#soulgrowing

Kinda feeling like this Halloween pic deserves a permanent spot on the squares. 🤔 Porter was taking the photo and I’m guessing said some clever comment. Going out on a limb here... also guessing I was not amused. 🤷‍♀️

But look at that guy next to me. I started my day today by breaking our garage door AND cursing in front of the kids AND getting them to school late. Mom fail. Wife fail. Homeowner fail. Driver fail. Person fail. Want to know what he did when I told him all these things? He chuckled and said it wasn’t THAT bad. Our faces probably looked a lot like they do in this photo. He pointed out all the things I do successfully, which often go unnoticed by me. He got right to work fixing the mess I made. I got right in the shower, because washing hair and shaving legs has a way of making me feel like I have it together even when I don’t.

While I was in there I was thinking of all the times my crazy came to the surface, waving it’s flag, and he greeted it like an old friend.

The time I got to Target and realized I was out of gas? Oh hi friend, go ahead and shop. You’ll leave there with a full tank.

That time I ordered a couch for the upstairs without measuring the doorways? Oh hey friend. I will deconstruct this furniture and door frame and put it all back together to make this work.

That time I called him because the minivan was stolen? Oh hi friend, I can see you need a gentle reminder that you drove the truck and the minivan is in the garage.

That time I went out for a gallon of milk and came back with a kitten? Okaaaay friend... whatever.

That time a wasp stung my rump 3 times and I ended up mooning everyone on the trail? No big deal friend, now all these people know how fine that behind is.

The countless times I’ve called him when he’s away worried about a vibe I was getting or something I read or a paint color or a fever? Hey friend. I don’t worry because I trust your instincts. You should, too.

Do you hear that voice? Do you trust it?

I hope you said yes. Coming from someone obsessed with words, that means a lot.

I have been collaborating with some friends on casting visions & setting goals for 2020... and I’ll admit... I am slow to find my stride. This year. Every year, maybe. I’ve always been a late bloomer and I may change that someday, but right now I’m fine with it. 💁‍♀️

“So... WHY... Rodan + Fields?” came up. Honestly? I have difficulty putting it into words. It’s a million tiny things, and also some really big things. It only seems right to give each of those their due spotlight in due time. The bottom line is: I feel drawn to it. I have from the moment I read an article about R+F in Forbes years and years ago. That pull, that voice that doesn’t use words? Intuition, gut feeling, Spirit... it hasn’t led me wrong. In fact, it always elevates me. Always always always.

When we felt drawn to move to the Pacific Northwest 4 years ago, we looked up the cost of living and wondered if this was the right thing to do. Jared’s income wasn’t doubling, but our mortgage was. He never doubted. I never doubted. I knew that if God was calling us somewhere, it wasn’t to struggle financially. Life has enough struggles without inviting more. I just knew things would work out. Maybe we’d find a killer deal on a house. Maybe politicians would stop dipping into funds meant for salary. Maybe I’d write a wildly successful book series. Maybe I’d learn to thrive on a smaller budget. I didn’t know how it would work out, but I didn’t have to! We were in good hands. When R+F came along, I didn’t recognize it as an opportunity to build a meaningful stream of income until my first paycheck in my first month of business. $427. Yep. As someone who hadn’t brought in a paycheck in over a decade, that was pretty exciting! I immediately wondered how many people I knew that were praying for an extra $400 that month. I wondered how many people wanted to be home more with their kids but couldn’t. I wondered if I could build a full-time income from home. And felt drawn to keep wondering. Keep growing. Keep sharing. Keep being part of this.

“Talana, it’s not cool to post pictures of dark, messy rooms on Insta. Especially taken from outside, weirdo.” I know. But here’s the thing. We’ve been home more than usual the last few days. When six kids (and a scatterbrained mama who’s tidy husband is gone, again...) live in a house, it looks, well... lived in. I don’t know where I got the idea that if I truly had it together, my house wouldn’t have projects left to do in every room or so many friggin fingerprints on the windows... but that, on top of some other things, have got me feeling all “less than” lately. So I was out sweeping the porch and watering flowers (as one does at 9 pm).