a bit of sunshine

neon cord + beads + knots

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

POW! Instant gratification naptime crafting = my fave!

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noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:15:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

chocolate cherry oatmeal cookies (vegan)

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:43:00 +0000

An old post from the archives but I have been craving these this week so I thought I would share - a super charge me cookie full of yummy healthier ingredients! And I am enjoying these old photos from the archives too with the polaroid frames...remember that cool computer tool before the days of Instagram and apps :)...hope you have a super charged day today!

Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups quick oats
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1/2 tsp (rounded) sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup dried cherries
3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup flax meal (not flax seed)
1 cup pure maple syrup
6 tbsp almond butter
3 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 tbsp coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). In a bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, cinnamon, coconut, dried cherries, and chocolate chips, sift in baking powder, and stir until well combined.

In a separate bowl, combine flax meal, syrup, almond butter, and vanilla and stir until well combined. Stir in oil.

Add wet mixture to dry, and stir until just well combined (do not overmix). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spoon batter onto baking sheet evenly space apart, and lightly flatten. Bake for 13 minutes (no longer, or they will dry out). Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 1 minute (no longer), then transfer to a cooling rack.

Mother's Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:30:00 +0000

I am one blessed Mama and thank the Lord for the chance to be Mother to these four! Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there hope you had an incredible weekend!

Ten on Ten :: May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:43:00 +0000

It was a quiet day for us at home - the sun was shining and although our littlest guy is under the weather we managed to find lots of laughter and cuddles and pretty light too. Thank you to all who joined me today in capturing the beauty around you, this monthly ritual is always a blessing. Looking forward to seeing how your day took shape as well. Go HERE to see all of the other sets and to add your own to the linky party! Happy Mother's day weekend to you - hope it's full of much love and blessing!

Ten on Ten :: May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:37:00 +0000

Happy tenth everyone I hope your day is off to a great start! I am off to capture the day with my four babies here at home and am so look forward to seeing what your day holds too! When you're ready add your set to the linky below - or play along on Instagram using the hashtag #10on10...I hope you have a beautiful day! More about the Ten on Ten project HERE.

tomorrow is ten on ten!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:19:00 +0000

Just a last minute reminder that tomorrow is Ten on Ten - I am hoping you will join me!!

A Charlie Brown Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Our little Zeb has such a funny laid back way about him and he sometimes reminds of Charlie Brown. We thought it would be perfect to do a few Peanuts themed decorations for his first birthday party and because we are already planning to paint our yellow dining room we added the classic sloppy chevron across one wall to be cheeky. I thought it added such a fun bold touch. The weather was gorgeous and it was a small gathering of mostly family and a few good ol' friends...the perfect way to celebrate our one year old! Oh little Zebi Brown how are you already sooo big??

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noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:51:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Happy 1st Birthday Zeb!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:20:00 +0000

( a belated post for my sweet Zeb who turned one on May 3rd. Pictures from his birthday breakfast!)

Dear Zeb,

I can hardly believe that it is already time to write you your very first birthday letter. It's bittersweet for me - you are going to be my last baby and to be honest it's all just gone by way too fast. In so many ways you were our BIG surprise package. I still scratch my head at the timing, all that we had endured the months leading up to finding out about you. The job loss, the houses lost, the cars and school and church and community we lost...I was very sick and weary and was still caring for a young baby. Yes you were a surprise indeed, or rather a gift just as your name means. Zeb: "a gift of Jehovah, dwelling of honor". God gave you to me Zeb during a season that felt so deeply painful and barren. A time in so many ways that my heart is still recovering from. But instead of forgetting us He placed you in my arms and reminded me that sometimes blessings are not the things that make life easy or comfortable but the things that bring us love.

Zeb you are truly one of the sweetest babies ever. Your disposition is hilarious, you are an observer of life (mainly three older siblings :)) and have a very quiet gently way. You laugh so easily too it is awesome. All your brothers and sister have to do is give you a look and you're a fit of giggles making us delight in the joy inside of you!

On the eve of your first birthday you were crying yourself to sleep (for the record Josie kept stealing your binky and turning on and off the light in your room :)) but instead of letting you settle yourself I went in and picked you up and carried you downstairs to the rocker by the fire. I sat with you snuggled in my arms and melted into a sea of tears. Rocking my last baby on his last night before turning one. I never ever knew how much I wanted you or how very much we needed you to complete our big family of six. I am so very grateful for all the love and joy you have brought into our home.

I love you Zeb more than you will ever know - I love getting to know you more and more everyday. At your birthday party when we sang to you I loved watching you look around the room and take in everyone there, everyone smiling and celebrating you. You drink in life so intentionally, I already learn so much from you buddy and I can not wait to see what this next year holds!

Love,
Mom

morning bubbles

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:04:00 +0000

I sat on our front porch early this morning drinking coffee and watching Josie blow tiny bubbles into the air. It was a quiet and beautiful retreat for my heart before the day began. Last week was super full and our baby Zeb turned one on Friday! I have several belated posts to share about it all and some other fun things in store but for now the sunshine has hit us here in the Pacific Northwest in an amazing way (80's) and so I am going to soak up a few more rays with my cuties outdoors today. Hope your week is off to a great start so far whatever you're up to...

17/52

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

16/52

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:49:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

make something monday (on tuesday) :: patchwork pots

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:54:00 +0000

I spent some time yesterday switching up my hutch for spring - oh how I am still loving having it in the kitchen! I added this patchwork pot, a craft I did for Beautifully Rooted last year (I miss that site!) and realized that I had never shared the full tutorial in this space. I thought I would this week as my make something monday project - a fun and simple idea for all the fresh plants we are potting as the weather changes. Hope you are having a great week so far!

Lately I have been spending a little bit of time working on brightening up our front porch for the summer. I dug out a bunch of mismatched furniture and things from our garage including an old plant stand and instantly thought I needed to make some quirky and cheerful pots to fill it up. This project is super easy and was virtually free - one of the best kind of projects in my opinion!

Supplies:

terracotta pots

fabric scraps

spray adhesive and/or mod podge

scissors

trim

I started by cutting out several different two inch strips of fabric about four inches long. It all really depends on the size of your pots but it is easier to cut up a bunch of pieces roughly the same size first.

Next one by one I used spray adhesive to stick the strips on one at a time. If you don't have any spray adhesive on hand I am sure mod podge would work just fine on this step too.

Once you have completed the bottom of the pot measure the circumference of the top edge

and cut another two inch strip long enough to go all the way around.

Apply the piece of fabric the same way that you did on the bottom half.

Once you covered the entire pot with fabric you are ready to seal it all with the mod podge.

A sponge brush makes it really easy to get a nice even coat all over the entire pot.

Let the pot dry for a bit and then if you want to you can go ahead and add on any extra trims with fabric glue. Plant your favorite flowers and brighten up a spot somewhere around your home to make you smile!!

coming home

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:49:00 +0000

It's been such a crazy week coming back from our big trip on the east coast. Diving head first into life with four kids and a husband who works two jobs. The glow of our time away has lingered though and I still can not believe we got the chance to sneak away from it all - and that we have been married for ten years. How does that happen so fast?

I had planned to share some captures from our holiday away but the tragedy in Boston just days after returning home from the city we had just fallen in love with, just made new friends in, just explored with our whole hearts - parading pictures of Boston and the cape just felt wrong this week. It takes time to process each one of us in our own way when something like that happens.

We met a couple on Martha's Vineyard on our last full day who were visiting from NYC with their three babies the same ages as our youngest three. They were there to cheer on Dad at the marathon on Monday and as we toured the Island we would meet up with them each time we got back on the bus to hit a new location. We joked about how lucky we were to be off without the kids and how they hoped to do that soon too. We helped them with their stroller and talked photography and wished them luck at the race. As the news broke my heart ached so deeply for them, for that young Mom in the crowd clinging to her three babes looking for Dad...I will never really know how the events played out for them but knowing they were there hit me so hard. Thinking of all the families there. Our humanity and how we are all so much more intricately connected than we ever give thought to until something like the bombing happens and suddenly everyone reaches out to help and love and try to make sense of it all. Clinging to the hope we have in Jesus and His love this week and clinging hard to my babies too.

I think I will share photos next week of our trip but wanted to be quiet for a few more days. I hope you have a great weekend whatever you are up to. My heart goes out to the people of Boston - an incredible city indeed!

15/52

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:19:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

make something monday :: fabric poppy barrette

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I have always adored poppies they are by far one of my most favorite flower. I love their feminine shape and the bright citrus colors they come in and the way their petals curl in slightly - I like to think they are shy and lady like. I love making poppies out of fabric and beads using a flame to lightly singe the petals edges, simple and sweet. These would make an equally pretty brooch for may day or mothers day or any day in between!

Supplies:

synthetic fabric that won't melt, not cotton, a satin or rayon is best - test your fabric before you begin.
circle template cut from card stock (I traced a large pill bottle onto a recycled cereal box)
candle
scissors
small beads
needle and thread
fabric glue
ribbon
alligator clip

1. To make one flower you will need three to five circles cut from your fabric using the template.

2. Fold each circle in half and then in half again and trim down the outside edge just slightly creating two little dips on the inside of the circle. (fourth photo)

3. Using a small candle, carefully singe the edge of each petal just enough the make it curl in slightly. Imperfections are perfect no need to worry to much if they are slightly off.

4. Stack the petals one on top of the other and then use a needle and thread to stitch on four or five tiny black beads to hold the poppy together.

5. Once you have made a few flowers cover an alligator clip with some ribbon using the fabric glue and then glue the poppies in place and let dry.

Simple as that!

Happy Monday everybody - here's to a wonderful week full to the brim with beauty and life!

Ten on Ten :: April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:27:00 +0000

We spent an amazing day on Martha's Vineyard finishing up our tenth anniversary trip and it ended up being the perfect way to spend Ten on Ten! This entire vacation has been the biggest gift and I can't wait to get home and look through the hundreds of photos I have logged from our entire week away! Looking forward to checking out your sets too I hope you all had a great day. The linky will be open for the rest of the week so feel free to add your set whenever you get a chance - more about the Ten on Ten project here.

Ten on Ten :: April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Happy tenth everyone I hope your day is off to a great startl! When you are ready add your set to the linky below so that we can all see how your beautiful day took shape. If you have never played along all you do is take a photo an hour for ten hours and post the series on your blog or website to capture a snapshot of what a day in your life looks like! More about the project HERE.

on holiday + a ten on ten reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:48:00 +0000

This past week Chris and I snuck away to the east coast to celebrate our tenth anniversary. This is our first trip together since before Simon was born almost seven years ago so I am sure you can image how surreal and amazing it has been to soak it all in! I will have plenty of proper photos to share when we get home in a few days but here are a few instagrams from our adventures...and I will be here in Cape Cod for tomorrows installment of Ten on Ten as well and I am so looking forward to it! Hope you will join me - the linky party will be here ready and waiting in the morning and I will share my set just as soon as I can, hope you have a great day today friends! More about the Ten on Ten project HERE.

14/52

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:00:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

easter weekend snapshots

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:10:00 +0000

We really had such a blessed (and jam packed) Easter weekend spent with all kinds of family and friends. These are just a few captures from our time up in Bellingham at the annual egg hunt on the Wickham farm. Sunday morning spent at our Church leading worship and then supper with family that evening. Chris' folks surprised us with a special cake, the same one from our wedding day in honor of our tenth anniversary next week too it was a huge honor and treat! Oh Easter we loved you and all the blessings you brought - here's to the official arrival of spring, new life and bright evening light!

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noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:10:00 +0000

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Easter Bunny Business

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:58:00 +0000

This Easter Bunny is not quite over the whole jelly jar crafts phenomenon (sorry if you are) and when I saw this pin, well it was hard to resist seeing as all the supplies were already on hand. I just added the fabric handles by punching holes into the jar lid before spray painting.

We don't typically hide baskets for our kids but we will be attending a fun egg hunt tomorrow and they will also each get one of these bunny jars filled with a few treats. We are most excited about Sunday and the celebration of our Risen Savior! We will be up with the sun anticipating a day full of hope and life rejoicing in the resurrection of Christ with our church family!

A very happy Easter to you - may all of you busy bunnies out there have a blessed weekend! xo

an Easter giveaway with Noonday Collection (closed)

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:22:00 +0000

I absolutely adore Noonday Collection and was honored when they sent me the beautiful Olivia Necklace from their new Spring line. Noonday is an incredible company whose entire goal is to create a pathway out of poverty for families through fair trade. They also fund adoptions and fight against the abandonment of children. You can read more about them and other opportunities on their site HERE.

And they sent along a second Olivia Necklace for one of you guys as well. All you need to do is leave a comment below and I will randomly select a winner on Tuesday April 2. Thank you Noonday for all of the amazing things that you do it is a gift and blessing to bear witness to it! xoxo

Update: Congrats to Reeve! You won the necklace I will be in touch to get your address...thank you to all who entered!