It can be difficult to begin something again after some time has passed. Though, it’s really as simple as picking up right where we left off. Oftentimes, we make things more complicated than they need to be. For many reasons, I’ve avoided writing the happenings as of late but I’m ready to begin again. I’d like this to be a succinct summary of the year thus far. My earliest memory of ringing in the new year of 2020 was standing on a ladder in the library, repairing the cracks in the plaster walls. I watched on my phone as happy people in Time Square sang, Imagine by John Lennon. I…

This evening, a strange occurrence happened that I don’t have much of an answer for. Gavin was working late, so I was home alone making dinner and running around the house switching from dusting the dining room table to doing laundry. In-between stirring the spinach in the skillet, I heard the bell on the back storm door jingle. It helps notify us of incoming visitors. That’s weird, I thought. It’s probably just the wind but I trudged the steps and looked around the patio. Everything seemed undisturbed. It was a still evening without a breeze, yet the clapper of the bell swung lightly from side to side. I resumed my…

Writing in the library, drinking chamomile tea. This time is a blessing. I never would have thought it to be so valuable as I do now. It feels rewarding to sit in a finished room, finally being able to enjoy it. This desk completes the space. I found it about seven years ago at a thrift store. It’s the first piece of furniture I ever refurbished. Here’s what it looked like in my art room at my old house along with one of my very first design ventures, the chalkboard paint accent wall! It has moved with me and has sat in the garage until last weekend when it found…

All the hard work is worth it when I see these little smiling faces enjoying their time here. That is my dream come true.

These times we find ourselves in are unlike any other. I find solace in knowing that this world is not our home. And when this life weighs heavy on my chest, I breathe in the peace of which He alone provides. These months have been a blur. While the pace of life has slowed for many, I’ve been thrown off kilter, spun like a top turning in too many directions. I’ve sought comfort in both distraction and substance but never falter to right myself again in the mercies of a new tomorrow. Months pass like weeks and weeks like days, minutes to seconds. And I think to myself with each…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, …” –A Tale of Two Cities Timeless words that speak to my heart and ring true to this unparalleled time we’re living in. But no matter how upside down the world becomes, this moment in history will soon be forgotten and fade into the background of an ever changing stage. Unbinding and sobering to the fleetingness of days. Two weeks ago, I escaped into the early 1900’s. I escaped into the minds and beings…

You know when there’s something you should do but you keep putting it off? Other things come up and whatever ‘it’ is just gets pushed further down the line. That’s what writing has felt like to me the past couple months. When I begin to fall silent with recording my words, that’s usually when our day jobs and the work of this house collide into many long nights. But I’m happy to announce as of yesterday, a very big project is now nearly complete (more on that coming soon). But for now, Gavin’s been called in to plow and salt the roads the last two nights. I don’t know how…

Gavin and I drove to my parent’s house for Thanksgiving lunch yesterday. I’m becoming increasingly grateful for times like these. My work at The Salvation Army has opened my eyes to see first-hand that many aren’t as fortunate to have a good meal with loved ones. After we were done eating, Gavin & I were able to pick out a Christmas tree in my parent’s lot. Our second annual tree from there. My parents have been growing them for about a decade. It’s exciting that they’re tall enough to cut and enjoy for Christmas. When I got back inside my parent’s house, my mom said that Luke was getting ready…

I thought about titling this post “10 Lessons I’ve Learned” but that wouldn’t be accurate. That’d imply that I’ve checked them off like a to-do list but the truth is, these are things I continually remind myself of every day. So without further ado, here’s what I’ve been learning: #1 Good things take (a lot) of time. I used to jump into projects with all the novelty and excitement needed to propel me forward. Well, that eventually wears off and pure, hard work takes its place followed by a healthy dose of patience. And from experience now, I realize each project we’ve worked on has taken about 4x the amount…

My mom picked up my sister’s twins, Hannah and Alissa, from school & brought them out to the house today for a visit. They’ve grown since the last time I’ve seen them almost half a year ago it seems like. Their faces have lost the subtle baby-like features. They’re growing into beautiful young ladies, approaching eight years old by the end of the month. I think back just a few summers ago, putting their hair in lopsided pigtail poofies on top of their heads, dressing them in my old tie die shirts they wore like dresses down to their chubby little toes. My hippie babies. They bounded through the front…