And Then One Day, We Decided To Change Our Lives…

We were living in a great neighborhood, in a nice home in one of the most family-friendly cities in America.  Our kids had coveted spots in the area’s best charter school and were progressing.  I was lucky enough to be a full-time mom and have a little creative business on the side.  My husband Jeff, was providing well, working from home as a software engineer.

Picture perfect, right?

So, why did I feel that every part of our lives was so rushed? Why did I feel so disconnected from myself and my family?  Why did I have a nagging feeling that this was not where we should be?  That our family needed something different, something more?  I concluded that we needed to make a change. Something that if fulfilled, would make a positive difference for ALL of us.

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Our Journey to an Intentional, Creative Life

After a lot of thought, prayer, blood (okay, maybe not blood..), sweat (mostly Jeff’s), and tears (mostly mine), we traded our big house in the suburbs for a smaller house on an acre and a half of beautiful (muddy) land.  We traded our spot at the charter school for a comfy spot on the couch at home – our textbooks for living books, our over-scheduled lives for nature walks and read-alouds. We began our journey to a purposeful, creative and truly intentional life. 

Simplifying Isn’t Always Simple

If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing that my story resonates with you in some way. Maybe you are experiencing the same frustrations and want to make a change.  Or, maybe you are on a similar journey – looking for inspiration or just a friend who “gets it”.  A simpler, intentional life is, of course, the ultimate goal for all of us.  But, when it comes down to it, simplifying can be anything but simple! Living intentionally and growing creatively doesn’t just happen.  It requires dedication and strength.  Skills need to be learned, practiced and fine-tuned. It requires going against the grain, trusting yourself, and having the courage to do what might not always be easy or convenient.

Welcome to Lily and Thistle

Lily and Thistle is where I check in and share what is working for us as we travel this bumpy road of intention.  It’s where art, nature and real, messy life are revered and where education in any form is celebrated.  My passion is to help creative moms make time for their art while still making life meaningful for their families. You will find resources for creative education, nature study, practical marriage/parenting solutions, and I’ll even share glimpses of our life as wanna-be homesteaders!

My hope is that you will be inspired to improve your creative self and find tools to help make your precious time on this planet beautiful to you and to those whose lives you touch. 

So, if you are a creative mom who is trying to live with intent and make more time for what really matters, you’ve found a friend in the trenches.  Welcome to Lily and Thistle. Let’s do this together!

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