Praises of a Wife and Mommy

It began with a three-hour car ride to Selah’s All-State concert—three hours of excitement, pride, and honestly, a little nervousness about how my Achilles would hold up. But some moments are worth the effort, and celebrating her accomplishments was absolutely one of them. When we finally arrived, the Hilton Coliseum felt ginormous. People everywhere, long hallways, stairs, noise, lights—just a whole world bigger than what I’ve been navigating lately. But with my crutches in hand, we made our way in. I crutched farther that day than I had in a long time… including up a set of bleachers to get to our seats. Once I settled, I knew there was no going back down until the concert was over. At one point I was so thirsty, and the thought of navigating those steps again felt impossible. My sweet husband went to get me water—five dollars for bottled water (ridiculous!)—but he came back with it anyway. Acts of love don't always look big, but they mean everything in moments like these.  Then ...

  One of the first debates homeowners have when planning a full kitchen remodel is whether to hire a professional team or do it themselves. On the surface, DIY seems enticing because it gives you control over the process, a sense of accomplishment, and the possibility of saving money. Moreover, kitchen renovations are not the same as painting a room or remodeling a spare bathroom. The kitchen requires precise materials, structural work, plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems, as well as a plan that impacts your home's overall flow. The decision becomes much more crucial if you're remodeling the kitchen to increase the value of your house . If the finished product is smooth, secure, and long-lasting, a kitchen renovation might be one of your best investments. To make a confident, well-informed decision, it's helpful to know what's actually involved and what's at stake before choosing a course of action. Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/phot...

Today felt like a breakthrough. Even in my long bright socks it was a breakthrough! My husband made an addition to our treadmill so I could walk with less weight on my body, giving me a chance to move without the full pressure of my injury. We hooked everything up, I stepped in, and suddenly… I was only carrying about 70 pounds of my weight. And then—I walked. Not for 2 minutes. Not for 10 minutes. But 30 whole minutes. THAT was a huge milestone for me. A victory I didn’t see coming this soon. And the best part? I walked in my own tennis shoes, without the boot. It felt like freedom. Like a little glimpse of the “me” I remember. This healing journey has been slow, humbling, and emotional… but today reminded me that progress doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful. Milestones matter. Even the small ones. Especially the small ones. Scripture came alive for me today: ✨ “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” —Zechariah 4:10 God cele...

After 14 weeks of rest and healing, I’m starting to notice parts of my body changing… and not in the ways I hoped. I worked so hard these last two years—losing weight, keeping it off, getting stronger—and it feels like in a matter of weeks so much of that progress has slipped away. Maybe “gone up in smoke” isn’t the best analogy, but it does feel hard. Really hard. Gaining 10 pounds in this healing journey has been discouraging. It honestly hurts my heart.  Just to be vulnerable I was 130 pounds this morning... this is knowing that I have lost a lot of muscle and in it's place sits more squish.   But I also know I can’t stay angry or sad! I have to shift my mindset and make some changes, slowly and realistically. Because the truth is—this weight isn’t just from lack of activity. I have to admit my diet has been rough. I haven’t been journaling my food because adding one more thing to my plate felt impossible. But now I’m ready to start trying again. I need new ideas. Hea...

Last week I had to make a hospital visit to someone from church. I put on my pastoral hat and went with one of our other pastors so we could go together. When I walked into the lobby, I was immediately distracted, in the best way, by the giant Christmas tree shining in the corner. It was gorgeous, tall, sparkling, and absolutely begging me to take a picture with it. I love the white lights sparkling and the red and silver added it.  So of course… I did. A selfie and a full-tree shot. Because why not?! This morning on social media I decided to have a little fun and asked my friends and family to guess where I took the picture. And honestly—it worked! People actually engaged. Some used great inference skills, remembering I’ve had physical therapy visits and doctor appointments. Others just guessed hospitals or clinics. It made me smile. I didn’t expect something so simple to bring such joy. But the truth is… sometimes these little silly moments are exactly what our hearts need. A...

  Today I was surprised with the sweetest fall flowers from Anthony and Selah. The bouquet was full of warm autumn colors, but what made me smile the most was the little hen-and-chick plant tucked right in the middle. I don’t know who decided that succulents belong in a fall bouquet, but honestly… it works. It made the whole arrangement feel unique, a little quirky, and full of personality — kind of like our family. And yes, it’s hilarious that these fall flowers are now sitting on the table with the Christmas tree glowing in the background. Only in our house can you find pumpkins, flowers, and a tree all sharing the same space. But maybe that’s the perfect picture of this season: healing and growth happening right in the middle of what feels out of order, out of rhythm, and not quite matching the “timeline” we planned. That’s exactly what healing has been like for me — beauty and struggle, hope and heaviness, progress mixed with setbacks. A bouquet of emotions all sitting side by ...