I was 10 years old. My parents were divorced, and I spent every other weekend at my Father’s house. Money was always tight, so he had a roommate to help him cover the mortgage payments. My sister and I spent the summers there swimming in the pool, playing with the neighborhood kids, and riding our bikes.
Read MoreOne of my favorite things to do with my family and friends is to pack a picnic and head to the beach to watch the sunset. The cool evening air, the sunset, the sound of the ocean: it all just brings me so much joy. We do this so often I have really dialed in my favorite picnic meal for just this. It is simple to make, and yet it still feels elegant and special. So I thought I would share the meal here with you!
Read MoreLast week Ryan and I were able to sneak away to Portland for a few days. We had so much fun exploring the city, and all the natural beauty that surrounds it. There is nothing like a few days away with just your hubby to refresh and recharge! One of our goals for the trip was to talk about and come up with our Family’s Core Values. The things we want to be really intentional about pursuing ourselves and instilling in our children. Things that matter that we want to remind ourselves of and that will someday be a part of our legacy.
Read MoreThe pain of rejection has pierced through my heart more times than I can say. I have felt rejected by family at times, rejected by peers, by church people, by friends, by other women. I have had seasons rich with community, and seasons where I’ve felt the familiar ache of loneliness and isolation. I have felt my heart longing for meaningful friendships and other women to “do” life with. I’ve sowed into friendships and tried and tried and tried only to get nowhere.
Read MoreIt was over a year ago now, we were exploring and hiking in Iceland with our best friends. We had planned and saved and made our way there, excited to be experiencing a new place together. We had heard about this “hidden” hot pool in the middle of the mountains and were ready for our first little expedition to find it. Our online research said it would be an easy 15-minute walk there, a simple trail for all levels of hikers.
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