Rooted, Still Growing

I Was Trying to Protect My Peace…

by Leave a Comment

Trying to protect my peace when life keeps interrupting it.

This morning started exactly how I wanted it to.

Coffee in hand.

Sitting out on the porch.

The birds happily visiting the feeder.

Just enough quiet to clear my head before the workday began.

I even took a few minutes to sit in the silence, breathe, and remind myself that today was going to be a good day.

Then I walked back inside.

Have you ever had one little comment completely change the direction of your morning?

Nothing dramatic. Just one of those conversations where somehow you end up talking at each other instead of with each other. By the end of it, nothing was solved, everyone was frustrated, and I found myself wondering why communicating can sometimes feel so hard.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t really the conversation.

The conversation was just the tipping point.

It landed on top of everything else I was already carrying, and suddenly my peaceful morning didn’t feel so peaceful anymore.

Then there’s tonight.

A friend I haven’t seen in a while wants to get together, and normally I’d be excited. But after this morning, part of me just wants to stay home in my comfy clothes with a good book. Then the guilt starts creeping in because I know I should go. Add in the summer heat, whatever my hormones have decided to do lately, and suddenly everything just feels… louder.

Maybe that’s what this season of life is sometimes.

Not one big problem.

Just a lot of little things asking for our attention all at once.

Work.

Marriage.

Family.

Trying to build a business.

Trying to stay healthy.

Trying to keep a positive attitude.

Trying to remember that tomorrow will be a new day.

Individually, none of those things feel impossible.

Together… they can feel heavy.

But here’s what I know.

I don’t want one difficult conversation to define my whole day.

I don’t want one frustrating moment to erase the peace I found sitting on that porch this morning.

Maybe protecting our peace isn’t something we do once at the beginning of the day.

Maybe it’s something we choose over and over again as life keeps handing us little interruptions.

So that’s my goal today.

Not perfection.

Not pretending everything is fine.

Just finding my way back to that peaceful porch—even if it’s only in my mind until I can sit there again.

Tomorrow morning, you’ll probably find me right back out there with my coffee, watching the birds, reminding myself that every day is another chance to begin again.

If you’ve ever had one conversation, one unexpected comment, or just one of those days where everything feels a little heavier than usual… you’re not alone.

We’re all carrying something.

And we’re all doing the best we can.

Take Care Guys 💗

Why Does It Feel Like Every Time I Get Ahead…

by Leave a Comment

When Life Keeps Changing the Plan

Life has a way of interrupting our plans when we least expect it. If you’ve ever felt like every step forward is followed by two steps back, you’re definitely not alone. Here’s what’s been on my mind lately—and how I’m trying to keep moving forward anyway.

I don’t know if anyone else ever feels like this, but lately it seems like every time I take a step forward, life throws something new my way.

A little while back we celebrated paying off our van. It felt like a win. Then shortly after, my husband was in an accident. Thankfully, everyone is okay, but now we’re dealing with unexpected repairs and another expense we weren’t planning on.

It feels like that’s been the pattern lately.

Building a Better Tomorrow While Handling Today’s Emergencies

I’ve been working hard behind the scenes too. I’m building this blog, creating digital products, learning AI, trying UGC, and even working on my own app. Some days I wonder if I’m trying to do too much. Maybe I am. But these are all little pieces of a future I’m trying to build.

I’ve realized I’m always trying to build a better tomorrow while still handling today’s emergencies.

That sentence alone probably explains this season of my life.

The good news is… I’m still hopeful.

I’m still learning.

I’m still creating.

Maybe the pace isn’t what I imagined, but I’m moving forward one step at a time.

That’s really what this blog has become for me. A place to share what’s going on in real life—the good days, the frustrating days, the little wins, and hopefully a reminder that none of us are figuring it all out perfectly.

I’ve learned that staying positive during difficult times doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means choosing to keep moving forward, even if the progress is slower than I hoped. Some seasons are about big leaps, and others are simply about not giving up.

If you’re in a season where it feels like life keeps interrupting your plans, I hope you’ll keep going too.

We’ll get there.

Maybe not as quickly as we’d like…

But we’re still growing.

Take Care Guys 💗

It’s Only Wednesday …

by

Has anyone else had one of those weeks where you look at the calendar and think, “Wait…it’s only Wednesday?”

Our weekend started with thunderstorms rolling through. At first, it was just another Indiana storm. Then we discovered one of our sump pumps wasn’t keeping up. Whether it’s burning out or just waving the white flag after years of service, water started creeping into the basement.

Nothing says family bonding quite like standing in a basement at 11 p.m. in your pajamas, barefoot in an inch of water, trying to save rugs.

Thankfully, the kids jumped in to help. My youngest showed up holding a single beach towel like that was going to fix everything, and somehow we made it work. We managed to get the water level back down, and while a few rugs didn’t survive the adventure, it could have been much worse. Still, it wasn’t exactly how I planned to spend my evening.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, we’re also working through some paperwork issues on the car we recently bought for the kids.

Buying a first car for three teenagers felt like a milestone. We intentionally looked for something used and practical. Not because we don’t want nice things, but because when teenagers are learning to drive, “practical” feels like a safer investment than “perfect.”

Unfortunately, I missed a detail in the paperwork, and now I’m trying to get everything corrected so we can get the title properly transferred. It’s fixable, but it’s another item on the growing list of things demanding attention this week.

Then Father’s Day decided to throw in its own surprise.

I ordered a Chromebook for my husband because the computer he’s been using is hanging on by a thread. He’s not especially tech-savvy, so I thought a Chromebook would be simple, easy to use, and a nice Father’s Day gift.

The tracking information said it was delivered.

Great news, right?

Except the delivery photo wasn’t my house. It wasn’t my garage. It wasn’t even recognizable. Somewhere out there, a stranger got a picture taken of their garage while I got a notification saying my package had arrived.

So now I get to add “play detective and track down a missing Chromebook” to this week’s to-do list.

At this point, I’m almost afraid to ask what Thursday has planned.

Work has been busy, life has been busy, and the weather can’t seem to decide what season we’re in. And after a day of solving problems, making phone calls, dealing with paperwork, cleaning up water, and tracking down packages, the first question I hear when I walk through the door is:

“What’s for dinner?”

I know they’re not trying to be annoying. I know they’re hungry. But sometimes I just want someone to hand me a grilled cheese sandwich and tell me I’ve done enough for one day.

The good news is that today’s storms moved through much faster than the weekend’s storms. The basement stayed dry. The family is safe. The car situation is frustrating but solvable. The Chromebook will hopefully find its way home. And tomorrow is another day.

One thing this week has reminded me is how quickly life can pile things on. Rarely is it one big thing. Usually it’s a dozen little things that all show up at once demanding attention.

A repair. A phone call. A missing package. A paperwork issue. A weather emergency. A difficult conversation.

None of them seem impossible on their own, but together they can feel overwhelming.

Still, here we are.

The kids helped when we needed them. The water situation could have been much worse. The car will eventually get sorted out. And someday, hopefully soon, we’ll laugh about the mystery Chromebook sitting in front of someone else’s garage.

So if your week feels a little heavy right now, you’re not alone. If you’re dealing with unexpected repairs, paperwork headaches, family stress, surprise expenses, missing packages, or just trying to figure out what’s for dinner after a long day, drop a comment and tell me about it — I could use the company.

Tonight, I’m making myself that grilled cheese, putting my feet up, and calling this week’s chaos good enough.

And somehow, we’ll make it to Friday.

Take Care Guys

💗

Raising Teenagers Is Exhausting (But I’ll Miss This Someday)

by

Emotional exhaustion

I really try to remember what it is like being a teen and how the small things that upset them are big things for them. But did I really stress over these same things?!

I will say I am glad my kids want to look nice when they go to school and not just in pjs or something but really, you can’t wear those shoes, sneakers that go with everything- with that outfit? It is exhausting to listen and let them be them sometimes.

One is so bothered by a friend, the other is stressed with grades, and one is just chill and going with the flow. They are all so different and trying to match their energy so they hear me is challenging. They are good kids, but some days …

Repeating yourself 100 times

Did you do your chores? This is basically on repeat daily so you would think they remember!

We have one rule if friends are coming over, chores must be done. And not just the one with company coming. Nope, all chores so you better get your siblings on the same page. And does the kid coming over care? No. But I refuse to have someone come over to a dirty house. And the one time a parent came in unexpectedly proved my point to cleaning up.

I asked my son if the trimming outside was done already because it seemed fast. His reply? Oh yeah, it’s easy and doesn’t take long. You don’t say! Remember that next time I ask and you whine!

It really is some of the same conversations weekly. I do have a board up that has chores and rotates each week. I just change the name so I don’t have to remind them who’s doing what for the week. That cut down some of the frustration, some.

I should make one for snacks. I try to make healthy types at home but they are bottomless pits and I can’t keep them stocked!

So while I still feel like I am repeating myself daily, the few organization tools we have in place have helped. I always tell them, write it down!

We use the calendar like below. And if something is used up in the kitchen, write it on the list. It’s a good habit I am glad I got them used to!

Loving them while wanting silence 😂

Love them with all my heart but some days, boy can they yap!

Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful they want to talk and share with me but why is it most times when I just want to sit in silence and read or something?

I feel like the Peanuts cartoon where the adults just sound wah wah wah, just reverse! lol I know I’ll miss it how they come home from school and come to my office and sit. Or how the living room is empty, I sit down and all 3 slowly make their way out and sit with me. Sometimes no conversations (my favorite … kidding!) just being together.

My eldest will be 18 this year. Phew .. I am excited and scared. Will she want to continue sitting with me and sharing her day or what’s going on in her friend group? I hope so, even on the days I just want some peace and quiet.

Take Care Guys

💗

Just so you know, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only ever share things I truly believe in and would recommend to a friend. Thank you for supporting me and this little corner of the internet. It means the world!

Cliche but it really does fly by!

by

Oh wow, a whole month and it feels like just last week. I am doing too much I think …

Here I am trying to share my daily life and don’t make it back daily. Sorry about that, the daily grind and all that.

So many little things buzzing around my head.

  • Eldest will be a high school senior, let’s see what we have to get in order for scholarships. Definitely need those
  • Check on the two youngest, make time with them so they don’t get missed in the mix
  • Make sure I take care of me, still haven’t schedule my annual tests for my own health. Yeah, got to get on that
  • Get 1 or 2 of these kids to drive! Terrified of their driving but just got to get some practice in, yeah that’ll help. So get one driving but also get in some driving practice, check.
  • Love the Spring, got to get out there and see how I want the flowers and garden to look this year. And oh my the weeds, don’t get me started
  • Wasn’t Mothers Day this Month? Dang, I might have missed it!
  • Try to have one conversation with Hubby without ending in an argument (Challenging One)
  • Last time I talked with Bestie? Sis? Make sure I don’t wait too long to keep in touch
  • Missed the vet appointments again, got to make those

Well you get the point right? I feel like my brain is always switched on and I can not find the off switch.

Yes, books are the answer!

How do you relax or shut off the noise? I try a couple things but two of my favorite are quiet meditation like a reset and relaxing while I listen to an audio book. I know, audio book uck. But give me a minute here.

I use to be a die hard book in the hand kind of person, then I discovered Ebooks and oh my could I down load a new book so fast. No more waiting to get to the store. Although, I started to buy physical books again just because they are making them so pretty again. All the colorful sided, I love it.

Anyway, from ebooks, I jumped to audio books because one, it would look bad at work to be reading at my desk all day, and two, multitasking!

So today’s goal is to remind people that books are amazing. They can take you to a whole other place for a few minutes or hours, whatever you have time for. I listen while I am cooking, driving, working, or relaxing in the freshly cleaned-out sunroom.

And here is a little cheat for you if you have a kindle, I have Kindle Unlimited and some books that you borrow may also have and audio book. Well if you add the book to your library, for some, if you go back to get the audio too, it could be pretty cheap. Not all but most I find are half if not more than just going to audible and getting it there first. I just grabbed one for around $4 today. Much better than the original $25 if I didn’t download the ebook.

Hope that made sense, let me know if you have any questions on that.

Well I’ll try not to stay away so long next time. And cheers to all you other Moms out there trying to do it all. Remember, you are doing wonderful. And get the kids to help more 😉

Take Care Guys

💗

I get some time too right?

by

So why do I feel some kind of way ….

I couldn’t tell you the last time I went out to just chat with a girlfriend somewhere. I am always with my family, which is fine with me. I’m a homebody, and I have plenty to tend to at home.

But .. is it guilt? That I am taking one evening to myself? I’m not getting dinner ready because come on, hubby is a grown man, and these teenagers do know how to cook. I’m taking the evening off, and while I sorta feel bad, I also don’t. Make sense?

Why do we do this to ourselves? Thinking we don’t deserve some self-care. It’s not just me, is it?!?

How easy it is for us to just push aside what we need for others. Yes, we should help others. Yes, we should be there for them. But that shouldn’t mean at our own expense.

So today was just a little rant. I treasure my time with my kids. They are growing up so quickly, and next year one will be gone at college. But for the health of myself and safety of everyone else, I need me time.

Take Care Guys

💗

Foreman for the win!

by

What I always need is a fast and easy way to make dinner. That’s what we all need, right?! Because no matter what, the repetitive act of deciding what to make for dinner can drive you crazy!

And lately, I’ve been focused on finding quick and easy ways to make family dinners that save time and help us avoid eating out. So when I find something that I love, I always share it with my friends or family. But I’m going to share it here too. 😊

So I have used the George Foreman grill for the longest time. I’m on my third one, and this newest one has to be the best one for me. I didn’t like the last one because you couldn’t remove the plates, and you had to basically put the whole machine in the sink, which was very inconvenient, but this new one that I got doesn’t. It’s not as big, but I just did four bigger burgers at one time, and it cooked them so quickly and perfectly!

I just can’t wait to try it out on other stuff. I do like to make a panini sandwich a lot for a quick meal. I just use different types of breads, like jalapenos and cheddar, and I’m definitely going to use this to make those sandwiches.

I linked it above on Amazon, but I did find mine on sale at Walmart. It was the last one and was on sale since the box was a bit damaged. I took a chance and glad I did.

What are your secrets!? 😃

Please share other shortcuts for family dinners you use. I am constantly searching for quick ways to cook at home.

Why I Try to Cook More at Home…

Eating out is such a drain for a family of 5, so I try to mix it up. It ain’t easy though! The cost for fast food or even picking up at a restaurant is insanely expensive. Maybe once a week or every 2 weeks, but my wallet can’t handle more than that!

What helps me with quick dinners:

Remembering to take the meat out of the freezer 😅

Writing out a simple weekly menu – you don’t have to stick to it. Even using it as a guideline helps.

Keeping ingredients on hand

Using tools like the George Foreman grill

Having a few go-to meals ready

Again, please share any shortcuts you have!

Take Care Guys 

💗

My Mind Is Chaos…

by

And I don’t know where to start getting it in order. As I navigate midlife, stress, and personal growth, I decided to create this blog. And that is for a couple of reasons; first to help as a guide. A guide for me and anyone else who finds themselves in a similar place. Second, to learn from you and hopefully teach from my own experiences/mistakes.

So what are these things swimming around in my noggin? Let’s see .. how much do I want to share? It’ll always be honest but how deep do we go? Let’s go with raw to start and then shape our thoughts from there.

Thoughts?

So my thoughts all swirl around my marriage, which can sometimes, well lately, most times are rocky. There are my teenagers that I can’t complain about too much, but oh they can be bratty. Maybe you can help me decide if I do too much for them? And why do I have to repeat myself to them sooo much! UGH .. then there are my hobbies, which really just consist of reading and working on my own business. But that’s why I am working on my own business, so I can discover more hobbies!

Then it’s my health as I enter my 50’s. I have RA in my hands, and my hips and lower back are always achy. I want to try more natural ways to heal, and I’d like to share what works and what doesn’t. And one of my biggest loves is mindset, as in keeping a positive one. Yes, I am that person that looks for the good in the bad, something positive to hang on to when life hits bad and you’re going through the storm. Annoyingly so, sorry not sorry.

What am I all about?

I am trying to narrow it down to a few topics I can focus on, but there are so many things I want to talk about and hear about, it’s hard to choose just a few.

So if you bear with me as I discover my passions to share with you. I am sure I went against all advice for my first post to niche it down, but I have so many thoughts and questions myself! But I will get this chaos together and categorize some topics to really focus on so I don’t drag you down a rabbit hole with me … most of the time.

This is real life! We just start, go with it, and pivot as we need to, right?

Hopefully, I can give some knowledge and gain some from you all, too. Now don’t forget to bookmark me or save me somewhere so you can come back! I’m here, rooted but still growing. And I’d love to have some company on this journey.

Take Care Guys 💗