Sweet and Simple

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How about this sweet little ribbon-tied chalkboard for your getaway car?

We celebrated our first [big-little] milestone last night - 6 months since our July 11, 2009 wedding - with dessert and coffee at the Reata in Fort Worth.  It's hard to beat their dessert tacos with carmelized bananas and chocolate gravy.  [Next time, I'll try to snap a picture of those before they are gobbled up.]

These simple dates are some of my favorites, because we carve out the time to just sit and talk and be. We're focused on each other and not the things we have to do.  We have an understood "rule" for our date night conversation - no discussion of task-y things like bills or car maintenance.  Instead, we focus our conversation on ideas and dreams and values - the things that have unified us from the beginning.  They help us step back from our day-to-day routine and gain some perspective on who we are together as a couple, and the things we want do and be about together.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend time with a loved one?

New Leader Training

My husband and I have recently begun leading a home group with our church, The Village.  How much we love being a part of the community there!

I really enjoyed our new leader training yesterday and am thinking on a few takeaways today:

-As leaders {and as believers} we are to teach the gospel, model the gospel, and affirm the gospel in others.

-Whenever you read the Bible, look for Jesus and the Gospel in everything you read.

-Community is not the goal - progressive sanctification is the goal.

-Build out a culture of discipleship within the group.  Shepherd all, disciple a few.

Inspiring Chairs

This one...

and this one...

and this one

are all lovely.

This one would be quite happy in my office...if I could choose a color...

This one to add a colorful statement piece?

Or this one for some extra pattern and texture?

Or how about this one for a baby girl's nursery?

But this one takes the cake. 

Doesn't the girly-girl in you ooh and ahh just a bit over these chairs?

Into the world of printing....

We bought a letterpress.

Here she is.

My own Kelsey 3x5.

A last-second, adrenaline-charged, totally-unexpected bit of eBay experience.

She'll need a few repairs, and it may be awhile before I have the pennies to do so, but she was a steal.

You'll definitely be seeing more of her!