charleston, carissa and courage

 

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how in the world I'm supposed to sum up the last few days.  Did that trip really happen??  It was spontaneous, a little nerve wracking, whirlwindish...is that a word?, exciting and blissful all rolled into one.


I think I was sitting in the Safe Haven movie recently when the idea came to me that Spring Break would be REALLY fun if the girls and I just took off and explored the East Coast a bit.  There's so much to do and see, and Daddy was going to be gone at work anyway.  Then it occured to me...CARISSA!  She was one of the first people that came to mind when we learned we were moving to Virginia.  She lives in Charleston...I always knew I would meet her.  No time like the present. 


So I emailed her...and basically invited myself to come stay at her house.  I do that.  Be alert;)  She always was one of my very favorite blog friends, but I'd never even heard her voice.  Hitting the enter button was a little scary, but so worth the risk.  She of course welcomed us with open arms.  Nothing like that feeling though of driving 7 hours to meet someone you've never even talked to on the phone.  Pulling up to a house you've painted;)  Stepping out and hugging a complete "almost" stranger.  Surreal to say the least.

So was walking this bridge.  It's a landmark in Charleston.  I forget it's name.  You can't miss it.  I've seen countless pics on her IG feed, so to be walking it beside her and the kiddos was a major treat.  And you know this sunset had me at HELLO!!!

She chauffeured us all over town...during SPRING BREAK.  You can imagine how many tourists were there.  And for the record she did a great job:)) 

 

We visited the Market.

 

We feasted on lunch at Jestine's and cupcakes at Sugar Bakery. 

 

We drove King Street.

 

We visited the Battery and White Point Gardens.  So beautiful.

 

We took pictures of EVERYTHING Charleston.

How can you not love this town?!!  It's gates, courtyards and gas lamps...the charm that is everywhere.  Breathtaking!  She's so lucky to live here.  Work here! 

 

Did I mention Carissa is a professional photographer?  How much fun did we have?  She taught me photography tips and spent one night helping me understand Lightroom.  Love her!  All these pics were edited finally on Lightroom...and then some were collaged in Picmonkey.

 

 

We had photo shoots on sidestreets...the girls snapping just as many as Carissa and I.

 

But as much as we loved Charleston, we loved Carissa and her family even more.  I'm so glad I boldly invited myself to stay with her:)  If I hadn't, I never would've known that we are like sisters.  No really...it's weird how much we are alike. 

 

 

She loses her car keys...all the time.  She gets turned around...even with a gps.  She's a little spacey like me.  God love her!  She dislikes cooking. The list goes on. We kinda/sorta even look alike...although she's 13 years younger!!!!  We talk alike etc... It's creepy:)

 

 

Now she's not just Carissa from Lowercase Letters...she's our Carissa...real life friend.  How incredible is that!  There's a lot more to come...

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Winners of the Jeanne Oliver Letting Go class:

Jen @ Halo Headaches

Rebecca Palm @ Gallimaufry Photography

Kaitlin @ Homemaker Design

Farmgirl Chaos

Gina @ Sweet Serenity

 

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

serenades from her honey while she made us dinner;)

 

 

new face to face meetings with IG/blogger friends...julie yarnan

sunsets that blow me away

flowers everywhere

cobblestone streets

 

jestine's comfort food



Thoughts on Kim Kardashian and a give-away!

Good morning sweet peeps.  Hope you all had an amazing Easter.  We did!  It's Monday morning and as you read this my girlies and I are on our way to meet a very special someone!  Eeeeeek:))  We are road trippin' people!!  Spring Break has sprung and we are pouncing on it.  Can't wait to tell you all the details...if you want follow along on IG...my name is farmgirlpaints.

So in honor of my sweet friend I thought I'd try my hat at random again. She's sorta the queen of that:)

 

It dawned on me the other day that one of my biggest fears about moving here was losing my sunset views. If you follow along with me on IG you know that was a really silly fear of mine. 

I may not see the ground in my views, but they are still spectacular.  When we lived in MN our house was positioned perfectly to take in the most amazing sunsets night after night.  We overlooked an old farmhouse with cows and barns and all the things I hold dear, and it was just a very special place.  I really mourned that view initially.  I know that sounds crazy, but the sun and I have a thing.  We just do;)  I thought the trees were going to ruin my view, but I was wrong.  They are different, but wonderful all the same.

 

 

It became clear to me that we may have a certain idea in our heads of the way things have to be and God may have something entirely different in mind.  He knows what we love.  He knows what we need and even if it's not exactly the way we want it, He's gonna take care of us.  Love Him! 

I've really been having fun painting lately.  I can't tell you how good it feels to swirl paint again.  I've had a few people ask me if I would do custom pet paintings and I can tell you with 100% certainty that no I will not do custom pet, house or really any other paintings.  At least right now.

I felt such relief when I finally decided to stop the home paintings.  It was fun initially and then I made it WORK!  And any time painting becomes work I hate it!  That sounds nuts, but it's true.  When I paint what I want, when I want it's pure joy.  Pure BLISS!  I will figure out how to get prints made though.  So keep a look out for that:)

This week I finally took time and pampered myself BIG.  Honey gave me a gift certificate for Christmas to spend at a day spa and it was way past due that I checked myself in! 

Let's just say I'm not good at taking care of certain things.  Like my feet;)  They were so bad the poor girl had to get three different kinds of "cheese" grater things out.  My friend Tamara made fun of me soooo bad.  She's good at that;)  It's just my genetics I guess to have really callused, really thick heels.  Not any more though...my feet are soft and smooth like a baby's butt now.  It's moving up on my priority list to do this more often.  We need to take the time.  It's pretty important.

Okay so my honey travels alot and when he's gone I have nothing to watch on tv.  Nothing!  Because all our shows are on DVR I have to wait for him!  I'm explaining this because I feel like I need to clarify that Kim Kardashian is not the first thing I would pick to watch, but when you are doing the elliptical machine you need something to entertain.  And entertain she does. 


Is it weird that she breaks my heart??  Literally my heart hurts for this girl.  She is so wrapped up in the superficial...the clothes, her outward appearance...the glam that I fear she is going to go mental someday.  What in the world is she going to do when she looks in the mirror in the future and she's old?  Outward beauty fades.  I can attest to that.  I'm starting to see it myself.  OR that day when her fame will disappear...remember Paris Hilton?  I can, but just barely.  Anyway I just want to open her vacant eyes and fill it with something...Someone that can change her focus.  Let's pray for Kim.

The Journey of Letting Go Trailer from Revilo Designs on Vimeo.

Okay if you're still with me you deserve a cookie or something.  So here it is;)  My multi-talented friend Jeanne is offering 5 spots to her new "Letting Go" class.  I have no doubt it's going to be AMAZING!  I know alot of you have that inner desire to create and you don't know where to start.  Jeanne is really good at taking you by the hand and teaching you some amazing techniques.  So even if you don't win check into it.  Sign up.  It will be so fun to spread those art wings:)  To enter leave me a comment and be random.  What's rolling around in your mind??  I'd love to know.  I'll pick the winners after I get back from my ROAD TRIP!!!!! 

Linking today...

Be a blessing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

freshly painted fingers and toes

scalp massages

friends that make you giggle

a soon to be "neighbor"

time with my girlies

meeting a special blogger face to face

 

you belong

 

Happy Good Friday friends.  I asked my girlies this morning what Good Friday was and they both just looked at me with blank stares on their faces!  Uh can you say giant fail feeling as a parent this morning:\  I even helped them along...Sunday is Easter right?  Jesus rose from the grave right??  What would have happened on FRIDAY??!!  Again blank stares...oh and then the lights came on and little chick figured it out.  Jesus died!  YES!!!!!!  He died.  That's major. 



How do I even begin to type how major that was??!  IS!!!  He died.  He took my place, my shame, my guilt...my sin.  He took it all on himself, so I wouldn't have to bear it.  He died for me.  ME!  And you!!!  And it didn't stop there...He conquered death!!  PRAISE GOD!



I am so humbled by His love.  So humbled by the gospel...as a parent I love my girls more than anything.  The thought of any pain or suffering coming to them makes me cringe.  I want to scoop them up and protect them from it all.  Yet God allowed His SON to take our human wrongs and make them right.  Oh dear Jesus...I'm so unworthy.  Just the thought brings me to my knees. 

 

That unworthy feeling is what I think keeps some away.  How can I be good enough?  How could He possibly forgive all that I've done??  I'm nothing.  And if I do ask Him in...ask Him to forgive...will my life change?  Will I really be different?  Can I have a relationship with someone I can't see?  It all seems so hard to believe.  Too far out there to be real.  I'll be trespassing where I don't belong.  I could never fit in with all that faith stuff.

But it is real.  If you are on the fence...if you are cold in your heart and you feel far from Him, I promise if you open His word, if you reach out to Him...He is RIGHT THERE.  He is waiting for you.  He loves you SO much.  He knows your past.  He knows your hurts.  He knows every single thing you hold dear and He wants to scoop you up and carry you.

He loves you.  He died for you.  Ask Him to live in your heart.  To take all that garbage away.  He will.  Draw near...let Him carry you.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  

 

 

 

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter weekend

a road trip looming large

spring break

redemption

a love TOO big to comprehend

old chippy white paint