This is my last full week of work and, man, things are getting real. Next week, the movers will be coming to the house to pack up our stuff and ship it off to Georgia. And the following week I’ll be watching my baby walk across the stage to get her high school diploma. Where did…
Life After Kids: Find a Hobby
“Jazmine’s mom…” I look at the little hand tugging at the hem of my shirt, smile, and respond. For the past 22 years, I’ve been “______’s mom”, “Tony’s wife”, or some variation there of. I will always be their mom and I will always be “Tony’s wife”, but I’m also “Daenel”. Daenel is who I…
Life After Kids: No One Wants Kool-Aid
Someone is always gonna want Kool-Aid. I leaned against the kitchen counter and stared at the four pairs of eyes looking back at me, tears streaming down their little faces, empty cups being shoved at me. I’d had enough of the crying, the fighting, the wanting, the needing… I wanted to run away from home.…
Christmas Decor {Repost}
Truth time: we haven’t decorated for Christmas at all this year. Not a tree. Not a wreath. Not a stocking with care. I don’t know if it’s because we’re so focused on the move or if it’s just because the kids are all grown and we’re all too lazy busy to take everything down but…
Congratulations to The Hubs
How do I even begin to write about how impressed I am with The Hubs? I tease him because he’s a list guy. Everything he does begins with a list and ends in accomplishment. When he joined Proctor and Gamble nearly 18 years ago, his goal was to make it to Tech 5. He surpassed…
Words of Wisdom for the Graduates
My babies are graduating from high school today. So this is gonna be a rough one for me. I’ve already shared my words of wisdom with them here and here, but now I’m asking you to help me celebrate my twins’ graduation… Please share your words of wisdom with the graduates in the comments below!
A Letter to Mr. 18 on Your Graduation
My dear sweet boy young man, you were our surprise. As in nine days before you were born, we found out you’d been in there just chillin’ — synching your heartbeat to your sister’s, matching her breath for breath and kick for kick. Never letting on that you were there. As I sat in the NICU staring…
A Letter to Miss 18 on Your Graduation
Munro. I’ve stopped and started writing this so many times that I’ve lost count… I don’t have the words to express the love, pride, and gratitude that I’m feeling right now. You have overcome so much and demonstrated a strength and grace under pressure that can only be attributed to the mercy of God. I…
Happy Anniversary: How I Met My Husband {In the Family Room}
Today, the hubs and I are celebrating 19 years of marriage, so I thought it’d be fun to share the story of how I met my husband… The year was 1994, and I was a sweet, innocent little soldier stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, about to celebrate my 2nd year in the Army. This is…
House Tour: The Living Room
This is our ferocious guard dog, Squeekerz, he’d like to welcome you to our home. If you’d like to make a lifelong friend, please bring him cookies. Preferably, Girl Scout Shortbread but he’ll accept bread slices… A few weeks back, the kids and I were sitting in the living room talking when they announced that…