the breakfast meeting

breakfast is a rather important event in my home. joy is mommy's constant companion whilst concoctions like pancakes, waffles, bacon, or sausage are being prepared in the kitchen, and no matter late breakfast ends up being {we are infamous for eating our first meal at around noon}, everyone sits at the table and joy brings everyone to attention.

"everyone!" she'd say, even though it'd be just me, mommy and herself, "it is now time for the conbasation meeting, where we all meet at mealtime to have a conbasation!" her voice would be an octave higher than usual, and there'd be a certain trill in her manner as well. also: she doesn't know how to pronounce conversation."miss jocelyn, you may start."

i always start first. each morning, to annoy my sister, the first and only word that comes out of my mouth at the conversation meeting is, "hi." at which time, joy would get very irritated and exclaim, "jocee! rule number three: you cannot say just 'hi' when you are starting a conbasation! dismissed." i don't leave the table, so joy would roll her eyes and turn to mommy, who, sometimes says the same thing. but mommy is never dismissed.

this is our morning routine. after many trial-and-error, a conversation is had, and we laugh in between our bites of pancake and sips of milk, even though it's technically lunchtime.

and the most exhausting part of all of it? this happens at every. meal. of the day.
xx,
jocee

let it pour

monday night, i turned off the lights and crept into my bed. it was quiet and dark. suddenly, i saw a bright flash of light outside my window. the wind picked up, and i heard something hit the glass pane on the other side of my room. 

rain. 

it was raining. it was pouring. the wind howled, lighting flashed, rain poured, it was glorious. the smell of rain is the most beautiful smell in the world, i tell you. after months of dry heat, this is just beautiful. yesterday my little brother had fun playing in the giant puddles that had formed in our backyard after the constant rain all day.
i never thought i would be happy about the rain, but now, i can't stop smiling.

what's your favorite kind of weather?

xoxo,

gracie

10 things to do

xo,

abby

What's a bob?

So. The other night a few friends and I went to THE AVENGERS. (amazing movie, right?) As we were laying on the floor, all covered in blankets and pillows, talking about random things that had happened to us, one of my besties, Melody, began to tell a story. She was talking about the "Save the bob's campaign" that Pancheros was doing. About how anyone who was a bob would get to eat free. It was late. And I don't know if I was actually having a major blonde moment or if it was just lack of sleep, but I was so confused as to what a bob was. What kind of person was a bob? What did you have to do to be a bob? These were the questions rolling through my head. And so I asked, "Guys, what's a bob?" This question was answered by laughter all across the dark room. When they could all finally contain themselves, Mel answers: "It's someone NAMED Bob, Megan."

And that, folks, is a bob.

Have you ever had a major blonde moment?
xo. Megan Kristine

tattered and bruised, dazed and confused

we really enjoyed reading this submission, and i do hope you'll feel encouraged when you read it. so please give some love to lacey, and do stop by her blog! 

Typically, I'm a very happy & bubbly gal; and while joy is an undertone I tend to have, life is not always a bedazzedly wonderful situation. Especially when people let me down. So easily our confidence is in mere mortals, we know they are prone to the same mistakes we are, yet we still, sometime reluctantly, give trust another go around. People are finicky. Some people have experienced physical abuse, and may find it extremely hard to put faith in another person. Even still, others have just been astonished and wounded by people who used to be friends; all they can do is wander aimlessly with a confused expression, full of disbelief. This may or may not be you, but I can bank on the fact that we have all had our fair share of run-ins with disappointment.

One of the most important things I've ever learned is the art and delicacy of forgiveness. It's an ongoing skill and characteristic that has to be apart of you and me just as the language is on the tongue of a native, or as smooth as a well oiled machine. It's a given that forgiveness is a good thing, but clearly, it is another to actually do the forgiving. It's not something you or I will grow out of in time, nor will it ever become an easier action that leads to second nature unless, you proactively practice what you yourself want to receive. We all know the power of words; good, beautiful, elegant words, and mean, hurtful words can have equal gusto. However, fresh, ingeniously organized words evoke a starkly different reaction than those words that take shape as pointed daggers that fly straight to one's heart. It has been said that "the tongue is a small member of the body" yet a very powerful one. How have you been using your words lately? How will you begin to use your words?

It is very important to forgive when you've been hurt because once you've tied up the loose ends, your healing will rise speedily, your wounds seal shut, and your scars diminish. It will never be the easiest thing you've done, but give it a whirl, see what happens.

Put your big girl undies on, and :: forgive. 

Sincerely, 

lacey

p.s. You may recognize the dog in the photo, yes that's Stiggy, Gracie's dog. We're real life buds :)

just write it on the wall

So, I have this amazing mother. And this amazing mother turned the wall in our reading room into a chalk board. After the paint set for three days, finally tonight my sister and I broke the ground... or whatever you want to call drawing on it for the first time. 

  First we had to draw over the entire wall...

... Then we doodled.

It's amazing how something so simple can be so enjoyable.

Do you like to draw with chalk?

xo.

Lindsey