some Blossom & Vine prints for you!

Yall are in for a treat today! 

One of my sweetest blog friends, Aly, is giving away some of her precious prints from her shop, Blossom & Vine!

 

precious family and precious shop!

I have a few around my own house, like this one in Bethany's nursery...

and this one, in our bedroom, speaking truth to us when we walk out the door each day...
aren't they pretty?!


Meet Aly...
Hi! My name is Aly and I'm a mama to two beautiful little girls (just like my friend Sarah here). My girls are three years old and three months old, and they keep me busy! I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so I really do feel like this is exactly where I'm called to be in this season of my life. But that doesn't keep me from pursuing my passions. In fact, I think itallows me to do just that. What a blessing!?

I've always been a creative person too. In the last four years I've begun to realize how much I crave a creative outlet, just to stay sane. It is something I believe God has placed in me, and I shouldn't apologize for enjoying or for needing it. Lately my husband has been realizing its importance in my life as well, and has started to gift me with creative time. Doesn't really matter what I'm doing, I just need to be making something. 

I've also been blessed in that my creative endeavors have been something that other people want in their homes, too! I started out making headbands for babies, then transitioned to d-i-y patterns, and then prints, and then hoop art. Like I said, it varies! 

Right now in my shop you'll find mostly prints. I'm especially fond of the prints because I am desperate for God's Truth in my life, and I also like to put pretty things up on my walls. Best of both worlds! In the last two years I've learned a lot about myself. A lot of good things and a lot of ugly things. I have a tendency to believe whatever voice rings loudest in my head, whether it's telling me the Truth or not. I have a tendency to believe lies because that seems to be the voice I feed throughout the day, with my sinful nature combined with the things I listen to or read or watch on TV. Lies are everywhere, and they're sneaky! If I don't consciously battle against them, by filling my mind with Truth, I can barely survive my day! 

That's why the prints are so important and dear to me, because they are beautiful to look at, but also serve such a vitally important purpose in my life. I need Truth to wash over me, get into the deepest parts of my heart and mind, really sink down and take root. My life depends on it. Being able to plaster scripture all over my house, that I created with my hands (okay, a keyboard and mouse) fulfills two great needs in my life, and I'm so glad to share that with all of you! 

So, without further adieu, I'm giving away a set of any three prints from my shop so that your home can be covered in Truth, too. (and don't worry, I have some non-scripture prints in there, too!) 

One more fun thing, and then I'm done. I recently opened a store on Zazzle.com, where you can buy my designs on iPhonecases, iPad cases, stickers, poster-size enlargements, postcards... (basically anything). Check it out here!


YOU GET THREE PRINTS!!!

TO ENTER

you MUST:

follow my blog

follow Aly's blog (here)

"like" Blossom & Vine on FB (here)

extra entries:

follow Aly on Twitter (here)

follow me on Twitter (here)

Blog, FB, or Tweet about this giveaway (= 1 entry)
**Leave a comment for each entry**

Giveaway open until midnight Thursday, winner announced Friday!!
THANKS ALY!! :)


and don't forget to write a sweet Mother's Day letter to your littles and come link it up tomorrow!

the last two weeks...

My little blog breather was needed and fruitful, but I of course missed y'all!
(thanks for being patient with me as I followed my heart on the need for a break)
LOTS to catch up on...


in the last two weeks:
*We've played hard outside, enjoying the beautiful weather here in OK.
*Abigail got to "mow" with Daddy.
*We've enjoyed our budding rose bushes, and have cut a few to enjoy inside.
*Bethany has become a little rolly polly, rolling all over the place.
*We've been to some fun festivals and events around town, like the "Touch a Truck",
the huge annual music festival, and the arts festival!
*Parker and I got a night out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo...but realty called, and we had to come home early to the babies, SO we made margaritas at home. :)
*We started the "Whole30" challenge, which is eating nothing but whole foods, and cutting out ALL processed food and refined sugar....HARD, but I lost 6.5 lbs in 7 days, and feel so much healthier already!! Amazing right?
(vulnerable post about that coming real soon)
*I found out I have a kidney stone, and am now waiting for it to pass. real fun.
*I ran a 5k on Saturday, and it gave me a huge, needed confidence boost!
*I've spent some great time with the Lord,...just some quality, focused, worshipful time in His presence, which is what I needed.

It's been a good two weeks. :)
NOW for the pictures.

Hope y'all have been blessed too!

and in honor of Mommy's Day...

come back tomorrow for a great giveaway you will L. O. V. E.!!

and on Wednesday....share your letter with your little one as you celebrate Mother's Day.

I'd encourage you to write to them about how it makes you feel to be able to be part of such a special day. It will bless their hearts someday, so come link it up!!

{FYI I've decided to make the "Letters to Littles" link up a monthly thing rather than weekly,
but this week we will be linking up for Mother's Day letters!!}

LOVE YALL, have a great Monday!
Im linking up here and here today. :)

drawing closer...a little break

Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on You.

Devastate us with Your presence falling down.

Rushing river, draw us nearer

Holy Fountain, consume us with You.

Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with YOU.

Your voice is powerful and your words are radiant bright.

In Your breath and shadow, I will come close and abide.

You whisper love and life divine,

and Your fellowship is free.

Draw me closer, O my Lord,

Draw me closer Lord to Thee.

{lyrics from "Captivate Us" by Watermark}

I'm taking a little blog breather...see y'all soon!

a breather

I am tired and run down, needing a breather from life.

I'm needing more of His presence. HIS rest.

I've definitely been through harder seasons, and I am not even calling this season hard.

But one thing I DO know about this season, this period of life...

is that I am in great need of rest and renewal.

Of everything.

My spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical being needs rest and renewal right now.

It's not just about sleep, though this mama could seriously use some.

It's about taking care of myself, in every way.

What I am feeding myself, spiritually and physically is vital to my health right now.

(well, it always is really)

This little corner of blogland brings me renewal, it brings me encouragement and support.

It has added LIFE to my life, if that makes sense.

But for now, and just for the next week or two,

I am taking a rest...

no computer, no blogging. 

Please don't hear me say that I'm taking a break from blogging because blogging takes away from my life...

it in fact does the opposite.

It's more just about putting things "in order" for this little breather.

I need to renew my focus on things like cooking healthy, exercising and taking care of myself,

planning activities for Abigail, loving on my hubby more, reading that parenting book on my nightstand, taking naps when needed, etc.

And most of all,

I just am yearning for more of His restful presence, without the distractions of anything else.

I don't know what this break will look like as I spend time with Him and with myself...

I dont have a plan.

I just need HIM.

so all that to say...I'm taking a breather and I'll see y'all in a week or two.

Love ya.

Happy Weekend Y'all!

Hope y'all have a great one...be blessed!!