1.  Pam's Cheesecake.  Have you made it?  Because it is life changing.  I mean it.  Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Meg and Heather teamed up to make the most cheerful, darling recipe cards and coordinating printable, to help raise money to send Pam and her family back to Liberia.  So amazing.
Perfect too, since when you make the cheesecake, everyone who has a bite will ask you for the recipe.  You can have the cards on hand, share Pam's story, and invite your people to pray for the Buller's ministry across the ocean.  Visit Meg's shop here.

Keeping him off the field is very easy.  And relaxing.  OR THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

2.  Soccer.  All day errrrrrday.  I know this is normal.  I know lots of people have way crazier schedules than we do.  But it just seems like too much.  It was a summer of late dinners and loose bedtimes.  Sunset watching and burrito eating at the beach.  Lazy mornings.  Swimming all day.  PB&J picnics on the lawn.  Now it is hair brushing, uniform washing, homework rushing, early dinners, and our family not all together each night.  Does it get easier?  Or is this how it is forever and ever and ever if you have kids in sports?  Because it seems harder than it should be.

I want more of this.  Less of the other stuff.

3.  Also hard? Having to make tough and unpopular decisions when it comes to soccer interfering with church commitments.  I honestly was unprepared to have to make the choice to miss either school or soccer at this early of an age level.  We want to make a foundation that church comes before sports, even when it seems completely opposite from what everyone else around us is doing.

4.  Soccer conflicts might lead the eating of feelings, for which may I suggest these Samoa TrufflesElizabeth brought them to Bev's Pinterest Party and OH MY is all I have to say.  OH MY.


5.   This.  Too much.  When Grover calls him David.  My heart...

6.  Hi-low dresses (or as I call them, mullet dresses) stop the madness.  I mean SERIOUSLY.  Stop the madness.  They are cute on like 0.00000000001% of people, of which I AM NOT ONE. 
 Related- cat leggings.  In space.  No words.

7.  So I guess Fall is here. Or the PSL is at least.  Read this.  Because YES.

8.  The new Pioneer Woman cookbook comes out next month.  Time to start planning another potluck.  Also, the Dr. Pepper Pork might get us through a crock pot filled soccer season.

9.  Last month was CuppaKim's mug swap and I hit the jackpot.
Leslie was my partner and spoiled me rotten.

She also lovingly doodled all of my least favorite things, which makes her my most favorite.  I mean...
 

I sent treats Natalie's way and am smitten by the lens through which she views her life.  So much of this suburban girl, with fake grass in our backyard, longs for nature and wildness and gardening and quiet.   Sigh.
Natalie, want to trade houses for like ever?
(Pic swiped from Natalie's gorgeous blog.)
See how I need this green in my life? And goats.  And not killing every plant I own.
Mug from World market.  Knit cozy from my friend Lena who uses her shop to raise funds for forever homes in South Africa

10.  This month Emmy hosted a hoop swap to help raise funds for their adoption.  Genius I say.  She paired me up with her BFF and I might have treat her to Nordstrom Cafe for that hookup.

 Megan made two beautiful hoops that are just so perfectly lovely.

 I sent some sunshine to the other side of the country to Terri Lynne.

Little things like these swaps connect people in such small and beautiful ways.
I am looking forward to the garland exchange next.  Garlands are my love language.  I mean right underneath jalapeno Cheetos, obviously.

11.  Speaking of Emmy, the Blakely fundraiser print is still available through the weekend.  I need to put my shop on vacation mode for a while, so grab it while you can.  There are also a few more Hello Postcard sets left and they are going fast. 

Until later...


A quick hello from one drowning in soccer and laundry and sweating from double T25 day...
I just want to have a quiet clean house because my imaginary maid works really hard and I pay her in cupcakes.  And I want to eat cupcakes while she cleans and puts away five thousand loads of laundry.  Oh, she answers emails too.  And works out for me.

But anyway...
I designed two new prints in an effort to drum up some cash money for two dear friends.
Care to add some encouragement to your walls and send some love to Emmy and Jilly?

The Blakelys are adopting again, and Emmy has such a heart for adoption, and infertility, and constantly comes alongside others as they grow their families with both encouragement and support.
I asked her what verse she is clinging to as they wait and navigate the surprising and rising costs and she immediately shared Exodus 14:14.
I love this verse, and too have held on to it in so many different seasons.
This print will add to their adoption fund as they wait to be matched with another child.
Read more about their journey HERE.
Purchase the printable HERE.

Jeannett is a friend with a huge heart, and a passion to fundraise for so many beautiful causes.
She just started a series on Epilipsy, which is close to her heart.
Her family, with the darling name of Team Jilly, will be participating in the Walk to End Epilepsy at the Rose Bowl on November 17.
She has opened a shop with the sole purpose of raising funds to help in the fight to end epilepsy.  So many amazing printables, bracelets, and shirts are available.
Read more about the fundraiser HERE.
Visit the shop HERE.

Shop.  Be encouraged.  Bake cupcakes. Ignore the laundry.  I am.


I have so many feelings about school starting again.
I deeply miss summer, and their brother already misses his three entertainers.
I also have a confession... I didn't buy school pictures last year.
I know.
Sign them all up for therapy.
Guess what?  I am FOR SURE not going to buy them this year.
Because Drew.
The awkward poses, after recess messy hair, neon blue backgrounds have nothing on what she captured.
The reader, the future missionary, and the class clown.  The red Vans.  Another little one in her sister's hand me down uniforms.  The school that we so deeply love, and are so thankful to be attending again.

I am not ready for homework, for emails, for early mornings, for laundry, for brushing SO MUCH hair, for packing lunches.

They are though.  They miss their friends.  They are excited to meet their teachers.  They have a love and passion for learning.
I love their growing minds.  I love their heart to learn about Jesus.  I love that they He is woven throughout their days.

I wish it was still July.  Since it isn't, I will do my best to entertain the wild little boy who is stressing out about how quiet the house is, and doing everything he can to make sure it doesn't stay that way.

We will get through the year. Somehow.  Someway.  And begin counting the days until summer rolls around again.