Written to our Hearts {24 August}

Photo Credit Sarah Michael

Every week we share the harvest of intentional living by sharing a simple moment that has touched us or that has pointed us to the bigger picture. These moments from last week were like letters written to our hearts:

“…an off-road scramble and full tilt creek hike before long.  careful gazes
admire the millipede, darting fish and shimmered stones below,
and feathered webs atop the canopy of trees.  silt-stained legs and
soaked shirts evidence exploratory missions deep.” Streams Make Glad from So Much Shouthing So much laughter

” Later we floated around on the lazy river where one sentence ran through my mind on a loop: “My life is awesome.” Then I thought about Matt sitting in his office on the first full day of school in his new role as the dean of students. I thought about how busy he must have been preparing for all the issues and challenges of the year to come. And here I was participating in an activity that has “lazy” in its title. Gratitude doesn’t even begin to describe what I felt in that moment.” Lessons from a Lazy River from Diapers, Coupons and Bills

“For a split second I imagined myself flying away to places unknown, adventures unseen.

I’ve always wanted to pick up and fly at moments notice. To someplace where I can earn a stamp in my passport, where I have to speak a foreign language, eat exotic treats, and…” Fly Away Home from Redhead Reverie

“… The cracking has happened again and again over the years. First steps and big words and new babies and laughter and tears have sent fissures ripping through my heart, endlessly. …” Cracked from The Miller Mix

“…There is a river that plays peek-a-boo with the highway in a section of Arkansas.  It beckons each time I pass by.  Yesterday I stopped and walked alongside it for a while. There I found peace.” Peace by the River from Achieving Clarity

Be sure to come by This Heavenly Life tomorrow and link up your Simple Moment. It can be a photo, a poem, prose…anything that touched your heart and inspired you tee see beyond the sameness that can be everyday life. Be sure to include out button or a link back and you may see yourself here too.

Live. Capture. Share. Encourage.

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Writing Me: Where I’m From {Alita}

I am from soul full black vinyl 45’s spun round a silver turn table; dancers in the golden hour whipping particles of dust into the shimmering light; fingers snapping, hands clapping, feet tapping with time, and evenings with hot homemade served  meals without fail.

I am from endless inky skies covering vast forest land and abundant farms, with a canopy of twinkling stars winking upon the midnight train as it echoed its long whistle; heard through a moon lit window pane of a hushed countryside home- on the outskirts of a crumbling buick city.

I am from the leaning white pine, once the height of a small child, now towering crooked into the sky. From black eyed susans blooming on my birth day; dusty graveled roads that always led me home, the silver maple, ivory hydrangea, and sunsets viewed above an aromatic land of golden grain.

I am from Kern sausage and dill Havarti cheese picnics on the banks of the Cass River. I am from roughly calloused hands that peeled dainty red grapes for the young to chew, from women with fierce pride and bottomless compassion, from men who faced adversity and spit in its eye.

I am from Jewel Edward, Alice Louise and Ramon Felipe, Maria Carmen. Familia raised in the grips of the great depression, and La Mexican Cristiada.

I am from the sharp senses of tequila testers, judges, lawyers, railroad men, photographers, and from the hard hands of cotton field pickers, brave World War II air force pilots, General Motors employees, and dance instructors. I’m from strong and often hard headed women who made their home their very first priority.

From a recluse uncle on the East Side of Flint, another uncle that we never talk about and from mi abuelo that I never knew, but I can blame for my love of photography and my large nose, they tell me.

I am from Roman Catholicism, rich in century honored rituals, and raised along with the back woods brimstone Southern Baptist traditions on my mother’s side. Both religions have guided my faith, but God and His promise are what keep me grounded.

I am from the great harvested lands of God’s grains. UAW sit down strikes, from the great lake state, and the swartz creek. From my grandfather who witnessed hundreds of people being baptized in the muddy Mississippi waters, and from the strength of a mother who lost her first son to the clutches of yellow fever.

I am from put your family first and live your life in honesty. From a stubborn and colorful past, fueled with undying love, strength, and determination of the endlessly working men and women.

And I am part of their legacy, our history, for generations to come.

Alita shares  visions, novelties, writings, and ambitions with others at

Alita Jewel’s Treasures

Where I’m From is a Community Writing Project inspired by this prompt.Link your Writing Me: Where I’m From prompt here, and visit some new friends while you’re at it!

What we’ve been up to…

Photo Credit: Alita Jewel Photography

Phew, summer is officially winding down and we re breathlessly gobbling up every last beautiful minute! In case you missed it, our writers have been out and about and have some exciting things going on, so let’s recap:

Melissa weighed in on whether students and teachers should be Facebook friends on Technorati’s Soapbox Musings.

Saturday’s at Undercover Mother are going to get a lot more fun! Hyacynth is introducing Simple Swaps. Simple things you can do in 15 minutes or less to live a more intentional, creative, eco-friendly life. Are you in?

Have you started school yet or will you be soon? You don;t want to miss Melissa’s giveaway from Mabel’s Labels!

If your already back in school than you know the importance of good meals. Sarah is discussing good meals and back to school at the Joplin Globe.

Are you hitting the road this holiday weekend? Hyaycnth a Family Road Trip Survival Guide up at CBS Local.

Are you in a mom fashion rut? It’s Link up week for Melissa’s Dress like a Girl Challenge, August was flirty skirts! You have all week to join in!

Do you have a toddler who is constantly melting down? Sarah shares some tips and thoughts on how to communicate through the trying time over at the Joplin Globe.

Our Writing Me link up is now live under the Writing Me tab at the top of the page. If you have joined in on your own blog or written one in the past please share it there so we can all read it and get to know you better!

Did you see our exciting launch on Friday? Bigger Picture Blogs is starting a book club specifically to foster creativity and help us be better writers. Our first book is Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg. We will be discussing and sharing chapter 1 on Friday.

What have you been up to this week? Share your links in the comments! We’d love to stop by!