a lifestyle blog about motherhood, intention, whimsical moments, and wellness
thoughts on faith.
I love the weather right now.
The warm sun on my toes and the crisp air makes me so happy.
The smell of summer, the sound of sprinklers and the taste of ice pops.
Ainsleigh tonight has that sticky “summer” feel of grass, popsicles and the smell of watermelon . LOVE.
There is something stirring in me.
I can’t quite pinpoint it, but something is stirring in my heart.
I have been thinking a lot lately, really the past 2 months about what I believe.
I have a fear of hurting anyone.
And sometimes that holds me back.
For some reason I feel like over the past year or two it has been a very concrete time in my life where everything I grew up believing….I was able to truly stand firm and say…yes, I truly do believe that.
Or no, I no longer see life that way.
It was me, alone, standing before God saying here is what I believe to be true.
I just wanted to write out that if you are struggling…if you are wrestling with your faith or your place- I can tell you that through my greatest heartaches, I truly found my faith.
I grew up in a christian home….but it wasn’t until I was alone and in a place of being tested that I said…. wow, yes…I am actually living out what I have always said to be true.
I guess it was then that I TRULY knew that yes, I really believe that.
Choosing Christ is saying goodbye to the old me.
Dying to those fleshly desires, dying to the selfishness, dying to the quick reactions and the judgements.
I am new, because of Him.
I am thankful for mercy and new days.
Aiden has started asking on his own to say prayers at different times of the day.
Nothing will make me weep like that.
April 2, 2012
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I loved this and it's such great encouragement. You described summer smells so perfectly on your little one. I can't wait for that this summer with mine =)
– Sarah
A Girl In Transit
what a precious prayer. And I am at a similar place in my faith. Although I grew up in a Christian home, it wasn't until I was married and more on my own that my faith became my own. And not until some hard struggles in the last year or so am I really learning what it is like to lean on the Lord.
Yes yes and yes…. He is up to something sweet friend. Something good. Something big. 🙂 You bless me!!! Love you!
(vanillatulip Ash;) )
good grief, that ruffle butt little lady….killin me! 🙂
Oh… I just love your blog and the encouragement it gives. I'm at a place of struggling with the faith…trying to figure out what I believe but mostly trying to figure out how to stand up for it. And your kids…so precious. Love Aiden's prayer…so sweet and child like.
Oh Casey, what a sweet sweet prayer. There isn't a feeling in the world BETTER and more fulfilling than when you witness your little ones wanting to love on the Lord like that. That feeling you get…when you've felt that…there isn't anyone or anything that can tell you it isn't TRUE is there? I am a newer reader of yours and I just want you to know I look forward to your encouragement each day. Your family is just beautiful! God Bless girl!
Thank you for sharing this friend! Don't ever let anything hold you back!
Love this post. As always, it is beautifully written and packed with encouragement and love. Thank you for sharing these thoughts, you lift me up so often. And for that I will always be grateful.
Xo
Kendall
Songbirdsandbuttons.blogspot.com
I love the way you capture your children on film. It's a beautiful thing. Your words are very special Casey!!
I always look forward to your posts – always. You are such a breath of fresh air. Is it me, or does Aiden look just like his dad when he has that bandanna on his head? He does!!! Even the way he stands!
Huge Congratulations to Chris, I was praying for a Win on his Inink Film. To be recognized and receive not one, but four awards is such an accomplishment. Next up: The Academy Awards. I just know it. Keep pushing forward and keep your unique creative vision, you can DO this!
Ya'll have a great week ahead!
Casey,
Your faith is amazing because you live it. And I don't mean you're a perfect human being who never makes mistakes and who doesn't have fault. You live it with the way you love. You GLOW with it, you shine.
I don't attend church anymore, but I remember one day. A girl got on the stage and she was just… eluding SOMETHING. I prayed right then and there that she and I would be friends, and we DID end up friends.
She didn't go around preaching words and trying to evangelize. She naturally emitted Christ's love and that's what drew me to her. You do the same. It's a beautiful thing to see and part of the reason I love your blog so much. 🙂
Amen, sister! 🙂
What a special post. For me it was just in the last few years while away at college that I had that moment. The moment of "ah, yes. I really believe what I said I did all these years". And your little one's prayer…I love that. When the 2 year old I babysit for prays it melts my heart 🙂
Beautiful post Casey! Good for you to recognize and own your faith!
I love how you describe a toddler girl's summer smell! My baby will be one year old next month and I can't wait to see for myself this summer what you're talking about! 🙂
all these photos just make me smile! you have such a beautiful family and I can't get over how adorable Ainsleigh's suit is!
-K
Beautifully said. Thanks for writing this. You're a wonderful wife, mother and blogger! Your life is a testimony to God's love, grace and humility. Keep it up!
Kristina
Nook & Sea
Awww…what gorgeous pics. You're so fabulous! Love the way that you write…it just draws me in and makes me yearn for more.
Beautifully done.
Tami xo
This is a beautifully written post. And a wonderful reminder as I approach Good Friday…remembering what He's done for me and who I am in Him.
This is a beautifully written post. And a wonderful reminder as I approach Good Friday…remembering what He's done for me and who I am in Him.
Thanks so much for sharing and being so REAL about your faith. My husband and I are about to begin on a whole new journey, moving somewhere foreign, and we're our faith is going to be tested. I can be at rest knowing that Jesus is and always will be my Rock, my hiding place, and my everything. I always loving reading your blog, it's SO refreshing, Casey! Thanks for that.
xo. Molly Beth
http://alwaysamrsforeverakidd.blogspot.com
so so beautiful, my friend. who could have ever known that we would find our faith at the bottom of our deepest pits. if someone had warned me when i was a lot younger, i wouldn't have believed them anyways. back then i thought faith was all about me and what i made it to be. now, i can see that when i broke, faith held me. it made me who i am. not the other way around. good job sharing your story today 🙂
praise jesus.
for truth.
for grace.
for you.
enjoy your new week!
xo
i couldn't agree with this post more casey. I truly believe that you have to choose what you believe despite your upbringing. And what a beautiful thing to see your children choosing it already 🙂 My favorite part of the day is when our little guy says his prayers too – so sweet and innocent.
How sweet is your little baby's prayer! I find it so funny that in struggle we notice we need God and the realization of our faith most. When we're surrounded by abundance, privelege and grace, we seem to be least likely to notice how very loved and blessed by God we really are. Such a shame. But it's those moments of struggle that make us appreciate those moments of grace, love and blessing. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I love when I come across a post that is so relatable to where I am at! This post is so much of where I am in my life. I too grew up in a christian home, and was saved when I was 11. THis past year, I feel like I am truly for the first time,truly seeking and understanding what a relationship with him means and how I have never really but my complete trust in him. I am a fearful person by nature and my worry sometimes overcomes the peace I know I could have if I would just let go. Thank you so much for your post. It has encouraged me!
Your words ring so true to me. I went through the same experience; teachings becoming actual belief systems, things that I "knew" in theory becoming a reality in my life. Beautiful post!
http://atallshipandastar.blogspot.com
I love this. Thanks for your honesty, and continually sharing your testimony.
What a beautiful post! Your kids are absolutely precious and your little bump is just perfect!!!! xoxo
There really is nothing quite like hearing your child voice their prayers. Makes you feel like you'r doing something right! Bless sweet Aiden! Love that!!!!
You're a good momma Casey! I'm certain they see Jesus in you!
love this casey. for some reason it can be hard to stand up for our faith at times, and we often can't even explain why. thank you for being bold. thank you for being who you are. thank you for inspiring me.
littlemomentsinlife.com
Casey, I just want to say thank you. You have given me more strength than you know, I stumbled upon your blog one day and I was drawn to your personality, before long I was reading everyday. My heart is so drawn to you because I feel we are similar souls. I wish more than anything I could share a meal with you and learn from your wisdom, but for now reading your blog will have to do 🙂 Just, thanks, you have been Jesus to me and I don't even know you.
Aiden's prayer is so sweet! I love this post. I feel like I'm at that place you described where I'm figuring out what I believe. I can feel it in my heart– but I haven't been able to put it into words.
i love this. and you.
oh aiden's prayer made me cry too.
and i agree that i found my faith when my own heart was being broken by family circumstances…i had to choose to try to figure it out on my own or throw myself at the foot of the cross.
i chose the latter.
That is the sweetest little prayer! Talk about melt your heart!
oh goodness, look at that little baby bump grow. so precious! and i can only image how perfect it must feel to see your own children see you as a good example and want to pray in your footsteps 😉
xo TJ
Great perspective. My little ones are helping me be more faithful :). I love how they put their hands together to say their prayers at night. They have so many questions about God and I often find myself speechless.
i love aiden's little note there! and your baby belly is adorbs!
beautiful. my prayer is that someday i can lead my kids to follow God as well– in the hard HARD times and the good GOOD times.
<3 to you.
Sweet Casey,
I love that Aiden is grateful for his toes. 😉
I love that you are so firm in your faith.
I have missed you this weekend while I was away on vacation in Idaho.
You are beautiful.
Your family is beautiful.
I can't wait to someday spend a day with you shopping, and then going to the park and letting our kids play their little hearts out. Oh and then putting them to sleep, painting our nails and watching a chick flick.
(just saying.)
Beautiful my friend! Thanks for your honesty – it is encouraging 🙂 I totally agree – it is during hard seasons that we get the hidden gift of going deeper with God. Much love to you and the family xoxo
PS – Aiden's bit is THE most awesome thing!!
Aiden's note is so lovely.
I need to keep faith at the moment–faith that this is the path I am supposed to be taking and that it will all be ok.
What a great post! What a wonderful feeling that your children are starting to yearn for prayer. It shows that you are leading by example. xoxo A-
I resonate with this so much. Here in Spain my husband and I are always being asked questions by people who have grown up "Catholic," but don't actually know what they believe. It's so wonderful being able to speak from the heart about what we know of God because of our experiences with Him instead of what we've been told by someone else.
I know…He truly became *mine* after I moved out, spent time in a quiet room thinking about Him. And then the hubby and little boy came along, and now He's *ours*…nothing more comforting. Thanks for sharing sweet Casey.
Food for thought…thank you so much for sharing friend!
You are the sweetest momma and have the most precious littles.
Love you photography in these shots too!
found you through a friend (kelle). love your heart 🙂