Released by love.

What are you afraid of? I was in a situation yesterday where I had to make a choice. I could have either allowed myself to be shut down with fear, or I could have bitten the bullet, running full steam ahead into my destiny, defeating fear on the way. Despite what I was "feeling", I chose the latter.

Do you know that you are loved? Love removes all fear. When we truly understand and know (that we know that we know) we are loved, there is simply no room for fear. Do you know you are loved? Not as in the, 'Oh-my-goodness-I-love-your-outfit...wow-I-so-love-your-hair' kinda love. But I'm talking true, unconditional, 'no-matter-what-you-do-you-can-never-ever-change-this-love', kinda love.

So what is it that's holding you back today? Is there a step you need to take that scares you? Someone to call? Something to do? A seed to sow?

Fear holds us. But love releases us. Perfect love casts out all fear. So if we are loved, and yet we still fear, then what is the issue? Ourselves! :)

We must stop being the blockage to the freedom that is ours. So let us throw off all the things that hinder us today, and run with confidence and boldness like little kids, with the knowledge that there is Someone cheering us on and championing us today!

There is nothing to fear!

Happy Tuesday :)

nat x


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Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 

Great and precious promises.

Well, it's been a few days since my last post.. my goodness so sorry about that! I've been super super busy.. will be sure to update you all in the next few days. Anyway, I did have a fabulous draft prepared for Friday (all about cultivating an expectant heart and being excited for what is coming), however my internet wasn't working so I couldn't upload it!! Finishing it is my project for this afternoon, so it should be posted tomorrow. :)

How was your weekend? I have had THE most amazing and life-changing few days at Beautiful Woman Conference (my church women's conference.) But. It's not over yet. We have a second conference to come next weekend!

I honestly feel as if I have just returned from a destination like this. My heart is happy. I feel inspired, relaxed, renewed, rejuvinated, peaceful and extra full of joy (even more than normal he he). God is so good. :) I thought I would share a few inspirational pics from one of my favourite holiday spots, the beautiful island of Paros, in the Greek Islands.

So here we are on the other side of the weekend. How are you feeling? Are you excited and ready for the week? Or did you dread hearing the alarm go off, burying your head in the pillow and cringing at the thought of walking into Monday?

I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for Your truth and Your wisdom;
then I'll tell the world what I find.

THIS is going to be a great week. It really is! So let us purpose to remember the joy that is ours. Let us lift our eyes this very moment and declare the marvellous promises that have been spoken over us before the foundations of the world.

We are the receivers of great and precious promises!

Have a gorgeous day. :)

nat x

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 

Encouragement Day.

So I have decided that today is Encouragement Day. And the rules of Encouragement Day are as follows: you have to encourage five people before midnight tonight, preferably in person, however it can be utilising an electronic device.. :)

Last night I heard an incredible message on the power of speaking words of life, (over ourselves and over one another) and of the great and wonderful encouragement it brings. It was indeed a message of life and truth.. you know those messages that just realign your thinking and reestablish hope?

Each day we have a choice. Our words make a difference. So let us choose to speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so we'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. :)

As we begin to sow seeds of encouragement in other people's lives, we will see that together we can make so much more of a difference in this world than we could ever do alone.. :)

How adorable is that. Don't you just love these three little guys! So here we go. Today is your opportunity........ ;)

Happy Thursday everyone.. have a beautiful day!

nat x

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 

Interior Love :: Country Home.

{Tulips and wooden floors. A dream combo.}

{One of my dreams has always been to have a split-level house. When I was about 13 years old I actually wanted to add a 2 foot concrete slab to my bedroom floor so I could have steps going up.. How funny is that?! :) }

{Love that mirror.}

{So so cosy..}

{How cute is that breakfast bar!}

{Hello study. Probably my favourite room in this house. Oh that chaise.}

{And everyone needs a massive bunch of roses next to them whilst taking a bath right?!}

So.. shall I book it today for all of us for tomorrow?! How beautiful is this home, decorated by Siemasko + Verbridge Architects and Designers in Massachusetts, USA.

Happy Wednesday my friends :)

nat x

Images - via. 

Book Sneak Peek :: Paris Chapter

Yesterday and today I am working on the Paris chapter of my book. As I'm finding all these beautiful pictures, they are bringing to remembrance many gorgeous parts of my trip that I had actually forgotten! One of the beautiful memories that came back to me yesterday was from my first day in Paris, which I have now included in the book...

Excerpt from "2 Hours on an Aeroplane"

"We wandered from the Metro (subway) towards the Champs Élysées and found ourselves walking through the beautiful Allée Marcel Proust. This is a breathtakingly beautiful, leafy path meandering through Espace Pierre Cardin, running parallel to the Champs Élysées. Clearly drawn by our innate sense of fashion (evident in our stunning attire of Colorado hiking sandles, cargo pants and backpacks), we accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up in Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the 8^th Arrondissement, one of the most fashionable streets in the world, with almost every major global fashion house on display for us to see."  

{Le Hotel Le Bristol, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 8 Arrondissement, Paris}

What a precious memory I got back! Fully restored to me after all these years! I wonder if I would have remembered that day eventually? Or if it actually required me searching for it. There is such truth in these words: Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. :)

This is Montmartre above. A beautiful area in the 18th Arrondissement. It's well known for the hundreds of artists who grace the cobble-stone streets each week selling their pieces and offering to paint portraits. This image is a typical of the area. Stunning don't you think? 

And this is the gorgeous Champs Élysées.. here thousands of people are filling this mall to welcome in the new year. So pretty isn't it. :)

I hope these images have inspired you. Looking at photographs of Paris has brought back many incredible memories and put a great joy in my heart! Seeking releases joy. So let's be seekers this week, always remembering and giving thanks. Because as we seek, we shall find. :)

Have a wonderful day.

nat x

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 

Don't. Lose. Hope. :)

How cute is this little guy! I love him! Well here we are on Monday once again.. and it's very exciting. It's the start of a brand new week and good things have been planned out for you. So today's challenge is the following:

1. Find some pretty paper.
2. Find a nice pen.
3. Write a list of five things you are believing to happen in your life.
4. Stick them to the back of your bathroom door.
5. Pray over them and declare them coming to pass each day this week. 

Our words are powerful. Our tongue either brings death or life.

We must guard our mouths. What comes out of them shapes our worlds

So let us declare the things in our heart with an attitude of true thankfulness this week.. And with our words of life we will truly see things begin to shift. 

And I just saw this pic and thought it was the perfect inspiration to end today's blog!

Happy Monday everyone. :)

nat x

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 

Interior Love :: Lake House

{Manicured lawn. Sunflowers. Deck chairs. Pool house. Divine.} 
{What a beautiful way to be welcomed home each day!}

{Perfect reading spot.}

{And not a bad view to wake up to.}

{White, white and more white...}

{The Pool House}

I thought it would be a good day to share with you this diviiiiiiiine lake house, designed by Boston architects Siemasko + Verbridge. Who would like to join me here for a weekend away? Any takers?

Happy weekend!

nat x

Images - via

Attention all princesses.

We're you captivated when you saw this photo? I was. Even as I am writing these words, I am drawn to it, and my eyes are darting all over it.. I just can't look away!! 

Look at this little princess. We all believed we were princesses when we were this age. Didn't we! I know for me, I literally would have done something like this, and my mum (who will be reading this.. hi mum!) will be able to vouch for me, most likely with hundreds of photographs.. proof of my prancing around the house in her dresses, shoes, and jewellery, pretending and believing with all my heart that I actually was Cinderella. 

Who remembers this pretty little lady?! She reminds me of Sunday nights as a kid watching Wonderful World of Disney on TV. :) Ah how she made us starry eyed, captivating us with her sparkles and glistening beauty. But what changed? Why, even though we still yearn for it, do we no longer as operate in as much freedom in our childlike princess-ness? Growing up shouldn't really be an excuse should it?

From birth, women are created with an internal, often unexplainable desire for beauty, romance and adventure. Unlike Adam, Eve was created within the garden. We were birthed in beauty. Even looking at this simple truth, we can see the vast and beautiful differences between man and woman.

 

Our hearts yearn for beauty. We love being rescued and romanced, we love flowers, and all the lovely things that fill our heart with joy. Men, obviously might not enjoy these things quite as much.. however, their hearts thrive in other ways. Boys weekends, sports, games, fixing things and embarking on adventures into the wilderness. A woman would love to be in one of the rooms of this castle above, being pampered and surrounded by prettiness. Whereas the man would love to be in the forest outside, hunting, climbing and discovering new things. (I love John Eldredge's two books, Captivating and Wild At Heart. Amazing insights on this.)

But back to another princess castle for now. This is Chateau Chambord in France. I have been here! It's stunning, I walked all the way through it back in 2000 when I was backpacking in Europe, of course, pretending I was a princess. 

I love the bridge on this castle. Very very princess-like. So.. now we are all grown up, and not wearing our mum's dresses and high-heels around the house (well, you can if you like!)..  but how do we awaken our hearts, reminding ourselves we are princesses in the everyday activities? How do we cultivate that atmosphere of royalty in the not-so-princess-castle we might work, or in the definitely-not-wearing-a-crown-today house cleaning/laundry/kids ready for school/kids go to school/ frenzy?

It's not about a dress. It's about who we ARE. And we purpose to remember we have been chosen. We are royal. We're God's very own special possession. And we must remember this always. Things will come at us to tell us we are not anything special, that we are not called to make a difference, but we are! Of course we are!

So as we enter this weekend, let us remember who we are, and Who's we are, that we were chosen before the foundations of the earth to do something amazing!

Just like Lucy and her sister and brothers were crowned as kings and queens in Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, from that moment they ruled differently. So too have we been crowned as royalty. We are royal children and our Dad is the King!

Happy Friday darlin's!


nat x 

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7,  8, 9, 10, 11.