A Content Heart

It is truly amazing of the freedom that comes when you surrender to being content, no matter the changes.

Since I decided to just give in and be okay with the new normal. I can honestly say my heart has been content with all I do! 

The past two weeks has been filled with home making adventures and ministry adventures. My heart has been filled with joy and a contentment that I am not sure how to describe.

I have been blessed with with apples and pears to freeze for the winter. I am really looking forward to making apple butter and trying pear butter this fall! 

I have even began baking again! Something my heart adores doing. I really love the simplicity of doing things from scratch! 

I made my grandma's old fashioned pear cake from scratch yesterday.

oh my goodness, it turned out amazing! Its so moist... She would be so proud.

It felt so good to make something that took me back to happy childhood memories.

That doesn't happen very often.

This has quickly became one of my families favorite!
Last week we spent time with chosen family and their church family! We spent time making memories during the day and feeding our souls in the evening.
I learned I love to swim in the sound much more than the ocean.The water was so warm and calm.
Where the ocean is rough and beautiful, I normally set on the beach and watched the waves and my family play. This time I was able to join in the fun and made some amazing memories!

 The sound will forever have a special place in my heart! We spent some time shopping and spent time at a plantation near by. My very talented friend Stacy took my youngest senior pictures while we were there! I cant wait to see them! I know they are going to incredible! I also took advantage of the plantation to do some photography of my 18 inch doll and some of the dresses I had sewn in the past.
My sweet Christian and Lacey took bestie pictures together too! I am so glad God has placed this family in our lives.

They both have grown into such amazing and beautiful young women, inside and out!

The cute little place we stayed, had an incredible views and things that reminded me of childhood. I loved seeing some of the things we used as kids! I may have to get on ebay lol  and add them to my vintage kitchen collection! 

 That stack of bowls caused a many of arguments on Saturday mornings! Because  my two sisters and I all wanted that dark pink one!

In the evenings my husband held revival services at the beautiful Sound Side Missionary Baptist Church of Columbia, North Carolina.

The people there are incredibly hospitable and loving. 

The services were life changing and if I recall correctly 11 gave their hearts to Jesus!  It was so wonderful to minister with Stephen and Stacy again. It just feels natural. I know God is sweeping across Columbia! I am excited to continue to hear how He continues move!
Here are a couple of my favorite snap shots of services.

I am grateful the Lord has allowed my heart to be content. I excited to see what He has in store for our ministry and our family!
I am excited to be doing the things I love again. I love that I have fallen in love sharing the beauty of homemaking again!
Thank you for stopping by and sharing it with me!
I want to close with this scripture. It was apart of my morning devotion and it truly spoke to my soul.

I want Jesus to be the very center of everything I do! I want all of the decisions I make and the way I  live my life be pleasing to Him and lead others to want to do the same! 

I pray that all I do reflects that!
Thank you again for sharing apart of your day with me! I pray your week is blessed!
~Shellie