Sharing some gorgeous outtakes from a recent shoot Joy and I worked on for Anthropologie. The feature is live on their blog now…complete with more of these lovely photos by Joy and some thoughts on simple floral arranging! This shoot is one of my favorites, ever! The lighting and contrast and bright blooms. How awesome would it be to receive a bouquet with these blooms for Valentine’s Day? (Joe, do you read my blog?) 😉

These cheerful photos are bringing me so much hope and joy today! We’ve had a rough & emotional past couple of days…and these photos are reminding me of the Lord’s promises to be faithful and of beautiful things to come. They’re reminding me to be thankful for what I have been blessed with, and to be content with my current situation. Thank you to everyone who’s been praying for us, and sending texts and virtual hearts & hugs and all! We love you, and it means more than you know! <3

This song, Beautiful Things (by Gungor) just came on my pandora station, and it’s SO speaking to my heart right now. I first learned this song in college when my friend Tia and I sang it at an open mic night. I wanted to share the lyrics with you, in hopes that you are encouraged today:

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all


You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us


All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You