you for you and your "tinys" this summer

camptiny.blogspot.com

what better than to have a tool to help you train up your tinys in the way they should go this summer.  a new friend of mine developed this AWESOME site just for this!  and YES, she designed it all too!  {swoon}  here are the deets (aka details) of how camp tiny works and also a few samples from the activity pages of the week.  i love the fun artwork and letters for your tinys to learn and color!

and don't forget to "like" {camp.tiny} on facebook by clicking here. 

there are some mamas out there already participating and posting how it's going with pictures too!

{happy.camp.tinying}

aw

{easter.2011}

{Beech.Mountain.Ski.Weekend} FEB:2011

{winter.wonderland}

woah.  i haven't blogged in 10 days.  what's up with that?!?  well... i'll show you.

last week snowmaggedon hit the south and i watched it for almost 4 days from the comfort of my parents living room.  yep... purposefully snowed in there...  with really good comfort food, a warm fire place, snuggling puppies, good books, yumtastic coffee, & just quiet, quiet times... and views like these...

and for these red birds in the snowy tress...  can you see him?

 where's waldo?... i mean the red bird. 

 and then i followed him into the kitchen... or at least this was my view from my mom's kitchen window while she cooked.  just look at all those cute birdies.  they were flocking to mom's feeders.

well hello mrs. red bird.

 ...and you're cute too little guy.

 then snowmagedon turned our little world into an icy wonderland.

with blue skies & sunshine

 and on day 4 of totally keeping to ourselves inside...i ventured out. 

 and found my car to be on big fat icicle... but the light.  ohhh the light!

 magical.  just magical...

 glorious.

 so yeah... that's where i've been.  frozen... and i like it that way.  

but wait... i'm headed to Africa in 2 days.

yikes.

goodbye frozen wonderland!!!

hello uganda and 80 degrees!

{aw}