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If you’ve ever felt like your days are full but your heart longs for more peace, more purpose, and more joy—you’re in the right place. I’m a wife and mom of five, learning to simplify life at home so that the things that truly matter have room to flourish.

Around here, we talk about homemaking rhythms, faith-filled motherhood, simple meals, and little shifts that make home feel lighter and life feel more joyful. Not because I have it all figured out (far from it!), but because I believe we don’t have to do this alone.

Think of this as your cozy corner of the internet—a place to exhale, grab some encouragement, and walk away with practical tools you can use right away. My hope is that when you leave here, you’ll feel inspired, equipped, and reminded that joy is possible in every season.

with joy,

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@Lauren___Alonso

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A Christmas Gift from Joel to Freddie

Lauren Alonso
Dec 1, 2019
2 min read

So every single Christmas, my husband would paint Christmas cards. One year we were so flat broke simply because I was taking care of him under his family’s roof full time and there was no income. He didn’t want to come empty handed to Christmas, so I suggested maybe we could paint Christmas cards together. And so Joel found is craft.

That craft led to this ref barn painting which was the start of a life on our own as we raised enough money for a down payment for a home.

Painting became a yearly tradition. Last year he painted angels LIVE on fb and I almost “didn’t have time”. And yesterday it hit me, “What if I could take one of his paintings that meant the most to us and make it into an ornament? I could take the all the money from selling Joel’s ornaments and get Freddie something from Joel for Christmas every year!!!”

So... here’s to a new tradition. I will be selling these ornaments simply for Freddie’s gift from Joel- since he’s the one that painted it. Freddie won’t know about this until Christmas morning. How sweet will it be to see a gift that you guys had a part in on Christmas morning from his Dad?!

It only seemed fitting that our dreams of our red barn farm coming true would be on this ornament!

Ornaments will be $15 each or $2 for $25. You’re welcome to give more if you’d like. Shipping will be FREE!

So here’s how to purchase:

1. Go to paypal.me/joelandlaurenjackson or send directly to my account at LaurenEWiles@gmail.com. If you need an alternative way to pay, please email me at the email above and I'll be happy to take a check as well.

2. Select amount (1-$15 or 2-$25- if you’d like more, just include that in the note).

3. Please include your shipping address and email address in the notes.

4. Please send as “friends and family” and not as a service or good, to save us the PayPal fee.

Thank you for loving my family so well!!! I can’t wait to share this with Freddie 💕 He’s going to be so surprised!

Please note that I will stop taking orders in a week, so to make sure to get these to you in a timely manner. I will be shipping them by mid December. (They must be handmade and I want to include a card from us, so they won’t ship right away.) PS you can diffuse essential oils on the back side of them 🎄🥰 you’re welcome!

xoxo,