Friendship Pumpkin Patch

there was a short window where the rain calmed down a bit last week and we decided to visit the pumpkin patch. it's something that makes our 'fall bucket list' of traditions every year. i love traditions, keeping some from my childhood and creating new ones with my family. it doesn't have to be grand, just something that we all love doing together to help cultivate memories and to help savor and be intentional about the seasons and up-coming holidays.

this was the first year for this darling little pumpkin patch to open in denton! and it was so precious, the church that hosted it did such a wonderful job. there were so many pumpkins and gourds, ranging in all sizes to choose from. there were fun little hay and train rides, pulled by tractors and a John Deere, face paintings, and they also set up little photo-op stations with stacks of hay that were curated beautifully with pumpkins and flowers.
we somehow lucked out and had the entire place to ourselves, it was so wonderful, and simple. sparrow and juniper just got to run around all the fields and play with the pumpkins without me worrying about them getting lost in the crowd of other parents and little ones. and no lines for face painting or the hay rides, which meant they could on as many times as they wanted. I really recommend it for next year. especially if you like a little more low-key,or maybe you have a little one with sensory needs who can't handle noise or overwhelming situations.

we normally trek up to the town south of us {flower mound} and visit their pumpkin patch...and it really is worth it. on a weekday. {don't ever make the mistake of going on a Saturday morning unless you have grandparents with you, also known as, extra eyes + hands to help}, it has all the bells and whistles, corn maze, bounce house/slides, pumpkins everywhere + tons of little wagons that your littles can pull to help haul your pumpkins around. but, something i have learned over the past year in towing two littles around is simple is often times the better choice. i am naturally full of ideas and love making things extra special or creative, but sometimes just choosing to slow down and go the simpler route, often times means its more flexible and relaxing, which is more enjoyable for everyone, but especially little ones. and sometimes you can get caught up in the chase of the better thing. the better park, the better view, the better, whatever that may be. this little pumpkin patch was a lesson in that for me. simple is good. real good. just like my journey in finding beauty in the ordinary, in the mundane of life. find the good stuff right where you are at.

a morning at Cardo's Farm Project

It's pretty rare that papa ever has to work on a Saturday, but sometimes it happens. so last Saturday, me and the littles spent a leisurely morning out on Cardo's Farm. I just happened to have my favorite blanket in the trunk and I spread it out for us, as our spot to picnic - there was a lovely brunch spread of homemade nut butters, a delicious rosemary thyme butter (OMG! it was so good), fresh bread, pesto pasta,, salad, and cookies galore (sparrow's favorite of, course). we snacked and snacked, put together our own bouquets, played with chickens and the friendliest farm dog, and enjoyed fresh air and the gift of an open field. I dream of living on a farm one day, or at least having a couple of acres, being out on the farm was pure happiness for my soul. one of my favorite worship songs has a line that says, 'your love is so great, you set us in open fields, you whisper your love...' (free coffee on me to anyone who knows?) but, that's kind of how I feel when I am in openness, I feel like 

I can breathe, and hear. and think a little better.

we pretty much lounged here all morning, and sparrow graciously filled our plates for us each time we were low (on cookies!).

the bouquet making station was such a hit with sparrow, she loved that she got to clip her own flowers and was determined to find all the red ones, Cardo's also has fields of sunflowers. just beautiful!

if you've never been out to cardos farm project - Go! Amanda is such a beautiful and kind soul, you can schedule a tour, sign up for a farm share or even volunteer. I love their vision of incorporating the community of Denton, as well as educating on sustainable agricultural practices. but, please don't go without me (giving my extrovertedness away) ~ I live literally down the street from their farm, and would love to go with you!

blackberry picking

one of our favorite summer traditions is to go fruit picking. we've visited duck creek farms for the past three years, and it's something I look forward to every june. We love visiting and supporting local farms, meeting and talking to the farmers {and various family members} that own them and sustain them. Plus, the blackberries are so delicious!

wild + free

a few weeks ago, I met up with a homeschooling group - wild + free. and it's not exactly what you are probably assuming, even though if you know me - me and my little ones are pretty, wild + free. but, it's a group of women that love Jesus and all have chosen to homeschool their children in some way. some lean towards classical conversations, charlotte mason, or even unschooling. and although none of us were completely alike, or our children completely alike - even curriculum choices and day to day schedules varied - it was so encouraging to meet everyone, and I felt like I walked away with a few new friends and kindred spirits.

                          (a sweet stranger snapped this photo for us. here with brandi + jillian)

I am just beginning my journey to home educate my little ones, and we definitely aren't starting any rigorous curriculum, as sparrow is only three. but, I've been praying and seeking to connect with other mama's who want to incorporate nature as much as possible in their children's education. and one thing I do know, we all need community. as mothers, homeschoolers, even if you choose not to homeschool - you need a tribe of women who can lift you up and encourage you to keep on going. and I am excited to see mine slowly develop, as new seasons of motherhood are approaching.

(we enjoyed a hike along the creek + a picnic lunch at the nature preserve in plano)

something that is also really neat is they have release monthly bundles that include activities, a devotional, personal stories from other mama's who are on the homeschool journey, and even nature journals! the prairie bundle is a free one, if you are curious and just want to check things out!

 

Easter Weekend!

 on Friday, good Friday, two dear friends got married - and honestly it totally slipped my mind, (in the midst of planning and preparing for out of town guests), that we had a wedding to attend. it was a beautiful setting, so calm and peaceful. full of familiar faces, eating wonderful food (and desserts), and dancing the night away.

 

it happens every year, as much as I try to plan ahead, holidays just seem to sneak up on me. and as much as I want to just be present, and really soak in the depths of what we are celebrating, I often find myself just running around filling in the gaps of last minute details. and every year I tell myself, s l o w  d o w n... it will be over in a whirlwind. and you don't want to miss it.



^^dyeing easter eggs with the littles^^

  ^^the most delicious appetizer ever! got the recipe from my friend Shannon at a recent get together we had^^

                                              ^^ sparrow picking out all of the blue pancakes!^^

                       ^^festive easter pancakes! we started this tradition a few years ago!^^

^^nothing better than a sunday afternoon nap^^

 

that is always my prayer, I whisper, please don't let me miss it. miss you. in the midst of striving for a perfect meal, dishes, flowers, I want the table to be beautiful. I want the food to be delicious. everyone to feel warm and at home, my heart behind it is - I want this to be memorable.by me when I am old and gray - and something my children can look back on. the reason we celebrate, is because we want to remember the One. in the midst of breaking bread, and gathering around the table, and little giggles, and the messy hands that are helping prepare the meal, I want to remember it. I want to remember why I do this, why I am able to do this. because a man, gave his all for me. that I might have eternal life. he conquered death. so more than anything I am tugging at my heart, and my children's heart - to look beyond what is seen, look beyond the table, the meal, the silly eggs, and to teach them to celebrate a life resurrected. ours. his.

 



 

 

a little birthday give-away!

since it was my birthday a few days ago (but, birthday month right!?) + valentine's day is coming up, I wanted to host a little give-away. so I partnered with a dear friend + super talented lady - Katie of  archer + hare. one lucky gal(entine) will get to have these beauties! 

 

to enter to win, make sure you are following along on my blog and leave a comment with your favorite pie! the give-away will close 1 week from today, and the winner will be drawn at random and emailed directly, feb. 18th.

 

you can find archer + hare locally at the dime store or in her etsy shop! and you can read a little interview about Katie here!

a new year, a new prayer.

when the new year rolls around, I pray and ponder on what I would like this year to look like. and more importantly, how can I align my life and heart to my heavenly father's. what does he want for me in this year, for my children, for my marriage - what does he want to do in my heart. and this year, the only word I kept hearing over and over was freedom. it was quietly prayed over me a few months ago by a dear friend, it was sung over me in worship, and over and over the Lord just kept whispering into my heart and spirit, freedom.

 

I want freedom for you. and freedom only comes through me.

 

freedom in motherhood. to be the mother I want to be - or rather the mother he wants me to be. I am not bound by the way others do things, but instead have the freedom to know and play with my children, to be present, to love fully, to embrace the messy. to be free from expectation - the heavy one's that I put upon myself.

 

freedom from shame, guilt, and condemnation. those are clothes that the enemy wants to cover me in. God never speaks those words over us.  freedom from past mistakes and failure. to not dwell in the sea of sin, but cling to the savior, to the one who comes to set us free. and even the freedom to forgive myself.

 

freedom to hope again, to dream new dreams - to pursue things that I love, even if I am not great at them, to draw and paint, and pursue photography in new ways, to be creative on a daily basis, even if in a small way. even if someone is doing the same thing, and maybe even better than me. so what!? freedom to just do. to be a storyteller - a little dream I have always had, to write. even if I just start here, with my blog.

 

freedom in my marriage, to experience real joy and intimacy, and deep belly laughs. to choose it first, before friends, before ministry, even before our children. to be friends, and date, and have fun. freedom to dream big things for our marriage and family. God does make all things new, and we can give him our struggles, our hurts, even our disappointments - and trust that he is good.

 

and even though i don't set traditional resolutions - i have little goals like learning the piano, wear more dresses (which means trying to shave more consistently), and work out goals, i mainly just want to pray the prayer of freedom over my life