about

Hi. I’m Ellen and this is my blog. This is the place where I write about my life full of everyday joys and messes.  Taking a cue from Elisabeth Prentiss’ book Stepping Heavenward, I’m on a quest to sweeten and beautify the lives of those around me.  I’m also a student of the handmade life.

I’m married. My husband works for a residential children’s home. He has a true gift, a called man. It’s a joy to walk beside him as he lives it out.  We are southern.  With accents and all; at least I have one.  I met Tom in college.  I never thought we’d end up together.  I drive him looney.  And he still loves me.  My unexpected joy.

We live right in the middle of our city.  My husband walks to work.  I could walk to the grocery store.  There are restaurants on the corner of our street.  We can see the state capital building from the corner, too. It’s happy, although I do miss some of the perks of suburban living from time to time.

We have three kids. My heart walking around the world. My daily sanctification. My unexpected joy.

There’s our oldest who loves all things sports related, especially baseball.  He’s inherited my love of reading,too.

And we have a Gidget girl who’s tiny but spunky.

And our youngest is constantly in boots and is already (accidentally) snaggletoothed.

It’s a full life and there are lots of hijinks along the way. I mess just about everything up. But I write about it.  I write about the small joys.  I write about the sweet heart moments.  I write about the beautiful messes.

And! I have a business. It’s called handmade recess. I love to make just about anything out of fabric but mostly I make bags. And wallets. I write about that, too. I love to write about anything that inspires me and I really love to challenge myself.

Most of all, I am Loved and Redeemed. I am in awe of what my Savior has done for me. Sometimes I write about that. Because it’s the heartbeat of everything I am.