Raising Youngins

April 2025

I’ve never been a fan of “introduction posts” but I’m celebrating a few milestones this month and figured I’d share a little bit more about me. Some random facts before we get to the celebrations…

1. I could eat Mac and cheese everyday, seriously. 
2. I take Zoloft daily. 
3. I miscarried November 2019. 
4. I’m not that great of a cook. 
5. I remember names and birthdays really well. 
6. I’m really good at parallel parking. 
7. My favorite show of all time is Frasier.
8. I was bullied in high school.
9. My first job was at a senior living facility. 
10. I’ve never had a cavity. 
11. I hate wearing jeans.

April Fools Day is a somewhat serious day in this family. It was my grandpa’s birthday and then years later, my grandparents’ anniversary. Later on, it became a milestone for Connor and I. Sixteen years ago, he asked me to be his girlfriend (…over a text message). And apparently there was no foolin’ because here we are 16 years later – mortgage, kids, life insurance, wowza!! Since the summer holds Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, both our birthdays and our real wedding anniversary (7/9/16), we opt to celebrate our togetherness on April 1st. This 16th year marks half our lives together and I’d be lying if I didn’t share we had a breakup at the beginning of college, bad fights and selfish seasons. I cannot tell you the amount of unity and peace Christ brings to our relationship after all these years. There has been (and will be) forgiveness, laughs, tears, joy, sadness, good times and hard times. I can’t wait for many more years with my Coco.

Another milestone I’m proud to share: this month I celebrate 10 years of serving behind the scenes at my local church. I absolutely love my job. I am beyond grateful for the role I get to play in God’s Kingdom as I serve my leaders and the church staff. 

My husband and I agreed from the beginning that my posts would never appear that we have it all together but instead we hope we aren’t the only ones. My posts come from my own challenges, convictions and often times my own needed encouragement. I hope they inspire you to love yourself and family more each day and always hunger after our Creator because without Him we wouldn’t have those sweet little babies, loving husbands and all the overwhelmingly joyful chaos that surrounds each of us every day.