Sweethearts on the Hill

Maybe it's the flowers in bloom. Maybe it's the flirtatious birds that have been singing outside my window. Maybe it was my recent family camping trip. Or, maybe it's my growing babies who are finally allowing me a few moments of me time. I'm not exactly sure what it is right now, but something has me yearning to have my life stripped down to the bare essentials to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the world around me in the raw form God has created. I've been collecting these images of the Earth's gorgeous creations and want to share some of what I see around me. Take an extra minute today to marvel at something beautiful. It's all around you. I promise. Happy plants dancing their way out of the ground The dogwoods are amazing this year! Enjoying a cool bath Flirting with me ~ Basking in the sunshine Vibrant and Amazing Glorious rainbow at the bottom of this waterfall Another flirt flying around my yard In all it...

Finally, I get to introduce to you my baby ~ Charlie Aaron Hatcher. Chuckles. The most perfect nick-name there ever was ~ It's so profound as a mother to bring a new life into the world, and only a few short weeks after the little miracle arrives, you feel like you already know his personality and who he will be. I am describing Charlie to you today using nearly the same words I would have used when he was 3-months old. Funny, whimsical, stubborn - yet easy going, independent, and extremely loving (when he wants to be!) This child has enriched my life in so many ways. He is a little ball of energy, with a sassy attitude that cracks you up. And it's all topped off with a sugar coated sweetness that can melt your heart. I thought I had nearly mastered parenting, disciplining, and molding a child by having practiced with Sam ~ but come to find out I essentially had to throw out everything I learned with Sam, because this one has been a whole new ballgame. Amazing how that wo...

Okay ~ just to be clear, we really aren't "The Agrestic Family" ~ we're actually "The Hatcher Family." Hatcher is a name I'm very proud to wear, as is my darling husband, Mr. Agrestic :) Agrestic Designs is the name of our (pretend) company ~ and it's just kind of fun to wear the name around. Since this is my little playground, I'll probably decide to be Mrs. Agrestic some days, and Mrs. Hatcher on other days. Neither of which has any relation to how I'm feeling about Mr. Hatcher or Mr. Agrestic ~ just a personal mood I guess. Similar to wearing the expression of a black dress or white skirt… or maybe some leg warmers :) So, something I've learned about us Agrestics is that we all kind of love creating things. We seem to have a better family harmony when we have our own little projects and are contributing to some of the color and flavor in and around our home. Here are some examples of our most recent creations: My little vertic...

~I love the moon, and the moon loves me ~ The moon is in the waxing crescent phase right now. Our sky is so clear, there is a great image of the full moon distinctly covered by the shadow of the Earth. I love to see it like this ~ I just needed a sparkling little star sitting beside it for my photo… maybe next time ~

I have the most intimate, fulfilling memories of growing my little peanuts inside me. They mystery of it all… the unreserved anticipation of experiencing the creation of life in a whole new way. What a gift to watch my body transform into something so different and have an entirely different shape, purpose, and meaning. Never has something made me feel so feminine, so powerful, so perfectly me. Every stage of pregnancy brings new gifts. I remember seeing an image of my little sea monkeys for the first time… hearing those gorgeous heartbeats… watching the formation of arms, legs, fingers, eyes, ears… both of my boys were so perfectly photogenic in their ultrasound pictures. And the kicking… oh the kicking. Never once did I feel pain from kicking. Pure joy. I felt pure joy with each and every movement. Nothing made me happier than sitting in a meeting at work, in the middle of an intense discussion, and feeling my little creation kicking and moving. I would drift off to a land where...