Tender Greens

Words & Photography
by Robin Plotnik



We’ve eaten out everyday this week (some days lunch and dinner), and normally I’d feel really bad like, "Hey, we should chill and eat the groceries we have at home.", but honestly I’m loving every second of it. Plus, if we hadn’t eaten out this day I wouldn’t have experienced the magic that is the peanut butter cookie from Tender Greens.

Tender Greens //
3745 Paseo Pl., Suite 0840
San Diego, CA 92130

IVF

Words & Photography
by Ashley Izsak



"What IVF was like?" I always love that question.

It's this hard, messy, miraculous thing that we had to do to have our children. (Is what I wanted to say). But I wouldn't say that. I would say something more general, the coles notes version of two months of physical torture, emotional wreckage, and just so much hope. Sometimes adding in quick lines like, "two for the price of one" and "an instant family of four!"

It's this hard, messy, miraculous thing that we had to do to have our children. (Is what I wanted to say). But I wouldn't say that. I would say something more general, the coles notes version of two months of physical torture, emotional wreckage, and just so much hope.

So maybe that's why when anyone asks about our twins, I've always responded with, "I HIGHLY recommend twins." Because they are two of our miracles, the first of our miracles, and when I think back to that time almost eight years ago when we hoped and prayed and longed for them to come, all I am filled with is warmth.

Where You Feel Most Welcomed

Words & Photography
by Ashley Moseley



Home is where you feel most welcomed.
I love waking up here every morning
feeling this is where we belong,
this is where I always feel happy,
safe, and comfortable.
What’s home to you?

Becoming A Wife And Mother

Words & Photography
by Shelby Goodman

"I wish we loved the strength it takes for a woman

to become a wife and a mother.

We marvel at her physical strength when she births a child.

But we forget what invisible strength she shows

when she lays down her life for her home

every day after that."

- Andrea Burke

I read this article by Andrea earlier this week and it gave me a fresh perspective for the hard and holy work of being a wife and mother. It’s so easy for my selfishness to creep in especially in this season where I’m needed alllll the time. It helped me remember that laying down my life day in and day out for my people and learning to serve them with joy with all my heart, body, and soul is a high calling for my life’s work.

My Cooking Staples

Words & Photography
by Ashley Swartzendruber



One of the best things I’ve learned since I began cooking for our family is to always keep lentils, eggs, and sweet potatoes on hand no matter the season. There is always a meal there to be made, and they keep for a very long time in the pantry and refrigerator.

One of the best things I’ve learned since I began cooking for our family is to always keep lentils, eggs, and sweet potatoes on hand no matter the season. 

It can be topped with whatever is in season or with whatever we have on hand. Usually that looks like sautéed greens, cherry tomatoes, avocado and lime, pickled veggies, sauerkraut, hot sause....you get the picture. The kiddos don’t eat every part, but this meal is mostly so I can have kick ass lunches all week when I’m exhausted from feeding them snacks every 5 minutes.