The wind changed directions.

I've typed a few times a version or two of what I am typing now. Nothing ever seemed to fit. To some being a blogger is silly and what I am typing and feeling is unjustified. To those who blog, or to those who read blogs, you will understand. This blog has been an intricate part of my life for almost four years. This is where I've recorded the good, the bad, the ugly, and the funny. I've shared my heart. I've shared about my husband. I've shared about my children. I've shared our lives. Over the last few months things have started changing. I got a, for now, full time job and I am having to choose more carefully what things are priority and what things are not. Right now, living real life with my husband, children, family, and friends, rank at the top of my list. I would rather snuggle up with my husband on the couch after tucking our two sweet girls in at night than ignore him as I sit in front of the computer screen to write about the things going on in our lives. I am enjoying the "doing" more. The Lord has convicted me to start putting into practice things I've said I'd like to do here. And the time I've spent blogging and obsessing over social media will be put to better use; I will be diving into my God, my family, my friends, and my calling.  I will still be here and there, so please, check in on us every now and then. Just please don't forget about us while we're cutting a new path into this new normal. You can still find me on Instagram quite often because it is quicker and less time consuming. 

I hope you all have a very happy New Year. Catch ya on the flip side.

Matilda Jane winner!!

Hey, Hey, Kristina J, you're our big winner! 

I sent you an e-mail before I ate dinnerl!

 Make sure you reply so I can make this gift card fly, fly, fly! 

(Sorry for the rhyming, I just couldn't help it)

Matilda Jane giveaway! Woohoo!

We've got a Matilda Jane giveaway! Just in time for Christmas! We love Matilda Jane and we hope you'll find something you love too!! 

*Teagan is wearing the Turtledove knot top, stippling tee, and gallery leggings*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Matilda Jane clothing sent Teagan the clothes she is wearing in the above picture, however, all opinions are mine*

The stockings will be hung...(All I want for Christmas, part 2)

The stockings will be hung. Not even a mouse will be stirring. Our tree is up. The girls tree is up. The lights are on outside. And Santa will come. However, Mommy and Daddy will not.

Christmas is changing a bit for us this year. We're not doing presents. Not for ourselves, not for each other, and not for the girls. Josh and I have talked about it. Our girls have more than enough. We have more than enough. Others are not so lucky. We truly want to shout Jesus from the rooftops this year. One of the ways we want to do that is by giving the girls the gift of sponsoring a child. We have chosen to do so through Compassion International. I heard about Compassion through the Allume Conference and my sweet friend, Jessica. We want the girls to ideally "grow up" with the child we choose. We want collaboration to happen. We want them to see just how small the world should be.
We will pray together and search together on Christmas Day, as a family, for the child the Lord chooses for us to sponsor. When we do so we will provide food and clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, life-skills training, and most importantly the opportunity to hear about Jesus. How can we tell people about Jesus if we don't show them Jesus? That question has shaken me to my core so much over the last few months. We will also receive from the sponsorship. We will get a photo, the personal story of the child, and a sponsorship packet. We will be able to correspond with the child. We will get to pray for this child and invest in this child.
So, if you find yourself sick of the "stuff" through the holiday season, consider doing something different. Perhaps consider sponsoring a child....