What I’m Loving + Learning

I may not be hitting post as frequently, but I am writing more than I ever have. The truth is, for the last three years I have been working on a personal project.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellMarch 17, 2023dallas photographer, what i am learning, anxiety, homeschool, homeschooling, writing a bookComment

Not So Picture Perfect Life

An ice storm has swept across North Texas this week, closing down our tiny nook of the world for the past few days.

Alyssa BellFebruary 3, 2023Comment

Hello Lovely Project

For the last year, I have been praying and dreaming up what it might look like to combine my love for photography and my heart for empowering women.

EmpowermentAlyssa BellJanuary 27, 2023Basic Invite graduation announcements, graduation invitations, local photographer, dallas photographer, senior portraits, hello lovely project, photographer, unique portraitsComment

Motherhood “And”

What I’m finding about motherhood in this season is that it is a delicate balancing act of loving my boys well and pursuing my calling.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellJanuary 13, 2023balancing motherhood, motherhood and calling, motherhood and creativity, godly motherhood, imperfect motherhood, how to balance motherhood and calling, raising young boysComment

When God Is Silent

It’s been a season of waiting in so many ways. Waiting for direction in life decisions, waiting for breakthrough in a hard situation, waiting for a dear friend’s loved one to awaken from a coma after a bike accident.

SpiritualityJana SchmittDecember 23, 2022Advent, silent night, Christmas hymns, When God is silent, Why we celebrate Advent, What Advent is all aboutComment

A Letter To My 20 Year Old Self (on the day of her wedding)

To my twenty year old self on her wedding day –

You are so young, bursting with hope and ambition. I envy your passion. Your dreamer’s spirit. Take a deep breath. Here we go.

MarriageAlyssa BellDecember 16, 2022ten year anniversary, a letter to my twenty year old self, on the day of my wedding, marriage, fighting for your marriage, what marriage has taught me, what I've learned in ten years of marriage Comment

The Little Things

Sometimes discouragement lingers heavily on a regular Tuesday morning.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellDecember 9, 2022homeschooling, finding joy in the little things, the little thingsComment

Simple Ways to Keep The Holidays Holy

You don’t need an hour long nightly ritual to ascribe meaning to the madness. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is determine going into the season what you have the bandwidth for.

SpiritualityAlyssa BellDecember 2, 2022Advent, Advent traditions, DIY nativity scene, peg doll nativity set, keeping the holidays holy, family advent, jesse treeComment

Purpose In The Present

Moving is not for the faint of heart. A move to another state, away from what you hold dear, can tear your heart apart.

Amber WhiteOctober 21, 2022 Comment

Unhurried

I’ve been in a hurry my entire life, it seems. My mom jokes that I’ve been running as long as I could walk.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellOctober 7, 2022unhurried, living life at a slower pace, slow down, slow living, intentional livingComment

Heaven and Earth and The Space In Between

There are two worlds. There’s this tangible one with sounds and shapes and tastes. It’s the ground we walk on and the air we breathe, the meals we share around the table, the conversations we have.

SpiritualityAlyssa BellSeptember 23, 2022heaven, supernatural, thin spaces, ephesians 6, heaven and earth, demonic forcesComment

A Collection Of Good Things

Sometimes, when my toddler is fully in a moment, he’ll close his eyes and squint up his face. I always wonder what he’s thinking in that moment, and it almost always makes me laugh to myself.

SpiritualityAlyssa BellSeptember 2, 2022practice gratitude, living with a grateful heart, how to be content, how to live with contentment, collecting good things, good thingsComment

Why We're Homeschooling

Homeschooling was not the path we always planned to take for our kids. I remember having conversations with Matt early on in our marriage.

HomeschoolingAlyssa BellAugust 19, 2022homeschooling, why we homeschool, our choice to homeschool, should i homeschool my kids, homeschool classroomComment

Mountain Cabin Reveal (Before + After)

Want to see what Darron and I have been working on all summer? We’ve mentioned the cabin in North Carolina so often in the blog, I thought it was about time to share some updated photos and a little of the journey.

HomeJana SchmittAugust 13, 2022cabin in the mountains, cozy mountain cabin, airbnb for two, Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, north carolina airbnb, cabin makeover Comments

Good Not Perfect

The moments I’ve been collecting lately lack all the luster and idyllic qualities I used to think were needed for holding onto something.

SpiritualityAlyssa BellAugust 5, 2022anxiety, depression, how to fight anxiety, finding peace in the unknown, finding joy and peace, fighting anxiety with God's word, North Carolina, Appalachian Mountains, cabin in the mountains, summer vacation Comment

Summer Under The Stars

My mom turned 60 at the beginning of the summer and her one request was an evening under the stars surrounded by some of her favorite people.

HomeAlyssa BellJuly 15, 202260th birthday party, summer party, outdoor party, backyard party, backyard concert, twinkle lights, 60th birthday, dessert table, wood pallet backdrop, intimate party ideas, taco barComment

Giving Myself Fully To The Present

It’s a strange feeling dividing our time - and our hearts - between two different places on the map. Both feel like home. Both call us for different reasons. In fact, I would say these places chose us more than we chose them.

Jana SchmittJuly 8, 2022 Comments

Our Family Summer Bucket List

Of all the seasons, summer is perhaps the most reminiscent of my childhood. Growing up, we always took big family trips, spent weeks on end at my grandparents’ lake house, and had an endless string of sleepovers with friends. The days were long and lazy and if there’s anything I miss about the past, it’s those simpler days.

HomeAlyssa BellMay 20, 2022Summer bucket list, our family summer bucket list, summer ideas with kids, cheap summer ideas with kids, summer activities with young kids, summer activities, things to do in texas in summer, how to make the most of summer breakComment

Whatever Is True

“Write what is true” I exhale at the keyboard waiting for divine inspiration to strike. But the truth is….I’m irritable and tired. I want to write something encouraging for moms in light of Mother’s Day that is also not completely cliche. I DON’T want to talk about politics (or hear or read about them for that matter) but if I am being honest, it’s what is plaguing me the most.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellMay 6, 2022speak truth, whatever is true, encouragement for mothers, encouragement for moms, mothers day, celebrating moms, celebrating motherhood Comment

On Fighting For Your Joy

I am so quick to surrender my joy because if I’m being honest, it feels frivolous and self-serving. Who has time to pursue joy when so much pain exists in the world or when I’m wearing a million different hats on any given day?

Alyssa BellApril 22, 2022Comment