Project 52:40 {little braids}

thankful for...

little braids

I always dreamed of having a little girl, with great big eyes and long hair that I could put into sweet little braids down her back. 

I don't want to forget these precious little plaits. How the left one curls more than the right. How they seem to trail halfway down her tiny little body. And that she looks more and more adorable as the day goes on and they start to get messy and come undone. I just love them on my girl.

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Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

styleberry BLOG

 What We're Sayin'

Oh The Places We'll Go 

Englexas 

Wicked Kate

A Desk {Before & After}

A few weekends ago, we set out to hit up a few neighborhood garage sales and I scored this desk for a song.

Aren't neighborhood garage sales the best, by the way? So much less driving around aimlessly, looking for a driveway full of stuff to search through.

I offered the lady $5 less than she was asking and we had ourselves a deal. I knew I wanted to get started on making this piece over right away, because as you can see, my garage is quickly becoming filled with stuff for the upcoming Vintage Market Days event and half-completed projects I need to tend to. Story of my life.

So here's the desk in it's original state. Not too shabby and I knew it could easily be made over. I mixed up some paint from my growing stash and then did a light distressing and stain. I thought the original hardware looked okay, so I just kept it. If I were planning to keep the desk for our home, I would have switched it up, though.

So that's it. The ohsoexciting story behind this latest before & after desk action. There was no wad of money taped to the bottom of one of the drawers or treasure map scribbled in coal on the bottom of the desk. You know I would have put that kind of info up in the title.

Enjoy.

Linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Before & After Party.

Project 52:39 {imitation}

thankful for...
imitation

They say imitation is the highest compliment, right? Or something like that...

I stepped out of the room this morning to use the restroom and when I returned, this is the scene I came upon. My daughter, sitting at my usual perch at the kitchen island in front of my work laptop, taking her liberties with my slim fast.

It was hard not to laugh and I'm so glad I had my camera within reach. This girl. She kills me.

This is a great reminder to me that I have such a precious gift in my care. That she's always watching me, taking in what I do and say, how I react and what tone I use. I want to be an example of love and grace and playfulness and kindness to her. She's nearly always with me, so that's quite a responsibility and I don't take it lightly. I pray that I am the best example I can be for her to imitate.

Stinker. :)

*I'm hoping to get caught up on the Project 52 weeks I've missed over the weekend! I'll likely postdate them to keep things in order.

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Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

styleberry BLOG

 What We're Sayin'

Oh The Places We'll Go 

Englexas 

Wicked Kate

Project 52:38 {friends}

thankful for...

friends

It's so much fun watching your little one bond and play with your friends' little ones. I love that she is already forming friendships and gets excited to play with each of them.

When we do prayers at bedtime, I'll often say "Thank you for mommy, thank you for daddy.." etc. And she will always chime in with a few of her friends' names. And sometimes their moms. :)

I'm so thankful for these sweet moments between little people. The interaction, the conversation and facial expressions. I want to bottle it all up.

As an adult, I realize more and more how important our friendships become. I pray she makes good friends- with people who encourage her, lift her up and support her, pray for her and make her laugh. And I pray that she is always a good friend to those around her.

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Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

styleberry BLOG

 What We're Sayin'

Oh The Places We'll Go 

Englexas 

Wicked Kate

life is good.

Isn't it?

Our family has experienced some rough stuff this year.. I have contemplated sharing some of it, and maybe I still will.. but today? Right now? It doesn't seem so important to dwell on. Those circumstances don't define me or my family or our everyday. And despite them, life is still so good.

I am just feeling thankful. And content. And blessed.

We are so blessed in this life, aren't we? We don't deserve all of the beauty around us, all of the joy, the grace.. all of the wonderful things we take for granted day after day. But here we are. 

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It has been a beautiful fall morning. My laptop died on me a few days ago, which has changed the course of my days just a bit. Typically I have it out on the kitchen island most of the day, checking in with work, blogs, email, etc throughout the day when I have a spare moment. And without it, I'm forced to come into our bedroom to sit at the desktop computer (which I'm thankful to have).. which isn't as convenient. But it has definitely made me realize how often I'm on the computer. And while I miss some of the convenience of being able to get a few things done online while Evie is sitting in her chair coloring or reading books on her own, I don't want her earliest memories to be of mom on the computer. 

So enjoying these past few days, being more intentional about getting work done when she's sleeping, has been good for me. Our mornings together are a bit more precious, honestly. One less thing to distract me means I focus more on her, stop more often to play, say yes more frequently to requests to go outside. It's been good. She is such a delight to me. I don't want to miss one moment. 

Life is good.