Friday Senses.

Making: Mittens, I'm kind of making it up as I go.

Seeing: Crate and Barrel, doing some shopping for an upcoming wedding!

Hearing: poor Jamie talking to angry customers!

Smelling: Pumpkin spice from anodyne. (It's nothing like starbucks.)

Tasting: browned-butter, nutella-stuffed, chocolate chip cookies. 

Feeling: happy, we had some fun family time this week!

Loving: a new ballet teacher, she's tough (it's awesome!)

Reading: recipes, I love cookbooks.

Praying: for wisdom in the way we use our time and money.

Just an outfit..

Top: Ae, Sweater: f21, Cords: UO, Shoes: Thrifted, Jewelry: target and thrifted.

Just a fall outfit and a quote:

"Let my life not be marked by striving, but instead by surrender.”

-source

Cherish.

Sweater, Skirt&Belt: f21, Shoes: jcpenny, Necklace: francesca's

This week, I'm cherishing:

Coffee with my mom and sister

Knitting

Monday mornings with my husband (time off!)

Brown rice cakes with creamed honey and pecans (thanks k!)

Sweaters

Jamie wearing the socks I knit (what a feeling!)

Yarn

Planning Jamie's birthday!

Putt Putt golf with the whole family

fro-yo

Chilly mornings with warmer afternoons

Saturday morning dance classes

Knitted:

I knit this cardigan with finch clay yarn from Quince & Co. This was my very first cardigan, my first sweater and it was a very fun knit! The shoulders are a little large on me, which is the case with most things, but I love the positive ease on this knit. It's soft and warm, perfect for a fall evening. I wore it to play putt-putt golf with my family!

Friday Senses.

Making: This cardigan. my very first!

Seeing: Road and road and more road. We drive far for pointe shoes around here. 

Hearing: friends planning their wedding, what an exciting time!

Smelling: soup, lots of chicken noodle. trying to kick the sickness here. also, ginger shots... yes a shot of pure ginger.

Tasting: Dandelion chocolate. so tasty!

Feeling: Cozy in a cardigan, it feels like fall!

Loving: a relaxing weekend, it was a busy work week for me. 

Reading: Ratio a loan from the lovely Kirstin.

Praying: for health.
Wishing: For Jamie's birthday!!

on bees, or maybe wasps.

Top: Charming Charlie, Skirt&Shoes: Thrifted, Glasses: Bonlook, Necklace: aerie

This picture was taken prior to the 3 bee/wasp stings I would encounter while babysitting.
By far, the worst time I have ever had while playing with children.
Two of the three girls were each stung once but I was the target evidently.
So me, two screaming girls, a baby and three bees spent the evening together.
I shut the little ones in a room while trying to kill the bees that came in on our clothes (what???) all the time wishing I was locked up in that room too, with a blanket and some chocolate milk (my comfort food).

To end the night TWO hours later, I felt something scratching my shoulder, only to peel back my sweater and button down, to find a bee crawling around in my shirt........ ah! These bees were really making it personal. 

Finally!

Here is a letter that I am very proud of.

I am officially accepted into the SODS at YWAM montana lakeside!!

I have been working diligently since January, preparing for this school. Dancing, praying, hoping.

I didn't share much here, because I was afraid. Afraid that after taking 5 years off dance, auditioning for anything would be out of the question. I wanted to dance, I've always wanted to dance.

5 years ago, I quit. I took off my pointe shoes, folded up my tights and leotard, and thought I would never look back. When I had started ballet, 8 years earlier, I thought this would be my career path - I would dance until I could dance no more. At age 15, I decided that I would no longer pursue becoming a principle dancer. I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me to join in work in other countries and pursue missionary work with my life. So I gave up, what I thought was selfish, laying down my talent to race after Jesus.

While Jamie and I were in DTS, I remember listening to a speaker from the Art and Justice League. He was so passionate about using fine arts in missions - he opened my eyes to the beauty and therapy art can bring. After his lecture, I googled, I googled for days. How can I make this happen? How can I use dance as a part of my ministry?

I found the school of dance studies, but knew it was out of my league. Hope began there though. I decided to try. For 8 months, I danced 4 times a week, training, hoping and praying.

I am still scared, the program sounds challenging and vigorous. But I honestly can't believe I have this opportunity - dancing and Jesus and missions, this is just how my heart beats.

P.S. I hope this answers your question Jennifer! I can't wait to meet you!

Fall.

Top&shoes: Thrifted, Pants: Target, Scarf: AE

We are pretty excited about fall around here. We dream of cozy sweaters, socks, warm drinks, soup, squashes and pumpkins. We love when the temperature drops, the days are shorter, and the leaves start changing. Perfect. 

This fall is extra special to us. It's essentially our first fall together. We spent our first autumn apart while I lived in NYC, and he in MI. Then we were up to our eyeballs in wedding planning the next year. We were married in the middle of November and we didn't have time to savor those crisp nights. We spent last fall in Africa, sweating our buns off. 

So, dear fall, we have some great expectations for you. Please celebrate with us!

Do you enjoy this time of year? Or are you sad summer is ending?

Today:

Top: Charming Charlie, Necklace: AE, Skirt: H&M, Shoes: Blowfish

Coffee, knitting, panera.
He wore green pants, I wore leather.
Fall planning.
Pumpkin dreaming.
We walked our dogs.
Church morning.
and.....
........ working. wah, wah.

but we ended with Drop Dead Diva.