The first time I met Sissy she was 10. She approached me on a playground and said “Hi Justine!” I was actually trying to avoid her, but she approached with confidence and a smile that reminded me of her dad. I wasn’t supposed to meet her yet. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I... Continue Reading →

A year ago we said “I do” to each other and to our kids. This morning I played that cheesy Anniversary song by Tony Toni Tone (circa 1993) and made my hubby laugh with my goofy dance moves. He told me he hadn’t drank enough coffee yet and wasn’t ready for my shenanigans. We’re not... Continue Reading →

This school year I volunteered to bring craft supplies on Valentine’s Day for my son’s 5th grade class. For Christmas I made a bunch of “warm fuzzies” for family & friends to hang on their tree or wherever. A warm fuzzy is made of different strands of strings and yarn - a variety of colors... Continue Reading →

The first time I met Little Big Man we played flag football in the backyard. It was the first time our kids officially met and they hit it off immediately. Flag football then led to a foot race, and I’ve never seen a kid run so fast! I still smile thinking about that night because... Continue Reading →

She’s my May baby, and today she turns double digits. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this kiddo and what she brings to our family than by writing this blogpost on her special day. For as long as I can remember we’ve called her Birdie. I believe her Uncle L gave her... Continue Reading →

When I was in elementary school my mom and bonus dad starting calling me Bean. I think it was a nickname that came from some teasing at school and it just stuck. At 41, they still write Bean in my cards (and I love it). Nicknames have a special place in my heart - especially... Continue Reading →

Blending - Part 2 July 23, 2021 - Moving Day I like to think of this day as the great migration West. We closed on our new house earlier in the week and went to work. My husband led the effort and I found a new appreciation for his skills, work ethic, and drive. With... Continue Reading →

Divorce can be devastating. It can take decades to heal, and it impacts generations for years to come. I truly believe no human power can heal that kind of pain. It takes a lot of time and something far greater. My experience is God has been with me during my chapters of pain and failure,... Continue Reading →

My husband and I were first introduced by a mutual friend in passing. A few days later he and I met for coffee for the first time. One thing I learned about him that day was he wanted to rent an RV and head out West to see the national parks. That was definitely on... Continue Reading →

May 23, 2021 - Honker's Island, Moraine View State Park On this day we said "I do" in one of our favorite adventure spots. The sun was shining, the air was warm, and there were carpenter bees everywhere (our youngest is terrified of bees). It was important to have this day reflect who we are... Continue Reading →

Blending - Part 1 When you are divorced and a single parent you establish a routine that works for you and your kids. If you are anything like me, you become very attached to that routine. Your home looks a certain way, your day flows a certain way, and you know what to expect with... Continue Reading →

In the summer we started to search for a house. It was important the six of us picked out our next house together. We each had special things we were looking for like some land, a pond, a tree to hang a swing from, and a big driveway for a basketball hoop. We explored building... Continue Reading →