four years in Raleigh (via instagram:)

I was off Facebook these days, and was really over-gramming it. Kinda glad for that now.

Four years ago we packed up our little one-year-married-MyrtleBeach life and moved to Raleigh, NC.

I quickly started working at Barnes & Noble Cafe and Burnie Batchelor's while we both adjusted to Jeremy's new grad school, studio life & schedule!

Quite the adventure it's been since then. Truly not a day goes by that we don't miss our family, friends, and beach back home, but it's amazing to see all the change and growth from then to now.

(only the three bold links go actual places; the rest are just 4-yr-old Instas:)

• Our people were little!!! Cade was just a month old when we moved, and Kayla was eight, starting third grade!!! 

• I was skyping regularly with Jessi & Layla and our families while trying to make friends in our new city. 

• I had just been introduced to Clubs in the City, my new two-story Barnes, Trader Joe's, Nollie maps (J's first assignment), the Wolfpack, and living not-at-the-beach.

• We hadn't yet met Vintage Church or our group of friends. 

• I hadn't heard of Wilburn (my school) or Temple Grandin or PeiWei, but they all soon crept into my heart and life and have made a lasting impact; even PeiWei. 

Now I'm teaching PreK + autism and J is working at CUBE Design + Research, and we're getting to visit Myrtle more often now that the grad school craziness is behind us.

It's a good life. Better than either of us deserve, that's for sure. Here's to the next four - forty years, & whatever they may bring... ♥

phone background: city lights + grace

just thought I'd share. a phone background if you wish.

Progress (over perfection).

Grace (instead of what I deserve).

Gentleness (b/c I constantly need to be so much more gentle with myself & others).

ihaveadream club

Just a glimpse of some of the beauty from Clubs in the City last Saturday.

Through this I Have A Dream Club, we're asking them to dream big about their own futures, then their neighborhoods and world. They inspire me.♥

one year old Hadley

one year old Hadley
Hadley wanted to say congrats to her daddy just graduated from NCSU! What a sweetie!! ♥

Raleigh Easter + Clubs in the City

I love it when two of my favorite worlds collide.

Last year I got to volunteer-photograph Raleigh Easter. This year I got to bring my favorite rowdy bunch of big kids! Good stuff! ♥

Sweet weekend

Thankful for days off and Plato's Closet, date nights and veggie rolls, getting dressed up and enjoying the wedding of our sweet friends.

Spring break came at just the right time for me. Even with all the snow days, last quarter felt long and hard enough:) I'm looking forward to a bit more time refreshing & digging into my online class before the fourth quarter homestretch. <3

isn't she lovely

my sweet friend Kristin is a married gal. <3

    phone pics from their reception last night. by me (left) & Monika (right).

   ...& the engagements I got to take of them in the fall. 

Kristin & Dan , a set on Flickr.

Just love these two! ♥

November favorites

Obviously keeping up with the blog hasn't been top on the priority list this year- BUT documenting and celebrating the moments is still up there-

So how about a November recap!

Top 13 in no particular order::

1- traveling home to MB for a super-quick Thanksgiving visit. Love car-time with that guy!

2- Making Things Happen Conference on the radar and a prayer in my heart

3- Thanksgiving Day at Grandma Cook's. Traditionally JK picture day. This was our 8th Thanksgiving together.
My my, time does fly! 

4- Braving the crowd at Target with Mom & Kayla Thanksgiving night.

5- Our own little family photo shoot <3

6- Nephew time! They'll be 6 & 1 at the beginning of this year. Such joys!

7- Sparkles, my love, in her favorite spot under the tree. :)

8- Thanksgiving time with cousin Haylee. She's getting so big!

9- Clubs in the City time has been a highlight of the year. Our girls are tough and wild and sweet, and they bless me more than they know!

10- Kayla time. I don't mean to be blatantly partial, but spending time with her makes it for me.
Watching her grow and blossom is the best ever. 

11- Long View Center fundraising. Our church has since closed on the purchase of the Long View Center. In two short months we raised $400,000. It was awe-inspiring. Different groups in the church took on different projects, like making & selling earrings (which accumulated over $2,000 toward the project!). Our group had a $1000 yard sale. I've known some decent yard sales over the years, but this blew me away. There's no question in my mind that Vintage Church loves the city of Raleigh. It was never about a building, but about gaining leverage for better loving the city!

12- Jeremy displaying his work for Mom & Pop <3

13- Missy, the pup. What a crazy, sweet girl! :)

In going through my phone pics from the month, I had so many from school too. As I sit here on the last day of track-out I am reminded and encouraged at the joy I have in working with these little ones. The days are long and consistently hard, but oh-so-worth it. So thankful for another shot at enjoying teaching.♥

Saturdays

Thank God for this day.

to slow down.

to recoup from the busy week.

to explore ideas.

to stay in jammies.

to be outside.

♥

writing.

this year with clubs in the city, I’m a co-leader with our new communications club. we’re calling it Photography & Writing. perfect.

the best part this week was how they bore their hearts through writing. two of our girls really let loose and journaled what was going on in their hearts and lives. that’s it. that is the whole point.

It was an honor to listen to their precious words about what they fear and how they lean into and rely on God. One shared her heart about being kind to her family and loving even those that are unkind. We didn’t tell her to write that-

we asked-

• who/what defines you? 
• do you listen to what the world says or what God says? 
• how does that overflow to others? 
• will you tear others down or can/will you encourage them to listen to what God says is true about them too?

their sweet, honest responses blew me away and put the challenge back on me. who’s words or labels am I listening to and believing?

how does that affect the way I speak to or encourage others?

May we be reminded we are loved and cherished. we have great purpose and value. we don’t have to be defined by our peers or even ourselves, but we can let the one who made us call us good.

new favorite

photography is a sweet little gift to me. it's a joy and an expression that feels like play- hopefully it always will. I'm thankful it's something I've been able to do during track-outs and on some weekends. what a little treasure. ♥

{image from the weekend. more here.}

Time

As I attempted to write/blog everyday this month [on the topic of leaning in] - I ran into plenty of road blocks.

Even though most of the posts were under three sentences, it was going well for a while. And then I tracked back in at school and I'm finding it near impossible to make the time for writing. I say this with a little acceptance and a little more bummed-out-ness. (We're just going to go ahead and pretend that's a word:)

I'm not trying to write extravagantly or polish it so much that it takes a bunch of time. I'm simply aiming to be still long enough each day to let my thoughts and prayers spill out in the form of a short & sweet post.

I most like the habit of writing because, when it's a habit, things come out that wouldn't have if I hadn't taken the time to be still. Well, of course they do, but that's the dynamic that brings me back again and again.

So today is Monday, just a few days left for this prescribed writing project, and I'm going to attempt to lean in a little these last four days.

So here's to getting back on the wagon...

(Photo from this weekend. More to come.)

Listening

Sometimes to lean into prayer I write out what I think God might be saying to me in a situation.

No "God said" claim here- just some heart thoughts as I tried to listen & trust Him before Clubs in the City yesterday.

You're here because I want you here, not need you here. The weight is on me. It's always on me. I'm the hero of the story and will remain the hero. I'm not asking you to save the day or carry the whole load. I am asking you to point to me, lean on me, and allow me to be your source- of inspiration, wisdom, and joy. I would love for you be my hands and feet and voice of love to these girls. You are a light in dark places and can help create safe places of nurture and peace, of growth and positive change. I'm glad you're here. Be not afraid. Lean into me and enjoy! <3

calloused faith

the busyness has gotten to me.

the lack of time with sisters encouraging me face to face, praying with me, sharpening me- it’s worn me down. I reach for Faith but her skin is hard and dry. 

here in raleigh I have grown and blossomed more than I’d imagined I could. more work, greater partnership, and all the more clinging to the Lord and seeking out all he has in store for us here. in these two short years I’ve found the feet of my faith. they’ve willingly walked in things I would have run from before. they’ve also climbed and strived. and in the striving, especially these past few months, I’ve grown weary. Faith’s vibrance is now dull. She is spent, and too tired to shine. In all her striving she forgot about the source from which her radiance comes. she forgot who she’s here to please. 

man is fickle and picky and demanding. 

The Lord is gracious, gentle and good. 

man wants perfection, proof, and outstanding results. 

The Lord wants me. Just me. a daughter. a friend. a girl in love. 

I am weary because I’ve tried to do it all and be it all. I’ve been performing, striving to please the man, and I am tired. 

Thank you, Father, for this time to rest. I need you. I crave you once again. 

Restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit within me.

little grey line.

Jessica Johnson Moore & her eight tiny models at fashionSPARK.

Until 9/22, you can vote for little grey line on Martha Stewart's AMERICAN MADE 2013.

(more photos)

PreK

Seven boys and one girl.

Crazy goodness!

So thankful for this good work! And to have found a teaching-niche I can enjoy! 

Every day is hard and good in so many ways.♥

Raleigh Love: photos up.

some of our favorite folks in Raleigh are soon-having a bebe!

Clearly this calls for some photo-celebrating:)

more here. ♥

busy goodness...

maybe this space has been quiet lately, but I have not been.

honestly, it's been a little too busy in this heart and life, but I'm so thankful for all of it. especially thankful to finally have a quiet sunday to think and reflect and share....

our trip home Memorial Day weekend was LOVELY.
short and sweet and lovely. we got some precious family time as well as some sunny sunny beach time.

sharing meals and evenings with friends has been the absolute sweetest. I adore summer-mode. and I'm so thankful for this community we've found.

recent photog sessions woven into this busy life. some of my faves.

finishing up the semester with Saturday Clubs.  What.A.JOY. An exhausting, glorious joy. In January we prepared and prayed that girls would come. week one we had three girls. lovely and eager they came. by this tenth meeting we had thirteen regularly attending girls. new, lively, precious characters to our story. a tale that would be more bland and lack much purpose without them. they are our children, not that they just became ours, but only that we've just discovered their hearts and lives and have only just begun to let them intertwine with ours. thank you, Jesus, for these dear ones. may we love them well. as your children and our own.

finishing the school year with these gems is a blessing. they're all going places non-PreK, so I cherish this season all the more!

it might be a busy life. I might be exhausted. but I'm thankful beyond measure for all this busy-goodness. 

you are here.

Here I am. 

This track-out (aka: 3week.spring.break) has been busy and wonderful. 

So many fun things:: 

Rachel & Shaun’s wedding, 

meeting baby Nicholas, 

making a couple pouch-purses, 

taking photos forRaleighEaster, 

the Gfamily visit (including fun times eating out and a great conversation with Mom), 

photographing Rock & Shop, 

as well as practical things like getting the oil changed and getting my wrist/tendons looked at… while it stinks having to wear this brace, I’m so thankful for the healing that’s happening. 

Also, some extra morning hours sleeping-in, sitting outside and enjoying a little extra down time with J-man has been super sweet.

Today was one of the first days that I didn’t have a bunch of errands to run or plans made… 

I enjoyed time outside and prayed for open eyes and ears to God's love and work around me.

As I walked and prayed at the art museum, His pleasure felt tangible like the sun’s heat. I kept lifting up things like “what about this and this” and it was as if he continually responded: Daughter, you are mine. I love you more than the most loving parents. You knowing that more&more fully is what pleases me. The world will always wax and wane with favor and apathy. Keep looking to me for wisdom and strength and your peace and you will always be satisfied. 

(A-men.) ♥

You are Here thoughts inspired by 

EmilyFreeman's newsletter. 

Thankful she asked the question...

((Her Blog is also lovely: 

Chatting at the Sky))

architecture & date night...

...a tour of the Hunt Library by Craig Dykers himself (thanks to the South Quad Conference being in Raleigh) & some First Friday. Perfect.♥