One sunny crisp morning, I headed into one of my local Starbucks, aka, my happy place, and ordered a giant hot tea and oatmeal. As I chatted with the barista, a young man about the age of 27 (ok, when it’s a man, do you say, baristo?) and with the usual small talk, he asked me, “So, any fun plans this weekend?” My response came very naturally, without any self-pity or woe, I said with a chuckle, “uh, no. I’ll be at the children’s hospital all weekend.” He then asked, with causal curiosity, “Oh …
Children & Family
Young Mother’s battle with Cancer
On the afternoon of Friday March 27th; 10 days after my 27th Birthday, 6 days after my 5 year Wedding Anniversary, 4 days shy of starting the paperwork to buy our first home, a month shy of my oldest child turning 5, and less than two weeks away from undergoing our first deployment as a family… I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The feelings that I experienced at that time were unexplainable. I have had so many angry feelings & emotions running through me that as I sit here …
Hope for Mental Health
The CDC says 50% of all American's will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime... It’s difficult to imagine that 50% of adults will develop depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, or some other mental illness in their lifetime. This staggering reality can feel daunting, But there is HOPE... HOPE says that you are not defined by your illness. HOPE says your life has a purpose …
Choosing to Forgive: Setting the Re-Do Button
When my kids are in trouble and have to say they're sorry to the injured or hurt party, I always make them say, "Please forgive me for..." Most of the time they follow through properly, but sometimes, especially with the youngest, it's met with puppy eyes, smiles, hugs and kisses for the recently bitten sibling. It seems innocent, but there is a process to an apology that starts at a young age and only gains more genuineness as they grow. Usually when a timeout or spanking is about to occur the …
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!
Chia Seeds seem to be popping up on trendy menus everywhere so I decided to do some research and recipe testing to see what the fuss was about! Let me start off by saying that the tea you order at Starbucks is called Chai and pronounced Ch-I and this amazing breakfast pudding recipe I will be sharing with you is made with Chia seeds pronounced Ch-E-uh…as in Chia Pet. Yep, not even joking! This delicious little black and white seed also happens to be the fantastic white elephant gift at …
The Supportive Spouse
Picture this... The kids woke up early making nap time a must for the little ones. The breakfast menu is limited due to the extreme need to grocery shop as well as the piling high of dirty clothes in the hamper making finding a matching outfit entertaining. The floors look no different from outside and the heat from the summer days have turned pleasant kids into cranky, sweaty, exhausted little humans who have no time to assist with house chores. You never had a chance to take a shower …
There is Always, Always Something to be Thankful For
Thankfulness is a word we throw around pretty nonchalantly. We utter a “thank you” to plenty of people through out the day whether it be to our family members, a coworker or a grocery store clerk. I never really thought much about being thankful until I found myself navigating through a situation in which I felt I couldn’t be thankful. In January 2010 our 5 1/2 month old baby boy, Case, died of SIDS. Grief was a process that I was familiar with, my mom had died 9 years before, but I didn’t …
5 Ways to Survive the Challenges of Infertility
As a psychotherapist and a former infertility patient I often help others and think about what got me through the most challenging times during the many years it took to have my daughter. I remember those days when I needed a friend to talk to, a hug, and most of all, a way to get me through the day sometimes without crying. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of good days and many great days, but it was a really hard time in my life. So, I have created a list (in my opinion) of the most important …
Pow Wow Design Studio Movie Night
Last week my daughter Ava and I had the pleasure of attending a fabulous event hosted by the lovely Pow Wow Design Studio! I have been follow Melissa on Instagram for some months now and I have loved her work, energy, and transparency in her posts. {Follow her @PowWowDesignStudio on Instagram} When I saw that they were extending the opportunity to attend a Movie Night at the Studio and showing one of THE 80's classics of all time... 16 Candles I was beyond excited! This hip and laid back event …
I Want to THRIVE, Not Just Survive
Thrive: 1. to prosper; be fortunate or successful 2. to grow or develop vigorously; flourish I think we’ve all gone through seasons of merely surviving life. I have had times where I wake up out of the fog of survival and I realize that this is no way to live. The circumstances look different for all of us. Some of our circumstances are fleeting, some may never go away. Some may be a result of choices we have made or quite possibly life has given you something other than you …