This summer, we planned to vacation at the mountain house that we usually stay at in Boone, NC. There was some last minute conflicts that caused us to adjust our plans slightly. I did a quick look on AirBNB and found a cute cabin in Blue Ridge, Georgia. We've never been to Blue Ridge, Georgia before, but we were pleasantly surprised by how great the location was…
Read MoreWhen I was in the process of designing my website and thinking through topics I could write about, the topics of this book became my first blog series. The blog series was intended to be simple and concise, but I had written more content than would be helpful for reading in a minute or two. So I had it in the back of my mind that I would put this together into an eBook of some sort in the future…
Read MoreI’ve released a brand new Fall Bucket List in my resources. Don’t let this season slip by and miss doing something new or revisiting some of your favorite traditions. Download the bucket list, write them down, and make it happen.
Read MoreAbner, as you turn 3 years old, I wanted to list out some of the wonderful things I love about you at this age. I love that you still find comfort from your blanket and it’s tag, I love how passionate you are with you kisses, how you always put your hands on your hips, or put your arm around my neck whenever you come near…
Read MoreAs we move from one season to the next, we've decided to once again revamp our family rhythm. Truth be told, our rhythm is an ongoing work in progress. As a family with two kids, our schedules are always in flux and so is what works for us at any given time. We're lucky that no two days ever seem the same…
Read MoreHolidays with the boys are always so much fun. We try to revisit traditions while introducing some new activities in the mix. This year we did some Easter crafts, visited some friends for an egg hunt, and had a delicious ham for dinner along with our normal Easter traditions…
Read MoreNow that the weather is warmer, the little ones prefer to be outside doing something fun. If you're looking for some inspiration to keep things fresh and exciting, here are 5 easy outdoor activities you can do with your little ones.
Read MoreIt seems like there’s always a growing list of fun things I want to do - both personally and as a family. It helps to write these things down, but often they end up in the back of my notebook or daytimer on a page I’m not frequently checking. I wanted to create something that would allow me to display the fun things we want to do as a family in a prominent place - that way we’re thinking about them and prioritizing making them happen…
Read MoreWhen people ask me how I’m doing these days, my answer is simple - yet complex. I feel, in a word, free. But the journey to 2021 has been long and at moments wearying. My life has been a weird mix of wonderful moments and painful ones. Sweet mingled in with the bitterly sour…
Read MoreEach day is a clean slate. A fresh start. A reset.
We greet each day. And its endless possibilities.
We plan. We expect. We anticipate.
But life is unpredictable.
What will each day hold? We never really know…
Last year was challenging for our family. It was full of adjustment to new things we’ve never experienced. We worked hard, pulled lots of all-nighters, and gave everything we had to sustain our family through our own business. By the time fall arrived, we were worn out, tired, and in need of time together with no deadlines and no pressure…
Read More2020 was a year full of first-time experiences. Many of the firsts were unexpected, but Emet playing tee-ball was something we’d been looking forward to…
Read MoreOne of the most important goals for the first 5 years of my boys' lives has been teaching them how to cultivate obedient hearts. This goal takes a high priority over everything else - school, creative time, and playing. We provide the boys with tons of opportunities to enjoy playing, exploring, and spending time together. But, when it's necessary, we'll stop and prioritize moments for instruction and development.
Read MoreTurning 5 is a big deal. Well, every birthday in the Payne home is a big deal. ;) As you know, around here we don't just have a birthday, we celebrate a birthday week. Last year we had a big party for Emet when he turned 4 and invited all of his friends to join him at the trampoline park. It was one of the last big social events that we've been a part of since COVID…
Read MoreWe love making slime together. The recipe is really easy, it’s fun to make, and you get to play with it when you’re done…
Read MoreGoals are a hot topic right now. Part of this is because it's the beginning of a new year, and it's customary to start the year by making resolutions and setting goals. Another reason goals are getting a lot of attention is because of 2020 and how so many of us were affected by it. Last year changed how many of us are thinking about goals in 2021, and now we're all very aware of how outside circumstances affect our ability to achieve them. For many people, goals feel unattainable, frustrating, and not worth the effort and disappointment that is sure to accompany them. This does not have to be the case…
Read MoreThe world feels especially heavy right now. It’s uncertain, overwhelming, shocking and at the same time much of what I’ve watched play out is not surprising. I desire to recognize that everyone processes this heaviness and pain differently. I want to take the time to step away and reflect on my heart and motivation between keeping myself informed. I want to pause before I react, I want to listen, I want to silence unnecessary noise, I want to be someone that unites, I want to communicate with clarity, but most of all I want to stand for what is right…
Read MoreNow that 2020 has come to end another year of blogging, I put together a list of "reader favorites" from the year. Here are 10 of the most read blog posts from 2020.
Thank you for sharing this year with me! Enjoy!
Read MoreChristmas 2020 was a sweet one. We worked really hard to get everything done and then we stopped. Just us. We put our phones down, stopped checking emails, and shared time with each other playing games, putting together legos, and eating way too much food…
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