spices, jelly and reading

The day after the wedding shoot in Portland, Savannah and I walked around downtown to enjoy our last day in the big city. We kicked off the morning with some coffee and walked through store after store. I bought spices and jelly (good, good decision) mostly because I love to cook and Isaac loves to eat. :) Lunch with a friend, dessert at moonstruck and reading at the hotel.

Recipes headed your way very soon!

Portland Oregon Photographer: Savannah

Savannah and I have been friends since first grade. We can say everything to each other and nothing to each other. We can just be ourselves. We can share what God is doing in our life and our ache to grow closer in our relationship with Him. We can talk about our struggles and our desire to glorify Him in every single aspect of our lives. i love being able to live in freedom.

The morning of the workshop, we had about five minutes before we were leaving for coffee so we ran across the street and we laughed about everything.

happy Tuesday!

thoughts and then more thoughts

today i had a thought that was followed by another thought. this typically happens, but for some reason these thoughts were more significant than the last thoughts.

with every piece of me, i want to tell the truth. it's not just that i don't want to believe lies or speak lies: i want to tell the truth to women. because it is something that we need to hear...because it's true! i want to live in this truth and own this truth and be refreshed daily by this truth. i want to defend the truth. because it's worth it. because He calls me to do it.

after a long day at the pursuit 31 workshop, i can't sleep. and it's definitely not the time change because i am writing this at midnight here, making it 2 in the morning in missouri. trust me, i don't adjust that quickly. i just keep thinking about the visions that God has given me for women and for myself. i keep thinking about it because it makes my heart joyful.

He moves in my heart with great joy to the point of tears. because He is good. because He is bigger. because He makes the impossible possible with His command. i am moved by Him. and i want so, so very much.

to Portland we go!

Savannah and I are headed to West Coast for a few days. She is looking at grad schools and I am going to be working it at a photography workshop with Karen Stott and a bunch of over fabulous ladies that I have yet to meet. If you haven't checked out what God is doing through Karen, you definitely should!

I am looking forward to traveling (although it is a bit stressful without my husband) and reading and resting and running and making memories! Throughout the day I have had to decide to enjoy this gift that God has given me - this week away. It's hard for me to understand why I would have to choose to enjoy a gift.. but that is where I am right now: disciplining myself to enjoy a gift. And amidst this great challenge today, my heart is full of joy because He is so good! And because all things are possible in and through Him. 

If you know of anything spectacular to do in Portland, Oregon leave a comment below! 

I am so thankful for each and every one of you!!