All The Things

 

So yes. That is me. And the Anne Lamott.

And she looks WAY less excited about meeting me than I am about meeting her.

Which is how it should be really.

Getting to hear her speak in person was a dream come true. Her writing helped to save my faith, and my sanity as a new mother, and I might have been a little over excited about getting to meet her.

But meeting Anne is just one of many things happening around here lately.

After much stalking of Craigslist I found the perfect boat for our pond.

Here are the boys and their friend Pax taking her for an inaugural row around the pond.

I cannot wait to get out there in it myself!

My Maw finally got to come see Preservation Acres. My mother, sister, and nephew also came for a visit.

Memories are made of this.

The weather has been amazing and perfect for porch sittin’.

Of course this means all the animals come calling for their hugs.

Everyone wants to hug the momma.

This pic of my messy bedroom on Instagram got more likes than just about any other.

Seems I am not the only one with a latent teenage girl inside. Ha!

But just so those neat-nicks don’t worry, look! I do clean it up now and then :)

I am loving spring in the country. Rainbows, tall grass, neon green trees, overgrown patches… It is all so dreamy and I have to pinch myself often that we get to live here.

I went to Chicago for the Faith Forward Conference and had an amazing time, met up with old friends and made beautiful new ones. So grateful for the community, encouragement, and inspiration that I found there. But oh goodness, my hair and skin missed the Arkansas humidity!

Last Saturday our truck broke down in the parking lot of a gas station and Miles and I had to hang out while Sweet Man tried to fix it. Luckily it was a brand new gas station with fun bunting and yummy snacks. The beautiful blue skies didn’t hurt either.

Our kitchen is getting closer and closer!

My in-laws came for the weekend and helped Sweet Man knock out the countertops, dishwasher, and sink, along with mowing our overgrown acres, while I worked a youth lock-in and 3-event Sunday.

I am so very grateful for their help and love – seriously. I really was beginning to wonder if we were going to drown under our to-do list, but now I can see a big bright, shiny, light at the end of the tunnel!

Speaking of the lock-in, this is what my cart looked like before hand. I bought ALL the things and prayed that I would survive the night.

Thankfully I got a few hours of sleep and the kids all had fun. Success!

 

If there was any doubt that I am a church nerd, I think this stack of books does away with it.

I love learning more and more about our tradition and practices. Most things have a really well thought-out reason or meaning behind them, which I appreciate so much.  Some people find tradition and ritual to be rote, but I find to be comforting and roomy.

 

Speaking of our traditions, ever wonder why Episcopal churches have red doors? (This is our church at the break of dawn.)

There isn’t one official answer that I can find,  but historically red doors of churches traditionally indicated a place of sanctuary, refuge, and safety. Those in need would not be captured or harmed inside the holy walls of the church, which offered physical and spiritual protection. Also, red symbolizes the sacrificial blood of Christ, and so some say the doors began to be painted red as a way of remembering the ultimate sacrifice that.  Red is also a reminder of the Passover and a sign of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, and the doors proclaim that the church is a place of the Spirit.

 

So there have it. All the things going around here lately, plus a little extra.

Much love!

 

 

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