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Tired momma One of my older daughters and her two tiny humans came to spend some time with us. Needless to say, this mommas heart was ridiculously happy to see her car pull into the driveway. It’s been seven long weeks since I snuggled my Ohio grand babies. I was about to hit serious withdrawal! One look at my sweet girl and I could see the tired radiating off of her. Oh how I don’t miss those days. Feeding babies in the middle of the night. The diapers. The heart breaking cr

The middle schooler and I fought this morning. Over her phone. Her phone. That stupid little piece of machinery that she can’t see she’s dependent upon. Her phone. A phone which, before being given to her, came with the stipulation that when we ask for it she turns it over. And yet, today we fought. After some trouble with bullying last school year, I put an app on her phone to track things like bullying, violence, inappropriate content, etc. The World Wide Web is just too bi

Inside of my head! I love social media. Sometimes. I love watching former students grow into awesome young adults. I love seeing their academic accomplishments. Watch them get their drivers permits and licenses. Seeing them compete in sports and excel. It makes my preschool teacher heart shout when I know I had a tiny part in the success of a child’s life. I firmly believe preschool is the foundation academic excellence is formed on. Fight me on it😎 And yet, as I watch forme

My throat! Ahem! Ahem!! Ahem!!!! Alright!!! It has come to my attention that there are some who perceive me as fake. Excuse me while I laugh uncontrollably…….. Okay, I’m back. Fake. Now, for clarity, the person who had the thought to utter such a ridiculous claim doesn’t know me. They don’t know my life. My joys. My struggles. My triumphs. My defeats. My fears. Nothing about me. Nothing. So, the claim of falseness is laughable. Ten years ago, my reaction would have been very

The hardest word. I’m not a particularly loquacious person. I like to sit back and watch the action happen. I interject when I feel it’s needed but I love to people watch. But, when I have something to say, the words come. Family trouble with many in my family usually means the silent treatment. Stubborn bouts of long held silence are used to teach the other party a lesson. Nothing says I’m ticked at you quite like saying nothing at all. Ha!! The silent treatment used to hurt

What to do with myself! There comes a time in ones life when they must face certain realities. Living in the upper Midwest means snow is inevitable at some point. Construction season is a year long occurrence. Pizza is good no matter what style you choose. My personal favorite though, you can’t please everyone. As a recovering people pleaser, this typical reality is a hard learned one. At times when I thought I had made progress toward recovery, I learned I had simply shifted

And he can’t help himself! I love my hubby to no end. We fought through seven rough years and have grown steadily the last seven. Fourteen years it’s been and my love for him grows. With that said, he needs to go back to work!! He has been home since the last Friday of July. First sinuses. Then major back pain. And we will never forget his eight day stint in the hospital from Covid pneumonia. Every day he gets stronger but I still see his struggle. He gets winded if we walk t

And then cried in the parking lot. Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Who in their right mind cries because they bought milk? I mean they always say “don’t cry over spilled milk”, but crying over buying it may be okay…. My husband usually buys the milk. At least twice a week, I send him “stop and pick up milk” text before he leaves work. And, like the awesome hubby he is, he stops, picks up milk, and is the hero because the middle schooler might die without milk in the morning. On th

But, we actually do! Life lessons are always the toughest to teach your kids. Don’t run barefoot through the grass during bee season or you’ll get stung. If you don’t put your things away, you’ll always be looking for them. A penny saved is a penny earned. Our kids love and hate our life lessons. Probably because we sound like records on repeat since they haven’t quite grasped them all. Our youngest son is currently learning valuable lessons in money earning and management. O

Soooooooo…. A while ago I did a thing and now it’s out in the world! I had the pleasure of writing for Gritty Faith magazine and now it is available. They were awesome enough to offer a link to download it free and I wanted to share it with everyone. My piece is very open and honest, but still such a small piece of me. It still makes me nervous to share pieces of me with the world but when you’re called to do it, we’ll ya do it! Enjoy! Click below to enjoy your free digital d

I’m at my wits end! School’s out for summer! Woohoo!! That final bell tolled and my kids made the customary whooping exit from the school buildings. Backpacks were haphazardly discarded into bedroom closets. Sleepovers plotted with scary efficiency. Plans to wile away the long days with water fights and trampoline tents were created. My kids were ready. But, an axe loomed. It hung over my high schoolers neck; dangling by a tenuous thread. Will we log on and find that he did i

Toughest hood you’ll ever roll through! Being mom has been the most rewarding, terrifying, exciting, draining, exhilarating, taxing adventure I have ever embarked upon. Marine Corps boot camp was a picnic compared to the stress, work, and insanity of motherhood. And I can say that because I’ve done both!! I am blessed with five awesome kiddos. I love them all tremendously! They are my greatest joy and my greatest headache. When you decide to have kids, no one ever sits you do

I am a woman. Strong. Smart. Brave. Adventurous. Curious. Industrious. The only limits are those I put on myself. But, my greatest challenge isn’t to be the best me possible. Instead, it is to help others grow into their best selves possible. I work tirelessly to show my daughters that they can be strong, yet kind. They can work hard, yet still take care of a family. That they are more than whatever label this world decides to slap upon them. That they are capable, yet still

Tonight is a half a glass of wine and Tylenol kind of night. The grounded teenager was busted today for all sorts of things on his phone. The phone we pay for. Check often and take away when need be. As if the bad grades yesterday weren’t enough?!? I’m a person who plays their emotions close to the vest. Like so close they are hidden several layers inside the vest. It takes something big to elicit outward displays of emotion. Today, I showed quiet anger. Anger that my kid, wh

Dude, being mom to a high schooler is not for the faint of heart! Our youngest son is something. Kid is naturally, athletically talented. He’s smart. He’s creative. Annnndddd completely lazy! It boggles my mind how a kid can be so lazy when the example is the exact opposite. The hubs and I pride ourselves on hard work and dedication in all things. We want our kids to see what we expect from them. Ya know?? The kid has struggled in high school from day one. Dad and I understan