Last week, I whipped up a “tried and true” recipe from my grandma Edna’s binder of treasures for a friend’s birthday. There’s something so comforting about baking from recipes passed down through generations, isn’t there? After the cake cooled, I grabbed a glass and cut it into perfect little ...
This is 39.
This is 39. 🎉 I've learned that:•Life only feels short when we waste it.•A full life is one that involves risk and adventure, not always playing it safe.•Each day is a fresh new shot at being deeply intentional.•This is the time to make good choices that support the future.•This is also a time to ...
Seasons Change
These 3 were so little! 😍 In this photo from 2017, they are 5, 10 & 15. This makes me cringe a little though (I'll get to that in a minute), because we had just left the cardiologist where the youngest here was dismissed as a patient after 5 years of frequent checkups, fully expecting ...
16 Years
16 years as husband and wife + 18 years as friends. 💕An arm load of kids, more than a handful of vehicles, turning a house into a home, pulling through the seasons that felt like they had more bad days than good, and yet enjoying each other and honoring our vows through it all.We're still choosing ...
Remembering Lincoln Joseph McCormick
My dear nephew, Lincoln Joseph McCormick, was the sweetest, smartest, kindest, bravest, 8-year-old boy to ever walk this Earth.He was an amazing son, the most incredible brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and a compassionate friend and classmate. He was loved beyond measure and will continue to be ...
Wife + Momma
There isn't an easy way for me to adequately describe the depth of the joy and honor that I feel to be the wife and mother of this family. The love I have for this tribe is overwhelmingly beautiful, intense, and never-ending.Gathering around the table for homemade apple pie (my grandma's recipe) ...
Wishing Did Nothing: I Made Pizza
It's been about a year and a half since the beginning of the roughest patch of my life.Both physically and mentally, I lost it all in October of 2020. I've come to grips with this. I wish it never had happened, but WISHING that did NOTHING in the way of healing from it.The mental strength came back ...
Ordinary Moments Challenge: Kitchen
If I were to invite you over to my home the first thing you'd see, no matter which door you enter through, is our kitchen. It's the heart of every home, right? It's the place I make meals, sometimes from scratch, other times from frozen. It's where the kids sit at the counter for ...
Practical Valentine’s Gifts For The Family
I love a good holiday celebration, but I can quickly be discouraged by the way it promotes more clutter in our home, unmet expectations, and unnecessary spending. Maybe you can relate? This year we celebrated Valentine's Day early for two reasons: I bought gifts and cannot keep them ...
Hey There, 2022. I See You.
Welcome, Sweet Friend.First of all, I'm so honored to connect with you in this space. While I occasionally do want to ditch social media from time to time, I'm also not ready to give up on the relationships we've made here. I enjoy this space and the joy it brings to my life.I'm invested in you. I ...
Two Days Post Christmas
It is two days post Christmas. I'm laying in my bed, sad. This is the first time in many years that I have given in the commercialization of the holiday and while the shopping was fun, it doesn't feel good today.I feel physically sick at how emotional I am over this.I didn't get to go to the ...
DIY Painted Rock Dolls
My youngest daughter celebrated her half-birthday while we're safe at home during this coronavirus pandemic. Half birthdays are a big deal when you #CelebrateAbsolutelyEverything like we do. In an effort to save money where we can, not overwhelm the shipping warehouses and delivery drivers, ...
Sweet Scarecrow Make-up Tutorial
Truth be told, I am not a big Halloween fan. I don't like the scary aspect of it, the ghosts, vampires, zombies, etc. BUT I do love playing dress-up, and I love getting to use my creativity. This Scarecrow costume is my old standby. If I can't come up with anything else (or don't have time), I ...
Easy 3 Ingredient Cheese Dip- With REAL Cheese
This recipe was born out of a desire to eat my weight in cheese dip during a past Super Bowl, without sacrificing the quality of the food I was putting in my body. I think it's only fitting to share it now, as we embark on another Super Bowl! Go, Patriots! The fake cheese in the box has its ...
Sweet Sundays
I forgot to hit publish on this one over a month ago! ~ I'm savoring sweet sweet Sundays with my girls. ❤ Since the sewing machine was still out from last week when my 11yr old son begged to stitch up his favorite sweatpants -bless his frugal heart-, we bought some fabric and started on ...
The Most Greatest.Gift.Ever
As I held the phone in my hand talking to the receptionist and looking at my calendar I held my breath and tried not to let my worry show through the phone lines when she gave me the next available appointment date. My words said “Great, I’ll take it, thank you”, but my heart said, “Oh ...
Happy Birthday, Dorothy. Life is Hard.
My mother-in-law has been with Jesus for almost nine years. Cancer took her far too soon. In August of 2007, we welcomed our first son into this world, and within a week, we learned she had cancer in her colon and pancreas. I remember thinking, how could life give us new joy while threatening hers? ...
Celebrate Absolutely Everything
Why We Celebrate Absolutely Everything 🎉 Someone once told me, “You guys celebrate everything!” At first, I took it as criticism. Were we being frivolous? Over the top? Maybe. Later I realized… what if it wasn’t criticism at all? What if it was actually: “Wow, those people really know how to look on ...
My 30th Birthday Recap
What a great day! Not because we did anything spectacular for my 30th, but because we spent it together. I’ve always been the type to celebrate absolutely everything, and usually to celebrate BIG. Learning to Slow DownLately, I’ve been praying for God to teach me how to slow down. To savor quiet ...
Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Girl
Sweet Girl, Tonight I am going to put you to bed as a 2 year old. When you wake up (I’m guessing at about 3:30am, and again at 6:30am), you will officially be a 3 year old. Man, just when you got the hang of admitting you were 2, and not 15 when people asked, you’ve got another age to ...