the sun comes up at 6 am and sets a little after 8 pm. 

if we go up the hill, we can catch dynamite sunrises. If we go to the beach and karl the fog is away, the sunset just might beat the sunrise. I’m guessing we’ll score the latter considering we’re growing teenagers this summer. the plan is to go this week on the last day of school and watch the sunset. but i'm more of a morning person and what calls louder than the sun is devil's teeth baking company. i highly recommend the "special" - a homemade biscuit packed with eggs, cheese, bacon, aioli, and avocado. 

back to the sun. look at your calendar and plan a time to catch the sun rising or setting. check your weather app so you don't miss it! invite some friends to join you. this is a slowing down celebration of what the day can be and what the day has been.

back to the sun.

look at your calendar and plan a time to catch the sun rising or setting. check your weather app so you don't miss it! invite some friends to join you. this is a slowing down celebration of what the day can be and what the day has been.

is this the first time you've done this in your city? is it the last?

every single time, without fail, as ben and i drive across the golden gate bridge with our kids, they don't even look up. we call their attention to this amazing architecture. they might glance, but return to their books and conversation. ben and I gasp every. single. time.

if we’re not careful, dare I say intentional, we won’t even look up and notice that where we live is a part of God’s design for us. it’s a gift. it’s a masterpiece to enjoy. it’s a discovery.

if you missed the 1 must-do can-do summer activity we're thrilled about, you can read it here.

let's take the TWELVE WAYS TO LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE and create some intentionality around the next few weeks when you're in town. i'll be writing stories and ideas on these weekly, but here's some things you can make sure you have on hand: 

what are you doing this summer?

when we chat about the summer, we are quick to highlight vacations and travel. but what are you doing when you're at home? 

i know what we're not doing - letting the screen lull us to lethargy, fearing the fog in our city, nor eating our way through the pantry and fridge. in fact, i'm making a "kitchen closed" sign as you are reading this! 

i’m giving away a summer series grid i created with minimal instructions and maximum creativity! if you missed it, you can click here to get the free download delivered as a pdf to your inbox. 

motherhood is the responsibility to love a child. motherhood is joining the ranks of women who are trying to do what you're trying to do. i say trying because each generation of moms takes what their mothers gave them and pairs it with their values and beliefs to shape their children. no generation has or ever will get this perfect, but every generation is giving their absolute best and it's working. it has worked and it keeps working.  

as a mother in 2018, how do i hold this vocation as both a privilege and responsibility? 

i can write to me all day - putting thoughts on paper, making notes, forming ideas. but this is different. always. it is writing to you - in book or blog - that demands an assurance from the Holy Spirit that is His leadership and my obedience. 

if i might encourage those who are writing, want to write, dream of writing. for me, on my writing journey, i am thirsty for knowledge of how others are writing and succeeding, pushing through, staying focused, and fulfilling their call to use words to bring about life change. 

i've shared how i get to write a book and how i am writing a book and want to tell you what happens in the book process. one that is still ongoing. one i'm in the thick of and am loving! i'm a fan of timelines and bullet points that get to the point and make it easy to follow. but i greatly appreciate the stories that give depth to the timeline. 

so here's my timeline and bullet points with the story woven in...