community

Community. The very definition is "a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals." I love that at 32, I have found a community of like minded friends. Friends who are really more family than friends. 
People I can dream with, laugh with, cry with, be totally emotionally naked in front of and know that they won't think of me any differently, despite the dark moments. 
People I can rejoice with. 
People I can pray with. 
Share food with. 
Love on. 
The very thought of them brings tears of joy to my eyes. Tears that I have been blessed with so much. 

I pray that everyone has the chance to dig in and find community with those around them. Especially, especially for the hard times. But mostly? For the laughter and the good times. The times that we can just let it all go and be happy. 

I love that my daughters are learning about community at such a young age. Matilda, especially, loves her friends with everything she has. I've learned so much from watching my almost four year old love people with her whole heart. 

I'm thankful for the community around me that cares for my children and loves them almost as much as I do. I'm thankful that I have people I can text or call on a bad day and know that they will pray for me. And I'm thankful I have people that will rejoice over the smallest, silliest things, and also the biggest and best. 

i carry your heart

This. Oh so much this. E.E. Cummings has a way with words that pulls at my heart. That makes me believe in everything that is beautiful and wonderful and amazing about life and love. There aren't many poets that I can read over and over and over again, but Cummings - he made it to that short list.

home means that

when the certainly

roof leaks it

's our(home 

means if any moon

or possibly

sun shines they are 

our also my 

darling)but should some im

probably

unworld crash

to 1 

nonillion(& so)nothings

each(let's

kiss)means

home

restoration

“Human lives are hard, even those of health and privilege, and don’t make much sense. This is the message of the Book of Job: Any snappy explanation of suffering you can come up with will be horseshit. God tells Job, who wants an explanation for all his troubles, ‘You wouldn’t understand.’ [...] 

“But where do we even start on the daily walk of restoration and awakening? We start where we are. We find God in our human lives, and that includes the suffering. I get thirsty people glasses of water, even if that thirsty person is just me.”

                     - Anne Lamott 

kerouac will always get me.

Today you are one

Hazel, today, you are one. It's hard to believe it has already been a whole year, but at the same time, its hard to remember you not being here, as you fit so perfectly into our family. You are oh so serious, but at the same time, the most joyful little person. Its hard to ever be sad when you crawl (well, now walk) up and lay your head in my lap and smile with that amazing Hazel smile. You are so sweet, but already show signs of being fiercely independent and are not afraid to tell Matilda when she is upsetting you. I think you may have inherited your mama's temper.

At one, you love eating real food - none of that pureed stuff. You love reading books, and playing with whatever your big sis is playing with at any particular time; you love clementines, cheese, lima beans, and of course bananas. You are so used to playing with children Matilda's age, that when you see another child your own age, you get SO excited. You hate having your diaper changed, and getting dressed. You adore bath time with Matilda and just splash away every time you get in there. You have so much hair and its possible I put it in pig tails the other day for the very first time. you started really walking just last week, a full month before your sister did. You love everyone, and I love that trait about you. I hope it never goes away, and that you never have a reason to not trust people. The world can be a beautiful place, and I know it needs more people like you in it.

Sweet Hazel, one year ago today, you came into our lives and changed them for the better. You are already the best little sister and playmate to Til, and I cannot wait to see your relationship grow. A sister is the best friend, believe me, I know. I have the best sister in the world, and I can only hope that you and Matilda will one day grow into the best of friends and confidants.

Happy birthday beautiful girl.

lately.

image found here

I stumbled across this photo on one of my pinterest boards tonight, and it spoke to me like nothing else. Things have been hard lately y'all. Every day is a constant struggle, and my only thought is that I need grace. I need it for myself. I need to show it to others. This quote doesn't speak directly of grace, but I feel that when you have grace and can show it to others, you are able to live without hate, without whim, without jealousy and without fear. 

Family Supper

"What happens during meals shapes a large part of our memories. As we grow older we forget many things, but we mostly remember the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners in our families. We remember them with joy and gratitude or with sadness and anger. They remind us of the peace that existed in our homes or the conflicts that never seemed to get resolved. These special moments around the table stand out as vivid reminders of the quality of our lives together.

Today fast-food services and TV dinners have made common meals less and less central. But what will there be to remember when we no longer come together around the table to share a meal? Maybe we will have fewer painful memories, but will we have any joyful ones? Can we make the table a hospitable place, inviting us to kindness, gentleness, joy, and peace and creating beautiful memories?”

- Henri Nouwen

I stumbled upon this quote, and couldn't agree with it more. Some of my best childhood memories revolve around a supper table filled with loved ones. We always ate together as a family, and I'm so thankful my parents enforced that. It is something that is becoming almost a rarity these days, which is so sad because it is a time that we can just sit and eat and talk and catch up with our families. I love the blog and book Dinner: A Love Story because it talks about how to make dinner a family affair. I'm guilty of often eating in front of the television, but i'm wanting to change that. TV dinners should be a treat, not an every day occurrence, at least in our house. 

I think that my generation is realizing how absent we are becoming from the supper table. With iPhones, and iPads and every other gadget imaginable, its hard to really be present unless we make a concerted effort to do it. I think it has a lot to do with my love for the Kinfolk gatherings and Sunday Suppers (who is currently looking for a studio and event assistant - my dream job!) and all of the other fun dinner party pop-ups that are occurring. 

What is supper like at your house? Do you eat together as a family or with loved ones/roomates? I would love to know how you make it work! 

*print via Oh My Deer - one i've wanted for my kitchen for some time!