Joy Leanne

                It is so easy to look around at our life and think "This isn't what I signed up for" or "How did I get here?" We look at our big plans. We look at our facebook feed. We look at our favorite blogs. We wondered what happened. We wonder why we don't have the life we so desperately want when every one else makes it look so easy. The funny thing is, I think if most of us slowed down and looked around we would realize that we are in fact living the life we wanted. Our lives, for the most part, aren't that different from the blogs we drool over. We bake, we take walks, we go for ice cream, we do special activities with our kids. The difference between our lives and the lives of the people on the other side of the glowing screen and polished blogs is documenting. The ONLY way that "other" woman is different from us is that she taking the time to notice, document, and dwell on the little moments. She takes time to make much the life'...

This post started out as a Facebook status. But it was just too good not to blog about.  I am sitting here at the computer bemoaning the cold weather when my 3 year old looks out the window. Maddie: "The snow melted!!! Now we can have Easter!" She was so excited, so full of hope, so full of life. I wondered if that's how the women felt when they realized Jesus was no longer in the tomb. "The darkness has passed! We still have hope!" I was so ready for spring. For warm weather. For sunshine. For hope. For life. When we walked out of church Palm Sunday and the snow was falling I was crushed. I remember cold Holy Weeks, but never quite THIS cold. Never SNOW! It also seems like there is so much turmoil around us in general right now. Facebook feeds are full of friends on opposite sides of the same issues calling for action, for boycotts, for their right to be heard. And I think back to how confusing, and conflicting, and cold that first "Holy Week" must ha...

 1) I didn't do a weekly five last week becuase the week before felt so blah it didn't really feel worth it. This week has been SO much better! Josh has had an amazing week at work. He had two days this week where he sold two cars. A total of 5 cars this week. Amazing! 2) My sister and a good family friend did an Easter Basket exchange this year. I also had a good friend surprise me with some Easter treats. So good to be known by others. 3) I was interviewed for a local magazine on Tuesday. They are doing an article about women who create and asked me some questions about my Goose Beary Shop.   4) I am enjoying writing more lately. Nothing big but it feels good to be doing something I enjoy again. 5) Went to the Good Friday Service, had friends over to watch The Passion of Christ on Saturday and went to Easter service at our church on Sunday. I enjoyed it all but it made me home sick for MD and Cedar Brook. I would love to hear y'alls weekly five. What d...

It has been crazy warm here for March. We have broken 80 degrees on more than one occasion. While I am thoroughly enjoying the early spring I am a bit worried about that this means for Summer time in Central VA. But we will cross that bridge in a month or two. For now I am very much enjoying the warm weather. Like the plants, and like my mother, I am happiest in the sun. Fall and winter have their certain charms, and I truly love baking bread and working on quilts while the leave change. However, I come alive when the weather turns warm. I am rediscovering old loves. My sewing machine is getting used again, and I am writing with a desire and enjoyment that has been missing for a very, very long time. I have been updating at my other blog Grace and Manna , journaling, and even working on a writing project that I am not quite ready to share about just yet! I am also discovering some new pass times like mixed media journals Smash books are my newest love! You as you can see over at my Pi...