Ruffles + Rips

It's been a while. Mom life is hard. The hustle does not stop. And, to be honest? I've just been trying to be more present lately. I love this little space and it does my heart good to share things here. The big and little, the light and heavy. I need it and I will most definitely continue to pop in from time to time. Just know, I want to be sure I'm here for the right reasons. To share love and light and offer words of encouragement to you weary mamas and ladies. Friends. I'm so thankful you're here.

The past few weeks have just been plain busy around here. We've started back up with our local home school co-op and, while we all really enjoy it, it pretty much knocks out our Thursdays at home. So, that means working harder on things the rest of the week to be sure we can still have the freedom to attend classes and take Wednesday morning for Bible Study. It can be difficult some weeks but, it's  a l w a y s  worth it to fit them both in. That's some of the good stuff and I really hate to miss it.

So, there's that. And, along with the recent pick-up in photo sessions, my time has been pretty precious to me lately. I'm feeling stretched thinner than I would like and it's teaching me to be more intentional about where I put my focus. Which is awesome really. I feel like I'm learning to prioritize things that have maybe become commonplace recently? They've always been there and I've always been aware of them but, most of the time I allow other things to take precedence and I'm realizing there needs to be some change there.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a wonderful February! It seems like it's just  f l y i n g  by. I have enjoyed it though. One thing I could probably do without is the cray-cray weather we've been having lately.. One day it'll be sunny and upper sixties and the next it'll be just above freezing and too cold to even step foot outside.. I'm so over it. Anyone else as ready for spring as I am?? :)

Here's a fun little outfit that I thought you guys might like. I thrifted this pretty ruffle kimono and it's literally one of my favorite things I've ever bought. I can see many, many outfits revolving around this single piece. Also, THESE SHOES. I'm in love guys, seriously!

P.S. We have some exciting news and I can't wait to share! (no, we're not pregnant) I'm waiting to get a great picture to put behind the caption though so, stay tuned for that!

H A P P Y   F R I D A Y   L O V E S!! I pray your weekend is so very refreshing for your mind, body + soul!

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

RUFFLE KIMONO | Bo Bel (thrifted, sorry, I CANNOT find a similar one but, here's another gorgeous style)

BABYDOLL TOP | Walmart (old, similar here)

DETROYED DENIM | Almost Famous (old, similar here)

CUTOUT BOOTIES | Qupid

CUTOUT EARRINGS | Nickel & Suede (sold out, similar style here)

Muted Tones + Summertime

Dress | made by me

Dusty Blue Heels | Target

Fringe Bag | Very Jane

Wire Wrap Bracelet | made by my mom

It's finally S U M M E R at the Smith house and we couldn't be more excited! I think we're all ready for endless amounts of play time, a little more mama time, freedom to be messier, a more relaxed schedule and more just plain carefree days. I really try not to make our days too stressed as it is but, there's something about summer that makes you want to take a deep breath in and just let it all go.

We started our break with a yummy breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes per the birthday boy's request (seriously, how do I have a NINE year old?!) and then a little piano practice before the boys delved into some very unstructured play and I began tackling some things I've been meaning to do for what seems like ages. Fun stuff, ya know. Like washing all of the bedding in the house, cleaning kitchen counters, making all of said beds and then some general tidying up that comes from weeks of jam packed days and full weekends. Then there was the usual, rotating loads of clothes through the washer and dryer so I can spend an hour an a half tomorrow folding and sorting it all, fitting in a workout (because I am SO VERY determined to make this my most fit summer ever), getting lunch done on time instead of the usual thirty to forty five minutes late because I've put it off and put it off and then lunchtime is upon us, trying my darndest not to indulge in the leftovers from yesterday's party and only failing just slightly, and all the other stuff that's running through my head but I just can't seem to stop my mind long enough to list it all.

Life is busy.

Glen and I also shot a wedding this past weekend. Possibly my last wedding EVER. And while that's a little sad because I so love documenting a couple's day and all of those amazing, once in a lifetime memories, trying to juggle a family and all of my daily duties along with scheduling six plus hours of childcare for four little ones can be pretty demanding and, in the end I sometimes find myself asking, "is it really worth it?". So, for now, I'm deciding to take a step back from the really big photography jobs and trying to focus more on the needs of my family. And, along with theirs, my own. It's so easy to say, "yes, yes, yes" to every open door and opportunity that, I feel like, to learn to say, "no" is something to be proud of. I recently turned down a wedding for the very first time since beginning my little business a few years ago and while I was immediately nervous and apprehensive about whether or not I made the right decision, I also felt this overwhelming sense of relief. I chose my family over a nice little paycheck and a day full of shooting. And that's a big step for me. But, I know I made the right choice.

Looking at our summer calendar right now, all I see are family trips, days in the sun, picnics in the backyard, hours driving the side by side, time soaking up these boys, and very few photo shoots. And I'm totally and completely okay with that. While I like the hustle and bustle of busy, bossgirl life, I love my family more and I'm going to be so intentional about giving them my best this summer. And for the rest of my life. Even if I fail, it will all be alright because I know through all the hard decisions and altered plans, my God is always. in. control.

I read somewhere, "What's the one thing you can give away that you'll never get back? You're time.". I want to remember how I spent my time this summer. When my boys are little enough that they still want me to do things with them and I'm young enough that I still have the energy to do it. Happy beginning of summer friends!! May your days be full of fun and silliness and may the memories abound!

| Mounting Blessings |

It's hard to be thankful when you live in a country as blessed as ours. That's a hard truth to admit but it's so very spot on. I often think of the people, families, mothers, fathers, children, infants that live in more impoverished places all around the world and struggle daily to merely survive. When here we are, in one of the most prosperous nations in the entire world and have so many blessings at our fingertips that we simply choose not to notice. I often see the hashtag #firstworldproblems and although I've used it myself on occasion, what a wake up call it can be. 

Today more than ever I want to be intentional about showing my gratefulness for all that I've been given. For the big things and the small. To be able to call this incredible country home, to have the freedoms and rights that we do, to be able to worship the Lord openly and without persecution and to be able to raise my children in a land with so many abundant opportunities. All of this is not lost on me and I pray that I'm living the example my boys need to see everyday.

So many have sacrificed their dreams of a future so that I could live this blessed life of mine and my goodness I could not be more thankful. To live in a day and age where we have so little worries is such an incredible blessing. Although life has different challenges than it did fifty years ago, and they'll surely change again in the coming years, I am so thankful to be raising my children in the here and now. This family of mine is really all that I have and, at the end of the day, the truth is they belong to the Lord. Daily I pray that He'll guide me to do the very best I possibly can to show them His love for them and that they really can make a difference in this ever changing world that we live in. 

Mothering can just be so hard some days. The days when the little, mundane things start to pile up and we begin to feel as if we're drowning. The weeks and months that we've been neglecting our own needs to fulfill those of our family and we are so close to our breaking point that it feels almost impossible to get back. Then there's the days that the blessings are just mounting and we can literally feel stress melting away. Those are the ones that make it all worth it. When someone notices the little corner of the house that you cleaned or that you took the time to wash your hair or compliments the not so fancy dress you decided to wear just to make yourself feel a little more human. That's when my mind begins to focus and the fog starts to fade and I truly feel the weight of this incredibly blessed life. 

Thank you Lord for all that you've given me and THANK YOU to the military men and women who have literally given. it. all. Happy Memorial Day. #allgavesomesomegaveall 

Pictures by : Mindy Lucas (such a sweet person, talented photographer and a wonderful friend)

The Good Old Days

Do you ever look at your life and think, these are the days? These, THESE are the days I'm going to look back on when my children are grown and the years have gone by and I'm going to wish for them with every fiber of my being. The days of sitting for hours on the shore by the creek, watching my baby sleep beside me and my boys reel in fish with their Daddy and see how far they can skip rocks. Of seeing them so immersed in what they're doing that they don't even realize it's past dinner time and the light is starting to fade. The days of taking a drive to Branson and spending the weekend at the condo. Wasting the days away swimming and snacking and playing games and just being together. When our biggest worry is whether we should go to the pool now and eat lunch a little late or eat first and risk it being overrun with people when we finally get there. The days of fitting everything we need into two suitcases and not caring if I remembered it all or not. 

Summer is like a renewing for our family. We get to shake off the chill and stress of being cooped up all winter and break free into the fresh breeze and soft grass. And we love it. Being a boy mom has taught me so much about the important things in life. Sometimes it's about me and the things I like to do. Like get ice cream and shop (duh). But, most of the time it's about them. How big their fish was or how many times they can cast their rod into the pond with little help from their Daddy. How they steered the four wheeler or walked the entire length of the fence looking for sheds but still never found any. I love when they tell me about their adventures outside and how the first thing they almost always do is pick me flowers the minute we step out the door. They spoil me. 

I love to feel the sun on my face and the breeze in my hair. It sounds so cliche but oh is it true. I love fall and spring but, summer is my happy place. These boys have changed that for me. Knowing that all they need is some ripped jeans, waterproof boots and a trail leading someplace unknown (or maybe so familiar they can already see their destination) to make them so immeasurably happy. Sometimes all we need is to look at life through a child's eyes to see the things that truly matter. The ones we love. Our family and friends. Finding ways to show them what they mean to us. Seeing and exploring and soaking up each and every moment as it comes. That's the big stuff. The stuff that will leave so much more of an impression on their hearts than the name across the front of their shirt or the amount of toys in their room. 

What's the one thing you can give that you can never get back? Your time. And I wouldn't want to spend mine any other way than enjoying these hunks that God has so graciously blessed me with. I pray you all had a fantastic weekend and were able to recharge with your families! Let's face the week with so much oomph that Monday won't know what hit it. ;)