Rich in Family

I've been so overwhelmed with thankfulness for my family. I know that nothing is more important than this family my husband and I are growing. No gift is greater than my husband and daughters. When I see my family, I see God and his goodness. God and his faithfulness to fulfill the desires of our hearts. "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

It hasn't been easy. The hard times have been the hardest of my life. Pregnancy. Long painful labors. Giving when I feel I have nothing left to give. There are many nights after tucking the girls into bed, my body aches and I am exhausted.

You always hear people say "it is worth it" and they are right. Every good thing takes work and is worth fighting for. The joys of having a family far outweigh the struggles. Having little souls and lives that completely depend on you. For love, for nourishment, for wisdom, for everything. To have people to come home to that love you. Deeply love you and are so happy you are home. It is the best thing in the world. And we all get to share in this amazing experience called "life" together.

Eliora is 4 now. She is smarter than ever. She doesn't have that chunky baby body anymore. Her limbs are long and her face has matured. She is quite the artist. She is constantly creating. Sometimes first thing in the morning she gets out her crayons and begins to draw. I have piles and piles of her beautiful artwork. She also loves words. She often makes up her own and tells me what they mean. She goes to gymnastics four times a week and it helps her focus her energy in a positive way. I am so proud of beautiful Eliora.

Lila is about 9 months old. She is radiant in every way. Everywhere I go people are blessed by her presence. She is strong now and is crawling confidently all over the house. She climbs the stairs, with my help of course. She is a nature lover. She gets so peaceful and her eyes fill with wonder whenever we go outside. If she is ever upset, we take her outside. When we go for walks she smiles at the trees and waves to the flowers. She is also very fond of her big sister and gazes at her in amazement. They have a sweet relationship and I know it will last a lifetime.

Eliora and our beloved dog Charlie.

Window light.

Self.

The beautiful hydrangea plant that Jonathan bought me for my birthday.

Milo baby.

We just learned that watermelon is a great way to keep your body alkaline.

I love this smile!!

A sweet daddy daughter moment.

Gluten free vegan enchiladas. Topped with hummus and cilantro.

I am addicted to hot chocolate. I've been having one everyday. Made with almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and cinnamon.

Sisters playing together.

Lila's first strawberry.

It is still hot enough here for orange juice popsicles.

Eli looks sad in this picture, but the lighting is beautiful.

My loves.

My bright and shining star.

Lovely.

Gluten free waffles and real maple syrup. Yum.

I love decorating with things from outside. Whether is is rocks or acorns. Anything to keep me close to nature.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Photos of the Week

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I love sharing my passions with you; family, photography, health, nature, and art. 

This blog post is titled "Photos of the Week", but it is more like "Photos of the Month". I have decided that posting once a week is too much for me right now, especially with the little ones. Being Mom is a lot of work. And of course, a lot of joy. I will still try to post as often as I can.

Well, summer is here. It has been a really pleasant summer. Very mild. Just perfect. We take a lot of long walks as the sun is setting. Exploring the neighborhoods in our new city. It is beautiful here. There is a plethora of trees, flowers, and fruit trees. I keep seeing glimpses of what it was like in the Garden of Eden. It has been on my mind so much. What was it like? To be one with nature when it was so pure. And to be one with God. The majesty of the garden and the euphoria of the fruit. The sounds of the birds and the soil beneath their feet. Friendship with the animals. Listening to the song of the earth. Wow, I can only imagine. I want to recreate that somehow in our modern world. The simplicity. The perfection. Anyway, yes summer has been nice. Trying to make the most of it, before it is here and gone. 

Peace. Love. Joy.