I cried today.  I'm feeling a little under the weather and I'm not exactly sure why. I have a toothache and it's messing with my ear and that side of my throat and I'm just generally tired. School work was not as energetic as it has been. It was just a hard and tiring Monday.  Today my newsfeed was filled of stories of kids being quarantined from school due to exposures, teachers expressing complete exhaustion and frustration, a friend calling me talking through how to most easily juggle the homeschool requirements and still be a working parent, my daughter sharing her own worries and anxieties...  Already not feeling great, the emotions of today just wore me down to tears. If I could say one thing to anyone out there, it would probably be this... just keep holding on. It's all so hard. There are no right answers. You're doing a good job. You're going to make it. This all WILL end eventually.  Keep holding on 'Cause you know we'll make it through We...

 Wow, this little space sure has been abandoned for some time. I tend to come here when I'm feeling sentimental and want to make sure I don't forget some of the things we are walking through. I so wish I had starting blogging back in March when quarantine started, but I don't think my heart was in a space to process what was happening. Parenting has certainly been a rollercoaster ride that I was not quite prepared for. My desire to make the best possible decisions for our children and our family sometimes is so overwhelming in a world where there don't seem to be any "right" choices.  We are 5 days into our homeschool journey and I'm not even sure where to start with where my head is at. In some ways, it seems a lot easier than I expected. We get school done first thing in the morning and play, run errands, clean and I work the rest of the day.  I love that we get to work in our faith into our school work. Sarah's copy work this morning was writing dow...

Seven years ago I was thrust into a world I didn't really know existed. The sights, the sounds, the smells that were all so foreign have become so ingrained in my being. The fear that you might miss a feeding if traffic held you up. The anxiety that another episode would further delay going home. The terror of the night that she turned blue in my arms and the nurses flew into action bringing her back to living color. The anguishing tears I cried walking the halls of the hospital after each setback. The safety of monitors and oxygen levels. The normalcy we tried to grasp by changing the baby blanket in the isolette to bring a little bit of home into this sterile place. The comfort the nurses gave; they became friends and cheerleaders along the way.   Seven years. She's healthy now. Though any medical issue causes a clench in my chest. Three ear surgeries. They've gotten easier in some ways, but having to recount her birth trauma to each doctor and nurse along the way...

I have been getting SO many questions about my #nallypictureaday project.  I have now been at it for TWO YEARS.  That's insane to me.  Part of me wants to stop, but a huge part of it feels like it's become a part of our family and I loved the book we made of our 2016 year.  2017 is shaping up to be a fun book as well. Initially for my project I wanted to document our lives.  One day at a time.  I wanted to be able to flip through the pages and see my kids grow up in the pages.  I had two simple rules. One picture a day Pictures didn't need to be frame worthy or award winning - just real life images of our daily life That's it!  I posted them on my Instagram account and hashtagged them and included a date in the caption.   There were a few sub-rules that I came up with along the way... I tried to balance pictures between the kids.  I didn't count picture for picture, but you'll notice some weeks one kid is more pro...

Dreams are a funny thing. We have been in an in-between season for quite a while now.  Ever since I became a stay at home mom in May 2015, I feel like I've been asking myself what I did or what value I had now that I wasn't contributing much financially to the family. I felt like I wasn't able to dream or plan or achieve. Back in April 2016 I had a "what if" idea... One of those ideas that seem way too crazy to even start. I put it on the back burner. In June again it came to mind, and this time had a little further definition. But again... it felt way too big for my little self. Back on the burner it went. Lately, we have been meeting a lot of new people and hearing a lot of stories. Getting deep and vulnerable with new friends. It's been invigorating, but I must say there was often a moment where people would ask me what my current dreams are... and I didn't have a great answer. Somehow the "pay my bills" dream doesn't really inspire. ...

I have a confession... I'm constantly afraid. I could list all the things I'm afraid of, but it honestly wouldn't be worth your time... (and not really the point of this message) So how do I cope with all this fear? Usually, I "turtle." I stay "safe" in my little bubble where no words or bodily harm can come to me. However, as I continue down this path of life - God is calling me out of my shell. Asking me to make some bold steps. To believe big dreams. To try something new. Last spring we felt very strongly that it was time for another little Nally.  We have been beyond blessed with the arrival of Judah and I can't say enough how my heart has grown to love not one, but two children so fully. When we felt that nudge, I was afraid.  Afraid we couldn't afford it. Afraid of the dynamic it might add. Afraid of the legitimate health concerns at hand. Instead God brought me through so many different verses and calmed my fearful heart. Be stron...

Spring is finally HERE! I am so HAPPY!  Monday we reached a high of 80.  That's EIGHTY degrees.  I knew it was going to be a beautiful day, but boy the van was actually HOT when I got in that afternoon.  Glory. For weeks now I have been wanting to create a Spring themed wreath.  I have never actually had a spring wreath, and my empty hook on the front door has been begging for something since the Christmas wreath disappeared in early January.  Unfortunately when you have a tight budget, things like decor take a back seat to pesky things like bills and food. This week, I FINALLY decided to make a wreath, and I'm super happy with out it turned out.  This project took me about $10 for the materials and less than 5 minutes to assemble.  How easy is that??  Here's a list of supplies and instructions if you want to make one yourself. Supplies (all from Hobby Lobby, make sure you go when floral stems are 50% off) 1 Natural Grapevine Wreat...