Weekend Adventures: Hartland Orchard

Though we have great plans for travel with our littles, but truth is we can't always fit in long trips right now. So I'm constantly taking hints from other moms and even local events I see on Facebook to find ways we can enjoy each other simply for the day.

Here in Northern Virginia there are tons of great activities that are usually within about an hour away from our home. So this past weekend's adventure was at Hartland Orchard! Not only do they have a fantastic location for picking apples and other tasty fruits and veggies, they have a fun Pumpkin Festival that you can participate in. The boys had a blast and everyone crashed by the end of the day!

The cost per person was $10, but you were able to do a Corn Maze, tunnel slide, enjoy live music, try out the apple cannon, and several other fun activities. I would definitely recommend it as sometimes the other popular pumpkin patches in the surrounding areas can be overcrowded on the weekends and/or even more expensive. It just depends on what you want to do!

What are some of your favorite day trips to take with your kids? As the season changes and it gets cooler here, I want to take advantage of as much as we can! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Weekend Adventures: Sweet Serendipity

This weekend we had the beautiful privilege of being a part of a wedding and spending some great quality time together! I love weekends like this, because something always seems to catch me by surprise. Mike officiated the wedding! He looked handsome as ever (I could be biased) and the ceremony was stunning. Though only 3 hours away from home we found ourselves adventuring to an evening trip to the beach and at the Air force Base I grew up on as a child...how serendipitous (I think that's right..). We watched Kai explore the fighter jets and run aimlessly in the fields finding all sorts of nature.

My favorite part of the weekend was meeting a photographer and his wife who were enjoying the beach with one of their grandchildren (who made a nice appearance in our family photo ha!). He had been a professional photographer for over 47 years from capturing models to politicians, it was quite fascinating. Of course he didn't mind capturing a few photos of us and Kai; while sharing how his daughter and son-in-law had quit their prestigious jobs to run a nonprofit where they feed and clothe the homeless...because God told them to. He shared how it has been going and how now even his sister was coming down from Texas to help. Much has been happening in my own life lately, I've reserved sharing exact details here simply because I'm scared. With all great changes there is fear. After saying goodbye to our new friends, I looked at Mike who always knows how to read my heart in moments like these. He simply reminded me that nothing is out of coincidence. To say our veteran photographer wasn't sent just to encourage me that we are headed in the right direction would be far from the truth, at least I would like to think so.

Sometimes when we feel like we're aimlessly walking towards what we believe is our purpose we lose sight of why we started down the path in the first place or become paralyzed in our steps by fear of it being the wrong direction. Oh serendipity...you nudge me along.

Home Sweet Home

Yep, that's us at our finest! Who knew doing photo booths were so difficult? I mean we literally didn't have one picture where one person wasn't laughing or the other didn't have their eyes half closed...but I love this picture. That really is us the majority of the time. We got back from Georgia Saturday morning around 2:00am and I can't tell you how exhausted and relieved I was to sleep in my own bed. It was also hubs birthday and we enjoyed a quiet breakfast and then went to pick up little one at my mom's house. We've pretty much been attached at the hip since then. I don't know if I'll be leaving him any time soon (I think it was harder on me than him - he definitely lived the life with grandma).

On tonight's list is laundry and several mug orders to go out. Thank you so much for your purchases they really do mean the world to me! I love the handmade community and can't wait to celebrate it all the way through Christmas (check out my Handmade Holiday post).

It's only a few weeks to Halloween and I have a few d.i.y.'s coming up this week. I'm in need of a cool costume for love bug and I have a few projects I've been brainstorming that include some spray paint and twine! We shall see where the week takes us, and I'm hoping to share this awesome bar stool d.i.y. I've been planning up for my kitchen!

Life Thoughts: A love that never fails...

Hubs and I are in Georgia for a few days at the Catalyst Conference. I was torn about leaving love bug home with grandma (but my mom's arms are the safest anyone could be in). The break has been much needed and it's been much sweeter to focus on hubs and us...and myself. I've been running a little too hard, and this break is beyond timely. When it comes to being in youth ministry our hearts are on auto when it comes to our kids...we don't have much time to sit down and soak in what God has for us individually...then today happened.

The theme of the conference is known, and how each of us have an innate desire to be known and embraced for who we are or what we create ourselves to be. Can you relate? Whether it's known at your job for your work ethic, online for your humor, or all around - we all like to be known for something. In listening to speaker after speaker I couldn't stop writing in my journal what I heard...my hand hurts! I was just a sponge soaking it in. But the thing I soaked in the most was Who knows me. I know even in writing this it doesn't make sense to some of you...but stay with me.

As you know The Blue Swallow is my labor of love...my baby...my dream. I have many dreams, but this encompasses it all in so many ways. Entering into any startup or facing your dream, it really feels impossible. I've been beating myself up and have had an attitude of defeat, because IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE "THEIRS!" I am not making items fast enough, I don't have time, I don't have enough followers, is anyone even reading this blog? I seriously say these things to God and He has repeatedly said the same thing:

Remember who you do this for.

I didn't create these gifts or impart myself with these ideas...I wish I could take credit but I can't. It's so much bigger than me and my own idea of success causes me to forget WHO I do all of this for. Why I love how I love, why I write, why The Blue Swallow is even in my heart. It's yes my labor of love, but really because I want to be known by how I show God's love. I want to be known for being vulnerable and being in that moment of need with you - because God has and still does it for me.

Confession: even in the midst of 13,000 Christians I felt disconnected. I talked to my hubs and shared that I did not meet or connect with one person today...I barely got others to smile and this is a Christian conference! If I feel like that...then how do you feel? I don't want that for anyone..especially when I know God possesses this unfailing love. Yes my love can be conditional and is at times or short lived...but His is not. I don't want to mess that chance up for you by not showing that love...I mean it.

Tonight I cried as we sang "your love never fails, it never gives up...it never runs out on me." Cause it doesn't. Through the most difficult times of my life, not once have I been forgotten. When I was on depression medication and extremely thin...alone and isolated - I wasn't forgotten. When I've screamed and yelled in anger at my hubs and forgotten grace and the fact he is a gift to me...still not forgotten. 

I have bad memory haha...but God doesn't. I know this post took a different direction, but I wanted to share my heart and why I love as hard as I do. I love because it is a reminder to me that God didn't leave me once. I just hope to share that something small and tangible with you. So even when I craft or share something new, know love is attached to it... I came to Christ because I couldn't believe someone could love me just for me. I can't fabricate that for you, push it down your throat, or make you do it... and nor do I want to - that's just not me. But In the midst of my juggling life and waiting (not so patiently) for this dream...I don't want to forget you. 

I want you to know unfailing love, in all things that I do. So if all I do is send you happy mail know it really is sent with nothing but love.