"pull and pray"

oh...

i get it...

jen's only gonna post when

she has a revelation to 

share

is that what you're thinking?

once a week wisdom?

believe me...

i'll take it!

you'd be wrong 

though.

notice the quotation marks?

i am quoting 

a wise young man here.

my (now) fifteen-year-old james

who got a re-curve bow

for his birthday

wow!

did his eyes light up

when he opened that gift.

during a recent walk

together

at wildwood metropark

he told me that as much as he enjoyed

getting

a crossbow for Christmas

he wished he had an old school

bow.

traditional.

i filed it away.

when he opened his gift

he was completely

surprised

(love when that happens!)

today's post

is all about his first shot.

i had to document the occasion

since

well...

who knows

he might just be the next

olympian...

top-shot contestant...

who knows...

am i right!?

there's just something special

about a boy

in the great outdoors

with visions of 

the hunt...

screech

and 

brakes!

he does not come 

from a long line of hunters.

another quote

"i can't imagine killing a deer

because every time

i'd look in their eyes

i'd see buddy's (his dog) eyes

and i 

couldn't do it."

believe me

i  completely

understand!

target shooting it is!

load

aim

"pull and pray"

release.

that's how james

described his

method of shooting.

hmmm

maybe there is

a revelation in there

somewhere.

happy birthday

sweet baby james!

brief clarity

those moments of revelation

where a truth comes to you

like a whisper

that could be missed
 if you weren't fully present and tuned in

but this time
this time
 you hear

and you see clearly

what has been revealed

like any good student

you want to share it with others

those who may have already heard or seen it

regardless

it is new to you and you can't be quiet

this realization is too big

to hold onto

your joy comes from 

understanding

a truth

that could slip away if you didn't

sit with it

and give it time to 

be fully known to you

so that you can be

an instrument

stumbling forward

with mere words

to explain

that each breath you take

every song you sing

every seed you sow

every meal you prepare

every word uttered in love

the hugs 

the kisses

that which is made with your own two hands

at work

at play

scrubbing dishes

  cleaning toilets

teaching

learning

serving

accepting help from others

giving to those in need

the tears

the laughter

the very joy that started it all

has brought new understanding

that this life you live

each step of the journey

is the worship.

amen.

and so it goes

The shifting of the earth

the old-new angle of the sun

the cold that has you hitting the snooze button 

just
one-more-time

not wanting to leave your little

sanctuary
 under cover

the subtle changes

that give way to flannel

a bittersweet time

looking to the apple fritters and cider

remembering peach pie and iced tea

shorts and tank tops

swimming pools are stored away

rakes and sleds are nudged forward

the garden slows

tomatoes and cucumbers

give a nod to the

cabbage and brussel sprouts

summer's glory

to

autumn's splendor

the shifting of

the food we eat

the activities that fill our days

almost scrambling 

doing

those things that must be done

that should have been done

in the warmer sun

wondering how I managed

so long without a cast-iron skillet

to scoop

blackberry pie

pineapple up-side-down

chocolate chip cookie

into a bowl

of gooey goodness

while

huddled under a blanket

giving way to

sweet sleep

while watching 

Castle

Modern Family

Mountain Men.

and so it goes...

this moment

right outside my door

Not something I see 

everyday.

A sighting I wanted to share

with all my

Soule friends.

Enjoy your weekend!

inspiration :: simple tablecloth

Bless her.

Mom invited my gang over for dinner.

DELICIOUS

cantina bowls...

extra special for the fact

that I had a

work-away-from-home day

and nothing planned for our evening meal.

Mom to the rescue.

Bless her.

After dinner

I spied this book sitting on

her shelf

and found myself staring at that dreamy cover

 craving that kind of

simple beauty.

Yes

it is a cookbook

but the pictures are captivating

and they drew me into

that Gooseberry Patch world

that I want to live in.

So I started

with 

the tablecloth...

normally

a place mat kind of girl

I studied the picture

the striped cloth that revealed the

wood top at the ends

the break was just right

in that it didn't hit the chair seats

and it wouldn't pull when one

tried to actually sit

at it.

Mission accomplished!

With the simplicity and ease

of sewing this topper

I now envision designs for

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Fourth of July

because

it instantly brought warmth

and personality

to the room

A simple change

that has a big impact

on the vibe

of our dining space.

Yep...copied the look

right down to the black-eyed Susan

centerpiece

(Yes, Rosebud, those are the exact

flowers on your table...

another place that inspires me!)

This post wouldn't be complete

without a 

thanks to mom

for a wonderful meal

(and foot rub)

and 

for instilling that

love for books.

Especially the ones with pictures!

"Here's another one...

take them both home with you."

Aren't mom's the best!?

I'm feeling

 a plaid woolen blanket...

a bushel basket of just-picked apples...

a moss-green painted table

with bale-of-hay seating

coming on.

Thanks, mom!

xo