Choices,Change and Growth…..

2013.....What a year, heart wrenchingly, life altering, joyful and extremely hard….CHANGE.

This journey I am on, evokes thought, movement from within.
An indescribable yearning, but also emptiness, a yearning for what could cure this empty cup.

What does the inside of my cup look like?

What does this fleeting life have in store for ME?

What does God want for ME? With ME?

What does that word even mean.....ME?

Who am I ? Who did God create me to be?  What do I enjoy? What is my purpose? What is my passion?

All of these questions are things that I have wrestled with over the years. I have a great life, one I wouldn't trade for anything.....but still, I yearn for more. I believe that God is expecting more, much much more.

I expect more! My heart yearns for more. I have a deep longing to be more, to do more, to do less, not in my skin but in my soul.

I want what God put me here for. What my "perfect" image looks like?

What can I do that will glorify him to the utmost?

What special talents, gifts, resources do I possess? How do they fit in his plan?

*These are thoughts that have been roaming my brain and heart for awhile now, I found this random post I drafted on the eve of the New Year. I have missed blogging, missed the process of my own thoughts being formed into words and recorded into a semi-organized form. My thoughts tend to swirl in my mind and overwhelm me, affecting my heart and my attitude.

I know this sounds like a really depressing post, but really It ISN'T! It is victory, Victory over fear, victory over the failure in my life that is only failure because I DIDN'T try!

I am ready for Change! I am ready for Growth! I am excited for failure because it will mean that I tried, I invested myself in something, and boy howdy am I ready for those sweet sweet successes! I am ready to have a relationship with Jesus that is deeper than ever because all of these new thoughts are products of the truth finally settling and imprinting on my soul, in my heart. He is mine and I am his, and no amount of doing more in myself will make me happy. No matter how well I carry out my organizational plans or how perfect my house looks or how cute my clothes are or how in shape I get. It won't get me there. God has a plan for me, and I know that organization, cleanliness, and fitness all play a huge role in that plan because yes those things resignate in me. I do want all of those things… I want them badly….. BUT I have to quit trying to make myself happy all on my own! Control…must relinquish control. HA!  I have to let go of the patterns of my past because lets face it, they just plain don't work! I TRY hard, I DO great for awhile and then it happens, I get all perfectionist on myself and then I try to do more...and more….and more….and be better….and better…….AAAAAND then I get behind, burnt out, discouraged, and things fall down around me. UGH. Big giant UGH. I am choosing to love myself just as Jesus would through this process, knowing that he is mine and I am his and that if I know that I am doing my very best at that moment even though things are not going as well as I want or envision it is more than enough for that moment. I am choosing to have the courage to FAIL, or fall short, because that's right, He is mine and I am his. :)

I don't know where this will lead as far as blogging goes but for today I wanted to form words from my thoughts and that's enough for today.

loves
D

Hello...

Hi All!

Have no fear, I didn't disappear again, I was just here for nine days enjoying tranquility and cocktails with my LOVE!

Hubster and I were able to get away for a mixed business and pleasure trip to Aruba! We had such a great time. I am so thankful for airplanes that take me to beautiful places, and for hottie husbands to share them with.

Spring is finally peeking its head out here in AK, almost all of the snow is gone and I am SO SO SO excited for summer! One week of school left and the Pepperd house will be footloose and fancy free! Holla!

Kids home also = more outfit posts given the fact I have daylight and photographers!! YAY!

I have some posts coming up soon but right now this mamma is getting her head above water. I'll leave you with a few grace moments...


Today I am blessed....

• TGIF....Hello!
• All my babies so excited to have their mommy and daddy home! lotsa snuggles going on over here!
• Hubster and I's beautifully bronzed bodies!
• The fact that I chose to love my body in a bikini (Totally rocked my confident self proudly) the entire time I was in ARUBA even though I've gained more pounds than I'd like this winter.....
• my own couch, bed and coffee cup after a trip....
• getting caught up on bloglovin
• baby girl #2's first track meet tomorrow!
• nobody in our house has the flu!!!!

May your days be blessed...

much love

danielle

I'm Back!

Hello Lovlies....

Remember me...?

Yes, It is the crazy girl who promises to be back in this big ole blogosphere with vengeance but then sadly disappears for months on end yet again...

Life....That's all I can say is LIFE. This crazy one of mine seems to overwhelm me and try as I might to keep up with it all AND blogging...It just doesn't happen, but then I start to feel drained and stale and I realize that my creativity flow has STOPPED! Sad times... So I jump back on the band wagon of blogging with high hopes, refill my creativity outlet tank and the crazy cycle starts all over again. I disappear, get drained and stale, and then reappear again. Not this time..... fingers crossed?!?!

I was browsing my blog today and got a seriously huge case of blog sickness. I realized how much this outlet helps me, I loved seeing how I was grateful for the little "grace moments" in my life each day.  Those moments are so precious to me and re-reading them again was a breath of fresh air and a pang of sadness because I've forgotten to look for those moments and give Jesus thanks for all of those little things daily. I forgot to remember and remind myself how very blessed I am. Busyness can do that to ya! I love how this space keeps me accountable to remembering, as well as other things like....showering and primping daily, (HAHA mom moment and truth) taking some time to myself, documenting daily life for a beautiful keepsake, and many others.

Life has been a whirlwind since I last posted so I'll do a mini instagram post to catch you all up to somewhat speed but until then here are my "grace moments" of the day.

• My little baby boy telling me that I'm his "best mom ever"
• Calling my mom and coming away from the conversation with a babysitter everyday until Sunday! Family is the best! Short notice...sorry mom!
• Getting a text from hubbers yesterday early evening that he is going up to Arctic Man today and I get to go up and meet him Friday!! YAY!
• Kissing him goodbye today...ooo lala!
• Having a king size bed all to MYSELF tonight! Assume the spread eagle position...HECK YEAH.
• Booking tickets to go visit my best friend in Seattle! Woot- Woot!
• Taking my daughter to meet and practice with a super sweet high school girl who is AMAZING at basketball! Seeing a young athlete willing to sacrifice some of their time to mentor the younger generation is so refreshing.
• Watching my daughter work so hard to achieve her basketball dreams and goals.
• Excited anticipation of being able to chaperon my middle daughters field trip tomorrow. 
• Jumping back into the blogging swing of things!

It's nice to be back! Thanks for having me...

Danielle

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey Fierstein

Hi Friends!

I'm still alive!

Life has almost swallowed me whole but not quite. We have been such busy bees these past few weeks.

Snow is still eluding us here in the great north. I am quite anxious for it to arrive. We usually have ice on the lakes and some ground cover by now but I am thankful for the beautiful and extended Fall season that we have had. These pics are about a month ago but I loved this outfit so much I had to share. I can't wait to wear this dress on a romantic beach stroll after a fantastic dinner date with my love. HaHa! A girl can dream right! :)

I am planning on doing my first vlog soon for a fantastic product review that I love so much I don't think that I can adequately express how awesome it is through text... I need to talk to you!  If there are any burning question you have for me I'd love to answer those on the video as well! Send your questions my way!

WHAT:
Dress: American Eagle
Jacket: Banana Republic....(thrifted)
Shoes: Target....(clearance)
Aviators: Ray-Ban
Watch and bangles: Target

Instagram Party! {2}

I may be late to this party... but I'm here! 

I am linking up with Ashley over at a {little} dash of ash today  for the Instagram party!

Check it out and Link up!

Coffee, blogs, and a CUPCAKE?!??!

Could a morning get any better? 

I think not.....

A table full of my own little pretties... cut fresh every few days!

I'm gonna miss this when the snow flies. 

Flowers brighten any day!

The true sign that fall has arrived! The Fair came to town! 

Few things signify the fair for me... Desert...

The Lumberjack show...

*Living in the same town my entire 31 years of existence has allowed me to visit this exact fair every year of my life. This show has been a yearly tradition... The skit is the exact same as 31 years ago but that is what makes it sooooo much better for me. I could recite it with the lumberjacks! It is also a family owned show and so I have seen some of the same lumberjacks come back year after year.

and of course no fair would be complete with the Ferris Wheel!

Thanks for hosting Ashley!

“Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." ~Anonymous

I wore this little number the other day to church. This was my intro into Autumn. I really love summer but the first time I get to slip back into my boots it feels home. I have recently jumped on the Pinterest train (LOVE IT...soooo addicting!) and I've noticed that boots and fall seem to be "my style" I am drawn to the comfy chic look. Pinterest has also helped me to realize I am a type A personality trapped in another body...HA! I seem to bookmark ALOT of built in organizational items for my "dream home". Funny how I'm not that organized in real life! A girl's gotta have goals right?!!???

What look are you drawn too?


WHAT:
Tunic: ? thrifted
Cardigan: Marshalls
Leggings: Gap
Knee-High socks: Target
Boots: Frye....thrifted!!!

In my home: Instagram display

Hello my name is Danielle and I'm an Instagramaholic.....

These sweet little squares or instas' as I like to call them have integrated themselves into my everyday life and I LOVE it! They have become a way for me to record and remember the "grace moments" in my life. When I started taking all of these pictures I was a little bummed about not being able to have an easy way to display them. They are somehow different than that of a regular photo, they have a certain raw quality to them. Photos are staged and posed or very thought through in most cases but these Instas' are fly by the seat of your pants photos and I enjoy the reality and honesty in the small everyday moments they capture.

ENTER Postalpix:  Browsing blogs the other day I found this link to Postalpix. It is yet another free app to download that allows you to order pictures directly from your phone. It is sooooo easy and the 4x4 squares are incredibly reasonably priced! I have ordered twice now. They offer  two sizes in the squares, 4x4 and 5x5. They will also put you square on a thin piece of aluminum for around $8.00 and it can be a treasured magnet. I'm thinking Christmas presents for the grandparents!!! A few more sizes are available in standard sizes. The price of the 4x4 is so reasonable that I don't mind ordering every couple weeks, I believe I just ordered 13 prints last night and with the whopping $.94 shipping charge it came to less then $5! Money well spent!!!

I have our pictures displayed on one of those "word statues"on top of our TV cabinet in the main room. I have seen them come in many phrases, and they seem to be an item commonly sold. It has tiny clips on the back so it was a quick and easy way to display them, plus it's easy to change it up with newer instas'.

A few photos of my display...

***I am not affiliated or endorsed by any products or companies mentioned here. These are my own personal opinions.