7 on Seven | May 2012

The thing about fear is that it is a thief.  It snatches away possibilities.  It distracts from beauty.  And sidetracks happiness.  In my quest to be fierce I have a goal ...  to push fear aside, to grab hold of the love and beauty closest to me, and to let go of the worry.  Of the everything else.  And of the things I am not.  

My sweet girl, she's a smart one.  "7 is a good number,"  she says, as she twirls around in her little white dress and pink knee socks.  "I think this is going to be a good year.  I'm happy with 7."  

So I listened.  

Yes - 7 is a good number.  A great place to start.

So on the 7th day of every month, I'll be reflecting.  Gathering.  7 good moments from the month before. 7 images that remind us of laughter.  Happiness.  Goodness.

There is magic in a photograph.  Thrilling magic.  It pauses a moment and forever gives you the gift of possibility.  The thing that fear did not take - not that day.

So this is where I am.  And where I've been this last month.  And the moments where beauty and Grace were so heavily present that I couldn't help but gather it up for later.  They may not mean anything to you - but to me, they are anchors.  My moments.  My hope.  My badge of success.  And my bridge into June.

What are yours?

xo,

amanda

sweet little sheep

The best thing about homeschooling?  "we get to go places.  and touch beautiful animals.  and learn about the world.  i love our school!"

We're taking a tour of farms this summer - an intensive study on food, agriculture, and the ways we can support local businesses.  We can't wait to keep you updated and share what we see along our journey.  It's going to be amazing!

This farm is located in Bristol, TN - and I can assure you, these sweet little sheep are well loved.

xo,

amanda

finding HOPE

"Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all."

- EMILY DICKINSON

"You have escaped the cage.  Your wings are stretched out.  Now, fly."

-RUMI

For so long, I was praying for change.  I wanted to be somewhere else.  Be someONE else.  Instead, I kept finding feathers.  Everywhere.  I finally started picking them up.  It was just too obvious, after a while, that they were meant for me.  And my family.  They were everywhere we went.  Every session we photographed.  Every adventurous expedition we embarked on.  In the grass, up in the mountains, buried in the sand, and right at my feet.  Every time.  Before long, I had an entire collection.  Each one has a different story.  And they came just at the time when I needed them most.  There were more - but they were passed along, a reminder of HOPE, just as they had been for me.

As part of our intense search for SIMPLICITY last year, I began sorting and purging everything in our house - with a vengence.  The only things that remained were our treasures...  feathers, rocks, driftwood, dried flowers, photographs, and "husband-made" furniture.  Things that served no purpose - left first.  Things that reminded me of hurts, fears, and failures went next.  And just at those times when I was ready to give up - a feather would appear.

I never realized just how many there were - or how close I've kept it all.  A recent visitor who had never been to my home - helped me to see just what a miraculous answer to prayer I had been showered with, time after time after time.  I don't understand God's timing.  I don't understand why the learning and the growing and the moving forward have to be so very painful.  But I am thankful for the newfound capacity to do the work.  To train and prepare - for something new.  Something worth hoping for.

For here in this house - there are blessings abounding...

May your paths be showered with feathers this weekend.

xo,

amanda