January 25

January 25, 2016 Jacqui

HELLO!

I'm Jacqui, the mom behind the camera. Wife of one + momma to five. Writer + speaker. Unqualified philosopher + theologian. Accidental mentor. Chaos manager. Lover of coffee + wine, perspective, and Jesus. Truth teller. Freedom fighter. Worth affirmer. Wanna-be author + world changer. Occasional cusser. Laundry piler. Emoji enthusiast. It's nice to meet you!

I hope you'll stay awhile and take a look at life through my lens, as I seek to find joy in the mess and walk with God through the beauty of everyday life.

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Sunday. ✨👫 No matter what they say, we’re always better together. Always.

Do you see Him? #meetingGodinthemundane

As summer draws to a close, I find myself wedged in the familiar divide between the now and not yet. Between the things I long to do once mostly kid free and the space in which summer still holds all of us, squished on top of each other in a small house like crayons in a box. I yearn to “get back to my life” while sometimes failing to see that I’m already in the thick of it, right here in the very midst of grubby feet, sticky floors, and a sink full of dirty dishes. . And I’m reminded again, beloveds, that although we ache for the significance of doing big, world-changing things with the Lord, the fact that we already mean the world to Him frees us up to do the small, hidden, seemingly insignificant things. We have the privilege of witnessing the Kingdom of God right here among us, built with bricks of smallness and humility. So today, friends, wipe a runny nose. Share a meal. Help a toddler wash their hands. Welcome a stranger. Simply open your front door. Hold your tongue. Change a diaper. Offer kindness. Fold an unending pile of laundry. Carry burdens. Confess weakness. And watch Him show up. #fridayintroductions #meetingGodinthemundane

Instagram-worthy. Pinterest-worthy. #ootd-worthy. Selfie-worthy. (👈🏻is that a thing? 🧐) . The adjectives these days have a way of making our everyday, ordinary, less-than-perfect lives feel really....un-worthy, don’t they? . What if we stopped looking around at everyone else and, in our own time, simply allowed ourselves to bloom right where we are? No asterisk, no footnote, no excuses. Just our own unique brand of color and beauty basking in the sun. 🌻♥️ . Thanks for the flower inspo, @lucky13amy! I saw these beauties & thought of you. 😘

Cousins, take 8. 🎬 Sometimes it’s worth dancing around with a funny face, practically dangling a popsicle in front of their noses, and waiting them out to get the shot. 👌🏻 . On an unrelated note, during the month of July I had more uninterrupted time to think and dream than I have in a while, so I started brainstorming topic ideas for #write31days in the fall. I know, ME planning 3 MONTHS in advance? I’m as shocked as you are. 😳🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ I narrowed it down to two, though, and I was wondering which one would interest you more? Take a minute to vote in my stories! ♥️

Tonight, the westside of Cleveland is in the dark. 🌚 Dinner was mid-cooked in the oven and the decaf coffee not yet brewed (it’s amazing how we rely on power for, like, EVERYTHING), but despite the unfortunate timing, the evening had its share of unexpected gifts. More tech-free time outside. Slow conversations on porch rocking chairs about life and goals and passions and the future by light of citronella. Creative play and a candlelit dinner. Taking the time to really listen because darkness makes it harder to see. A reminder of the we’re-in-it-togetherness that binds us, especially when life doesn’t go as planned. An unrushed, non-exasperating bedtime routine, because we had no where else to be. Maybe only in the darkness do the most important things become clear.

Last-week-of-summer moms be like 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪. . I can soooo relate to this chicken lately. 🙋‍♀️😂🐔 How are you guys holding up? Have your kiddos started back to school yet? #medinacountyfair #fridayintroductions #crazychicken #crazymom #momlifebelike

Bare feet👣 + leaf tattoos🌿 = summer☀️

Helllllloooo August! I’m back from a much-needed break with a post about the looming back-to-school season. 😳😩 It’s a tongue in cheek take on the first week of school and a must-read for elementary parents, especially those with kindergarteners! Enjoy! 🤗♥️ Blog #linkinprofile. . P.S. How are you all?!?! How has your summer been? I’m looking forward to catching up! 💚

Taking a break from the interwebs because I’m feeling a little too tethered these days. It’s something I’ve felt the need to do for a while & just haven’t surrendered. Why is letting go always so hard?!?! Anyway, I do still hope to blog 1x/week & will be sending out a newsletter in July, so I’ll see you over there if you’d like! Or you can subscribe at the #linkinprofile & I’ll come directly to you. Have a great July, friends!