Jord Wood Watch and a GIVEAWAY!

I am so thrilled to share with you all about my collaboration with Jord wood watches! 

I was recently asked by their company to feature one of their gorgeous, unique wood watches on my site. 

I only want to represent and feature what is true to my style and what I know my followers will love, so I did my research and a bit of browsing through their selection (you can shop all women's styles HERE.)! They have so many beautiful options for women's and men's watches. I would have one in every color if I could! Since I really wanted something I could wear with everything, I went with the zebrawood and champagne. It's my absolute favorite fall accessory right now!

I have to be honest, I was like a kid at Christmas waiting for my gift. Our mail man couldn't deliver my timepiece quickly enough. 

The kids and I had just returned from the farmers market when I spotted it on the porch! 

You guys know I love aesthetically pleasing things, so when I opened my package and saw how awesome the little wooden box it came in was, I couldn't wait to see the rest!

It didn't disappoint! The detail in the zebrawood adds the perfect touch while the champagne face gives it a lovely chic look. 

When I put it on it was a perfect fit! Their size chart is true to size. It's what I used as a guide for my measurement. With that said , I did size up a little only because I like my watches to be a tad loose. 

You can shop my watch HERE

 I love that I can dress it up or down so it goes perfectly with any #ootd. Not to mention it's so light weight!  I can't express how much I love my Jord wood watch.

I could go on and on but I need to share this last piece of exciting news:

 My friends at Jord are offering my followers a sweet giveaway!! One lucky winner will win a $75 voucher toward any Jord purchase! Plus, just for entering the giveaway you get a $20 coupon code to use towards any purchase! It's a win win! 

To enter, simply click on the GIVEAWAY link below and fill out the information. 
https://www.woodwatches.com/g/jenniferashleysherman

Wishing you lots of luck! 

XOXO

Watch Gift Ideas

Home sweet home...

The past two weeks have been so full of emotion for me as a mother, and for my sweet kiddo's. 

Aside from holding fast through the Hurricane that devastated parts of my hometown and parts of the town we live in now; I've spent most of the past two weeks preparing, praying and trusting the Lord as he leads my children and the rest of "The Sherman Five" through a season (maybe several) when we are going to need Him more than ever. I shared my heart with my few close friends but I don't feel like I should go into detail here. At least not yet. Mainly out of respect for others, but also  because my children are still processing. I think we all are. Last night was a tough one for my oldest. I don't have all of the answers for her.. I wish I did. I'm learning that it's okay if I don't and it's okay for her to know that. It's good for her to see My faith in action. I don't have the answers, so  I'm simply closing my eyes,  holding my savior's hand and  trusting (again) in his faithfulness and loving kindness. I'm trusting fully..I really am, but as a mother, when I see my children hurting- my heart aches. 

As a mother I want to protect my children from pain. I'm learning lately however that it's important for me to step aside so that they learn to accept the pain. I can't take pain and suffering away or numb it for them anymore than I can my own. I can only show them where to run when it's overwhelming. I can only teach them fruitful ways to use their pain and suffering as a springboard for the gospel. 

I'm so much of an observer.  With all that's going on in my personal life and in my community, I couldn't help but to stop and observe parts of my life from the perspective of an outsider. .. Among  the devastation, the one thing I observed after hurricane Matthew blew through and relentlessly tore through our town and neighborhood is this: In our neighborhood, we gather. In good times, or times of need, we eat, laugh and gather in homes where everyone is like family. I've never been so thankful and grateful for friends who feel like home. None of us thought twice about opening up our homes, filling in the gaps, and offering assistance to those who needed it. We gathered as comrades..as neighbors...as family. 

"A semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life," according to a statement on Project Semicolon's website. 

This past week was also mental health awareness week. I know that the author is not me but God the father. I also know my story won't end until he calls me to my heavenly home. I can't think of a better time to bask in the faithfulness of the lord- to thank him for friends and family. Mental health awareness week is always a reminder to me of grace upon grace. It's  a reminder of a merciful savior who has comforted me and held me when the wounds were deeper than I could bear.   I've spent so much of my life trying to numb the pain in ways that leave me scarred physically and emotionally.. I don't want my children to ever go through that. I want them know that they are so loved and so valued. I need them to know that they will not be abandoned. Christ came because life is ugly, messy and full of people who are going to hurt us, but we are called to love anyway.. And even bigger than us; we are called to forgive anyway. 

The silver lining is this:

While life is full of ugly messy people, life is also full of people who love us and teach us the value of biblical friendship. 

And sometimes they might be wrapped up in both. 

This past week has been full of all kinds of things, but what I will remember most is the gratitude I hold for friendship, homemade's, creative writing with my little's and living room forts.  Because today, this is my home sweet home. 

Rejuvenate Beauty Co. and our weekend in pictures.

I am so excited about my recent collaboration with Rejuvenate Beauty Company! When they contacted me to tell me about their product and the mission behind it, I couldn't wait to try it so that I could share it with you all!

Saturday was a super early morning for us. Hayden had soccer picture's before her soccer game then we had to travel about 45 minutes away for her gymnastics performance at a local festival. It was super hot but we still had a blast.

When we got home that afternoon Ryan checked the mail and I spotted my package from RBC in his hand from a distance. I immediately opened it up to find my coffee scrub in the cutest packaging.

I was finally able to get a relaxing bath and try it out late Saturday night. 

I'm very particular about what products I put on my skin, especially since my skin is so sensitive. I'll just go ahead and say I'm already obsessed with this product. It exfoliates really well, but it's not harsh. I've used sugar and salt scrubs that were so harsh they dried my skin out and left it in worse shape than before. With RBC's coffee scrub, not only was I able to exfoliate from head to toe (because it's gentle enough for your face too), it left my skin so moisturized I was able to skip that part of my skincare routine! (I'm all about one less step.)
One of the reasons I love their product is because it works so well. I also love it because their mission is to provide jobs through fair trade and bring hope for others around the world with every purchase.

The other thing I'm loving is that they are giving my followers 15% off of your first purchase when you enter discount code SHOP15 at check out! Just click the link below!
 Rejuvenate Beauty Co.

Our vacation in pictures.

I've shared a few photos from our trip to Hilton Head on Facebook and Instagram, but wanted to share some here on the blog too. 

It was so nice to squeeze in a last minute vacation before the school year got super crazy. 

Ryan's Aunt and Uncle so graciously allowed us to take advantage of an opening in the schedule and enjoy some much needed R&R at their condo. They also live nearby in HHI so it was icing on the cake to stop by for a visit on our way back home to Florence!

Last night I was looking back through all the pictures from the trip and realized I'd taken (like always) way more than were necessary. 

One of the things I love to do as a mother is stop and observe my children no matter what they are in the middle of doing. 

I never want to get so caught up in the "busy"ness of raising them that I forget to stop and soak up these little moments that are building the foundation of who they are becoming. 

 I often find myself taking "too many" pictures while observing, but these moments- the ones where they are are so full of life and care free- these are the ones I want to hold on to forever. 

While we were at the condo, the kids repeatedly exclaimed how it was "the best vacation ever!" 

Watching them have the time of their lives running wild and free and seeing that they were content being knee deep in the sand for hours made me smile. The world sometimes leaves us thinking our kids need all the extras- the extravagant vacation with all the extra stimulation. 

I love those types of vacations and I know that they can be so much fun, but when you have children who are already naturally over-stimulated it can be overwhelming. 

Being by the ocean, watching the waves crashing onto the shore, hearing the seagulls squawking as they swooped down for food, mixed with the sound of humanity surrounding us was the perfect lullaby while the kids danced across the sand and their imaginations ran wild. It stirred up my soul a bit as I observed their sense of wonder in full display. 

Saturday night we enjoyed dinner..

 And putt putt at Adventure Cove. 

We went to harbor town Sunday night. Ryan and I both grew up going to Hilton Head so we were craving the delicious seafood at The Crazy Crab the minute we arrived in HHI. We couldn't wait to eat there. We also took the kids to the light house. They raced to get to the top. The view was so beautiful.

We all appreciated the fact that there was a playground just around the corner to occupy the kiddo's while we waited on our table at The Crazy Crab. 

We mostly spent time just playing on the beach getting our skin sun-kissed and our toes sandy. 

I've had a few people inbox/DM me about my cold shoulder dress. 

My dress, clutch and cover up were purchased here:

Pieces Boutique

Together.

"The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care." 

I love the verses of the bible about God as an artist- the ultimate creator and maker of heaven and earth.  

When I sit in front of a white blank canvas with my art supplies, I often times sit quietly and stare at the canvas before I even pick up my brush. In my mind I see the different images pass over my support base like a slideshow of film stills. Each image taking me back to a different set and stage of life. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming- the feelings, the emotions, the rush of creativity that builds up and takes over. I begin to apply a vision. Before I know it, I'm immersed, invested, and my heart, mind and soul are being poured onto that white blank canvas. 

                         Together

 "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." Vincent Van Gogh 

Viewing my marriage as art sometimes helps me with the "bigger picture"; seeing Jesus in the details reminds me why. 

Encouraging each other. 

Parenting together. 

Spending time together even if it's just watching our favorite Netflix series after a long day of his office work and my stay at home carnival train. 

Setting aside 5 minutes daily for a lunch break phone call.

Trusting and having faith in my husband as the leader of our home. 

Saying I'm sorry and forgiving each other when one of us is super sensitive and overly emotional (yeah that last part is all on me).

Working together through the small things; because a lasting, fruitful marriage- with all of its good, bad, and ugly is the bigger picture. It's a portrait of Christ and his church. A portrait with eternal value. 

When I see the vision Ryan and I share for our marriage, I see that choosing to invest and being purposeful in the "series of small things" are those very details that paint the story- those seemingly small things are the things that add up to the big picture. 

After all, sometimes you have to focus on the details to understand the masterpiece. 

Back to school and what really matters.

I can't believe school is already back in session!

We have been so blessed to have such amazing, caring teachers each year at Lucy T Davis.
My sweet kiddos were so excited about their first day back!
Look at those sweet faces!

Monday night Jude said he could make his own lunch now that he is a "big boy". Be still my heart.

Jude was a little anxious before they left Monday morning. I think the girls were just ready to see their friends. Either way...

I think this next picture proves everything went exceptionally well. 

When I was writing notes for these "three musketeer's" lunch boxes last night, I told them we are proud of them and I encouraged them to be a friend to someone today. Because...

Years from now, at the end of their school career,  it won't matter what they wore or how trendy they were. What will matter is how they treated others- that they were a picture of Christ for someone.

What will matter years from now is that every "today" for the next several years in our home, Jesus is in the details. 

What will matter is that I make my heart a home for Jesus so that grace and mercy overflow from my mouth when I'm shepherding the hearts of my children. 

In the book, a beautiful offering, Angela Thomas wrote:

"It matters where and how you build your house, because the life that you have built on Jesus is all that will stand. What you have done and created and loved in the name of Jesus is all that will last."

What I invest in and act on in the name of Jesus is a picture for my children. 

Making our home a welcoming place for friends to gather and encourage one another is a picture for my children. 

Making time to read the bible each night to one kiddo and the devotional book to the other two even though I can barely hold my eyes open is a picture for my children- An offering back to the lord for entrusting his children to me as their earthly mother. 

I don't know that I come close to getting motherhood, or life in general right any day of the week, but I do know motherhood is my biggest, most treasured gift in this season of life and life thereafter. Therefore, I will make it my greatest offering. It will be done in the name of Jesus. 

Their eternity depends on it.