I love our home, and I love being able to invite my clients into the comfort of our home for their sessions with me. I think sometimes when people hear that we have a home studio, they expect it to be in some tiny spare room or down in a darkened basement. Kind of an …
Six Listening Tips to Show You Care
This past Sunday at church, one of our pastors brought up a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. If you’ve been following my journal for a while, you will know that I am no stranger to mental health. In fact I have a huge passion for it, and I try to …
Empty Arms on Mother’s Day
I’ve literally sat here staring at my screen for hours… writing a few words… deleting… rewriting new words… trying to figure out what to say. Because what is there to say, that I haven’t already said? I guess I’m trying to decide what you need to hear… Do you need encouragement? Do you need to …
Eight Years His Mrs
My dearest Ryan, Yesterday we celebrated another year of loving each other through this crazy, awesome thing called marriage. Eight years ago yesterday we stood in front of our friends and family in that church we first met in and said our wedding vows. I still remember how it felt to hold your hands and …
The Importance of Authenticity
Authentic. Genuine. Real. These are words I hear used a lot… especially in the art/online world. I know they are words I definitely use a lot myself. But they have always been incredibly important to me. And the truth is sometimes I hear people use these words and I become like Inigo Montoya in the …
Why I Hate April Fools Day
April Fools…. Ugh! I have never even remotely enjoyed this holiday known as April Fools Day, and over the years I find that my distaste for it has only grown… I guess the reason I don’t like April Fools Day is because I’m not a fan of pranks. In general I find that pranks are …
The Arms of the Church
Eight years ago I married the love of my life and moved to a tiny town out in the middle of nowhere, which we love! Ryan and I both grew up Catholic. So when we moved here, we assumed that we would attend the local Catholic Church. We tried attending a couple times but with …
Baby Journey: Book Review: He Remembers the Barren
You may recall from my previous post that being the giant nerd that I am – I looked to books to help find answers and comfort as Ryan and I continue on the road of infertility. While searching for my last book, Barren Among the Fruitful: Navigating Infertility with Hope, Wisdom, and Patience by Amanda …
Curly Hair Care
If you’ve seen me, you’ve probably noticed that I have crazy curly hair. I am not one to spend a bunch of time styling myself, let alone trying to tame my mane! But over the years I’ve learned a few tricks on how to take better care of my hair to make sure it stays …
Book Review: I Cry in the Shower: Loving Silas Living with Cancer by Gloria Martin
If you stopped by the journal on Friday, you probably saw my latest fine art self portrait piece and you may have watched the video that accompanied it in which I dedicated the art piece to my dear friend and author, Gloria. I just finished reading her book. It is amazing, honest, and brought me …