12 years ago today, my hands were marred. 12 years ago today, as i awoke, i began to form a most beautiful creation. with delight, one by one, i pruned roses. taking off the outer petals to reveal the unmarked, beautiful ones inside. stripping off the thorns. cutting the stems. gathering the flowers into a bouquet of goodness. later that evening, that bouquet accompanied me down the aisle to meet my love. i smelled the sweetness and looked forward to that fragrance following us throughout our journey. my heart, happy. my face, smiling. my hands... cut up! i didn't care. i adore flowers. i was elated to create my own wedding bouquet. i haven't thought much about that process, or the results until now. now i see the lesson. because 12 years of marriage brings about quite a significant amount of beauty and thorns. the stems of those roses remind me that i have a choice. i can choose to leave the thorns of life on. waiting to prick whenever encountered. or... i can choose to prune those thorns. to cut them off. they will still leave their mark. but they will not prick any longer. the petals remind me that i have a choice. i can choose to reveal the beauty in life. or... i can choose to keep it covered up. my cut up hands remind me that life leaves it's marks. i can choose to let it become infected. or... i can choose to seek healing. i don't always make the right choices. in fact, i have made some pretty poor choices. but i am thankful that all it takes is a decision. the thorns, the petals, the cuts will remain. until i choose to do something about them. thank you my love. for your patience. for your perseverance. for your loyalty. for your faith. for your forgiveness. for your love. happy anniversary.

the delightful smell of cinnamon, nutmeg + pumpkin floated through our home today. so did the heat that came with this hot day accompanied by baking! i am indeed thankful for air conditioning. but regardless of the weather, autumn has arrived, and we must welcome her. we excitedly gathered the ingredients, attempting once again to yield a delicious gluten free pastry. we have not found the baking results we are looking for since this gluten free adventure has begun. but we press on in faith, knowing we shall find just the right mixtures that bring us the tastiest of breads. so we mix and bake and partake. and enjoy DIVINE PUMPKIN MUFFINS! praise indeed. welcome autumn. we are so very glad you are here.

gluten free pumpkin muffins ::

2 C white rice flour

2/3 C potato starch flour

1/3 C tapioca flour

1/2 tsp xanthan gum

3 C sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 C olive oil

2/3 C water

1 small can- 15 oz pumpkin puree

2 eggs

topping ::

almond flour

cinnamon

brown sugar

butter

mix amounts until you reach desired consistency + taste

spray muffin tin with nonstick spray

fill muffin tin with mix

sprinkle topping on

bake @ 350 for 40 minutes

enjoy MOIST, pumpkin muffin goodness. sans gluten. bon appetit.

this little piggy went to market. and picked up some yummy treats to eat. we pureed fresh, organic carrots and butternut squash with a dash of cinnamon for our little foodie. who now wants everything to do with feeding himself. and trying to snatch mama's food for his big boy self. five teeth for this almost six month old! bon appetit my love.

be inspired to feed your little foodie such goodness here :: feeding little foodies

a young, eager mind. pure. ready to explore. discover. investigate. armed with a new backpack, field guides, binoculars, magnifying glass, journal and varied art mediums. excited. inspired. our learning adventures begin. we set forth on this new journey of homeschooling... and think nature study rocks!

reflect. dive down deep. into the murkiest places. see yourself. consider who you are. ponder your weaknesses. and then offer them up. rise into grace. receive healing. pursue goodness. again and again.

today you found courage. you took the stepping stones across the mighty waters. step by step. one at a time. eager. aware. joyful. you found beauty in the small things. you stopped to savor them. you declared them treasures. you embraced life. you seized the day. you gave praise. may you continue to delight in the often overlooked. may you take on and conquer new challenges. may your smile always grace your sweet face. and let us together enjoy this life we have been blessed with.

life is sweet. full of flavor. savor the taste. and as you are consuming the goodness, dream big. wildly imagine places near + far. experience them. delight in them. and be grateful for every magical day.

full is your life. intertwined with stories, experiences, relationships, memories. some thin. barely there. but still lingering. waiting to fall. holding on just long enough for you to embrace and acknowledge. some thick. creating the solid foundation in which you stand. some new. just sprouting. fresh with possibility. the roots run deep. the branches run high. you are woven together, uniquely you. waiting to be nourished. eager to grow. some may see you as a jumbled mess. but you were made with a plan. the design has already been established. so stand firm. be you. enjoy the breath of the wind, but do not be swayed. continue to rise. and grow magnificently.

some days you may want a life preserver thrown out to you. some days you may want to joyfully walk through, ever so slow. present. aware. observing and admiring. some days you may want to navigate through. considering just the right course. selecting cautiously. some days you may need to look up. seek the light. wait for the glow to illuminate the way. some days you may need to just hold on tight. but every day, no matter what the path and no matter where the destination, may you seek + savor a grateful heart.

a day at the lagoon. taking it all in. savoring the remains of the season. a gorgeous day.

how are you savoring the remains of the season?

consider the kiwi. a dull brown fuzz on the outside. simple. nothing to catch your eye. but... when opened, it reveals it's vibrant colors, patterns and intricate seed designs. bursting with juicy sweet flavor. gorgeous. delicious. be encouraged by the kiwi. take time to see beyond. what do you notice? where do you find unexpected beauty?

papa + kid1 dined on sushi tonight, prepared fresh by papa. isaak kept excitedly proclaiming "i LOVE sushi!" too cute.

i do adore and am so grateful for my love. everyday he drops his laundry NEXT to the laundry basket. i do not understand this. and then he goes totally out of his way to prepare a beautiful+ nutritious meal for my anemic self. steak + spinach and more yumminess. [you gotta love the presentation.] my love is an amazing cook. do you ever find your love focusing on a more elaborate task rather than a simple one? do you ever find yourself not quite understanding your love... but being ever grateful for them? i must admit, i do not understand a lot about my love. but i find it rather peaceful not to question. to accept. to appreciate. to laugh. to love. thank you my love. my meal was divine.