minding my nest

practicing the art of an ordinary life

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About Me

Hi There! I’m Kelly. I am a wife, mom, light seeker, homemaker, and storyteller. From an empty nest to an abundant life, all it took was a little time, a lot of faith, and the courage to see my life differently.

You can read more about my story here.

So now, armed with my trusty Canon camera, here is where I share my journey to live an inspired and intentional life.

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December Daily® 2019

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Week in the Life™ 2019

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Regular Contributor to Focusing on Life.

Story Teller for Ali Edwards Design Team

Currently Teaching at Big Picture Classes.

My Portfolio - Kelly Ishmael Photography

the latest on instagram

Happy Friday friends! I’m excited to be particip

Happy Friday friends! I’m excited to be participating in @decemberdaily again this year. This project is so special because of the way it encourages me to pay attention to and document little moments of magic and joy during the Christmas season.

I worked on getting my album set up while I was taking my social media sabbatical and crafting aspect of this project brought me so much happiness. I have also incorporated some of the lessons from the insanely awesome and creative ideas from the contributors of the Product Play 4 class that I can’t wait to add to my album.

This year. Well at first glance, it might not seem like there is anything good about this year to document. But I have found that through the eyes of faith and the lens of gratitude, it is possible to see things differently. And this is where magic and joy and hope live. ✨

Black Rook in Rainy Weather by Sylvia Plath On th

Black Rook in Rainy Weather by Sylvia Plath

On the stiff twig up there
Hunches a wet black rook
Arranging and rearranging its feathers in the rain-
I do not expect a miracle
Or an accident

To set the sight on fire
In my eye, nor seek
Any more in the desultory weather some design,
But let spotted leaves fall as they fall
Without ceremony, or portent.

Although, I admit, I desire,
Occasionally, some backtalk
From the mute sky, I can't honestly complain:
A certain minor light may still
Lean incandescent

Out of kitchen table or chair
As if a celestial burning took
Possession of the most obtuse objects now and then —
Thus hallowing an interval
Otherwise inconsequent

By bestowing largesse, honor
One might say love. At any rate, I now walk
Wary (for it could happen
Even in this dull, ruinous landscape); sceptical
Yet politic, ignorant

Of whatever angel any choose to flare
Suddenly at my elbow. I only know that a rook
Ordering its black feathers can so shine
As to seize my senses, haul
My eyelids up, and grant

A brief respite from fear
Of total neutrality. With luck,
Trekking stubborn through this season
Of fatigue, I shall
Patch together a content

Of sorts. Miracles occur.
If you care to call those spasmodic
Tricks of radiance
Miracles. The wait's begun again,
The long wait for the angel,

For that rare, random descent.

Say hello to my fancy new Christmas tree. Our prev

Say hello to my fancy new Christmas tree. Our previous one finally bit the dust so we (Tripp) ordered a new one off the interwebs. It was obscenely expensive but it has LED lights which should hopefully last until at least the second coming. Plus it came with “branch fluffing gloves” and a handy little duffle bag to hold said gloves, the stand and extra light bulbs, so there’s that.🙄

At any rate, our new fancy tree got delivered the Friday after Thanksgiving and Tripp helped me to put it together.

Sidenote: fluffing gloves - where have you been all my life???

Later that evening I finished decorating the tree while Tripp sat in the living room streaming a college football game on his laptop. It was just the two of us. It was everyday life at finest. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Last night, during my regular stroll around the ne

Last night, during my regular stroll around the neighborhood, I was trying to mentally shift gears from November to December. Normally, it doesn’t take much effort, but this year, everything is harder.

In my head I was thinking, “I don’t want it to be December yet.” But digging a little deeper, what my heart was actually saying was, “I don’t want *this* December.”

I don’t want another December with Tripp commuting to KC every week. I don’t want another December worrying over problems I can’t fix. I don’t want another December of wearing myself out trying make everyone happy. I don’t want a December that doesn’t allow me to freely spend time with my family and friends. I don’t want a December that doesn’t feel like December.

After indulging myself in a little prayerful pity-party, these words came to me: “Maybe this isn’t the December you want, but perhaps this is the December you NEED.”

Although these words felt sharp at the time, the more I thought about it, the more I knew that they were intended to heal. Because perhaps a December without all the trappings and distractions that often accompany this time of year will redirect my attention to what I am actually celebrating at Christmas.

So while all the traditions and festivities that normally surround this month might give me the warm-fuzzies, I know where my true joy lies. And that is knowing that we are loved and seen. And that God is with us.

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