I know I should be packing, but...

I've just listed a handful of earrings and will be listing a few bags later today that are all ready to ship and will be sent out within 1-2 days of purchase.

Use the coupon code: MOVINGSALE to get 10% off of your order (and help me clean things out before we move!).

Thanks!

Mommy advice needed.

I'm a work-from-home mom. I think we're all aware of that.

In my head, it's a pretty dreamy set up. While baby naps, I sew and catch up on customer emails. While he's awake, we run errands and play.

In reality, that's far from how it actually goes. In a perfect world, I'd be fully engaged with him whenever he's awake. But in real life, there are often times I have to work and have to keep him occupied at the same time. That's when things get hairy. He is becoming more mobile - not yet crawling, but scooting on his belly and getting where he wants to go - and he's putting everything in his mouth. Because I work with tiny little pieces like buttons and pins and beads, it only takes about 30 seconds for him to find something on the floor and try to put it in his mouth. I usually lay out a blanket for him with lots of toys and books to keep him entertained for a few minutes. But it's not 30 seconds before he's made his way toward the glue gun or a jar of buttons - and while I can keep some things out of his reach, I can't keep it all up and out of the way while I'm working. It's a frustrating scenario. I get nothing done. He gets annoyed that I keep pulling him away from things he shouldn't have.

So what do I do? What do you, moms, do? I've looked into a baby gate or "super yard" that I could section off a part of the room like this one. But is it just me, or does that look like a baby prison? And the fact that they use it for animals, too? (Enter the mommy guilt. It looks like I'm putting my child in a petting zoo.) He does play in his jumperoo for a bit, but would usually rather be free to crawl around.

Ok... you get the idea. Is there something I'm not thinking of?

Our great adventure.

via Instagram @whitneynewby

Since Friday, we've had two major milestones on our journey to whatever this next season holds:
1. Shawn put in his two weeks notice.
2. We sold about half of our stuff.

Shawn leaving his job has been on our hearts and our prayer lists for months, so it wasn't a quick decision at all. We had just begun praying specifically about him being done at the end of May when we found out we had to be out of our house at the end of May, which actually felt really confirming. I mean, why not do it all at once? :) By June 1, we'll officially have no job and no house. And for some reason, we don't feel anxious about it at all. (More on that later.) Our main reason for him leaving his job is that our business is growing and thriving and I desperately need his help. But we also feel like there's another piece to the puzzle that even we aren't aware of yet. Still, it was a big step of faith to leave a consistent salary, great benefits, and a company car behind.

We also decided to sell lots of our stuff: furniture, baby things, home decor, and just the "stuff" that accumulates over time. We want to be as mobile as possible, without a lot that has to be moved. We set out to have a garage sale on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, it rained for the entire time, but we still had quite a bit of traffic. Saturday was much, much slower, and toward the last couple hours, I told Shawn we'd probably need to have another sale next weekend because we had so much left over. (Oh me of little faith!) Well, toward the end of the sale, we got quite a bit more traffic and things were selling left and right. A microwave, a TV, a large chair, some shelves... it was all finding new homes and we were so happy about it. We'd decided to end at 2:00pm, and right at 2:00, a lady came by and asked what price we could give her if she would buy everything that was left. Only God. We gave her a price, she paid us, we packed it up, and she hauled it off. Every single thing had sold. We sat there, stunned, praising the Lord that He had come through in such a miraculous way.

via Instagram @whitneynewby

We've felt the Lord's presence in these last few weeks more than ever. We know that this next season will (obviously) involve a move. Across town? Across the country? Across the ocean? We don't know. We pray it will involve living in a city, as that's where our hearts really are. We also know that this next season will involve our business, Brighter Day, and we are praying for wild success on that front.

Beyond that, we don't know. We're open to wherever the Lord may send us, and are thankful that we're in a place that requires so much faith that He will continue to lead us and provide for us. We're traveling light, ready to go wherever He opens doors.

Tonight.

Just about anything I have to say tonight feels somewhat petty in light of what's happening in Oklahoma right now. Our prayers go out to them - especially the parents who are not tucking in their little ones tonight. I can't even imagine.

So with no more words, here are some photos from our trip to Florida. Our (found!) camera arrived in the mail this morning, and I am so thankful to have these sweet reminders of how blessed we are with family.

Kingdoms.

These pictures have nothing to do with the post. I just couldn't help but show you my happy little chub that makes my heart sing.

Shawn and I have been talking a lot recently about kingdoms. As he put it the other night, "We're either building God's Kingdom, or we're building our own." That hit me because it's so true. I'm either investing my time and energy into loving and serving others (and in turn, loving and serving the Lord) and building His Kingdom here on earth. Or I'm building my own kingdom: striving to find the nicest house and cars and jobs, trying to maintain the easiest, most comfortable life, and building myself up. I'm either humbling myself to put others first or toppling over them to get ahead. I'm either making Him great or making myself great. It's a constant struggle. 

Jesus was clear: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

That makes me squirm. I love comfort. I love certainty. I love safety. But that's not what He called us to. He calls us to faith, to action, to radical love and sacrifice. 

So as we pack up our home and look out at this blank slate before us with so many decision to make, we pray for the grace to make building His Kingdom our aim.