beauty in the waiting

We have officially hit 39 weeks + baby is the size of a watermelon! (This reality always becomes most apparent when my husband collides into the baby bump on accident;)).
Our midwife believes we will be having an 8 pound baby and oh how that fills my heart with such happy! I am so so ready to meet this little angel.

There is so much beauty in this time of waiting. I've been practicing filling these moments with peace + contentment + doing my best to remain present and intentional with my time.
A few weeks ago I sent up a prayer that I would be more open to receiving messages from God.
It's so amazing all that is waiting for your heart + soul when you're open and looking.

from the inside

No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you are the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.
{unknown} {33 weeks}
{38 weeks}

This is home

We spent most of the day yesterday outside. Taking deep breaths and basking in the healing powers of the sunshine. Can you just feel the peace here?
The birds sang their glorious songs + the butterflies danced about. The rushing water of the creek was sweet music to our ears.
It's times like these I'm overcome with such gratitude that this is home.

(The view from our deck:)
My sweetie and I have been hit pretty hard with a terrible case of the sickies. I'm so thankful for these days where we allow for rest. (This seems to be pretty hard for us both!) We built a cocoon out of blankets and laid on the deck until the sun disappeared and gave thanks for all that is good.

xoxo

custom art!

I am so thrilled to share this latest custom piece with you!
This was such a joy to create for so many reasons - a big one being the wonderful woman who requested it!
There were no real guidelines (free artistic reign? dream.)...except for the words she would love to see incorporated into the art: faith, family, hope, love, happiness (swoon).

Take a peek: xoxo

His presence

This was the second day in a row where butterflies - beautiful, white and black butterflies - surrounded me as I walked along the creek near our home.
I felt such a presence of our Divine Creator, and saw him so clearly...
in the sound of the singing birds and rushing water.
in the smell of fresh new blooms springing to life.
in the blue of the sky, so vibrant.
in the way the breeze danced with tree branches. 
in the warmth of the sun on my face.


I gave thanks for these little things, and in my heart knew them to actually be the big things.

xoxo

wrapped up in beautiful moments

Those weekends where we allow rest + play + spontaneous adventure; where we are so wrapped up in the moment and in just being alive that we forget all about our to-do lists and responsibilities?
I never regret those weekends.



Playing a bit of catch up this morning and that's perfectly ok with me:). Currently working on getting this original packaged and sent to a new home in California!

Hope this week is beautiful, dear one.

xo

tremendously alive

 dear ones, have you ever been to Ashland? it's been a burning desire of mine to visit for so long now + I'm still on cloud nine from witnessing the beauty of it all. 

my love and I had the best weekend away. exploring new places + hiking + eating delicious food + just being together. I love how an escape from regular routine, even for just a little while, ignites a spark within. I'm reminded just how good it feels to be alive.

the next time we set out on a road trip we very well could be a family of three! <3

(below you'll see one of the greatest reasons for my desire to visit: to wander the spaces of Papaya! Art. Yes, it was just as magical as I had imagined it to be!) We hiked to the top of Table Rock and sat there for a long while, breathing it all in. and returned home feeling rejuvenated + tremendously alive. xoxo

planting roots

We planted the tree and wildflowers he got me for Valentines Day and I couldn't help but notice all the ways we are putting down roots in this place.
My heart is so happy.

r e l e a s e

I don't know about you, but I love choosing a word each year...something I'd love to remember, hold close, cultivate... something I can come back to in the later months to re-focus and guide my thoughts and actions. It helps me to live intentionally, and I love that! This year I didn't fret when January rolled around and I still didn't have my word. Sometimes the word chooses us! It came into my thoughts softly. A whisper; a gift from my soul, letting me know what would be important this year: R e l e a s e. Specifically, the release of all that is not good for me. Oh, how this has made me question so much already. 'Is this good for me?'. If the answer is no, I let it go. Some situations have proven much easier than others, but I can tell you I'm already feeling light + free. This word, release, has also allowed into focus the things that matter most. The things my heart + soul most need to thrive. In my world, this looks a lot like long walks in the woods or on the beach with my love, playing with paint in the studio, sitting on the porch + listening to the birds and the creek rush by, saying no to obligations to allow time for rest and solitude, decluttering our home and schedule, yoga... And of course naps. Lots of naps.  :)
What about you? Do you choose a guiding word for the year? I'd love to know yours!
xoxo

the best is yet to come

Happiest New Year to you, beauty!

 My love and I celebrated  quietly, with books + movies + our favorite junk food. We know how to party;). Here's a peek at the late night scene. Which actually wasn't late at all...pretty sure I fell asleep around 9!

Here are just a few of my favorite moments from 2014:
I've been busy in my studio creating new artwork + making goals + gifting myself as much time to play as my heart can handle. Here's a peek at a list of all the things I want to do in 2015. (and most exciting of all, not mentioned here, is becoming a mama, of course;))
The best is yet to come.
Hope your year is off to a beautiful start.
xoxo