Growing up, I was the middle child of 3. I was shy, liked the color pink, and had a soft smile that didn't show my teeth. I liked to bake, read, write stories in school, and excelled in English related subjects. Although shy, I enjoyed acting in my first play in 4-h where I played … Continue reading Learning to Love the You God Made You to Be
Side Effect: Weight Gain
“Mommy, is there a baby in your tummy?” one of my children asked me recently. “No.” I replied, unsurprised. “Then, why is it so big?” my child continued. I sighed and mumbled something like, “Because it just is.” It’s been almost 2 years since I was last pregnant but by looking at my belly now, … Continue reading Side Effect: Weight Gain
To the Mama Who Feels Burned Out
I imagine you standing in your kitchen making breakfast for your children, pushing away dirty dishes so you have a free space on your counter to butter toast. I imagine you going to throw that load of laundry in the dryer that was actually finished washing yesterday, looking around you at the hampers of clothing … Continue reading To the Mama Who Feels Burned Out
The Unedited Version of Myself and the Ever Present Struggle to Compare
I go to bed with my makeup on. I wear a size 12. I have wide, less than beautiful feet with inherited bunion problems. My house is often a chaotic and disorganized mess. I hate doing the dishes. I kill plants. I am not a morning person and read my Bible in the afternoon rather … Continue reading The Unedited Version of Myself and the Ever Present Struggle to Compare
Is This Even Worth It?! Two Tales of Taking Young Children To Church
It was a Sunday morning in the not so distant past and I took our 3 children by myself to church. Lately this has been the case as my husband works night shift as a correctional officer and is sometimes mandated to work an extra shift that happens to fall on Sunday morning. This means … Continue reading Is This Even Worth It?! Two Tales of Taking Young Children To Church
My Journey Through Cancer
It was June of 2006 and I was 16 years old. School was out for the summer and I was experiencing some abdominal pain and digestive issues. I was working as a cashier at Fareway and I remember thinking my intestines felt sore every time I had to bend down to face a shelf. I … Continue reading My Journey Through Cancer
To the Mom Who…You’re Not Alone
To the mom who looks at the insurmountable disaster that is the current state of her home and because of it, feels like she’s failing at everything... you’re not alone. To the mom living life in 2-3 hour increments with a nursing babe...you’re not alone. To the mom who looks across the church sanctuary at … Continue reading To the Mom Who…You’re Not Alone
Life in Newton
We spent the night before our move at a hotel in Newton and Matt woke up early the next day to drive to Altoona to meet up with a few friends at our storage units and load everything up in the largest Uhaul available. I took the kids out to breakfast for confetti pancakes at … Continue reading Life in Newton
Ames Family Update
It’s been almost 2 months since the kids and I joined Matt in Ames after he started his new job as a correctional officer in Newton, IA back in January. We are temporarily living in a 4 bedroom apartment in Ames until we close on our house in Newton in the beginning of May. The … Continue reading Ames Family Update
Changing the Way We Talk and Think About Mental Health
“Looney bin.” “Insane asylum.” “He/she has a screw loose.” “It’s all in your head.” “Worry wart.” “Nervous Nelly.” These are some common terms and phrases I’ve heard used to describe a mental health institute or someone dealing with a mental health struggle. They don’t sound particularly positive, do they? They infer that the place where … Continue reading Changing the Way We Talk and Think About Mental Health
Rose In Bloom 