amongst the wreckage

These gorgeous, richly hued flowers come from two thriving gardens: the top, from my mama's garden at my childhood home and the bottom, from my temporary home here in Bellingham. Both handfuls were picked on days I desperately needed some encouragement; some pieces of God's promise that the world is an inherently good place if we just look for it. Both handfuls brought glimmers of peace to my soul and slivers of joy to my eyes, my nose, my mind. Today, as I sit with sorrowful news, I am thankful for the bits of colorful life that grow amongst the wreckage. different gardens, same peace. xo, Charity

may flowers

a little sneaky someone left pretty little May Day bouquets at the door of our offices yesterday, one for each of the three ladies on staff. tied so sweetly, with our names on them, & it made my day. I later came face-to-face with the perpetrator and, being the sweetheart she is, she couldn't lie when I asked if it was she--which made me love the flowers even more. It's May, you guys! How comforting that Spring always comes, no matter how long the winter seems to hold on. 

collide

As part of my internship, I help put on a quarterly event for women called Collide. Each event focuses on a different instance in scripture where a person collides with Jesus and his love, grace, & hope. Collide is a place where women can be authentic with each other; where they can tell their story as it really is and experience healing from that vulnerability. I've seen walls come crashing down & armor start to melt away at each one & it is breath-taking to witness. Yesterday was our last Collide of the year, and these are some snippets of the day. It finally came, it was beautiful, and now--now--I rest! xo. 

photos from a silly little phone, or, pink things.

When it comes down to it, I simply cannot complain. xo! 

the first days of spring

you guys: spring is coming. I've seen it.

my little corner of the world

I just found these photos of my room, taken last September & forgotten about. Though my internship and my life keep me constantly running around & therefore not home very often, my room is my small sanctuary--few things feel better than curling up in my bed with my Kindle & a hot chai at the end of a crazy day. I had just moved in when these were taken, so it's a little more cluttered now, a little messier, a little more me, a little more lived in. There are some knick-knacks added, several new books stacked about, winter coats and hats hung on bedposts, and two mason jars full of silver glitter sitting on my desk that are serving as decor until I decide on something fabulous to do with allll that glitz. It's my little corner of the world, and I love it. 

what home is.

Just a few shots from a quick trip to my parents' house last week. When I think of the word "home", this is what I see. What do you see? Have a lovely Sunday, friends. xo. 

la fleur et le chien

I cannot help but to photograph my mother's garden when I go home, as you may know from this post or this post. I have hundreds of wonderful memories in my parents' yard growing up, from BBQs to running in the sprinkler to picking bouquets to surprise my mama with, and everything in between. Their yard is currently bursting with color and was just begging me to capture it.





My parents entertain quite often, especially on warm summer nights, and have put a lot of work into their patio, which is called "Simpler Times". It's a place where they forget the worries of the outside world, of bills and work and sadness and stress, and just laugh, drink, eat, even play music. I love how cozy they have made it in the last year, from things like adding a whole new flight of stairs to the small details of tucking a birdhouse into some delicate tree branches. We have had many good times in Simpler Times, from bonfires to graduation parties to celebrating my brother being cancer-free for 20 years. So much love floating around.







I love how there are pieces on the patio that are usually confined to the indoors: dressers, mirrors, beds, etc.

And Huckleberry Finn, of course, kept me company as I snapped away. He is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the very best fixture in my mother's garden.