Epic Adventure

2017 is going to be a year of epic adventure.

And I'm not buckling my seat belt for this.

No. I am standing with my head out the sun roof,
arms spread open wide, Dara Maclean blaring on the radio (( PUSH PLAY ))....


....and I am smile-screaming into the wind!!!!!!
Obviously, this is all beautiful imagery *wink*
and I STRONGLY support the use of seat belts while operating a vehicle.
For the past 3 years now I have spoken a "word" or two over my life -- trying to harness
a vision for myself and family. Something to latch on to. Something to inspire, drive, carry me....

And this year: EPIC ADVENTURE, my friends.

EPIC.

Last January I decided to "try" working for Young Living.
That felt safe. I'll "try". I'll "see what happens".

I was totally that person who thought that one in a million people win at network marketing.
I thought it takes a special person. Super human abilities. Luck. The right company. The right timing.
Etc. Etc. Etc.

You want to know what I learned?

I learned that NONE of that is true!

I learned that this works if you work it.
I learned that like any other job, if you show up, invest, learn, grow -- it moves you.

Judah recently told my husband that his favorite truck is a Fedex truck. HA!
When Nathan asked him why, he said, "Because it delivered this super cool blue case
filled with lots of oils that smell aaaaaaaamazing!!!!" Staaaahp. How cute.

It was a THANK YOU gift from Young Living for leading my community!!!!
And I'm like.... floored, humbled, grateful. What the heck?! Best. Job. Ever.

You know when I finished college with my bright shiny double-major degree, I had stars in my eyes.
I wanted to do BIG THINGS. Don't we all?

Then one baby after the next, I found myself doing a lot of LITTLE things in the secret, quiet of my
home. I'm talking about the little things that are bigger than life, ya know? The changing of the diapers,
rocking, holding, bathing, living in the trenches of newborn motherhood.

And I thought, "Did. God. forget. me?!?!?! Does He not see my resume!??!"

I tried to do MORE. I kid you not, I was rejected when I applied for nursing home ministry
in the suburbs (because I had a baby that I wanted to bring). I was told "we don't need anyone"
when I contacted my church to see if I could help with children's faith formation. I joined a
mom's group, only to find out that I could barely attend because my child HATED the nursery
and I felt no peace the entire time.

I remember telling Nathan, "I know this is God's good will, but it's HARD."
It's hard to be still when your whole personality and body is wired for adventure, you guys!

Moms, you hear me?! It is HARD. And I see you!!!! And I am cheering you on!!!!

As I was praying and thinking over this new year, I started to cry.... aaaaand I'm crying again....

I told Nathan, I feel like after 7 years (such a good number!),
God is ushering me into a new season of my life; a new phase of the journey!

ALL THE DESIRES OF MY HEART. IN HIS PERFECT TIMING.
I have gotten to see, experience, live so much good!!!!!

And now? Here's looking at you, 2017!

I am excited to be a daughter of a good, good Father and the wife to an amazing man of the Kingdom.
I am excited to be home with my kids: homeschooling, gardening, doing community with our people.
I am excited to be working for Young Living: sharing, loving, leading people into health and wellness.

You guys, PINCH ME!!!

The fact that I get to spend every day doing the things I love best?

I'm ready for this EPIC ADVENTURE... and I want to take you with me!!!!
I have endless seats on my bus. With dozens of sun roofs and enough speakers
to carry the good vibes all the way to the back!!! Whatever you need.

I'm your girl.

The Gift of Business from Brittany Vail on Vimeo.

****I want to close with this last bit, because I think it's important and if it can change your life,
your story or situation -- I WANT THAT. I am voting all over that! This Young Living business has
rocked my world. My health. My spirituality. It has pulled YUCK out of my heart and changed me.

And then there is the money. Because this is a job (SEE INCOME DISCLOSURE).
And if $500, $2000, $144,000 a MONTH -- whatever YOUR number is -- could make a difference --
let's do this thing.

And together, NOT ALONE (I lead a TEAM, my friends!!!),
we ARE making this a year of growth, grace and....


EPIC ADVENTURE!!!!

The Gift of Siblings

Routinely, every morning, my toddler sons romp into our bedroom with their
sleepy faces, bed heads, and whatever toy weapons they've chosen to bear that day.
They peak over the mattress with such excited hope, "is she awake, momma?"

And I am so glad we don't have to rush into the day. I'm thankful we have time to
stroke the baby's hair, cuddle under layers of cream and white covers, and chat about whether
we should have maple-cinnamon toast or oatmeal with apples for breakfast. Luxury.


They all smell of childhood, and I just breathe them in. Stay longer. Stay closer.
Let me hold you until my heart is content. Which will be: never.

Brothers and a sister. My Judah trembles and tells me, "I just love her so much!"
He loves so fiercely - he can't even stand it. They ask if they can "eat her cheeks" because
they are just so good. This goes on for hours - all day - the gift of siblings being unwrapped
and unwrapped and unwrapped in all its intended goodness.

I love that we can all be together.
Thankful that God has so allowed this season of our lives to be graced with me being home with
our kids, homeschooling. We take the days slowly, quietly, mostly unseen by the world - drinking
our decaf with cream in the mornings, playing, learning, snuggling, resting the days away.

Don't get me wrong. For the most part it's all peaches 'n cream, but I guess a more honest
representation would read: "playing, ARUGING, learning, WHINING, snuggling, CRYING,
resting the day away, PRAYING FOR DADDY TO COME HOME ASAP."

But that just didn't seem to flow as well. Ha!

When Nathan and I first started dating, I asked him if he would always be ok if I wanted to
use my hard-earned, very expensive, private college degree to stay home and use it in the best
way my heart saw possible... to raise and teach and be present to our children in the same
way my own mom was to me.

It's a good thing he gave an emphatic "yes" - or where would we be today?!


I am the honored witness of friendships being forged; the foundation of what will hopefully
be lifelong, irreplaceable relationships. Yes, God chose me to be their mother, but He also chose
these siblings for each other. It makes me laugh to envision the grand scheme of it all - these crazy
kids - iron sharpening iron! They will know, test, refine, and form each other like no one else can.

Often I think of how deeply my boys love each other. About how they tell people they are twins
and cry at the very idea of being separated for even the shortest amount of time. If I am leaving the
house they anxiously ask if I am taking the baby with me - because "Mom, we like her. Please leave her
here with us." It's a beautiful thing.


Bella's days are filled with big brother kisses, cheek squishes, and all the "oooo-ing and ahhhhh-ing"
a baby could want. The boys make her smile more quickly and easily than anyone else. They dote,
and she lights up. All the while, momma is just melting into a puddle on the other side of the room.

Don't mind me.

The belly laughs, the bear hugs, the crocodile tears when limits are pushed - the sparkling smiles,
the pretty pleases, the blueberry eyes, the chocolate eyes, full of questions, answers, and child-like
wonder - the tiny hands, smelly feet, batting eyelashes begging again and again... for a snack. Sigh.
This is the story of my life - the story of children - the story of brothers and sisters.

Cliché of all clichés, it is such a gift - this gift of siblings. And I just want to laugh,
and happy scream, and ugly-momma-cry it out for all the world to know.



Now I want to go hug my own sisters and brother.
Thanks, mom and dad, for the gift.

Influence Conference PART 1 || Preparing for the Unexpected

This past weekend I had the honor of "taking Indy" with 250+ women (and a few good men!)
at The Influence Network Conference. I'll be very honest and say that I went into the event
thinking that the sole reason I was attending = strictly business.

Make friends, rub elbows, learn how to grow my blog -
pack it up, strut my stuff, be the face of THE. LILY. FIELD.

So I prepped. I did all the things. I packed and re-packed.
My poor husband even bore an hour long fashion show as I flipped through my wardrobe
trying to find the "best fit" to represent "the real me" - who in his opinion is especially
whimsical with a funny sense of style. Take it or leave it. This is who I am, babe. *wink*

Stripes and floral all the way. With brown shoes. I love all the brown shoes.

So I rolled into downtown Indianapolis, checked myself in, wheeled myself to my room,
took and deep breath... and went to the lobby.



Tiny Prints hooked me up with their easy-to-design business cards.
They were so ME to begin with, but I wanted to add a personal touch.
Because that's who I am. I wanted to hand my card and a bag of tea to every
person I met with a subliminal invitation to grab a cup and meet me in the field.






You'd think my love language was "gifts" or something! I tell ya. I L O V E gifting!!!
I had great roommates for the weekend and I wanted to bless them with some goodies too!
Here's what I pulled together for them:

... glitter + chocolate + pretty paper + Burt's Bees + Starbucks $$ + SEVEN gum ...




So there I was, sitting in the lobby, with all the things in order.
I had my business cards. I had the gifts. I had my bags perfectly packed,
all my dress clothes ironed... and the angels sang "alleluia."

Truth is - I had NO idea that all of that was going to be thrown out the window.
Sure sure... I made new friends, I passed out all the biz cards, and shook a lot of hands.
I should have seen it coming though. God is so like that.

He busted up my heart in the best way at Influence Conference 2013.

But that's another story.
Stay tuned as I un-pack the unexpected!

______________________________
::: Don't miss the chance to win some HAND-STAMPED, CUSTOM jewelry
from the lovely Taryn of The Owl Tree Boutique!!! GIVEAWAY :::
______________________________

GIFT IDEA: baby on board

I saw this idea on Instagram not too long ago and thought it was pure genius.
Such a neat way to celebrate a "baby on board" - FIRST TRIMESTER SURVIVAL KIT!

For me, first pregnancy was a breeze. It's easy to take that first and second...
maybe even third nap of the day without other little babies running around! Most of my friends are on
baby #2 or baby #3 right now... and support is needed when momma is busy growing another baby!



The bag can be filled with whatever best fits the situation at hand!
I filled this gift bag with candy, ginger-peppermint tea, relaxing bath salt, and little projects for siblings...
to hopefully keep them distracted for some time while momma takes a rest.

Babies seem to be EVERYWHERE right now! I love it. LIFE is beautiful.
Do you know some babies-on-board too?! Gift their mommas this Spring!!!

may we bless you with gifts

the month of May is full of celebration for us!
there always seems to be another person, another moment,
another milestone to celebrate with each passing day!
spring is busting out all over and our hearts cannot contain the gladness.

we decided to make some little gifts to give away to those who have
touched our lives lately. these are so simple and sweet: stained glass candles

you'll need:
small candles in jars (we used $1 candles from Wal-Mart) + shredded tissue paper (Target)
+ modge podge (Hobby Lobby) + paint brush (Wal-Mart) + twine or ribbon (any craft supply store)

i painted the glass candle jars with modge podge and let my little guys
use their creative minds to place tissue paper shreds all over the sticky space.

when they were finished, i had to rearrange a few pieces so they would lay flat.
i then applied another coat of modge podge over the finished work, and added some twine.

the month of May is when my blog began! can't wait to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with you all
in a couple weeks! if any bloggers are interested in helping me :: give thanks :: please shoot
me an e-mail at lilyfieldmomma@yahoo.com! GIVEAWAY in the works!!!

p.s. i added BLOGLOVIN' to my blog today. Google Friend Connect is going to be going away soon.
you can click on the button up on the right side of my page here and add my blog to your reading list.
there is an APP for bloglovin' too! an easy way to keep up with your favorite bloggers!!!
i don't want to lose you - so be sure to click and follow!

XOXO

Mother's Day "Project"

I love my momma. She's my best friend for life. Since we were able to visit her last weekend,
we took advantage of the timing to bring her a little Mother's Day gift!

My two year old begs to do a "project" every, single day... sometimes multiple times a day.
And play dough, crayons, and water colors just don't cut it sometimes! This blew his mind.



Oh what a mess! These little guys LOVED using their hands to make this gift for grandma.
I used permanent markers to trace their hands onto the pot! Easy. Fun.



My dining room was a disaster by the way. Dirt zone. I had to mop.
But the excitement was worth it!



They did most of this by themselves. It was a riot and my mom loved it!
What are you giving to MOM this May?!?!