Why I’ve Been Quiet (And All the Joy That’s Been Filling the Silence)

I owe you all a big I’m sorry.

I just realized I haven’t written a personal post since May, and honestly—it’s not because I didn’t want to.

Life just got a little crazy (in the best way).

A man, woman, and two boys stand smiling in front of a Western-themed backdrop with buildings and signs, all wearing hats and casual summer clothing.

First up, we had Wonder Junction VBS at church, and it was SO much fun.

Day 1 kicked things off with so much excitement and joy.

A young boy stands smiling with his head and hands through a wooden stocks prop, surrounded by artificial cactus decorations indoors.

Person posing with their face in a "Wanted: Cupcake Rustler $10,000 Reward" photo standee, holding cupcakes. A cactus decoration is beside the standee indoors.

I had parents coming up to me all week just to say thank you for how special everything was, and that meant the world to me.

Collage of themed decorations for a Vacation Bible School event called "Wonder Junction," featuring trains, tracks, props, and colorful displays in a church setting.

Huge shoutout to the decorators who brought Wonder Junction to life.

And an extra special shoutout to Rich for taking my wild idea for a glow-in-the-dark mining tunnel and making it a reality.

At the end of that tunnel, the kids reached Bible Time—where they discovered the real treasure.

A hallway decorated with black plastic sheets, neon signs, glowing cat eyes, string lights, and neon tape on the floor, creating a spooky atmosphere.

Each day of VBS was full of energy, worship, laughter, and some of the best conversations I’ve ever had.

The boys have grown so much in their friendships and in their faith.

Two children stand in a kitchen preparing food at a counter. One holds a packet over a large mixing bowl while the other watches. Various kitchen items are visible in the background.

I got the chance to answer their deep (and sometimes hilarious) questions—about God, heaven, hell, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Greek gods (and how they’re not the same as the one true God), and Satan (who was dumb enough to think he could become God).

Two children stand side by side, looking out a window with sheer curtains. A wooden chair and a potted plant are in the foreground.

I’m sure there were more questions—but those are the ones that stuck with me.

A smiling woman and an older man wearing glasses and a straw hat pose together indoors in front of a window and wooden wall.

We also celebrated two major milestones at home!

My “dad” had a birthday, and we got to celebrate the man who CHOSE to be my dad even when he didn’t have to.

Here are just a few of the things he’s taught me over the years:

Be a person of your word. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Treat everyone with kindness—he can talk to anyone and make them feel seen.
Respect guns and gun safety. Always assume a gun is loaded.
Never pass up the chance to go fishing or eat cake.
Love the great outdoors. It’s in our family’s DNA now.
Work hard and work smart. Nothing’s owed to you.
Learn to tell a good story. (Ask him about Chief Thump Thump sometime.)
Fill your life with music, laughter, and simple joys—not stuff.
Choose your family, love them hard, and forgive often.
Never be ashamed of what you believe. Share truth boldly because that’s real love.

I’m beyond grateful for the legacy he’s given me.

A smiling child sits at a table next to a large glass dessert with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry sauce.

And finally… Connor graduated from preschool! He’s officially heading to Kindergarten.

We celebrated with the biggest strawberry sundae ever because—obviously—life’s too short not to.

Three women smile for a selfie in front of a fountain and the Detroit Institute of Arts building on a sunny day.

Weekly Wins

This week’s win? I finally made it back to the Detroit Institute of Arts—and even better, I got to experience it with my mom and my sister!

Two people sit on a wooden bench in an art museum alcove with artwork displayed on either side and natural light coming through the windows behind them.

It was a long day filled with so much beauty, history, and laughter.

We managed to see every single exhibit, which is saying something!

A woman in a green dress stands next to a framed painting of a child in ornate clothing, pointing at it with a surprised expression. — *I found this painting of a child with a bird to be pretty funny considering the time I also held a baby bird as a small child…*

If you’ve ever been, you know how much there is to take in.

Here are a few of my favorite paintings.

A framed still life painting of a bouquet of flowers in a decorative vase, displayed on a red wall with a small information plaque to the right.

Framed painting of a woman in a blue and white dress standing by a large tree in a grassy landscape, with a hat placed on the ground nearby.

We soaked it all up—tired feet and all—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

A person stands in an art gallery looking at large, colorful stained glass panels depicting various figures and scenes, illuminated against a dark wall.

What made it extra special was sharing the day with my mom.

Growing up, we didn’t have a lot.

Money was tight, but my mom still made it a point to take us to places like the DIA.

She showed us that you don’t need a big budget to fill your life with culture, beauty, and meaning.

Those experiences shaped who I am, and I’m so grateful for that legacy.

Three women stand in front of the “The Thinker” sculpture outside the Detroit Institute of Arts on a sunny day.

And because of that, I’ve made it a point to pass that same love of art, learning, and memory-making on to my own kids.

Two hands resting on a car armrest, each wearing a colorful beaded bracelet. The person in the front wears shorts, and a white travel mug is visible nearby.

Favorite Find

They might be a little big, but these bracelets are some of my favorite finds ever.

Kinsley made them herself and gave them to Rich and me, and let me tell you—they mean the world to us.

Each colorful bead and twist of elastic is packed with love, care, and her sweet little heart. It’s more than just a bracelet. It’s a reminder that the most meaningful gifts don’t come from a store—they come from moments, memories, and the hands of the people we love most.

I’ll proudly wear this big ol’ bracelet any day of the week.

A group of people, including adults and children, sit in a movie theater with popcorn and drinks in their seats, smiling at the camera.

What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening to:

We had such a fun night out a few weeks ago, when we got to go to an advanced screening of How to Train Your Dragon and let me tell you… everyone loved it!

It was full of action, heart, and those moments that just get you right in the feels.

I was especially happy to see my friend Annaliese and her friend there—they were able to use a couple of the free tickets I gave away and join in on the fun too!

One of my favorite moments?

Toward the end, my older grandson started teasing his little brother for getting a little emotional… but his little brother’s response was PERFECT: “What? Everyone in here is crying right now.”

And honestly? He wasn’t wrong. We were all trying to blink away the tears.

But don’t worry—it ended on a high note!

In fact, if you were in the theater with us, you probably heard Rich yell out a loud “Woohoo!” when things got happy again.

All in all, it was an unforgettable night and definitely a two thumbs up kind of movie from all of us.