Pruning

I am in the thick of a rather intense season of pruning at the moment and while I do not intend on airing dirty laundry; I see silence as highly preferred tool of Satan. And guess what?

Homie don't play that.

Silence conceals the true knowledge of who you are and what you need to work on, how God is moving and breathing life into us. And most importantly what He will do.

It's easy in these seasons to lose your cool (which I am painfully learning is another area where I need work) when you are trying to be heard; to feel attacked. In this case, as in every case, coincidence is never just that: it's God trying to get your acute attention. But I have come to understand the difference between a real attack from the enemy and spiritual refinement. Where God is there is also order, pattern, and purpose. An attack involves chaos. At first they feel the same. Painful. The key in discerning is the source; is the root cause. Is the opportunity to evolve in my relationship with Christ, make change where change is needed, and deepen my knowledge of Him who created me.

It's seeing where my natural is failing and where the supernatural must take over in victory. Often during the refinement we feel misunderstood, alone, unworthy, but that is NOT how God sees it. Exactly BECAUSE you are worth it that HE sees fit to allow it. I will take that as a compliment and not a punishment for unrepentant sin, which is a separate conversation.

I won't go into detail, but I will say that the biggest lesson He is teaching me is to treasure the people He has brought into my life, to respect loving correction, but above all to fear God alone; never man.

I've had to re-read this several times because typos happen when you type through tears. But that's a good thing; that's a sign of a softening heart. And that's the best place to start.

My mantra this week:
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8 NIV)

Daddy Dearest

Happy Father's day to our favorite dads! We LOVE you.

More Instagram...

Some extra and favorite shots this month...

Two Peas...

in a pod this summer week...oh, girls you're too funny.

Let there be light.

I'm in a creative strong-hold right now. It's all about lamps. How I can change them, what colors they could become. Etc. As we've all witnessed: summer gets my creative juices flowing. Here is the first of many projects (hopefully including some birdcages) to come this sunny (soul)stice. What do you think? I quite like them.

Homeward Bound

This weekend the girls and I took a road trip down to Salem, OR where I grew up to see and stay with Aunty Em. It was sort of a special moment for me. Mostly because I've taken Pea down there before when she was a baby, but she was too little to show her the house where I grew up or the playgrounds I played in. This time she could understand and was really into it which made this mama feel really good. I loved taking her to my old stomping grounds; my favorite park and coffee place. Of course Harper came along too and that was pretty funny; she was along for the thrill of adventure and to see Em's kitty Talullah, whom they completely terrorized. She will need intensive therapy. For me, it was a sweet moment; to feel the ties that bind, the memories real and tangible. I have to do that again when they are even a few years older. Here are some pictures from our mini road trip...