:thoughts on community // coffee date #1:

i have shared on many occasions how this crazy clan came to be. it all started with an invitation. putting yourself out there can be a scary thing. i know this from experience. there are many scars and shards of the brokenness that has come as a result of letting my guard down. yet the beauty that followed was far worth the risk. the beauty of friendship and community and worship are rare and precious treasures that i do not take for granted. we do not take this gift for granted and we do not desire to hide it only for ourselves. in an effort to continue in the beauty of community we invited the internet to coffee. 

seven beautiful ladies showed up from all around the area. hugs were exchanged upon meeting and saying goodbye. conversations were shared around two tiny tables while laughter filled the sunshiny sky and my heart overflowed in response to this gift. the gift of sharing our stories. i heard their stories, they heard mine and i left with a swarm of words that followed me throughout the weekend. we were not the same age. we were not in the same life stages. we may not have the same interest. we were not all married, not all mothers but we were all women with the desire to make deeper connections and that is all it takes. it starts with an invitation and it ends with the beauty of community. 

our next coffee meet-up will be june 7th, 2014 at starbucks in hickory, nc 1342 2nd street northeast. please join us if you can. there are no requirements just a willingness to step out of your comfort zone! follow along on instagram for more details // @melissabeaver @alilittle28 @jonilwarren

these words so resonated with me after our sweet little meeting. i hope they do the same for you.

"blessed is the influence of one human soul on another"

-george eliot. 

enjoy this free printable as a reminder of how amazing community can be.

:thoughts on being RAD // FREE PRINTABLE:

i am a list maker, note taker & paper lover. 

i make them in my head and on my phone but i am so much more likely to complete 

said tasks if they are on paper right in front of me. enter, the RAD to-do list, 

created with pen & paper via yours truly.

get yours here for FREE and make today the DAY of RAD.

p.s. these RAD photos were compliments of my budding photographer: the Coopster. 

p.p.s for more RAD paper products check out my shop

:thoughts on art // FREE PRINTABLE:

because everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time, here is a FREE PRINTABLE from me to you. thank you for being a constant encouragement to me as i share my heart and my art in this space. 

there are some new prints in my shop! i'd love for you to stop by and share your favorites!

:thoughts on motherhood // FREE PRINTABLE:

this is a constant theme around our home. seeking to live out love through patience and kindness. this setting aside of ourselves in order to focus on and bless others. it starts at home, mother teresa said, it is not how much we do but how much love we put into that action. 

i told jacob, i want to learn first corinthians 13 with the children, picking a few verses each week until we have it memorized. that was a month ago and we are still on verse four. i read it daily to myself and at least once a week with the children. we talk about ways we can practice being patient. we think of ways we can show kindness to one another. each week we come back to it and realize we haven't quite mastered it. i don't know that we ever will and i believe there is grace for that. so for now we are camping out here. i am happy to stay a while soaking up love and grace along the way. 

i hope you'll join me on the journey. in an effort to encourage you, you can DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINT, here.

:thoughts on art // free printable:

sometimes things don't go the way you planned. instead of life falling into place, it falls apart. whatever you're going through today God is with you. he is on this journey with you weaving your story with His. there is beauty to be found in the broken failings of this life. let us look for it now and always. 

after some encouragement from a sweet friend, i've turned this hand lettered piece into a free printable, just for you. it's not perfect, as is life. i hope you'll be reminded of His presence today.

  Plans Fail God Doesn't

you can find other goodies in my shop The Lovely Words 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

:fun on friday:

just for fun and to say thank you for being so supportive of my new shop, The Lovely Words, enjoy this FREE PRINTABLE illustrated and digitally colored by me.

  Conversations of Grace by Melissa Beaver

find more fun prints at The Lovely Words Shop