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SOOO many of you reached out after last week's message. Your responses filled my heart… and honestly, they confirmed what I've been feeling → This direction feels so much more like me, like the kind of mother and writer I want to be.

I'm going to keep leaning into this space, and I hope you do too. There's something beautiful happening when we choose to step away from the rush and into something slower, more intentional.

If this shift has resonated with you, I’d love to hear what “slower and more intentional” looks like in your season right now.
Reply to this email and share a quick glimpse… I’ll pick one of you to send a little surprise to next week (think exclusive bookish package 😉)

This past week in a minute:

This and that… My office studio is almost done, y'all! I am beyond excited. Eventually it'll become an Airbnb, but for now? It's all mine. (muhahaha)

You know how the last 5% of any project takes approximately 47 times longer than the first 95%? That's exactly where we are. Jordan still needs to hook up the water, finish the electrical work, and install an air conditioner (which, according to him, is "important" for a Texas summer- who knew?).

The appliances are nearly in place, and we're putting the final decorating touches together. I cannot wait to show you the space! The light in there is absolutely dreamy after we more than doubled the number of windows. I'm already envisioning all the watercolor sessions, maybe some baking, the quiet mornings, and a few extra rest and recharge features we're adding that I think you'll love hearing about.

Speaking of rest... I've been leaning into restoration more fully lately, especially focusing on physical recovery after having Isla. But life threw us a curveball when we discovered I'd been dealing with a head injury without even realizing it.

I'll share much more about this journey as I continue healing and learning, but it was quite shocking when the pieces came together. Thank the Lord that I'm on a good path to recovery. I'm discovering so much about my body, trying all sorts of healing approaches, and honestly? It's teaching me even more about the importance of slowing down and listening to what our bodies need.

Baby milestone alert! Isla is 4 months today, y'all! She's doing so much so fast and starting to really discover the world around her. Everything goes straight to her mouth, and those little hands are grabbing at anything within reach. It's such a sweet stage - watching her figure things out, seeing her personality start to peek through. And even sweeter that we get to share this with our older girls and Ducky.

And can we talk about this belly laugh? Lacey has turned into the baby whisperer lately, getting the most amazing giggles out of her little sister. Take a look at this pure joy:

There's nothing quite like a baby belly laugh, is there? It's the kind of sound that makes you forget unfinished studios and head injuries. Just pure, uncomplicated happiness 😊. What a gift from God!

On the farm 🥚 (and this episode of "Serial") Our goslings are no longer goslings, man, they grow fast! It feels like yesterday they were tiny fluffballs, and now they're strutting around like they own the place.

But the real drama? We have ourselves a classic farm mystery: The Case of the Disappearing Egg.

Here's what we know: Our rough-and-tumble surrogate mother hen (remember her from a few weeks ago?) successfully hatched two adorable chicks and two ducklings (still calling them "dumplings" remember?). They're all thriving under her fierce, slightly disheveled care.

However, there was supposed to be a fifth baby. The evidence shows that a fifth egg was reportedly spotted on the morning of July 23rd by my husband at approximately 6:30 AM. (Already suspicious timing, if you ask me; who's really awake enough at 6:30 to be conducting accurate egg counts?)

The egg then mysteriously vanished sometime between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM. A thorough investigation was conducted by yours truly, complete with digging like a dog through the pine shavings. No trace was found.

The list of suspects is long and varied. We've got cunning chickens, mischievous children, opportunistic farm dogs, and let's be honest…. one husband whose story keeps changing every time I ask about it.

Ducky and baby Isla have been officially cleared of any wrongdoing (solid alibis), but everyone else remains a person of interest.

Cast your votes now: Who do you think is our egg thief? I'm building a case, and I need all the help I can get solving this mystery.

 — Tabitha Paige, Author/ Illustrator, Speech Therapist & Mom

On our playlist this week…

The Castellows… this sweet sister trio has us absolutely dreaming of a someday family band that spends lazy afternoons jamming together on the front porch. There's something so pure about sibling harmony, isn't there? The way their voices blend feels like exactly the kind of music I want filling our home.

The girls have been twirling the summer away to their tracks — barefoot in the grass. This week’s song (Sheltered) was definitely influenced by last week's post😉, but honestly, they have so many good ones that it's hard to pick favorites.

Jordan loves to tease me, claiming that I don't listen to ANYTHING that wasn't originally released on vinyl before 1980. (He's not entirely wrong.) But look! I found one that passes the test!

The Castellows prove that good, wholesome music, the kind that makes you want to dance in your kitchen and dream about front porch concerts, is still being made. Their sound feels both new and timeless, like it could have been recorded yesterday or fifty years ago.

And isn't that exactly what we're looking for? Music that connects generations instead of dividing them. Songs our kids can love now and still treasure when they're grown.

What's been on repeat in your house lately?

Sometimes I make books & other pretty things…