{nashville}

last month i decided it was time for an adventure so i tagged along with some friends who were running the nashville rock n roll half marathon and headed west for a few days. oh the joys of the open road.  the drive from north carolina to tennessee in the spring is absolutely beautiful.  

the five days away was the perfect getaway in music city.  we took time to explore, stopped by all our favorite little nashville hotspots, explored 12 south, and just enjoyed life.  just look at how beautiful this city by the river is!

 me and my travel buddy haley george (who's photography you need to check out www.haleygeorgephotography.com) stopped by our favorite coffee shop, the frothy monkey, for a little afternoon coffee and workity work.

 and no trip to nashville is complete without a stop at jeni's ... oh my goodness, this stuff is g-double o-d GOOD!  i just had to shove my dairy intolerance aside for the moment to indulge.  worth. it.

 we even spent a little time one afternoon at the ever trendy, barista parlor, where i was able to sit and draw for a spell.  great people watching, fabulous coffee, and sweet time to just create and dream.

 and can we just talk about this lovely wine bar, rumours, in east nashville??  it was a glorious friday night where i just got to sit underneath the spring evening sky and just relax as i had an evening to myself.  this place is located in a beautiful historic home turned restaurant with an amazing back patio.  this is what spring night dreams are made of.

   and then they ran... all 13.1 miles of nashville hills. yeesh.  i posted up at frothey monkey in 12 south all morning after dropping them off and enjoyed watching the runners come through while sipping on my glorious coffee.  i think i picked the right place to be here... running in the bright, early am or a glorious spring morning with coffee... is there even an argument here??!?  once they passed and i headed towards the finish line, i decided it was a good idea to send them selfies as they ran.  for encouragement of course.  yes.  i'm that friend...

our final day was spent attending midtown fellowship in the heart of the city.  what a wonderful service it was.  what a gift to worship with the church regardless of what city i'm in.  truth is the same worldwide.

all in all the timing of this trip was sheer perfection.  after five days in this wonderful city and meeting a handful of really amazing people, my heart was full.  i'm grateful for adventures and hopefully my future will be full with many, many more!

{a friday afternoon drive to my favorite place :: beech mountain}

a little rainy, foggy afternoon drive up to my beloved beech mountain.

worth the drive just for the sunset from the couch...

 it's amazing how quick God's masterpiece can change...

 {happy.weekend.friends}

aw

{music & the rest}

january.22.2012

{he withdrew... to a solitary place} :: matthew 14:13

there is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music.  in the melody of our life, the music is separated here & there by rests.  during those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song.  

God sends us times of forces leisure by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts.  he brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent.  we grieve that our part is mission in the music that continually rises to the ear of our Creator.  yet how does a musician read the rest? he counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidences, as if no pause were ever there.

God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests they are not to be slurred over or omitted, nor used to destroy the melody or to change the key. if we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us. with our eyes on Him, our next note will be full and clear. if we sorrowfully say to ourselves, "there is no music in a rest," let us not forget that the rest is part of the making of the music. the process is often slow and painful in this life, yet how patiently God works to teach us! and how long He waits for us to learn the lesson! ::  john ruskin

{via streams in the desert}

called aside --

from the glad working of your busy life,

from the world's ceaseless stir of care and strife, 

into the shade and stillness by your Heavenly Guide

for a brief time you have been called aside.

called aside --

perhaps into a desert garden dim;

and yet not alone, when you have been with Him,

and heard His voice in sweetest accents say:

"child, will you not with Me this still hour stay?"

called aside -- 

in hidden paths with Christ your Lord to tread,

deeper to drink at the sweet Fountainhead,

closer in fellowship with Him to roam,

nearer, perhaps, to feel your Heavenly Home.

called aside --

oh, knowledge deeper grows with Him alone;

in secret oft His deeper love is shown,

and learned in many an hour of dark distress

some rare, sweet lesson of His tenderness.

called aside --

we thank You for the stillness and the shade;

we thank You for the hidden paths Your love has made,

and, so that we have wept and watched with Thee,

we thank You for our dark Gethsemane.

called aside --

o restful thought - He doeth all things well;

o blessed sense, with Christ alone to dwell;

so in the shadow of Your cross to hide, 

we thank You, Lord, to have been called aside.

{happy.restful.sunday}

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.

{summa.summa.summatime}

channeling will smith aka the fresh prince here. 
summatime has arrived in full force and it's off to a good start.

: pool : weddings : hydrangeas : sandals : lunch outside :

: music festivals : mountain drives : gifts & goodbyes :

: out of town guests : sunglasses : summer church series :

: bugs : morning coffee : workouts : flowers from my mama :

: summer storms : new bikes : HOT temps : homemade desserts :

 : walks on the greenway : creativity : nights out on the patio with friends :

{happy.summer.2011}
aw

{refreshing.to.my.soul::beech.mountain}

::the Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing::

-zephaniah 3:17

{easter.2011}