Splash in the Rain Puddles

We are cruising through spring.  And thank goodness pollen season is almost behind us.  I've lived in this part of the country for over 20 years and yet every spring it boggles my mind how, for about a 3 week stretch, thick powdery pollen seems to cover every square inch of every single thing.  It has turned the day we pressure wash the house, into one of my favorite days of year.  Something about washing it all away, renews my soul...and my nasal passages. :)  But apart from the pollen, it's a good season....full of all the things that spring brings....planting season on the farm....baseball season for the boys....getting together with friends as the warmer weather welcomes us back outside for fires and picnics...beautiful sunrises....and counting down the days until our our oldest boy officially wraps up his high school career.  Gulp.  My heart is so full of a contrast of emotions....so incredibly proud and ready for this next chapter...while at the ...

Recently, a podcast I was listening to, took me down memory lane.  I found myself in my childhood home remembering my mom coming into our rooms to wake us up on school mornings.  I don't remember using an alarm clock until I was older, but she would let us know what time it was, and then it was up to us to get up and moving.  Part of our weekday routine was listening to a radio show called Joni and Friends.   I can't remember the exact time it aired, but I distinctly remember that if mom yelled up the stairs, "Joni is on!", and I wasn't already downstairs...it was time to move faster.  I should have been at the counter, eating breakfast at that point.  I'm sure many of you are familiar with Joni Erikson Tada...and if you're not, look her up and prepare to be inspired.  I remember listening to her stories and songs...being so captivated...hearing her never-ending positivity in spite of a life altering accident that left her paralyzed from the neck ...

Another new year.  I'm entering this year with excitement as I do most years.  But it hits differently for sure. When your kids get to around middle school age, you start writing the graduation year of your student on school forms, surveys, and various other places where it is asked.  For awhile, I had to do the math because it was far away and not a time I really had planted in my head.  And then as high school begins, you start to get emails addressed to "The Class of 2026"....and you realize, yup...that's going to be a big year for my child.  And so here we are....already a month and a half into 2026.  Could we pump the brakes, please?! The start of this year has been full of basketball games, house projects, the daily hustle and bustle, and the coldest stretch of weather that I have experienced since living in this part of the country.  Thankfully, we were able to escape to the south for a few days and it was just what my soul needed.  Behold ...

 It's Christmastime!  and for whatever reason I've been feeling extra nostalgic this year.  I've been remembering the excitement of the Christmas decorations coming out of storage....the plastic based candles that mom would put in all the windows....the big multi colored bulbs on our Christmas tree....the nativity scene with the cutest little lamb.  I've been remembering the stops at all the family events that we would make....making time for each gathering....how on my dad's side we would all spend the night at one family's house....that's right, all 8 of my dad's siblings and their families, crashing together for one crazy night of games, food, and fun.  And on my mom's side, spending the night on Christmas eve night at Grandpa and Grandma's house with my brother and two of the best cousins...and Grandpa pulling one of us into his lap on his recliner to help him read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.  And our church caroling night....b...

It's Thanksgiving week.  There is so much to be thankful for.  I'm thankful for beautiful sunrises  like this one from yesterday.   The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. ~  Psalm 19:1 I'm a fan of mornings in any form, but this always makes it just a little bit sweeter.  I'm thankful for my husband and children and this beautiful life we are building...we're not perfect...we have so much to learn...but my cup overflows with gratitude for the blessing of each of them. I'm thankful for our extended families...though most are far away in miles, I hold each of them so close to my heart.  I'm so incredibly thankful for our tribe of friends that are like family...thank you God, that you created us for relationships and fellowship...especially when my own family is so far away...thank you for filling my life with sisters and brothers that fill those gaps so perfectly.  I'm thankful for our church....as I con...

October is a double birthday month in our family…18 and 12...with the oldest entering adulthood and the youngest in the last year of his preteens.  It’s such a busy farming month, but I’m so thankful we found time to celebrate these two amazing young men.  My bookends.  So wonderfully unique and special in their own way.  I'll never get over what a blessing it is to be their mom.  It's hard to believe I've been doing this job for 18 years now...18 years...it's a big birthday for Jack for sure…marking such an exciting time in a young life. I remember how it felt to be just starting out on the journey of adulthood. But now as a momma…it’s bittersweet….and leaves me with all the feelings…which led me to this....