again, i say 'rejoice!'

new blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 13:19:00 +0000

come follow me over on my new blog.

little branches the blog

master bedroom.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:10:00 +0000

perusing pinterest these days for inspiration.

it's chalk full of it, huh?

keeping in mind what i have to work with + what is DIY & cheap to find.

i love the mix of old + new.

modern touches + chippy paint is totally my style.

and i rarely see pictures that are TOTALLY me. as in, i want to mail-order the room just as it is.

mostly, i see pictures that i like many things about the room, but i'd change certain things out. trying to find my perfect mix.

here's today's mix & match.

quilt / photo credit / reading chairs / photo credit / photo credit

insta-sale. TONIGHT.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:43:00 +0000

DON'T FORGET!

HOP ON OVER TO INSTAGRAM FOR THE SALE & A CHANCE TO WIN!

summer's coming.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:04:00 +0000

it's warm. sometimes hot.

and the fountains are on at fairview.

friday nights are the best out there.

these are some of my favorite pictures i take ALL year with my big girl camera. so i busted it out for some new pics.

check out these four from last year. they've grown SO much.

and just for fun. here's the four of them from last year. awww.......

new favorite app.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:48:00 +0000

a new app for the iPhone was released this week.

it's for your pictures {but really for instagram!}

check it out.

it's from the cutest bloggers over at a beautiful mess.

so much fun. i've been spending WAY too much time messing with it this week.

try it out & see how you like it! lots of different ways to play!!

happy thursday, ya'll.

oh!!! and don't miss it!

over on instagram, little branches will be having our first ever insta-sale!!!

head on over, follow the directions under this picture and then YOU could win this cutie pie 12" x 12" hand painted sign! woot!! how fun would that be?

{you're also eligible for a 10% discount on any purchase you make during the instasale!!!}

the online shop will be stocked a few days after the sale - this is just a fun preview of what's to come. mostly restocking the spring line, but there will be some new items too!!!

back.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:55:00 +0000

yes, we are alive.

the last five weeks have been absolutely insane.

clean. laundry. pack. drive. play. pack. drive. unpack. laundry.

repeat.

we've been living out of suitcases for the past five weeks. lots of {fun} trips. seeing family, daddy, friends, etc.

and now we're back. {missing daddy, but we are back!}

and it has reeked havoc on our little nest.

so i've been trying to make my way through the tornado of clothes, unwashed sheets & such.

bringing out our "spring" clothes and attempting to put up winter, only to have a cold snap again, has NOT helped.

and giving away tons of stuff in an effort to spring clean & declutter the excess in our lives.

i cannot wait to tell you all that the Lord has been showing me. or, should i say "not" showing me....

either way, i'm still in processing mode. all of these new & fresh ideas and convictions swirling around in my brain. all while "needing" to buy a house and trying to keep it all in perspective. it's hard to do in the american culture. AND when we're trying to figure out what the Lord may have planned years down the road for our family.

again, processing.

and the session pushes on. little by little, we are creeping slowly toward the finish line. and we are excited. we're in countdown mode. and hopefully daddy will really come home when the countdown is over. and we won't have a special session.

oh, please, Lord. we need daddy home - at least for a while.

i'm excited to be back on the blogosphere.

praying about some changes here. and in my little business.

making sure that family {and household duties} come first. that's really really hard for me. to slow down on the business side of things - just when i feel like i'm gaining momentum.

but He is bigger than a little momentum. He is greater & wider & stronger than i ever will be - and He has plans for me. and letting go of my little business & my money enables Him to work through it. He can take it where He wants it. and if that is to remain steady, that is great.

slowing down.

taking deep breaths.

living one day at a time.

i heard a quote last night at a dinner i attended with some friends.

"live like Christ died yesterday, rose again this morning, and is coming back tomorrow." - martin luther.

wow.

that changes my perspective. {i wish it changed my thoughts on laundry, but it just keeps coming}.

today i will honor Him with my actions. my patience toward my children {deep breaths} and serving my husband {from afar}. He has been faithful to me, and i want to be a good steward with what He has given me - my children & my husband being the first and foremost of those.

ahhhh.... i could write forever now that i finally sat down.

but i won't bore you.

here are a few insty's from the last few weeks. happy weekend!

30 day shred. kill me now.

sweet muffin.

isaiah 58. read it.

hill country.

children's museum in austin. ginormous light bright.

ice cream break with daddy. they are at the age that they think THEY are the star when they walk on the house floor. i LOVE that for them. b. was telling me "how to get there" as we were walking through the capitol. like, "mom, i've done this before. follow me."

a little cinco de mayo at hula hut. our fave.

sic 'em.

i toured the children's advocacy center last week. it broke my heart & amazed me at the same time. these people are salt of the earth. the God stories gave me goosebumps, and i will share them next week. the Lord is changing hearts in our church & in our community. He is stirring something big, and i just want to be willing. thankful to be a small part of His plan. {and will be even MORE thankful when He finally shows me what that plan might be!!!}

birthday weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0000

***all pictures via sarah avitua {photography}***

30 days.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

yesterday i started the 30 day shred.

it was awful.

terrible.

torture.

i couldn't think of ANYthing I wouldn't rather be doing.

and today i'm in gut wrenching pain. i have no idea how i'll even start day 2.

seriously.

i hate working out. i hate taking time away from doing stuff i want to do to do something for {eek!} myself. seriously.

and i can make excuses all day long.

i don't like walking with the double stroller. i like walking though. but my hubby isn't home so i only have one day a week that i technically could walk without the double stroller. but when my hubby is home i don't want to spend time away from him. and the gyms that have childcare are super expensive.

and so on and so on and so on.

but this has no excuse.

and it's 27 minutes and 56 seconds.

and i can give myself that. right?

and add to that - i've heard the results are amazing if you stick out the 30 days.

and i plan to seriously do it monday through friday. i don't do that crazy stuff on the weekends. let's keep it real, y'all.

so who's with me?

i'm not asking you to post before and after pics. i'm definitely not into those "selfie" pix like that. but i'll keep you updated. and i'd love to have some 30 day shred buddies!! so are you coming??

grace.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:04:00 +0000

do you ever have those weekends where you feel yourself gearing up for what is lying ahead? the kind where you try to soak it all in and breathe deep because you know it's about to be crazy hard coming up?

that's what we did this weekend. went on a little getaway with some dear friends.

and it was awesome. just what i needed. because these next few weeks are going to be cray-cray. the end of school, end of session, birthdays, swim lessons, volunteering, lunches, dinners, etc. just lots and lots of transitions and stuff happening.

and so, with every breath this weekend, i tried to soak in the quiet. and gear up. and try to plan out how i'm going to pull it all together this week. {read: pull myself together this week.}

and as i was writing out my to do list, going over our calendar and thinking of all the {good} stuff coming up, i was trying to get it in my head that i need to have it all together or none of it's together.

but that's not right, is it?

having balance in my life really isn't a good thing.

it's all about having it unbalanced. doesn't that sound backward?

{reading interrupted by jen hatmaker. life altering. vision changing. read it.}

it's really all about having a life out of balance. God taking over - being huge in our life and the other stuff falls in when it can. i'm not saying that i don't need to do laundry or fix my dinner or wind down. i'm saying that if my priorities are straight - unbalanced, if you will - then everything will feel in balance.

and so today - i'm taking it one step at a time - trying to give myself a lot of grace. a lot of room for error. asking the Lord to take me by the hand one chore at a time. asking Him to show me what is a need vs. want. what does He want me to get done vs. what i want to make happen.

and it's hard. but freeing. a few times today, as i've found myself rushing from one task to the next, i feel Him whisper "slooooow....." and i quite literally have to slow my steps. breathe slower. smile more. see my kids more.

i'm excited to get on with the next few weeks, but i truly feel convinced that we tend to fill up our time with good things instead of pouring out our time to Him. in this season i find that i've had to cut activities out just to make it through the week. without an extra set of hands it feels like a gigantic task to get to and from and here and there. and yes, i have dear friends that are more than happy to help out - but that's not really the issue now.

the issue now is that i actually like it this way. i like slowing down and having room to breathe. our weekends are meant to rejuvinate us {especially as a couple, in my opinion} and when we're separated by a million activities it's hard to feel refreshed when it's all over.

maybe you could say that my kids are "missing out" because we're not involved in every activity, but i'm actually grateful that we have time to experience life as a family while we can. i know there's going to come a day really soon when b. is going to be hyper involved in a sport or other activity. and c. will be doing the same soon after. and i want that for them. i loved being involved. so did the hubbs.

but - for now - we've chosen to live slowly. and again, it's our season. not anyone else's. and as judged as i sometimes feel, i know that j. and i are making these choices together and are on the same page. we're trying to follow our plan - the race He set out before us.

so let's make a deal. let's give each other grace. i won't judge your choices and you don't judge mine. your life is different than mine. your personality is different. your kids are different. your circumstances are different. none harder than the other. none better or worse... just different.

and there's no way i could ever walk a mile in your shoes. and i wouldn't want to, i'm sure.

so let's not pretend there's another way. and just accept that we are who we are. and keep our eyes on the Prize and not on our surroundings. keeping up with the joneses - or what have you. if you're in a season where you are able to live "fast"... go for it. more power to you.

i'm just simply sharing that my season - well - it should be "fast". it's crazy. but we're choosing to live it slow. whatever that means. and i'll be trying to figure that out until i'm called elsewhere. failing everyday and giving myself {and others!} grace.

and that's that.

xoxo.

at the bottom of the mountain.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:17:00 +0000

{via}

there's something that the Lord has been pressing on my heart for the last year or two.

and it's very scary to share the details of it. only because i have no idea what He's going to do with it. i can speculate all i want - and each time i do He turns me in another direction on the same road.

it's crazy.

i feel like it's been a roller coaster of emotions. highs & lows. twists & turns. thinking i know where i'm going and then He says "turn around becky - let's go this way instead." although, i know that it's really not instead - it's more of a this-is-what-I-had-planned-but-didn't-tell-you kind of thing.

why do i think He needs to tell me?

because i want control. i want to steer the car. i want to decide how it's going to happen. i want to plan & be prepared & get there faster.

but He continues to leave me in the dark as He emphatically drives the car. i've determined that there's no room for me in this driver's seat.

and - to be quite honest - it drives me completely crazy.

{via}

i was praying this morning about how i feel about all of this & a vivid picture came to my mind.

it's as if i've long been on this journey and i've been able to see something way off in the distance. with every bump in the road, every hill & every mountain that i've crossed over in the past two years or so, i've been able to see this mountain in the distance come a bit closer. it's scary knowing something like that is coming up on your journey. but also exhiliarating as i've found Him so faithful in my other climbs.

and as this mountain has gotten closer, i've discovered it's not just one, but several dozen. a mountain range if you will. and there's no way to walk around it. i'm going to have to go through it. and now i'm standing at the bottom. i'm still. and clueless. staring straight up at the steep journey ahead. i see so many different paths i could take. but which one? which one am i supposed to go down?

i have no idea. none.

here's the crazy thing. a few weeks ago, He laid it on my heart to mention all of this to our new women's minister. i didn't think she could do anything but listen, and He told me to, so i made plans in my head to talk with her in june or so - after j got back from session.

that very sunday she happened into our sunday school room. and i couldn't sit still. like i had ants in my pants or something until i got up and ran after her in the hallway. as i mentioned to her that i wanted to get together with her - in june - about what the Lord has {heavily} laid on my heart she told me that another woman called her about almost the same thing {ONE of the mountains i see before me!} the day before. the Lord was stirring and we needed to chat.

i met with her yesterday. the first thing i said was, "chrissie - i have no idea why i'm here except the Lord told me to come." crazy that the Lord has laid a similar crisis on her heart. crazy, but not, because we've seen Him work like this before, haven't we?

we know ONE step to take at the moment. ONE. and that's pretty much research. doesn't seem terribly productive to me when i know the Lord has brought me here. let's get started already. i'm tired of staring at this huge mountain {range}. just take me up. let me fall. whatever - i just want to get started on this climb.

but He's not ready. again - with Him steering the car, deciding the pace. what's with His control anyway? seriously! can't He give it over just once?

ahhhh - but His ways are NOT mine. and praise Him that they aren't. i'd already be up and over that mountain by now, missing all of the lessons & blessings & trials along the way. can i get an amen?

{via}

so here i am.

having no idea of the what, why, how, who.... whatever. none.

just that the Lord has brought me here.

and yes, it's all kind of sort of weirdly intertwined with africa. but not really. but sort of. huh.

i don't really know how all of the pieces could even begin to wrap together to form a cohesive story. but i know that He can do it. and He will. in His timing.

and, for now, i will settle in and enjoy the ride {or the stillness} and attempt to wait for Him to make His move - which i have a feeling will be something of clearing a pathway on the mountain that isn't wide open but more of a back-woods-trails type.

what mountains is He asking you to climb? are you in a valley? do you see something in the distance? i'd love to know your story.

xoxo.

instafriday. {on monday?}

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:12:00 +0000

so, i was pretty much a vegetable friday and saturday.

the trunk show was a huge success and i was extremely blessed by all of you who came to support me & my attempt to raise money to go to africa. i have no idea what the Lord has for me there, i only know that He has explicitly told me to go. and that little branches will get me there.

so i am trusting.

nevertheless, the last month has been a blur of painting, sanding, friday night lights, tagging & repeat.

except sunday. last week was b's 5th birthday. and as an extra special treat he got to fly with daddy to austin to go to work with him. he was speaker of the house for the day, got to meet all of daddy's "friends" and even did the gavel. he led the pledges & got to push the buttons to "vote". he had the best time.

we are in the home stretch of session. less than 50 {brutal} days left. i am so thankful. and as much as we miss him, we know it's the Lord's calling on our lives at the moment. and in that, there is peace.

took some advice from becky & took time for myself. to get my hair did {which it desparately needed!} so glad that i did this.

my favorite items that sold out in the first 30 minutes. now i wish i had kept one for myself. check back next week for restock.

registered for kindergarten on friday. all sorts of emotions along with this. i can't believe it - yet i'm so ready - yet i'm not. wow. what a roller coaster ride..... as i'm sure the next 12 years will be much of the same.

friday night we went to the spring carnival at the school. b is SUPER excited to attend here in the fall & i'm excited since he's excited.

happy monday, friends.

top five: take-to-a-friend meals.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:00:00 +0000

one of my very favorite things to do is take meals to friends. ones that have just had a baby, of course, or those that have simply had a hard week. we were INCREDIBLY blessed during the campaign by some sweet friends who randomly brought us meals at different points. those special people who couldn't necessarily "do" anything but wanted to - and it blessed me to tears. sometimes it's those random texts from friends saying they're dropping something off for you that make all the difference. i think it's a baptist thing. taking food to others when you can't do anything else.

nevertheless - i have tried {and failed a LOT} to pay it forward. to be aware of people who this might bless. to think beyond myself. and i honestly LOVE to cook. and i don't get to so much right now - so any excuse is a good one to me. my goal going forward is to make this a part of my weekly routine. how hard is it to double a meal? {if you make PW's meatballs you don't even have to double it to have enough for your family & another family!}

i try to keep things simple. but cute. mexican food is always easy because a) we live in texas and who DOESN'T love mexican food and b) because it's easy to pair with chips/salsa/salad and you have a complete meal! tada!

1. my latest favorite thing to bring is this enchilada recipe from six sisters. i found it on pinterest and have made it several times. every time i take it to someone they ask for the recipe and i just send them to this website.

it smells up your refrigerator for DAYS. i like to use the fresh whole wheat tortillas from central market. they're my favorite. {kroger has good ones too!}

2. PW's BBQ Meatballs: these are amazingly good & you will have enough for your family AND another family guaranteed! they take a bit more time to prepare but keep well if you make them ahead of time. they are easy to pair with mac & cheese {the kind i like in the blue box} and a salad. these are super kid friendly {as opposed to the enchiladas!}

3. if you're looking for a delicious treat to add into your meal, i like these ooey gooey butter bars. i keep mine in the fridge so they "hold" better and i, personally, like them {even} better cold.

(via paula deen)

4. another good treat is my aunt's chocolate chip pecan pie. {make sure they aren't allergic first!} it's simple & easy but super delish. bonus: there's nothing to steal before you take it to them!

Ingredients:
1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick margarine, softened
1 c. pecans (I used chopped)
1 c. chocolate chips (sometimes I put in more!)
1 pillsbury pie crust

Preheat oven to 325. Mix flour and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and margarine. Mix well. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pie crust. Bake 45-55 minutes. Yummy!

5. finish it off: put a little sussy in the bag! i like handmade things so i tend to put some homemade burp cloths for baby gifts or a little print. if it's a girlfriend having a hard week sometimes i make a little mix cd {can you say high school?}. sometimes just a little note is all that makes it in the bag - and all they need. the paper grocery bags from central market, whole foods or trader joes make really good totes for meals. put it in a disposable foil casserole dish - one less thing for them to worry about.

i like to tie the bag off with a little bow at the top. if you're making the enchiladas, try making some fresh salsa and put it in a little mason jar, along with a bag of chips and a bagged salad. YES, i just said bagged salad. it's good - and easy.

it doesn't take much. those extra thoughts go a long way for those friends who are hurting, tired or just in need of a pick-me-up. trust me, i have experienced these special people and it has blessed me tremendously along the way. and you do NOT have to know someone well to know they're in need of a little blessing. they will NOT look at you like you are strange - i promise.

who can you bless this week? i have a sweet family in mind for myself.

have a very happy monday!

hello, friday.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:07:00 +0000

whew.

i can't believe how incredibly FAST this week went.

two nugget's birthdays this week. the beautiful girl in between c. and b. turned SIX this week. cannot believe it. i remember holding her in the hospital. she is gorgeous. sporty. oh so kind to my kids. we love her.

and then b. he turns FIVE on sunday. FIVE. and kindergarten roundup is next friday. WHAAAT? ever since he was born i've been waiting for the day for him to go to kindergarten. i struggled a bit with postpartum after i had him and the adjustment was hard. i remember sitting there counting down the {long} years until i'd be able to "be myself" again. my perspective was totally skewed, of course, but i have never dreaded the kindergarten years. partly because i think he can't wait to go, partly because i know he's ready. and i'm ready too. i think.

but let me tell y'all. when i saw that notice on the elementary school marquee, i all of a sudden became a blubbering idiot. i was in the car by myself and i called j. to tell him about how ridiculous it was that i all of a sudden am crying about this. he may or may not have gotten choked up too, i'll never tell you.

why is it that going to kindergarten brings out all sorts of emotions. when people tell me, "it goes by so fast!" i think, no it doesn't. i still don't think it's gone by fast - but how in the world is he old enough to go to school? and i think the part about us not necessarily knowing that we're going to be going to this elementary school {which is superior, by the way!} bothers me to no end.

i moved around a lot when i was little. i went to two elementary schools, two middle schools and then moved again before my freshman year in high school. and although i think it turned out okay and i have never thought i carry emotional "scars" from it, i also hate thinking about b. changing schools and starting over with making friends. it's me, not him.

so.... as we approach five this weekend, i'm going to have to find a way to get him to understand we will not be attending kindergarten starting monday. we will not be riding a bus {probably never more than field trips, poor guy}. and i will be holding onto him a little tighter the next few months.

that's totally normal, right?

happy weekend, y'all.

on sundays.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:22:00 +0000

sundays have almost always been a hard day for me.

j. & i dated in high school but we went to separate high schools. we didn't see each other much during the week - i played sports & so did he. on the weekends we got to see each other either friday or saturday night and then we hung out pretty much all day sunday between church/youth choir/ sunday night church. {ooooh how i miss sunday night church. i LOVED it.}

sunday nights would be full of tears, heartache & catching up on homework for me. oh how dramatic i probably was as a teenager.

and then i went to college before j. did. sundays were full of goodbyes. and he did an internship in d.c. one summer - more sundays.

and then there's our current state.

sundays full of tearful goodbyes.

and my heart aches.

i miss my best friend. i miss laughing with him, holding his hand & talking with him about the sweet nothings of our days. our limited conversations now are full of more "important" topics like the littles, his day in session, his votes, my business, planning the weekend, how we're going to get everything done.

repeat.

but although my heart is aching... longing for his physical presence... i am oh so grateful that his emotional presence is always felt. when we prayed over the campaign i felt an overwhelming sense of peace that God is BIGGER than a physical gap. He could bridge whatever that gap might bring for me or my children.

and the peace is wonderful. it surpasses anything i could have ever imagined. it is what holds me together most sunday nights when i watch his tailights fade down the street. the Lord has been gracious to me in that way.

but the fact is that we live in a fallen world. and although my heartaches does not compare to a lot of yours out there, it is real. and in an odd way it makes me grateful that i even have it. grateful for a husband who loves me and my kids. he loves his job & has a high privelage to serve his constinuents, but i have never doubted that our family comes first. that is a true blessing.

sundays bring all sorts of emotions.

sometimes i roll back in time when i say a dramatic teenage goodbye to my boyfriend of 2 months while i feel like i seriously might die if i don't get to see him until saturday.

sometimes it makes me think of the sunday nights while we were engaged but living in different cities, talking about how we couldn't wait for the sunday that we didn't have to say goodbye.

and sometimes it makes me thankful for all that the Lord has brought us through to get here, to this sunday. where we are just taking it one day at a time, together, on His course for our lives - wherever that might lead.

so. with that.... onto monday!

xoxo.

symphony.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 02:53:00 +0000

we went to the lake this weekend. to getaway and spend some time with my family. our plan was to head back this morning in time for church & eat lunch with j's family.

but today didn't quite go as expected.

i woke the littles up for their egg hunt and my lil' miss was bright red. i thought maybe she had gotten sun burned, although we weren't really in the sun, but when i felt her head she was burning up. her pour little body. so we had at least two down for our easter service at church today.

then as we started driving we hit a horrible thunderstorm.

like, it was totally legit. and scary.

the only thing that could have made it worse would have been tornadoes.

we had to pull over three times to catch our breath and wait for a cell to pass because we literally could not see. hail, cloud-to-ground lighting, wind... you name it, this storm had it.

so there you go. none of us were going to make it back for church.

bummer.

i felt like all day my whole spirit has been in kind of a bummer state. but it's easter.... it shouldn't be that way. i should be reflecting on all that He has done for me. instead, i'm tending to my sick baby & fighting a storm, packing my husband for the week, doing laundry, cleaning my house & working.

ugh.

and then i remembered a sweet moment i had in the car this morning.

as the lighting was flashing in the sky {before the scary rain happened}, i was listening to this song. symphony.

"let the earth fear the Lord, and let the people of the world stand in awe...."

all creation was made to point to Him. how amazing is that? it was all created for His glory. to be evidence of a loving God. the lightning, the rain, the hail - it's all under His hand.

it reminded me that we can find Him anywhere at any time. not just in church on sunday morning in our easter finest {although i totally think you should go to corporate worship!} but when it can't happen..... you can find Him in the car with you. He is amazing. His love for us in all-encompassing and wonderful. His sacrifice for us was the ultimate. and i am eternally grateful.

top five: project life inspiration!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:35:00 +0000

hello friends!

i hope you checked out my project life update yesterday!! i am so excited to get back into this wonderful project & it has spurred me on in so many ways.

it didn't take long to get my groove back - and it won't take you long either! so pick it up - now! let's catch up together.

as i was trying to gain motivation to catch up {it seems super daunting at times!} - i looked to other project lifers for inspiration. today i'm going to share with you my five favorite places to get some project life inspiration.

1. becky higgins. the mothership of project life.

her & her creative team share their versions of project life once a month. when i saw this post i was immediately ready to get back together with project life.

2. ali edwards. this wonderful lady is why i even knew about project life in the first place. is awesome about posting once a week & is GREAT about journaling and keeping snipits from her week. she's all about making it work for you which i love.

3. elise. i've been reading her blog for a long time now and just in the last year she became a part of project life. and now a part of their creative team. she's a big paper crafter & i know you'll be inspired by all of her project. i love her version of project life because she doesn't have littles {yet} and she still documents her & her hubby. i LOVE that. so inspiring. plus: she's adorable too.

4. kelly purkey from it's me, kp. she's doing a mini-kit. she mixes in non project life stuff {which i actually think everyone does} and i'm SO jealous. i want to do a mini-kit. next time. i think these would be great for vacays.

5. rebecca cooper from as simple as that. this is a recent find of mine, but she's on the PL creative team as well. look at this darling instagram collage templates she made. yay! this is so cute & i just might have to buy these for myself. i can't wait to stick these into my next week. IG is going to be blowing up with my new pics!

and there you have it! i think i gave you plenty of pretties to look at this morning!

i SO hope that you will all try to catch up along with me. i am trying to gain momentum and stay on top of this inspiration to get all the way caught up. it's so much easier when you're current.

have a happy monday!!!

project life. 2013 - week 2.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:45:00 +0000

here i go - playing catch up!!

won't you play with me? i'm setting my timer for 30 minutes - just THIRTY minutes every day {namely at NAP time!} to get caught up. i started on thursday & i'm already halfway through february! you can do it too!

click here to see how i got started!

so - week 2 was kind of a big week for us. that's why there are loads of pictures & inserts.

a look at the whole spread.

washi tape is new for me this year. i just ordered up a whole bunch from this site. i use it in packaging as well, so it's kind of "multipurpose", right?

i love the baseball card inserts. i did this for my sister's wedding & for valentine's day cards. it's awesome if you have just a ton of pics to get into one week. i got mine at target. they're in a weird section up front, but they're there!

first & last time. front page of the dmn. pretty cool to keep for my littles when they get older. i'm so grateful to that photographer. so grateful.

first thing's first. if you have no idea what project life is, WHO ARE YOU? i'm just kidding. if you seriously don't... it is a product created by becky higgins to make documenting your life EASY. and i mean EASY.... and creative and fun! i promise. she and her brilliant design team are already getting ready for next year - and i believe that her products will be posted sometime this fall {hooray!} and highly recommend her kits! they're going to be sold in stores SOON - also on HSN. they have digital versions and all sorts of crazy good stuff. so what's stopping you! get some pics developed and let's catch up together!!!!

have fun!

almost amish. {a book review}.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:59:00 +0000

happy saturday, friends.

it's raining here. it's one of those days that i want to stay inside & lay around all day long.

but i need to work. and i'm trying to get motivated. so.... my "sort of" working is this. sharing a little book that i'm reading.

almost amish

one woman's quest for a slower, simpler, more sustainable life

by nancy sleeth

why i picked up this book:

i think i saw this book on pinterest a few weeks ago and was imediately drawn to the cover. isn't it pretty??? and, of course, the title.

in the recent months {maybe year?} i've longed in my heart for a simpler & slower life. maybe it's only because our life seemed to turn from slow & comfortable to fast & furious overnight and i'm still getting used to it. maybe it's because i long to sit and spend time with my littles more. and sit down to eat instead of standing at the kitchen counter scarfing down my food. maybe it's just because i feel like no one is ever present anymore. we're attached to our phones and computers all day. {myself included.}

in fact, last night, we went out to a family dinner - to chili's. yummmmm. and as we were leaving we saw 6 teenage {or maybe preteen?} girls waiting for a table. they were huddled onto the small bench that was the waiting area - and every one of them was looking at their phone. every. single. one.

i was annoyed. and don't get me wrong, i love me some instagram. i love what facebook has done to build my business. i love being able to communicate with my hubby when we're living apart. technology is SO good.

but not when we can't be present in the very moment we're living in. you are out to dinner with five friends and you're {presumably} talking to your other friends. or finding out what other people are doing via facebook. most likely it gives you more chance to gossip {did you see that maggie was on a date with luke tonight?}

wow.

being present is half my own battle every day. i want to teach my kids to be present. with me & my hubby. with our family. in the moment. i want to slow down & read books more. and bake & eat better. i want to enjoy life. and live radically for Him. so, i bought this book.

sidenote: i really wanted to buy jen hatmaker's 7, but i've been avoiding it like the plague for the last year. i know myself & i know that i will not be able to read something like that without wanting to change something & i just didn't want to be ready for that.

so i ended up here. maybe a softer version? i don't know. you decide.

chapter 1

HOMES

amish principle: homes are simple, uncluttered & clean; the outside reflects the inside

okay, first of all, can i just say if my house was clean, maybe we'd be having a different conversation?

with two littles & a dog.... and a husband that leaves a trail, unbeknownst to him, wherever he goes... it's hard to keep my house even remotely clean. or picked up, for that matter. add to that the fact that i'm not naturally picked up & organized and we've got ourselves a natural disaster in my house 95% of the time.

i have gotten a lot better at having the kids pick up after themselves before they move on to another toy. that helps tremendously. and we almost never leave the house until the toys are picked up. it's hard - and sometimes this doesn't happen - but i try. this helps manage the cleanliness a lot.

she talks about the uncluttered homes of the amish. and how more things bring more distractions. while i totally agree with this concept, it also makes me kind of sad to think of a vanilla house with no decoration. i hope that doesn't offend anyone, because if you can do it, more power to you. i just like to be surrounded by things that i find pretty. wow. i guess that might be her point.

surrounded by things. hmmm....

nonetheless, the things i'm surrounded by are mostly homemade craft projects. or have sentimental value. pictures of my family. vintage items we've collected.

and as of right now they're staying. but who knows, that can change.

"{the amish} do not call attention to themselves with falshy technology, decorating, or clothes.}

hmmmm. she might be onto something here. i do not want my home to "call attention" to myself. i do, however, want it to be comfortable & cozy for my family. i want my kids to long to be home when they're away - even at grandparent's houses. i want the hubbs to think about home & think of a restful and cozy place. where it always smells good & he finds a lot of peace.

what is the balance?

i have yet to figure that out. have you?

she talks about hospitality. and how the kitchen should be the heart of your home. and oh, how i agree with this. the stumbling block for me is time. again with the slower pace.

"no one knows whether the fish that fed five thousand were broiled, baked, or ffired; what we do know is that the spirit of generosityand the miracle of faith ensured that there was plenty for all".

in other words, you don't have to be the best cook in town to offer hospitality to others. it's the heart that is the issue.

sidenote: if you're looking for a good read on hospitality, check out edie's ebook. it's awesome.

she talks about fashion and shopping in this chapter too, although nothing truthfully stood out to me on this subject. the basic concept is the same as in the homes. drawing attention to yourself is undesirable & filling up your clothes with stuff you don't wear is wasteful.

and yes i believe both of these things to be true. and with a daughter to raise in this crazy world, i have often contemplated what this medium is. i want to teach my daughter to be modest, yes. but i also don't want her to to wear old raggedy clothes in the efforts to not draw attention to herself. i don't know. i just think there is a really hard line here. it all goes back to the heart, in my opinion. all of it.

on being somewhat of a hoarder: "if someone else can use it now, why should we store it for someday?"

i think this really spoke to me.

as we prepare to move sometime in the future, i think about packing up our house and all of the unnecessary and unused stuff lying around. i don't need more than one set of dishes. i really don't. i could pretend that i do - and that i'll have different dinner parties that require different dishes - but, if i'm being real, i only need one. so.... since i've started collecting fiestaware in the last two years, maybe i could donate the red plates i got when we first got married? what about those old towels that are just cluttering our linen closet that never ever get used - unless we're cleaning up a mess? should i keep them all or should i just keep two or so? you know - for the messes?

what about all of those beauty products that i don't use? i want to use them, but i just don't. i want to keep it simple, so why don't i donate/throw away/give away/sell what we don't use?

it's really got me thinking. again - with the stuff. i've heard the rules of keeping stuff in your house - you should only keep it if it's functional, you find it beautiful, or it has sentimental value. if i evaluated stuff by those rules, i'd be getting rid of a lot of stuff in my house. would you?

so far, i'm not hooked, but i'll definitely keep reading. i like the concept - but i was maybe hoping for more scripture infused in there. i'll keep you all up to date!

join me in reading, will you? maybe we can find the happy medium together?

instafriday.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:29:00 +0000

hey hey!

it's friday. woot!

this week has been busy. you all have been so kind to me this week. i cannot tell you how blessed i was with emails, texts and comments regarding my trip to africa. it's been a hard thing for me to deal with - only because i know it will change me. i know i will see the world in a different way - i will see the Lord in a different way. and as much as i can't wait and am expecting awesome things, i'm also terrified at the same time. it's hard to explain, right?

last weekend, in honor of spring break, we got away. much needed.

to the lake - my favorite of favorite places right now.

the country. where it is quiet beyond anything you've never heard before. seriously.

even the car ride, with two littles & a dog in two, was peaceful. they pretty much entertained themselves & i had time to ponder.

why is it that the Lord's voice seems so much louder when you're away from the "city"?

somewhere in east texas there's this exotic animal farm. they have camels and lamas and zebras and peacocks.... and on and on. saturday we took lil' miss to feed the camels. they're adorable. and so was the sweet baby llama we saw. i need to find a picture of her! she was so cute.

tuesday i had an extra special friend with me while my littles were at school. i love her. she had an ear infection & wasn't able to go to school with her momma, but she hung out with me for just a bit. she's funny. we had a great time dancing to taylor swift in the car. {jules - she knows the words!!}

we celebrated my momma's birthday at hopdoddy this week. it lived up to all the hype for sure.

five out of the nine of us had on toms. including my brother and lil' miss. we love our toms.

monday i had my first ever parent/teacher conference. it was really just an assessment that they do in pre-k to decide if they're ready for kindergarten. although i knew that b. was ready i was still nervous as to what ms. marcy would tell me. i literally had to hold my tears back during the conference. i have such a smart & tenderhearted little boy. it overwhelms me when i think of how j & i are responsible for cultivating his strengths for His glory. i don't want to stifle him but i always think being a stricter parent pays off. always.

tuesday i shared the story of little branches.

and wednesday i shared about what the Lord is doing in my life.

thank you, from the deepest part of me, for your sweet response. i was incredibly blessed.

wednesday i caught c. pouring over my old project life albums. it pierced my heart that she doesn't have any from recent years - with pictures that she remembers - to look at. so, i wrangled up all of my stuff and set my timer for 30 minutes. i got two weeks done. in THAT time. it didn't take long to get my groove back. i'll be sharing soon.

and i'll end the post with this sweetness. i could just eat her up.

have a happy weekend.

& so i'm going to africa.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:30:00 +0000

happy wednesday, precious friends.

i so appreciated all of the encouragement i got on yesterday's post about my little business. y'all really know how to make a girl feel the love. and i needed a little hug yesterday and i feel like i got it from you. thank you from the bottom of my heart.

and now for my little announcement:

a few weeks ago, i took a dear friend out to dinner after her daughter got married. this woman holds a very special place in my heart, as does her family. i respect her & admire her in oh so many ways.

i was sharing with her all that was going on in our lives, as she held my littlest while they colored together. and i asked her about this mission trip she & her hubby had mentioned they were going on this summer.

as she began to talk, my heart started to swell. she casually said, "becky, you should really go." my heart went pitter pat. "ummm... maybe. i'll have to talk to j. about it, but he probably won't be able to go after session is over and everything. maybe next year. but send me the information anyway." pitter pat. pitter pat.

we continued to talk about life and what the Lord had been teaching her & her family. i so admire her heart & could literally sit at her feet all day and soak in all that she says. y'all, this woman oozes the love of jesus.

eventually we hugged and she hollered at me "i'll send you an email" as she walked away. pitter pat. another flutter.

and i took my kids to barnes & noble for an extra special treat on the way home. i vividly remember walking around aimlessly as thoughts of africa began to swirl around in my head.

"Lord, is it time?? of course, that's what you must be telling me, right?" those precious little orphans that have long since won my heart over in all shapes, colors & sizes - is that what He was telling me?

as the night wore on and i climbed into bed i prayed out loud, "if You want me to go - make it clear to me." and wouldn't you know it? He did.

the next morning after my alarm went off, i sleepily looked at my instagram. the very first image was a screenshot of this verse:

"defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." psalm 82: 3, 4

okay.....

throughout the day, i felt this "holy echo" in my life. i saw this verse repeated three times in various places. three.

the hubbs and i discussed this at length & he agreed with me that i needed to go. the only thing is that he's not.

i'm going to travel across the world without him. whaaat?

and as we began to pray about it, we didn't know how much it was going to be but we knew that it was going to be a lot and that we didn't have the kind of money. so i prayed.

my conversation with the Lord over the next few days sorta went like this:

me: "Lord, i'll raise that money. if You want me to go on that mission trip, that money will come in."

God: "remember that little business that I gave you? what was the purpose again??"

me: "blessing others. being myself. how does that have anything to do with this? ohhhhh..... ok. i can part with some of that money. whatever i don't raise, i'll use my little branches money for."

God: "think again."

a day passes.

me: "okay, Lord. i think you're telling me that you want me to put up half the money with the little branches money. i am okay with that. thanks."

another day passes. and i go to the informational meeting. we find out exactly how much it's going to be. wowza.

we also see videos and pictures.

and all sorts of emotions begin to well up in my heart. remember, i think i'm going for the orphans. i already have the scenario played out in my mind. but the Lord says no. He pulls me a different direction. towards the women's clinic that this precious man, emma {who is younger than i am!} has started. my heart goes out to these women. the ones who are pregnant and feel like that have no hope. the ones that are sick & cannot provide for the children they already have, let alone the one that they're carrying. i'm literally sitting in this informational meeting asking all sorts of horrible questions about what abortion is like in uganda. is it safe? what choices do they have? what are the hospitals like? my eyes have tears in them and i feel like a boulder is sitting on my chest.

there is no doubt in my mind that i'm going.

and by this time, there was no doubt about how i was going to get there.

i got in my car and i said out loud, "You want it all, don't You?"

immediately i felt a peace. immediately i remembered that it wasn't even mine to begin with. it's His. He gave it to me. He can take it from me - whether i participate willingly or not. and why is it that He plants desires in our hearts but then asks us to surrender those same desires that HE gives us to Him? and why is it so hard to do that?

i don't think that i am going to uganda to meet my future child. i don't think that, but again, He has done greater things. i do think the Lord is teaching me about sacrifice and control. about surrendering everything to Him - not once - but over and over and over again. about material things being - well - things. and if He wants to take me to africa to teach me that i don't need to put my "hopes and dreams" in a washer and dryer {although i still want one!} then, i'm going to let Him.

and so, my friends, little branches is going international. sort of.

100% of the money little branches makes at the trunk show in april is going toward this trip. i have no idea what i will do if i do not make all of that money. but i'm not called to worry about that right now. i'm trying to focus on one thing at a time. i have no idea if i will even sell one item there. i've never done this before. but, i do know He's asked for it all and i will give it all. {after a bit of kicking and screaming, i must admit.}

***if you want more information on the mission trip to kampala, uganda - email me at becky{at}shoplittlebranches{dot}com. i'd love to fill you in! we will be traveling with engage hope we will be serving at many places, including african hearts**

how little branches was born.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:05:00 +0000

i've struggled for quite some time with being who i think i'm "supposed" to be. please tell me i'm not the only one.

before i had the littles, i was a designer at a large architecture firm in downtown dallas. i loved my job. loved the work, loved the people i worked with & loved all of the beauty that i was exposed to while working there. with that said, i struggled with what the design of my home was "supposed" to be since - you know - i was a "designer". shouldn't it be modern, classic & clean? i was exposed to ALL different designs at work. the latest & the greatest was always sitting on my desk in some shape or form. but this all made for a confused design esthetic at my home. i was trying to be something that i wasn't. i'm not talking about being a designer, i'm talking about having a hard time appreciating everything but being comfortable with my choices for myself.

when i quit my job & stayed at home i had a picture all lined out for myself of what a "stay at home" mom looked like. involved, organized, good at time management, my home would always smell good. the toys would be neatly lined up in matching baskets with tags. i'd always wear makeup & have something yummy on my stove when the hubbs got home for dinner.

can you say it with me? "how's that working out for ya?"

y'all. i'm flawed. in a big way. i'm messy. scattered. disorganized. i'm actually a pretty decent cook, but i'm a piler & i don't ever put away laundry. like, ever.

and i could get totally stuck on this. some days i do. for years, i did.

and when the hubbs ran for office & i decided i needed to fit into this "politician's wife" mold, i felt like i was banging my head against a wall when i just didn't. i was so discouraged because i felt like i kept falling short of what i thought the Lord wanted me to be.

but the Lord gently reminded me that He made me in His own image. He reminded me that He blessed me with these strengths & allowed my weaknesses because His power is made perfect through them.

He didn't want me to be anything but what He created me to be. messy and disorganized? maybe. but maybe i should start looking at myself from His perspective.

i will never be politically minded like my husband. i just won't. there are things that are dear to me but i won't ever run for office. i do not wear suits. {i wore ripped up jeans & my zooey deschanel look alike glasses out to dinner with some of our constituents}. i love the people i have met but i will never know all the issues. and i do not need to in order to support the husband that the Lord blessed me with. that is the key here.

i am a creative. whatever that means to you, it means a lot of different things to me. but recently it went from meaning "i am a hot mess" to "i am a child of God who is blessed with creativity". what a revelation!

and thus, little branches was born. out of an earnest desire to be who the Lord created me. to use the talents & gifts He had bestowed on me to reach out & bless someone else with the work from my hands. what i have for so long thought of as a hinderance or an undesirable quality has now become something i am incredibly proud of.

i can also, in turn, bless my family with my earnings. it's such a blessing to contribute a little extra to the financial load! if you wonder if it's 'godly' to be a business woman, just read proverbs 31. she's a role model for the modern day business woman!

more recently, as we gear up to move, i've had my hopes set on a new mattress. {ours is over 15 years old!} and maybe a new washer and dryer. you know, those pretty shiny ones. maybe a red one? ahhh... a gal could dream. and yes, the hubbs & i could talk about it and save up, but what a blessing that would be if little branches could provide this so it doesn't dip into our already planned savings and yearly budget?

but the Lord has other plans for the fruits of little branches... and i cannot wait to share with you all tomorrow!

top five: new to me music. {and a winner!}

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:30:00 +0000

***scroll down to see winner of kiwi crate giveaway!!***

today i'm "introducing" you to my new favorite music! i am a huge fan of mumford, john mayer, taylor swift & the civil wars.... so i guess you could say i like a wide range of music. does that make me unsophisticated? hmmm... maybe?

i love the singer/songwriter stuff {which is why i like taylor swift so much!} and a folksy sound does me in. {have you heard that cute folksy couple on nashville? if you haven't - you should! love them!!}

so i'm always on the hunt for new {to me} music. here's what i've found more recently that sits well with me! i hope you find something new to enjoy too!

1. the lumineers. i think i was introduced to them last summer by my brother in law. LOVE. i could listen to them all day.

2. jillian edwards. i don't even know how i found this little lady. but her music makes me happy. reminds me of falling in love with my hubby. it makes me want to bop around on a sunny day and daydream all day long. ahhhh.... love.

3. the head & the heart. i put a notice out on ig a few weeks ago that i was on the hunt for new music & this was one of the suggestions. i have to say that i was put of by the album cover... as in i thought i might have nightmares. BUT, it's GOOOOD. promise. i landed on an older album because their newer stuff sounded a bet more techno-y? i could totally be wrong but that's what it sounded like at first listen & that's not really "my sound".

4. the paper kites. i checked these lovelies out after seeing it posted on beth's ig. i think we would be friends. i have listened to these short little albums on repeat on my trips to austin. happy music.

5. of monsters & men. i MUST tell you that they're probably gaining in popularity by the day. i had heard a few of their songs before & not even realized it. you need to check them out. really good music. relaxing. good to work to - kind of cathartic, in my opinion!

OH. and i have a giveaway to cash in on, huh??? who's the lucky winner??? NUMBER 17.

eeek! stephanie, it's you!!! email me & let me know if you want me to wait and send it on your new adventure! :) hope this brightens your monday!

instafriday.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:01:00 +0000

i don't feel like i have a lot to share this week! you can tell what my week's been filled with! work, work & more work!!!

{don't miss the kiwi crate giveaway!}

{and my sweet little ones to add a bit of humor!}

kiwi crate. {a giveaway!}

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:31:00 +0000

for christmas, nana got us a subscription to kiwi crate.

i originally saw it on meg's blog and thought that it would be such a fun idea for my kids but didn't want to pay a subscription at $20 for a month for crafting supplies.

but - y'all - it's SUCH a good deal. there's SO much in each box AND it is so fun to open it up and see what fun goodies come each month!

and if you order through this link, you'll get $10 off!

the first month we got a cute pair of scissors, pastels, watercolors, four postcards to paint & a game of penguin bowling. the littles thought that was SO much fun.

each month seems to have a theme and the last box we opened was family game night. it included two games {and we haven't even done the board game yet!} it's such a good rainy day thing to have on hand. my kids seem to be bickering a lot lately {c. has learned that she doesn't necessarily have to do everything her brother tells her} and sometimes it's nice to open up our kiwi crate & have a slight break from the fighting. {until they both want the red marker!}

i have been super impressed with kiwi crate, to say the least. you get so much packed in the little box and they always have a little pamphlet that has even more ideas for crafts, games & activities that go along with that theme! we will definitely be continuing our subscription when it runs out. it is such a fun idea!

so - today - i'm giving away a THREE MONTH SUBSCRIPTION to kiwi crate!!! {not a sponsored post - i just want you to see how great it is!}. i just know that you, too, will LOVE it as much as i do! i can't wait for you to see!

***********there are three chances to win:*********

for your first entry - leave a comment HERE telling me when you'd pull out the kiwi crate! right when you get it? a rainy day? when you're trying to cook dinner??

for your second entry - share this giveaway on ANY social media! facebook, instagram, your blog! {you can share on all three, but it only counts once!!} make sure to leave a comment HERE telling me you did this!

for your third entry - like my page on facebook & leave a comment HERE telling me that you're a fan on facebook!

GOOD LUCK! the giveaway will close on sunday night at 5 and i'll announce the winners here on monday morning!!!

have a great wednesday! i'm off to find my third cup of coffee!!

****remember, this is NOT sponsored by kiwi crate! i just wanted to share with you! all of us mommies can use a good rainy day supply of goodies, right???****

if you want to go ahead & order a kiwi crate - use this link & we will BOTH get $10 off!!!

shop update.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:45:00 +0000

thank you ALL for being so super supportive of our trunk show coming up! you guys are the BEST. i am so thankful that you understand that i have to take a bit of a hiatus from my online shop to prep for this show! i am so excited to share all of the new goodies i have up my sleeve!

{above}

some custom pieces on the way to their new owners. i especially love these. the color combos are my favorite! the blue you are my sunshine piece will be available at the trunk show in 12" x 12" and will be available to order in 24" x 24"!

{above}

a sneak peek of the new liberty collection that will make it's debut at the trunk show - just in time for summer!! yay! lots of fun in the sun stuff coming up! is this stuff you'd like to see in the shop too? be sure to follow me on instagram & on facebook for regular sneak peeks as the trunk show gets closer. {more details on that later this week!}

so - many of you have been asking when the shop will reopen. {yay! i'm so glad you still want to order!}

i will start taking orders for the spring collection {below} only starting on monday, the 18th {with the exception of the gold 'you are my sunshine'}. i have a few lingering custom orders that i will work on next week as well but will not take any new custom orders until after april 20! i'm going to change up my policy a bit and am still working out the kinks to give me a bit of room to breathe! i absolutely LOVE being able to make something that is EXACTLY what you've been looking for, but i want it to work for both of us so that you get the very best product possible! it fills my heart when i get sweet emails from you all after receiving something telling me that it's even better than you pictured. thank you so much. from the bottom of my heart. really.

so what will be at the show?? when is the show? where is it? what's it going to be like??

all of those questions will be answered later this week! i promise! oh - and i have a very special annoucement regarding the profits of the show as well, that i cannot wait to share with you. it's something that the Lord has been working on in my life & i hope it will bless you as well.

thank you all for your support. i am beyond humbled that you all have responded to this labor of love that i have found in little branches. i am so excited to grow further and see where the Lord might take it. have a blessed day!