Busy blessings and pausing for pleasure.
Happy Saturday friends! This past work week was one of the most relaxing I have had in months, and I actually took time to press pause and read a book [for pleasure!] after lunch. I am trying to be better at balancing work and relaxation for myself. Anyone else struggle with this? Rebranding and launching my new website has required hours of meetings and work behind the scenes, but I am excited to say that the official “reveal” should be coming soon!
Last weekend Gracie was part of a promotional photo shoot for CAVOD Performing Arts where she does dance, musical theater, and acting. Right after the shoot, she had rehearsal for her upcoming show, Lion King Jr, in which she is playing Rafiki (tickets HERE).
People ask me how she balances it all and if she ever gets overwhelmed and anxious which is a great question and one that I ask Gracelyn frequently to make sure I am checking in with her regularly. For one, it helps that I get her because she is me. I have been in her shoes, doing all the things and wanting to excel, so I am able to recognize and help her prevent that sense of overwhelm while empowering her also to say no, but moreover, she LOVES the stage.
I mean she loves it so much that she asks to go to rehearsal hours before she has been called to watch the other scenes that are being blocked or choreographed. She is busy, yes, but she is busy doing something she loves. I think that makes a big difference. Too often we busy ourselves just for the sake of being busy without even enjoying the time spent. Ergo, forcing myself to pause work that can wait and read a book for pleasure.
Gracie and I are singing together in an upcoming gala fundraiser and for my sister’s wedding, and it has been such a sweet parenting moment to partner with one of my children doing something we both love.
Caleb had a sleepover with long-time friends of ours who have 3 boys, and it always makes me laugh to see how different his sleepover activities look compared to Gracelyn and Lillian. These boys tackled each other all night long.
By finding a buddy in Zach, the littlest one avoided getting crushed by the older boys most of the night. Be still my heart.
Speaking of my heart did you see this post on Instagram? Heaven will surely feel like babies laughing.
We got a small taste of warm weather this week and I took the kids and friends to a park one afternoon to enjoy it. These 3 friends from church happen to be siblings and also happen to be in each one of my kid’s classes at school. Despite some big personalities here, they all get along amazingly well.
Can’t wait for some sunshine and color on this pasty white girl skin.
Veggie straws and chocolate chip banana bread. The after-school snack of champions.
I Love Wesley’s shirt. Respect all. Fear none. Easy to say when you are OUTSIDE of the gaga pit, however. I think my shins are still bruised from this game.
When I create new recipes I tend to do several at a time, and the past couple of weeks have been a lot of sweet treats (in addition to two new dinner recipes coming soon!).
My Saturday sous chef.
These chocolate banana muffins are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients making them the perfect breakfast or after-school snack for kiddos.
Gracie was getting artsy with the camera, but this chocolate chip banana bread disappeared in one day. It wasn’t until the next morning I realized Caleb had been helping himself all afternoon. He must be going through a growth spurt because he is currently eating me out of house and home. I can’t imagine once we bring our second son home and we have two teen boys in the house?! How did you all budget for groceries?!
I am pretty pumped about another protein shake that I love. Meet the vanilla frappuccino protein shake. It is delicious.
Lastly, this scratch lemon cake might be one of my new favorite sweet treats and was just posted on the blog yesterday. All those other recipes are coming to the blog soon so stay tuned.
I hope you have the most amazing weekend friends. And in case you haven’t heard it lately, your story matters and YOU ARE LOVED.
