art.

There is a magnet on my fridge that speaks to me when I look at these pictures...

"You are my VERY GREATEST earthly BLESSING!"

~Martha Finley

She is growing and blooming a little bit each day...

last night, we spent time coloring, cutting, naming shapes...

a fine Friday evening if you ask me!

much love,

maggie

enjoy.

have 

a 

lovely 

weekend!

be blessed in what you do and where you do!

Me?

headed to a baseball game!

like... as in a real. 

true. 

big time. 

baseball game!

excited.

pictures to come SOON!

much love.

M.

embrace the camera...

Embracing the camera today... 

... with a picture of me and little miss! 

on our way up to Family Camp last weekend, we stopped at a "Drive-In Diner" (it was DELICIOUS) and it had a giant spinning mug of root-beer in the parking lot (see behind us in the picture) that Josie kept calling coffee!  

I absolutely LOVE this picture!

She makes my heart smile.

She's pretty much smitten with her papa too! 

(and his ice cream!)

Head over the link up and Embrace THAT camera!!!

Be

Blessed.

M.

a balance.

Do you ever have trouble finding a balance in life?
Keeping dreams alive, yet being content where you are?
Sometimes it can become a battle for me, so I decided to spend some time devoting prayer and focus on this very subject...
For example... I would absolutely LOVE to have an old farmhouse someday, with animals in the pasture, chickens providing eggs for the family... kind of Little House on the Prairie set-up, except with electricity and such :)  however, currently I live right in town, on an acre and the outlet mall is about 1 minute away.... Here's what I found: CONTENTMENT, MODERATION... "give me neither poor nor riches but only my daily bread."  If we had everything we wanted or dreamed for at the blink of an eye... we wouldn't be grateful for the beautiful - bountiful blessings around us!  That isn't to say that we can't work towards our DREAMS!  WORK towards them, being the secret:  "I can do EVERYTHING through HIM who gives me strength!" Philippians 4: 13
Meanwhile, this wanna be farm girl can just enjoy other peoples animals and farms on a "visiting" basis.  Less stress from afar, perhaps!?

Here's to embracing the here and NOW

&

Shooting for the moon!

Be

Blessed.

~Maggie 

Ten things...

Linking up this fine evening over at The Elephant's Trunk for:

I couldn't resist!

This looks like SO MUCH FUN! 

{The link up is open the rest of the week, so be sure to head over!}

Enjoy!

Some things you might not know about me:

1. I love hot rollers!  

2. I love to use pencil sharpeners... the old school kind that are attached to the wall.

3. I am left handed.

4. I don't like to write in cursive.

5. I dream of driving a vehicle with a stick shift some day.

6. I don't like hard boiled eggs.  They kinda make me gag!

7. Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday!!!

8. I don't like toe rings.

9. I distinctly remember seeing The Little Mermaid in the movie theater, with my mama! 

10. One of my favorite college classes was BALLET!  Who knew!? :)

Happy Evening to all!

xo

roots.

I went to bed the first night of Family Camp (this past weekend) feeling completely full, blessed and gracious to our God for providing me with such a miraculous duty... Motherhood!
Our Bible verse to focus on for the weekend was Psalm 139:14 ...

"I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made;

your works are WONDERFUL...

I know that FULL WELL!" 

In particular we discussed how very important it is to teach this to our children... that despite what the world says, they are a PERFECT creation, just the way that God made them!  Society has pressed for us to dress a certain way, act a certain way and "be" what others around us are, but that isn't TRUE... We are PERFECT in His eyes, and our children need to know that!  Inside and out they are "fearfully and wonderfully made" - How AMAZING this is!!! Oh how BLESSED we are! 

I want to teach this to my daughter and show her unconditional love, just as God loves us!!! 

The next morning we were up early, and ready to begin our day!  Josie and I set out to find the secluded beach we had heard about.  When we found it, the first thing Josie discovered was the water, rocks and getting WET!  

   

The first thing I discovered was a gigantic tree, with roots coming up, surround the tree trunk and all of the area around it's base....

my heart practically leaped for joy right out of my chest!  It spoke to me so clearly... ROOTS... this is what I  am going to give Josie!  ROOTS!
Roots in her family, Roots in her church, school, playgroups, FAITH!!!  Just like my parents did for me as a child and all through my adolescence, and continue to do so in my adulthood .... now I will do the same for my daughter!
At that very moment, I did not want to forget this experience I was having.  The quiet lake, waves lapping on the shore, loons calling, the sun shining, true natural beauty, the laughter of my daughter and her pure innocence.

I was AMAZED!  Amazed by the simple joys I was surrounded by.  I immediately gave THANKS - a cry of gratitude from the height of my utter JOY and prayed "Lord, never let me forget this tender, precious moment."

My cup runneth over.

Later in the day I found a quote that seemed to fit my heart perfectly....

"Occasionally in my life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment.  Which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words.

Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart."

Martin Luther King Jr. 

Unutterable fulfillment.... what a BLESSED and HOLY experience to have!

May your day be full of these moments,

and may your roots run deep.

Much

Love,

Maggie 

BUELLER??????

alleluia.

thank you sweet little baby Jesus!

i am back in the world of the living!!!!!!!!!!!!!

our computer has been D-E-A-D as in 

no power.

no functioning.

no Internet,

nadda.

since last Friday!

that's a week my friends....

and when the mail came today and our charger arrived...

first i screamed!

then i may or may not have almost peed my pants...

and i ran inside and charged her up!

(the computer is a girl.)

Now....

what have i learned from this situation?

1. going without a computer is not the end of the world.

2. i got A TON of stuff done while she was not available.

3. i truly missed blogging :(

4. i am frantically reading your posts and squeezing in as much air time as i can... because we leave to go camping in 4 hours.

5. i am SOOOO EXCITED FOR CAMPING!

amen.

amen.

aaaameeeeeen.

on a different note....

here are a couple of pictures from the last beach date Josie and i went on:

sand in toes makes a happy mama! 

seashell soup... my favorite!!!

:)

computer or no computer....

Life is so precious!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!!

& don't forget:

love,

me.

xo.

a quiet heart.

Hello loves...

Happy Friday from ME to YOU!

So, yesterday during my afternoon quiet time/devotional time... my focus was on a quiet heart.

A lot of times we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and by the end of the day (or even by the afternoon) our heads are spinning... at least this is how I feel sometimes.

I want to be the best I can be, so I have been praying for a quiet heart when this sneaks up on me.

I found a Bible verse in Zephaniah (did not know that existed, just being honest - but it's a star in my book)

So, Zephaniah 3:17 reminds us that our God is faithful, and only wants the very best for us....

"The Lord, your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take GREAT delight in you, He will quiet you with his LOVE....."

This verse spoke so strongly to me!

I love the phrase "MIGHTY TO SAVE!"

(source)

"Drop thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls 

the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of THY peace!!!"

Oh how BEAUTIFUL that peace is!

I found that quote in my Whispers of Encouragement book - I thought it really spoke to the objective of a quiet heart.

We are so blessed with a faithful God that will not let our lives be overcome with stress and strain...

we just have to remember to lean on HIM!  

For me, personally, a peaceful and quiet heart can make a world of difference in my outlook on each day.  I feel renewed, revamped and ready to take on the day.

Be

Blessed

Today...

~m.

oldie but a goodie!

Good Morning!

I came across this picture of Josie from last Fall, and it made my heart melt!

my baby is growing before my very eyes!

I 

Adore 

Her!

xoxo,

M.

the best kinda wednesdy.

Good Morning y'all!

Coming to you live from my very quiet and peaceful kitchen this morning...

I am drinking green tea over ice, with a dash of honey (can we say yum?)

and the dog is sleeping on my feet. 

What a great start to a Wednesday! 

(source)

So, as I said earlier... we had family visit this past weekend, and it was GLORIOUS (to say the least)

So glorious that I took about 2 1/2 pictures, so really don't have much to share, but I will say this....

a sweet southern accent can turn any one's day around!

:)

Our family, on my mother's side come from the south... and my grandma, for as long as I can remember had a sweet southern accent and divine hospitality!  

I'm pretty sure my husband turned to me on Sunday and asked why I was talking with a Southern accent, and my response...

"Why Not? It's in my GENE'S ya know!?"

(ya know is pretty much a Minnesotan thing... I like to mix it up a little! Work with me people!)

:)

*******************

do you love this canvas?? (totally random... but fabulous!!!)

(source)

i think this one is my favorite!!!! I LOVE turquoise right now!

(source)

--> Look for Kathe Fraga on Pinterest!

*******************

Today's agenda is: 

Farmer's Market in town

Library

and PARK!

THIS JUST IN:  I love Summer!  amen.

couple other things I am lovin':

ohhhhhhh beeee stillll my heart!

go HERE and get one for your bundle of LOVE asap! 

and last but not least let's discuss how to die for this tote is....

the little leather detailing is about the BEST!!!!!

(p.s. I may or may not have this very bag on it's way to my house as we speak!

notevenkidding! AH!)

Get yours HERE!

Be

Blessed

My 

Loves.

~M.

mama, my bouncin'

hi all!
first of all, let me just say i am coming to you feeling completely blessed and loved and my cup runneth over after a wonderful weekend spent with family..
second of all i will tell you that i had a nasty run in with some sort of angry stomach bug or food poisoning that left me feeling like a large semi had run me down - luckily this did not happen until sunday night... but whatever it was... it's gone now!!!!
thank
you
JESUS!
amen.
today we spent the majority of the morning playing with friends in my mom's group!
josie laid her big blue eyes on the trampoline, and was never to be seen or heard from again....

no trampoline jumping is complete without:
a tutu.
*** enough said.

pretty much could just eat her up!!!

josie and i both fell head over heels for this sweet little pup named roxy!
she looked like she was straight off the pages of lady and the tramp....
except maybe not a boy.
or a scotty dog.
but...
whatever...

Hoping this finds you enjoying a lovely Tuesday!
Be
Blessed.
M.

sand in the bathtub.

TODAY is my FRIDAY!

alleluia.

i am so excited to head home and see dear friends and family!

(promise to take pictures)

there will be grilled steak and lobster involved...

amen.

for now, i bid you farewell and wish you a lovely weekend!

oh yes,

AND....

Summer has officially began in our household!!! 

we have dug our feet in the sand, played at the beach, swam, and hung our towels on the deck to dry!

the sweet smell of outdoors calls to me each morning!

** also calling to me each morning is my new Nine West sun hat!!

(Thank you TJ MAXX!)

Much 

Love

and blessings to you my friends!

~M.

fresh from the cabbage patch.

besides the fact that i am sneezing uncontrollably, and my eyes feel like they have gravel in them 

(hello allergies. you really need to take a hike!)

i am coming to you this morning with a happy heart!

josie and i made a quick trip to my mom and stepdad's for a wedding on saturday,

but that wasn't until the afternoon, so we got to "play" with my mom for the morning!!!

i brought josie's bike with, and she is getting SOOO good at pedaling...

especially on a driveway that has a slight slant :)

the sun was shining!

we ate blueberries.

i drank coffee & had a new magazine to swoon over.

all was well with the world!

then we walked around the block with an old stoller/cart that josie found in my mom's garage and a cabbage patch kid from a garage sale (it just does not get any better my friends!!!)

life

is

oh

so

good!

Be BLESSED today!!

more soon,

m.