{Margin by Homeland}

A video from our trip to Yosemite last October.
{Another great reminder that good things come to those who wait).

{Gratitude} Lately

Lately I've been thankful for thrifted denim and gifted bamboo rods.

For slow mornings and fresh eggs for baking.



For daily compost and my favorite summer sandals.


For after dinner ice cream runs and bici's found in unexpected places.

For free hostas and a neighborhood that inspires me.



For shared birthdays and icing fails. #happybirlhay

For empty laundry baskets and antique sleigh biscuits.



For backpacking trips and pups who sleep in tents.

For beer on the front porch and walks when the Wagoneer won't start.

For updates from Moti and God's abundant provision.

And for hydrangeas that look like snowballs and summer's in the city I'm growing to love.
What have you been grateful for lately?
Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough.
Happy Wednesday, brave ones.

{Today's Letters}

Dear Mr. Loerke, you trying to catch the chickens? BEST. THING. EVER. Dear Bees, this weekend we extracted a gallon of your honey. Thanks for working really hard so we can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Dear Front Porch, ready for achy shoulders and bowls of homemade honey lavender ice cream. The end. Dear Husband, praise the Great Lion of Judah for ladies who exercise at Cherokee Park with hoola hoops and for husband's who try and reenact them. You're adorable.

Happy Tuesday, brave ones! What's one of your favorite childhood memories? I loved spending summers on the front porch making homemade Oreo ice cream with my family. Worth every slow crank of the bucket!

{Louisville Living}

Mulberry picking. Fly fishing. Cobbler.

A summer evening well spent.
Happy Monday, brave ones!

{Happy Father's Day} Papa!

Dear Papa,

No one has influenced my life more than you. You've taught me how to use a hammer drill, to always bring a 6 pack for our mechanic when we pick up our car from the shop, to shovel the neighbors driveway before the snow blower runs out of gas, to make time for handwritten letters, to beat my egg whites in a copper bowl when baking, and to always remember I have more than what I need.

Know that I celebrate you today and everyday. Love you more than Blue Highways read on the front porch, bacon smokers made out of old refrigerator parts, and patched overalls worn while bass fishing at the lake.

Happy Father's Day, Papa.
Em

{Father's Day Letter 2010 : Father's Day Letter 2012}

{All I Want by Kodaline}

Saturday morning required listening : {Inspiration found at 1:47}

{Fist Pump Friday!}

{Jamie, Carl, Kristen & Derek : Inca Trail : Machu Picchu : Peru : Dead Woman's Pass}

{Haley's rovers Wren, Rutledge & baby River : First Homegrown Squash, Cukes & Japs of the Season : FPF Challenge Photo Winners!}

FPF Challenge Photos: 1) while riding an elephant 2) with your mailman 3) in front of Antique Archaeology in Nashville 4) with Twinner at Local123 5) at your favorite BBQ joint 6) at the Pyramids in Egypt 7) at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo 8) after running a marathon 9) in front of the Sistine Chapel in Rome 10) in front of your sorority / fraternity house 11) at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC 12) with your grandma or grandpa 13) with your favorite professor or teacher 14) at Caine's Arcade 15) by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco 16) with Katie Davis in Uganda or at Catalyst Dallas 17) on a sailboat 18) while cheering on your favorite team at the ballpark 19) in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia 20) camping with friends 21) at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC 22) at Old Faithful in WY 23) at the Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox Statue in Bemidji, MN 24) at the World's Largest Peanutin Ashburn, GA 25) before / after sky diving 26) while stuffing your boca with fried goodness at your local State Fair 27) with your friends at a college football game 28) while fly fishing 30) at Carhenge in Alliance, NE 31) while rocking your Halloween costume 32) with the Fremont Bridge Troll in Seattle 33) on top of the Empire State building in NYC 34) while rocking tacky Christmas sweaters 35) in front of your favorite brewery 36) eating a cinnamon roll at Please & Thank You in Louisville 37) in front of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas 38) in front of the worlds largest Easter Egg in Vegreville, Canada 39) with your first homegrown tomatoes or veggies of the season 40) on top of Mount Agung in Bali 41) with Naomi, Josh, Eleanor or Samson Davis of Rockstar Diaries 42) in Patagonia, Chile 43) at your favorite summer camp 44) while making homemade ice cream on the front porch. To participate email photos to em@todaysletters.com. Happy freaking Friday, Homies!

Each week we receive several FPF photos that can't be posted on the blog due to photo quality. We'd love to encourage you to 1) take your FPF photo horizontally (when possible) 2) use an SLR camera (no blurry cell phone pictures) and 3) take your photos in the daylight. Thanks!

{Afternoon Thoughts}

That time when you come home and see a little person's sock left on your dresser.
Thankful for friends who feel comfortable doing laundry at the Harvest House even when we're not there.
Happy Wednesday, brave ones.

{Dear Rowan Able}

In the past 9 months your mom has taken you camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Night fished with you on the Davidson River.

Hiked with you through the Redwoods in California.

Danced with you at your first concert.

Camped with you in Yosemite National Park.

Climbed part of Half Dome with you in the rain.



Taken you to the City Light's Poetry Room in San Francisco.

Watched seals with you at Pier 39.

Walked with you through vineyards in Napa.

Filmed a video with you about an Airstream coffee bar.



Fed horses with you at the Ranch.



Held puppies with you in Austin.

Taken you to her pottery classes.
 

Held you close to the chickens.



Walked with you down Frankfort Ave.

Let Ryder take naps on you.
 

Watched waves break with you on the Atlantic Ocean.



Walked past Antebellum homes with you in Charleston.

Watched her body change as you grew.



Prayed for you each day.



Held bunnies with you in the country.

Walked with you by the river.



Painted beehives with you at the Harvest House.

Hiked with you on the trails at Cherokee Park.

Kept you safe in the car.

And fished with you at Floyds Fork.
Although you and your mom have already done many incredible things,
the most amazing thing has been the way you labored together for you to take your first breath.

You were 9 days late and content to hibernate in the womb until Christmas.
After an induction, 10 hours of non medicated labor, 4 hours of pushing and a c-section later
you were finally here.

We think you have the most amazing ears, softest hair, and the cutest nose.



It's been humbling to have been a part of your journey to life these past 72 hours,
to share the same birthday as you, and to watch you take your first breath.
You are, and always be, your mom's greatest adventure.
Love,
Em