“Alright, we’ll give you $59.83 in cash or $77.82 in store credit.” “I’ll take the cash,” I replied quietly. I heard the cash register pop open, the rustle of paper bills, the clink-clank of counting change. But my mind was elsewhere. “Here ya go!” the cashier chirped, dropping my bounty in my hand. I didn’t even look … More I Don’t Want To Be Done Having Babies…
A few days ago, my youngest daughter, Evelyn, fell asleep in my arms as I gently rocked her in the nursery. Her twin sister, Emersyn, was already asleep in her crib. Finally, I thought, now I can put her down and maybe get some stuff done, or just lay down myself. There was a mountain of dishes … More The Everyday Grief of a Twin Mom
As someone who got married for the first time at only nineteen, divorced by twenty-two, and recently remarried again, I have been on the receiving end of lots of unsolicited (but still sometimes appreciated) marriage advice. There’s always the classic, “Marriage is 50/50,” and “Never go to bed mad,” but through it all, the most … More “Marry Your Best Friend!”
It’s been three weeks without social media now. No Facebook, no Instagram, no hours a day doomscrolling. In a way, I feel like I have part of my life back, but at the same time, it’s become clear that social media wasn’t the only problem — the phone is. Now, instead of mindlessly scrolling Instagram, I’ll find … More Sunday #23: God’s Plan Is Greater Than My Potential
First off, I want to extend a warm welcome and a huge thank you to all of the new subscribers! Earlier this week, after a week-long hiatus from Facebook and Instagram, I hopped back on just to announce that I was permanently deleting both accounts, and that the only way to keep in touch with me going … More Sunday #22: Finding Heaven at Home
Another busy week is done! Between the weather finally warming up, and getting back into running, I feel like a new person. All week, I’ve just been amazed at how much my mental health has improved by simply getting outside and exercising more. It’s been a great reminder of why I fell … More Self-Care Sunday #15
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful women out there! As I mentioned in this week’s blog post, Mother’s Day is something I’ve struggled with since becoming a stepmom, so if today brings up sad or complicated feelings for you, just know you’re not alone. My husband apparently had the kids make … More Self-Care Sunday #14
No one wants to watch a movie where a couple wakes up, gets their kids ready and takes them to school, goes to work, comes home and eats a casserole with their family for dinner, stays up after the kids’ bedtime to watch TV together, and then goes to bed. It would be kind of… boring. … More What Comes After Happily Ever After?
I realized early on that being a stepmom was going to have a lot more mental gymnastics involved than I ever anticipated. But I never want to miss out on an opportunity to support and love my kids because of a fear of what others might think. The mental load of a stepmom is heavy, but it becomes lighter once you stop trying to cater to everyone around you and prove your worth as a parent. … More The Mental Load of a Stepmom
For us, the day was about more than just Kevin and I getting married; it was about us becoming a family, starting a new chapter in our lives, and committing to working on our marriage and family for forever. … More Our Blended Family Wedding
Step by Step Parenting 