Christy Decker's Blog

 

It’s nearly been a year since my Mom died. It’s been a quick year,but a hard year. Grief is not something that you can really prepare for or understand.It doesn’t make sense. It isn’t linear, there is no timeline that fits all. It’sunpredictable.

I’ll be fine one moment. Better than fine, even. Happy. Thenthe next as I’m doing something mundane like putting away groceries in mypantry the grief comes at me quick and the next thing I know, I’m sobbing on mykitchen floor. Then I get up and I’m okay again. It’s weird.

I can say it honestly now- this past year has been the toughestI have experienced emotionally. It forced what I tried to bury up to thesurface and made me look reality in the face. The reality is not pretty and itis not what I want and it will always be something that I wish were different. Butit will never be different. I accept that. I do. I accept that, but it’spainful.

I didn’t start writing this to talk about the pain though. Iwanted to share the consolation.

My sisters and I were in my mother’s ICU room at a Dallashospital when she departed. The nurse called her time of death and I wanted tohold her hand, so I did. I hadn’t held her hand since I was a little girl and Inoticed how much smaller her hand was than mine. I touched her forehead and saidthrough tears “the struggle is over.” It was the first thought that I had whenshe was gone. My sisters and I were all sobbing and then held each other for I’mnot sure how long. We were hurting, but in that hurt, I also felt a sense ofpeace. A peace that doesn’t make sense.

That same nonsensical peace has surrounded me throughout acknowledginghow my mother lived and died. It has surrounded me even as I have been shaking andsobbing with grief. It has surrounded me as I’ve really started to miss her andwish I could talk to her. It has surrounded me as I have faced the truth abouther brokenness and mine.

This peace is the truth and has a name. His name is JesusChrist. I know a lot of people that believe in this but will still getuncomfortable if one gets “too religious” for them. I also know those who aren’tsure they believe, because if He is so good, why doesn’t He just come down hereand fix everything bad?

He loves us too much to take away our freedom to choose Him.If it was forced, it wouldn’t be true love. So He will never force himself onyou but will ALWAYS be available to you. To comfort. To console.

I know the world will tell you that you don’t need Him, butthat’s a lie. I also know that the world will tell you to keep thisrelationship quiet, don’t embarrass yourself with all of this God talk, butthat’s a lie as well. Everyone deserves to know and experience this love, thispeace, this truth. It’s okay for you to be courageous and share it with someonetoo. Everyone deserves this consolation. It is free to all of us.

It is this consolation that helps me through my grief. It isthis consolation that helps me in my marriage. In my parenting. In my work. Everyaspect of my life is made better because of the trust that I place in Jesus. I’veheard a metaphor for Christianity that goes something like “being a Christianis just like having a coat in the winter. It’s cold outside either way, but the people wearing the coat have an extra layer of comfort.” Maybe thatmetaphor is silly, but it makes sense to me as someone who has lived both kindsof lives. Having the coat gives me hope and gives me strength. It makes me okay even when things aren't okay, and most importantly, helps me to remember each day who I really am.

My prayer for you is that you have the same consolation inyour life. The same consolation that provides security, hope and even joy. Youare deserving and worthy of all that is good, and you are so very loved. That is the truth!

Until next time . . .

 

 

At our Parish, before Mass, we introduce ourselves to thosesitting around us and we ask for their prayer intentions. (I know, I know. Thismakes so many of us uncomfortable. But this can be really powerful, too. Wewere made for community and when you really think about this it IS a goodthing.)

Yesterday I turned around and met Janet, an elderly woman witha warm smile who I had not met before. Her prayer request was for those who aresuffering from loneliness during this holiday season.

I told her that I would pray for that intention during Mass,and I did. Then I went about the rest of my day. This morning after school dropoff Janet and her request popped into my mind.  I know that this time of year can beincredibly difficult for those who are lonely.

I said a little silent prayer again for the lonely, and thenyesterday’s gospel reading came into my mind.  In case you missed it, the gospel yesterday:

Matthew 25:31-46.

Jesus said to His disciples:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all theangels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations willbe assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as ashepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on Hisleft. Then the king will say to those on His right,

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdomprepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty andyou gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me,ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, orthirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, ornaked and clothe you?

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the King will say to them in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of theleast brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then He will say to those on his left,

‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fireprepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you have me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

A stranger and you gave me no welcome,

Naked and you gave me no clothing,

Ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or astranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you didnot do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but therighteous to eternal life.”

Okay, so, I’m thinking to myself at this point that there isan obvious correlation here between what I prayed for and this gospel reading. Weare to care for those who need it the most. This motivated me to do more thanjust share these thoughts, so I called my local nursing home and found outabout volunteer opportunities for myself and for my children. They would lovefor us to come and chat with those who cannot leave their rooms, and to paintthe nails of some of the ladies,  and toplay card games and bingo with some of the residents.  It’s no coincidence that after praying forthe lonely, God nudged me to call my local nursing home and find out how we canhelp. God is answering this prayer and using me to do it. Funny how that works,right?? Maybe this will motivate you to look for ways in which you can serve inyour community, too.

I feel like it is pretty clear that we should be helping those who are in need. I also feel that it is super cool that when we do help others we get this warm fuzzy feeling in return. It isn’t about us, but because God created us for community and created us for love, when we are living in that and truly ACTING for others, we in turn get peace. He designs us like that for a reason.  I believe that if anyone reading this right now is lonely, and they turn their attention towards trying to cure someone else’s loneliness, they in return will be cured.

Many are wondering around this world totally lost because they have forgotten who they truly are, and how loved they are, and what they are commanded to do.

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

There are loads of problems in the world and so many lonely moments and countless lonely people. You don’t have to look very far to see those.

But there is also an antidote to loneliness and you don’t have to look too far to find Him either. You do have to go towards Him, however. He won’t force you to turn to Him,  because true love is never forced.

Can you imagine what life would be like if we all lived out these two greatest commandments, for real? Isn’t it beautiful to know that you can do this, today? Starting right now?

Until next time . . . 

 

Have you ever googled “workout motivation”?

Oh, I have. I sometimes wish that motivation was something Icould bottle up and take a big gulp of. I want to WANT to work out, butsometimes I just don’t. Know what I mean?

I want all that comes with exercise. I want to feel good, Iwant the health benefits and I want to like the way I look in my clothes. I want the stressrelief that it promises. The endorphins. I want to BE fit. But, you know, I don’talways want to do what it takes to be fit.

They say motivation doesn’t last, and that’s true. That is whyexercise has to become a habit in your life. You have to be disciplined. Thereis no getting around that. There is no easy button. But, there are some nudgesthat can be found if we look for them.

I am always inspired by the busiest people I know who arealso the most fit. Active moms being one example of this demographic, I wroteabout them a while back during the craziness of 2020 (that blog post can be foundhere http://myonedayisnow.blogspot.com/2020/05/we-do-hard-things-active-moms-share.html)

They shared some awesome inspiration for what keeps themgoing, and I love what each of them had to say. But I feel there may be even more tothis whole physical fitness thing than what we know about it on the surface. Exercisecan be spiritual. If I’m being honest, I think that we were made for more thanhating our bodies for our entire lives. We were made in God’s image - are weliving in this truth?  Goodness, I want tobe. Every day. And I have found some motivation to work on being physically fitin the best book ever.

1 Corinthians 6:13

Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but Godwill do away with both the one and the other. The body, however, is not forimmorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

* The body is for the Lord! And the Lord is for the body. If youhave an able body and CAN go for a walk right now, recognize what a gift thatis. And then go walk. Or run. Or swim. You get the drift.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the HolySpirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? Foryou have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

* Honestly, this one could be it and then mic drop. It’senough to remember that we are commanded to glorify God with our bodies. TAKECARE OF YOURSELF. This is a commandment of love. He wants for you to be helpingyour body and not hurting your body. How are you doing this? Be honest withyourself.

Ephesians 5:29

For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes andcherishes it, even as Christ does the church.

* How are you “nourishing and cherishing” your body?

Romans 12:1

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, tooffer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, yourspiritual worship.

* "Holy and pleasing to God" – I thought about this after mylittle 30 minute You Tube workout today. I am thankful to Him for the abilityto move today. I am choosing to thank Him for the gift of an able body bymoving it.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, doeverything for the glory of God.

* Everything means everything! Including your physicalfitness. Say a prayer asking for the motivation and opportunity to be healthytoday. Then give Him thanks after.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful areyour works!

* He made you so wonderfully. Walk in that truth today andevery day.

Isaiah 40:31

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walkand not grow faint.

* I know that you are tired. I am too. He will give you restwhen you ask for it. He will also give you strength when you ask for it. Hemade you to be strong. Don’t let the world tell you otherwise because the worldis a liar.

Galatians 5:22-23

In contrast, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Againstsuch there is no law.

* Another big lie is that we have no self-control. The truthis even without motivation you are capable to get up and do hard things. Youcan do this because you were gifted self-control. Remember this always!

 

Being active looks different for everyone, but if you haven’tbeen living an active lifestyle I hope this encourages you to do so today. Ihaven’t had a gym membership in over a year but I choose to do quick YouTubeworkouts on my lunch breaks. Feel free to post in the comments what you like todo to remain active. You never know who is looking for a new idea.

Until next time . . . 

 

We just ended a season of little league baseball andsoftball. Well, regular season ended. We just started All Stars for our youngest.

Having multiple kids in sports is B-U-S-Y. We were at theball fields every night of the week and most of the day each Saturday. The youngesthad a few different tournaments, and if you know the softball tournament worldyou understand that you live at the ball fields those weekends. Games on Fridaynight, all day Saturday and all day Sunday.

The baby’s second to last regular season tournament was exhausting.It was a hot weekend, my husband was working nights the first part so I wassolo with all of the kids at the fields the first night, and then the secondday I was literally at the fields for 9 hours. There was no time for laundry,no time to get ready for school for the week, no time for the rest I desperatelywanted. Getting home that night we hardly had the energy for showers before itwas time to go to bed. The next day would be a Sunday and another full day ofgames- however the first wasn’t an early start and we didn’t need to be at thefields till after 11am! I hit my pillow that Saturday night and thought tomyself if we skip church this one weekend, God will understand. We need tosleep in! We are all exhausted. Missing one week won’t hurt.

I seriously wrestled with this thought. But after waking thenext day, I got all of us up for church like every other Sunday. Wepacked clothes to change into for after church (we'd have to change in our van because the time in between Mass andgetting to the fields wouldn’t be enough to get home.) We hurried to get ready.We hurried to pack a cooler and snacks for the field. We hurried out the doorto drive to church.

Kneeling in the pews that morning at our parish, the busy andthe rush and the go go go all slowed down.  I had been so stressed, and so worn out, butall of that worry and that weary disappeared. I realized how badly I needed to beat Mass then. My real rest, my real rejuvenation, comes when I’m grounded in theTruth of who I am, who we are as a family and what our foundation is. I thankedGod that He didn’t let me listen to the lie that told me I didn’t need to bethere. I would have missed out that day on the only real source of peace thereis in this world.

I’ve been listening to the Catechism in a Year podcast andthe other day Fr. Mike talked about how many of us DESIRE Heaven but most of usdon’t CHOOSE Heaven. That resonated with me. How often have I said that I ofcourse want an eternity in Heaven, but I haven’t really been choosing God now? I’vebeen so bold to assume I have the time to choose Him later. To do better later.To love my neighbor more later. To ask for forgiveness later, as if that timeis guaranteed to me. I’ve been “too busy” to choose all of that now. But the truth is that I need to put first things first, no matter what my schedule looks like.

So. I know you’re busy. But if you haven’t prayed today,here is your sign! If you haven’t been to church in a while, maybe there is a bigreason you opened this blog post today. This world will throw all sorts ofdistractions your way, but none of them will fulfill you in the way you werecreated for. True love really does exist.

You are loved so immensely and you deserve to live in thatlove, every single day. But this has to be your choice. You’ll have to give your permissionbecause true love isn’t forced.

Again, I know you’re busy. But this is important. Like, lifeand death importance. For real.

If you’ve read this far, please know I have prayed for you!

Until next time . . .

Epiphany (according to Merrium-Webster)

1.       January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ

2.       An appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being

3.       A (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something

    (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking

    (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

 B: a revealing scene or moment

 

This morning we attended our regular 10 am Mass at our home parish, St. Patrick’s in Hutto where we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany. This is known to many as “three kings day”, or the day the star led the three wise men to baby Jesus. Our pastor is on a well-deserved vacay, so presiding over Mass was visiting priest Fr. Charles McMillin (also known as Father Mac) who is always a delight.

He mentioned in his homily how we were celebrating the feast of the Epiphany today but that we honestly get to experience an Epiphany every single week during the consecration. Look again at that second definition of Epiphany according to Webster. We get to be present, in real time, as our Lord is made available to us in the Eucharist. (!!!) How quick we are to let distractions water down the significance of what is on the altar, am I right?

I couldn’t help but to feel the weight of this grace as Father Mac reminded me of the miracle of the Mass. I was also feeling the grace of my surroundings in that church building.

I was able to experience some other lovely epiphanies during that Mass and after . . .

One was enjoying the charm of the two babies in my view, one two rows ahead, one four. The blond boy four rows up looked to be around 8 months old with little teeth coming in and deep dimples in each of his cheeks. He was grinning at someone behind him and his smile was contagious. I noticed a sweet floral headband framing the tiny face of a baby girl two rows ahead as she rested on her mother’s shoulder. I thought of a time another priest told us that many lack the emotional intelligence to appreciate the little ones around us. I know the world will shout the burden and inconvenience of children – how grateful I am to attend a church in which they are welcomed and cherished. (Father Mac even mentioned how he loved hearing the little ones after he gave the announcements.) This gratitude for our littlest parishoners illuminated the love that God has for all of us.

Another epiphany was what I felt after meeting a man right before Mass who sat behind us named Jeff. Jeff told us he was at Mass for the first time in 50 years. You read that right – 50 years. He asked for me to pray for the soul of his wife, Shirley, who just passed away. I told him I would pray for her and for him and that I was glad he was back at Mass. What a privilege, I thought, to pray for them both. What a gift I’ve been given to carry these petitions to our Lord! (will you take a quick minute to pray for Jeff and Shirley, too?) This moment, too, and this feeling illuminated again the love that God has for all of us.

The epiphanies continue, friends. These moments of “illuminating discoveries, or realizations.”

I’ve started writing this blog post from the bowling alley as my 11-year-old plays a game with her friends to celebrate her birthday, which was this past week. I brought a little notebook to jot these thoughts down. What a gift to celebrate 11 years of my beautiful third child. What a gift she has in her sweet friends! 

When I dropped off her friends, one of the friend’s mother’s gifted me this little sign.

She said she saw it and thought of me because of my work. I work for a non-profit and we help families in crisis. It’s hard, and the past few weeks have been especially trying. But she gifted me this today and I couldn’t help but realize this was an answer to my own prayer of being reminded that what I do each day is good, and worth it.

Maybe it's obvious by now but I'm feeling lots of joy today. JOY is a grace and it is freely available through Christ. Pray for it and you will see. I have faith that just as the star brought the wise men to Jesus, there will be an area of your life that illuminates where He is for you. 

I pray you feel it BIG today as I am. I pray that you have a wonderful feast of the Epiphany!

 

Until next time . . .

 

Morning one

5:15 am Alarm goes off. First things first, COFFEE. Strong coffee. The smell alone motivates me to move. I pour a cup and start scrolling on my phone. My Facebook feed has some things that make me smile. It also has some posts that make me cringe. Why all the negativity, Facebook? It’s too early for politics. A sad news story comes up about a missing child and makes me wonder why there is so much bad in the world. I don’t understand.

6:00 comes quick. My quiet alone time with my coffee is over. Time to get the kids up. We do this every single weekday, yet somehow my children act as if we don’t. I repeatedly go in rooms and start out nicely saying “it’s time to wake up, and get dressed, and eat breakfast”… but nice doesn’t cut it, so I morph in to lunatic mom. “I said, WAKE UP! NOW! OUT OF BED! We CANNOT BE LATE!” It’s too early to yell and now I’m irritated. The mood seeps out of me and into my kids. I’m snapping at everything.

7:00 am we need to be out the door now. I’m yelling again. “WHERE IS YOUR LUNCH BOX? WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE YOUR WATER BOTTLE?” Kids shuffle out the door and into the van. They are fighting over seats. Why? Why does the simple task of leaving our house feel this stressful? We barely make it on time. I wave goodbye to my kids and get started on my drive back home.  Why is every driver on the road so rude and on my tail? Can’t they see I’m going over the speed limit already? Why am I hitting every red light? I have work to do.

8:00 am I’m at my desk and I counted, I have 67 unread work emails. 67. I have a zoom call at 9:00 and 1:00. I won’t have time for a lunch time workout today. There is no way. I need the workout, but whatever. I need to get all of these emails tended to as quickly as possible or the weight of the undone will stress me out too much. I also have laundry that I SHOULD be able to do, I work from home! Why can’t I get this together? Other moms are so much better organized than I am. It’s embarrassing.

11:00 am I’ve managed to respond to most of my emails, I feel a bit caught up! Whew! My zoom call went okay. I could probably squeeze in a workout if I choose to eat lunch at my desk. But…. Nah. I’ve been stressed out. I want to just veg out with a quick show while I eat. What reality show can I catch up on from Hulu while I stuff my face?

12:00 and it’s time to get back to work. I over ate and I’m stuffed. I start to regret not working out. I didn’t even enjoy the trash reality show I just wasted an hour of my life on. What is wrong with me?

 

Morning two

5:15 am alarm goes off. Ahhh – coffee awaits. I sit with the warm cup of liquid comfort and open the Laudate app on my phone. I read today’s scripture. I check out the reflections. It's as if they are catered just to me. Wow. I pray.

6:00 am comes quickly. Time to wake the kids. I notice as I walk into the big girls’ room that they listened to me after all and cleaned up their room last night. It looks nice. I look at their sleeping faces before saying anything – they look so peaceful! I hate to have to wake them. “Time to wake up, girls. I know waking up isn’t easy but you’ve got this. Come on.”

Some nudging ensues but before I know it all six kids are up and I haven’t yelled once. Not once! They are all going through the motions – getting dressed, getting their bellies full, brushing their teeth. It’s pleasant around here this morning.

7:00 am we are out the door. There is some traffic, a little more than normal today. But the kids like the song that is playing on the radio and I hear the youngest two singing along – I’m hearing their little voices and focusing on them rather than the backed up road. Moving slowly now on our way but the sunrise is so beautiful today. Is it always this beautiful? “Kids, you have to look at the sky right now. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Yeah – it looks like cotton candy!”  my 12-year-old daughter says. “It does look like cotton candy,” I say back. It reminds me of the last time we had cotton candy, at a minor league baseball game on a hot Summer day now three months back, but goodness the time has flown by. I’m grateful for that memory, and for the way the sky looks now. I say a prayer of gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for. I get the kids off to school, making sure to tell each one of them that I love them and hope that they have a great day.

8:15 am and I’m a little late getting to my desk because of the bad traffic. Normally the traffic would have driven me insane, but today I’m not letting it bother me. I can still get my work done. I have a lot of emails, but today they aren’t weighing me down.  I am feeling energized by each of them. I am grateful for this work and understand the responsibility given to me is a privilege. I smile as I see some of the emails from the co-workers that I genuinely love. What a gift this work is. What a gift my co-workers are. What a gift it is to serve our clients and to love on them. 

11:00 am comes around. This is my normal lunch break time. I’m choosing a work out this time, and then will eat at my desk. I no longer have a gym membership – it was a budgeting decision to cancel the gym back in the summer. I thought that would be a bigger heartbreak for me than it was . . . I LOVED my gym. But now, my commute to my gym is a walk outside to my garage. It’s terribly convenient and I’ve grown to love it. I turn on my music and get to it – it’s not easy, but it feels good. The endorphins hit and I am reminded of why working out is a priority. I’m giddy – joyful – and feel so accomplished when I am done.

12:00 I finished a forty minute workout, had time for a Navy shower, heated up some yummy leftovers and am now eating lunch at my desk. I feel like I have energy to get through the rest of my day. I’m so thankful that I chose to work out. I say a prayer of gratitude.

The difference

The circumstances of these two mornings are not different. I have the same schedule and the same responsibilities. Every day I have six children to mother and a full time job to do.

The difference with these two mornings is the change in my perspective. This change is all attributed to one thing and it is that I started out my morning with TRUTH.

                                 

Choosing to begin my day with scripture and prayer rather than scrolling social media makes a monumental difference. My whole day is made better when I start it out this way. Not because I am guaranteed less traffic, less parenting hardships or less emails and work – but because my focus is set on Him and I can see everything in a clearer light.

We were created by Him and for Him. When we walk in this truth, every little thing starts to make more sense than before. The world is big, and loud, and has a lot of influences that will pull you away from this truth. The world would rather you constantly frustrated, stressed out, angry, lazy, and negative. But that is not what we were created to be. We were meant for so much more. Certainly we all WANT to feel fulfilled every day, right? There is a very simple solution to reach this fulfillment.

I want to encourage this small change of beginning your day by going to God first. For me, this looks like waking up before my kids have to be up and reading the daily readings and reflections on the Laudate app on my phone. It also includes prayer. For you, maybe you’d like to begin with worship music, or by pulling out your bible and just flipping to a random page. Maybe you just want to start out by talking to God. Venting to Him, even.  I don’t know. But I do know you’ll figure out your way should you really seek a new way of gaining better perspective.

I regret to inform you this is not a one-time task. It has to be done daily. The reason for that goes back to what the world wants to make of you. And the fact that you’re living, walking and breathing in this world every day.

                                                     

Going to God is one of those things that YOU have to initiate. No one else can do it for you, and even God Himself isn’t going to force you. He loves you too much to take away your free will. But He is always, always, ALWAYS there when you seek Him. The truth is that He is with you even now, as you read this. 

I dare you to try and seek Him more. And do it every day. I promise your daily perspective will change too. 

Until next time . . . 

 

 

I’ve blogged about my decision to go alcohol free before ( I don’t drink anymore. But nothing has changed! (Except everything.) (myonedayisnow.blogspot.com) ) and I’m happy to update with the fact that I’m still on that dry road, one year and four months strong. I’m grateful to be able to say that in a world that is drowning in alcohol culture. I don’t need to re-visit the science behind what alcohol does to our bodies and minds, even in “moderate” amounts, because that information is available to us. I’m just thankful that I acknowledge those truths now and choose healthy.

All that said, I am a human being living in the time of a pandemic. I’m a parent who has gone in to ‘mama bear’ mode of trying to keep things as normal and as joyful as possible for my six children despite the multitude of changes this year brought to them. I’m a police wife who has had many sleepless nights this year due to my husband’s job. Sometimes the weight of this world feels heavy. I know that you know what I mean, no matter what your particular circumstances may be.

One night recently I was feeling this weight more than most days. I was feeling tired, and tired of being tired, and stressed out. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. And for the first time in a long time, I became tempted to drink again.  My husband was working, my kids were watching a movie and I eyed the same bottle of whiskey that has been on the top of my fridge since I quit drinking (yes, really. So it’s been up there with about a quarter amount left since July of 2019.) It belongs to my husband and I’ve always told him that it doesn’t matter to me that it is there, that I’m not tempted anymore. I can be around others who drink, too. It doesn’t tempt me. Honestly. Until this particular night.

He was at work. I was counting down the minutes until bedtime for the kids. There was a part of my brain saying “You’ve had 16 months alcohol free, you know how much better you feel, you don’t actually want to drink now.” Another part of my brain said “You’re stressed out. And weak. Just give in.”

If you’re rolling your eyes as you read this and think that it isn’t a huge deal to drink a little every once in a while (or a lot every once in a while, who are we kidding) – I get your mentality. I do.  I used to be on that side of the fence. For a long time I was on that side of the fence. So maybe you are thinking that I could have just had some of my husband’s whiskey that has been sitting there forever and not turned it in to something blog worthy.

Except to me, I do feel strongly that I need to stay away from alcohol. I like the way that this side feels.  A lot.

Despite that part of my brain telling me that I was weak, I didn’t end up having any whiskey.  My kids were still up as I felt that temptation and I didn’t want for them to see me drink.  I had reserved the idea that I’d have a little after they went to bed, but I took a melatonin and said a prayer, and I went to bed shortly after they did. I can’t fully explain to you now how grateful I felt the following morning that I did not drink.

It really made me realize after I woke up just how big a part my kids are in my decision to stay alcohol-free. How they are my saving grace.

I didn’t want to drink around them. I don’t want for them to grow up and treat their bodies like garbage, so I don’t want for them to see me treat my body like garbage. I also do not want to be a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ parent. I want to be exactly who I say I am. I want to be someone they can emulate. I want for them to remember that Mom chose a healthy lifestyle, and stuck with it.

I’ve mentioned to both my husband and some friends recently that I really sometimes feel that if it weren’t for him and the kids I do think I’d care less about my health. I'd be smoking Marlboro's and drinking beer pretty regularly. As I type this now I realize that may sound bad- I don’t want to discredit what a gift I believe life to be. I know God wants more from me than to treat my body badly. I just also know that more than for myself, I want to be healthy for my family.

My kids probably don’t realize it yet just how much they do for me. I gave birth to them and gave them their lives but really, they save mine. I say save and not saved because clearly, they still save me from my old unhealthy habits.

I’m always telling them when they are feeling discouraged that God created us to be strong, not weak. I believe that with every fiber of my being, so I need to live that daily. We are all stronger than we often realize, not on our own accord but because of Him. How could I let myself get distracted from that truth?

I haven’t blogged in so long, but I was happy to hop on here and share this realization that my love for my children not only means that I want what is best for them but that my love for them makes me better, too. They make me better and they make me want to be my best.

I choose healthy for them and I’ll continue to choose healthy for them.  They deserve it. I know deep down that I do too.

My family. 

Until next time . . .

���I wish I worked out less.��� ���I wish I wasn���t so fit.��� ���I wish I didn���t like exercise as much as I do.���
Have you ever heard these statements from anyone? No? Neither have I.
Those who live active lifestyles typically want to remain active, or get even more active, never less. It isn���t any wonder why. Science tells us that exercise is highly beneficial not only for our physical health, but for our mental health as well. 
Most of us are fully aware of the multitude of benefits we can receive from having an active lifestyle. So what is the difference between those who work out regularly, and those who don���t? Mindset, of course. You have to want the active lifestyle more than you want whatever is keeping you from it.
Active mothers are an especially interesting group. Moms tend to be so busy taking care of everyone and everything else around them that it is hard to understand how they could add fitness routines to their lives. But talk to any active mom and they will tell you ��� working out regularly helps their motherhood. 
I actually talked to five different mothers and found out their ���whys��� and their ���hows��� for their fitness lives. As an active mom myself, my goal here was to motivate readers to get moving. We are living in a stressful time. My sincere hope is that this blog post motivates you to implement some healthy self-care in to your life.
Meet my active mom friends, and find out what drives them to be fit!
Syreeta, homemaker and mother of three, Round Rock, TX ���When I started, [working out regularly] it was helping with my mental and emotional health, as I needed an outlet for personal time while caring for my family. Eventually, I fell in love with pushing my body and the physical aesthetic that came along with it.��� Follow Syreeta on Instagram! @madame_re_re���I���m often asked how I found the strength or energy to make changes to my lifestyle after the babies. And, honestly, it took getting up and pursuing fitness to give me the strength and energy to keep going. I suffered from depression after my third child. I needed something just for me that helped me feel more like myself and improve my appearance that I was less than enamored with at the time. So for two hours at the gym, I could tune out the world, turn up my music (not kidz bop or Sesame Street), and burn off some really good energy. It was the best ever!���
Syreeta brought up that a part of her motivation was improving her appearance that she was ���less than enamored with��� before. There is a big vanity argument to working out. It would be dishonest to leave it out of a fitness post. Looks are not everything, of course. But they are a driving force in the desire to be fit. I don���t know anyone who wants to look in the mirror and be unhappy with their reflection. When I first met Syreeta, it was at the gym. She wears crop tops and I told her that maybe one day I would have abs like hers, if I continue working out like I do! I told her how motivating it was to see her because she has serious definition in her core and you can tell just how hard she works by looking at her. Syreeta was gracious enough to share with me that she didn���t always feel the way that she feels now. Check out Syreeta���s transformation: If this isn't motivating, I don't know what is. Syreeta is a force!
Selina,  home-school teacher and mother of three, Leander, Texas ���I know I am more emotionally stable and have increased peace when I exercise regularly. My mood is always more predictable when I prioritize time to move my body and elevate my heart rate.��� ���When I came to the doctor after the birth of our second child, he could tell by my symptoms and mental state that I had postpartum depression. He wrote on a Rx pad that I needed a gym membership to guarantee regular exercise.  He knew that daily walks with a stroller were not going to be adequate enough to give my body and mind the healing and care they required. After two weeks of daily workouts, I felt like a new person. It was life changing. I never stopped training after that time in my life. Daily exercise is a priority in my calendar.���

Jill, part-time environmental engineering consultant and mother of three, Hutto, Texas ���Exercising is really for my mental health. I notice when I don���t exercise, I tend to lack motivation to do the things I need to and I just don���t feel as up beat. The days I manage to exercise (earlier the better) tend to go much better!��� ���I just get up and workout before I can start making excuses. If I put it off until later in the day, it gets that much harder to get it done. I know that I will always feel better after I get the workout done. I���ve never regretted a work out!���

Audrey, partner trainer at Camp Gladiator, CPT and mother of four, Hutto, Texas ���My family and my friends are my why. Staying fit helps me with stress and my mental health. I feel happy when I���m in shape and I want to live a long healthy life for my kids and my spouse.���
Follow Audrey on Instagram! @audreyclairefitmom���Once I get in a few workouts I feel energized by them, I crave them and I look forward to them as both a break and a stress release. I also am motivated to be fit and healthy which keeps me eating healthy and getting in workouts. I like to be happy with what I see in my pictures. My life can get very stressful and overwhelming ��� exercise makes me happy and that is motivating!���

Rebecca, Ohio Dominican University student (pursuing master���s) and mother of two, Columbus, Ohio ���I feel that if I didn���t stay active during this time that I would probably go crazy. I am a very extroverted person and I love being around people. I am currently in PA school and we were pulled from our clinical rotations when the stay at home order was put out. I went from hardly ever being at home, to being home ALL the time. Not to mention our university decided to give us a bunch of busy work for the time being, plus I found myself trying to teach a freshman and a fifth grader to do their work. It was an interesting first few weeks and many frustrating tears were shed from all in this house. But, I did find that the mornings I would get up and workout it really put me in a better mood and I felt like I had more patience throughout the day.��� ���I have found a new love for running on my own. There is something to be said about getting outside and feeling the fresh air in your face and free time to clear your mind.���




It turns out, fitness is not only a crucial form of self-care for us moms (which in itself trickles down to be a benefit to our children) but it is also a wonderful example for our kids. Naturally, we want for our children to lead healthy, fulfilling lives not only while they are in our care but beyond the nest as well. How are we teaching them that?


���When I see [my kids] making good food choices, and trying to join in while I���m exercising, I know I���m going something right. And for that, for them, and for myself, I���ll continue to make better choices.���  -Syreeta
���I love being a good example to my kids. They enjoy working out with me and they see the importance of fitness ��� a value I want them to hold throughout their lives.��� ��� Audrey
���I love that my kids see me working hard with my fitness goals and achieving them. After my knee injuries I had gained quite a bit of weight. I set a goal after I was healthy to lose the weight I had gained. It wasn���t easy . . . it was much easier to put on than to get off. But, with a lot of discipline and hard work I was able to lose 35 pounds! My kids watched as I went through that journey and they were able to celebrate with me when I hit my goal. Seeing them excited that I was able to reach my goal only motivated me to set more! I love that I can show them what hard work can do!��� -Rebecca


So, how do these moms do it? What are their routines? Covid-19 has closed gyms and changed all of our lives. Here are these fit moms answers to their ���hows��� before and after this change.
Syreeta Before covid-19:  ���I went to the gym three days a week for at least an hour.��� After covid-19: ���Now . . . I try to do 20-30 minutes of HIIT, [high intensity interval training] three days a week and add random light weightlifting with dumbbells as often as I can. I would much rather go to the gym. I love lifting heavy weights! But I just try to do what I can while we shelter in place. It doesn���t always feel as productive, but it���s better than nothing.���
Selina Before covid-19: ���I was signed up for a training program that included HIIT training, cycle classes, and weight lifting.��� After covid-19: ���Daily walks, resistance band training, online TKD classes, bike riding.���
Jill Before covid-19: ���I went to the gym and participated in group fitness cardio and weight lifting classes. I became part of a core group of girls that went to the gym together. We took classes together pretty much 5-6 days a week; mostly in the mornings after the kids and husband went to school and work.��� After covid-19: ���Now that the gyms have been closed, I���ve been taking cardio and weight lifting classes online through a streaming service. I meet with my gym girls about once a week for a social-distance legit run or cardio routine. I���ve realized how much working out at a gym or with friends motivated me now that I have to do this on my own. Now I get up really early to get my workout in before 8 when [my husband] ���goes to work��� in our home office and its time to help the kids with school.���
Audrey Before covid-19: ���I would go to Camp Gladiator workouts ��� usually in the morning at 8:30 after dropping my older kids off at school. I would have my two youngest with me. Baby in the stroller and the older one would exercise next to me or play next to me on the adjacent playground. I would also go to the gym occasionally and utilize the childcare or go for a jog with baby in a jogging stroller.��� After covid-19: ���Now I���m actually working out a lot more! I don���t have to pack up the kids to go anywhere ��� I just go out to my garage and do a virtual Camp Gladiator workout in the morning before kids are awake or during the day at naptime. I have gone on a few walks and jogs and also stay active during the day with the kids playing, cleaning, and having fun in the backyard.���
RebeccaBefore covid-19: "Funny story - I had knee injuries that required surgery that kept me from being too active for almost all of 2019. So, at the beginning of 2020 I was feeling healthy and strong and was finally able to get back to working out. I was involved in a mom's running group where we would meet a few days a week in the morning for a 3-5 mile run and then get coffee afterwards. It was great, you get a good  workout in, plus a therapy session with your friends. Finding a group [like that] has made a huge impact on my life. It's a group of women supporting other women. I have met so many wonderful ladies in this group, who have changed my life in so many ways. I am grateful and I hope that others have groups like this in their area and are able to find as much motivation and joy from it as I have. I also had a CrossFit membership where I would go to 5am workouts 3-4 times weekly. I loved the camaraderie that the gym provided, and I also loved the weight lifting aspect of CrossFit." After covid-19: " At first when the stay at home order was put out and the gyms closed, I felt a little defeated. I was just getting back into working out and I was worried that this was going to be a set back. I knew I could still run in my neighborhood, but I was worried about running alone. I had been running with friends for a long time and I was worried I wouldn't have the motivation to run alone. But, after the first few days of quarantine I decided I'd keep a schedule and make sure I made time for me to workout. I get up at 5:30am and I either run or makeup a workout that I can do in my basement with the gym equipment I have at home. Thankfully I was an exercise science major and I had to create several group workout classes during my time in undergrad. I had accumulated quite a bit of workout equipment, like TRX, bands and dumbbells. I've even being doing box jumps, but instead of having a box I jump up on the stairs."
Has this virus given you MORE free time? This may be just what you needed to get started in your own fitness journey. 

Misery enjoys company, y���all. But so does happiness. Active people want others to be active too. This is why you might see people sharing their walks, virtual workouts or their run routes on your social media feeds. They want for you to join them. They want for you to share how you are being active, too. It is a way of connectedness in this new normal of closed gyms and staying home all of the time. It is solidarity.
If you���ve been looking for a sign that YOU need to start getting up and moving more, HERE IS YOUR SIGN. Start today. No, seriously. Start today.
Your heart and your mental state will thank you immensely. 
Tell me, how will you jump-start your active lifestyle? With a walk/jog? With a YouTube workout? Feel free to comment below and allow us all to cheer you on. You are about to make yourself so proud!


Until next time . . .
True story - I'm off to work out after hitting POST. Tell me in the comments how you will move your body today. Huge thanks to Syreeta, Selina, Jill, Audrey and Rebecca for sharing with all of us. And thanks to YOU for reading my post today! <3

“I wish I worked out less.” “I wish I wasn’t so fit.” “I wish I didn’t like exercise as much as I do.”
Have you ever heard these statements from anyone? No? Neither have I.
Those who live active lifestyles typically want to remain active, or get even more active, never less. It isn’t any wonder why. Science tells us that exercise is highly beneficial not only for our physical health, but for our mental health as well. 
Most of us are fully aware of the multitude of benefits we can receive from having an active lifestyle. So what is the difference between those who work out regularly, and those who don’t? Mindset, of course. You have to want the active lifestyle more than you want whatever is keeping you from it.
Active mothers are an especially interesting group. Moms tend to be so busy taking care of everyone and everything else around them that it is hard to understand how they could add fitness routines to their lives. But talk to any active mom and they will tell you – working out regularly helps their motherhood. 
I actually talked to five different mothers and found out their ‘whys’ and their ‘hows’ for their fitness lives. As an active mom myself, my goal here was to motivate readers to get moving. We are living in a stressful time. My sincere hope is that this blog post motivates you to implement some healthy self-care in to your life.
Meet my active mom friends, and find out what drives them to be fit!
Syreeta, homemaker and mother of three, Round Rock, TX “When I started, [working out regularly] it was helping with my mental and emotional health, as I needed an outlet for personal time while caring for my family. Eventually, I fell in love with pushing my body and the physical aesthetic that came along with it.” Follow Syreeta on Instagram! @madame_re_re“I’m often asked how I found the strength or energy to make changes to my lifestyle after the babies. And, honestly, it took getting up and pursuing fitness to give me the strength and energy to keep going. I suffered from depression after my third child. I needed something just for me that helped me feel more like myself and improve my appearance that I was less than enamored with at the time. So for two hours at the gym, I could tune out the world, turn up my music (not kidz bop or Sesame Street), and burn off some really good energy. It was the best ever!”
Syreeta brought up that a part of her motivation was improving her appearance that she was “less than enamored with” before. There is a big vanity argument to working out. It would be dishonest to leave it out of a fitness post. Looks are not everything, of course. But they are a driving force in the desire to be fit. I don’t know anyone who wants to look in the mirror and be unhappy with their reflection. When I first met Syreeta, it was at the gym. She wears crop tops and I told her that maybe one day I would have abs like hers, if I continue working out like I do! I told her how motivating it was to see her because she has serious definition in her core and you can tell just how hard she works by looking at her. Syreeta was gracious enough to share with me that she didn’t always feel the way that she feels now. Check out Syreeta’s transformation: If this isn't motivating, I don't know what is. Syreeta is a force!
Selina,  home-school teacher and mother of three, Leander, Texas “I know I am more emotionally stable and have increased peace when I exercise regularly. My mood is always more predictable when I prioritize time to move my body and elevate my heart rate.” “When I came to the doctor after the birth of our second child, he could tell by my symptoms and mental state that I had postpartum depression. He wrote on a Rx pad that I needed a gym membership to guarantee regular exercise.  He knew that daily walks with a stroller were not going to be adequate enough to give my body and mind the healing and care they required. After two weeks of daily workouts, I felt like a new person. It was life changing. I never stopped training after that time in my life. Daily exercise is a priority in my calendar.”

Jill, part-time environmental engineering consultant and mother of three, Hutto, Texas “Exercising is really for my mental health. I notice when I don’t exercise, I tend to lack motivation to do the things I need to and I just don’t feel as up beat. The days I manage to exercise (earlier the better) tend to go much better!” “I just get up and workout before I can start making excuses. If I put it off until later in the day, it gets that much harder to get it done. I know that I will always feel better after I get the workout done. I’ve never regretted a work out!”

Audrey, partner trainer at Camp Gladiator, CPT and mother of four, Hutto, Texas “My family and my friends are my why. Staying fit helps me with stress and my mental health. I feel happy when I’m in shape and I want to live a long healthy life for my kids and my spouse.”
Follow Audrey on Instagram! @audreyclairefitmom“Once I get in a few workouts I feel energized by them, I crave them and I look forward to them as both a break and a stress release. I also am motivated to be fit and healthy which keeps me eating healthy and getting in workouts. I like to be happy with what I see in my pictures. My life can get very stressful and overwhelming – exercise makes me happy and that is motivating!”

Rebecca, Ohio Dominican University student (pursuing master’s) and mother of two, Columbus, Ohio “I feel that if I didn’t stay active during this time that I would probably go crazy. I am a very extroverted person and I love being around people. I am currently in PA school and we were pulled from our clinical rotations when the stay at home order was put out. I went from hardly ever being at home, to being home ALL the time. Not to mention our university decided to give us a bunch of busy work for the time being, plus I found myself trying to teach a freshman and a fifth grader to do their work. It was an interesting first few weeks and many frustrating tears were shed from all in this house. But, I did find that the mornings I would get up and workout it really put me in a better mood and I felt like I had more patience throughout the day.” “I have found a new love for running on my own. There is something to be said about getting outside and feeling the fresh air in your face and free time to clear your mind.”




It turns out, fitness is not only a crucial form of self-care for us moms (which in itself trickles down to be a benefit to our children) but it is also a wonderful example for our kids. Naturally, we want for our children to lead healthy, fulfilling lives not only while they are in our care but beyond the nest as well. How are we teaching them that?


“When I see [my kids] making good food choices, and trying to join in while I’m exercising, I know I’m going something right. And for that, for them, and for myself, I’ll continue to make better choices.”  -Syreeta
“I love being a good example to my kids. They enjoy working out with me and they see the importance of fitness – a value I want them to hold throughout their lives.” – Audrey
“I love that my kids see me working hard with my fitness goals and achieving them. After my knee injuries I had gained quite a bit of weight. I set a goal after I was healthy to lose the weight I had gained. It wasn’t easy . . . it was much easier to put on than to get off. But, with a lot of discipline and hard work I was able to lose 35 pounds! My kids watched as I went through that journey and they were able to celebrate with me when I hit my goal. Seeing them excited that I was able to reach my goal only motivated me to set more! I love that I can show them what hard work can do!” -Rebecca


So, how do these moms do it? What are their routines? Covid-19 has closed gyms and changed all of our lives. Here are these fit moms answers to their ‘hows’ before and after this change.
Syreeta Before covid-19:  “I went to the gym three days a week for at least an hour.” After covid-19: “Now . . . I try to do 20-30 minutes of HIIT, [high intensity interval training] three days a week and add random light weightlifting with dumbbells as often as I can. I would much rather go to the gym. I love lifting heavy weights! But I just try to do what I can while we shelter in place. It doesn’t always feel as productive, but it’s better than nothing.”
Selina Before covid-19: “I was signed up for a training program that included HIIT training, cycle classes, and weight lifting.” After covid-19: “Daily walks, resistance band training, online TKD classes, bike riding.”
Jill Before covid-19: “I went to the gym and participated in group fitness cardio and weight lifting classes. I became part of a core group of girls that went to the gym together. We took classes together pretty much 5-6 days a week; mostly in the mornings after the kids and husband went to school and work.” After covid-19: “Now that the gyms have been closed, I’ve been taking cardio and weight lifting classes online through a streaming service. I meet with my gym girls about once a week for a social-distance legit run or cardio routine. I’ve realized how much working out at a gym or with friends motivated me now that I have to do this on my own. Now I get up really early to get my workout in before 8 when [my husband] ‘goes to work’ in our home office and its time to help the kids with school.”
Audrey Before covid-19: “I would go to Camp Gladiator workouts – usually in the morning at 8:30 after dropping my older kids off at school. I would have my two youngest with me. Baby in the stroller and the older one would exercise next to me or play next to me on the adjacent playground. I would also go to the gym occasionally and utilize the childcare or go for a jog with baby in a jogging stroller.” After covid-19: “Now I’m actually working out a lot more! I don’t have to pack up the kids to go anywhere – I just go out to my garage and do a virtual Camp Gladiator workout in the morning before kids are awake or during the day at naptime. I have gone on a few walks and jogs and also stay active during the day with the kids playing, cleaning, and having fun in the backyard.”
RebeccaBefore covid-19: "Funny story - I had knee injuries that required surgery that kept me from being too active for almost all of 2019. So, at the beginning of 2020 I was feeling healthy and strong and was finally able to get back to working out. I was involved in a mom's running group where we would meet a few days a week in the morning for a 3-5 mile run and then get coffee afterwards. It was great, you get a good  workout in, plus a therapy session with your friends. Finding a group [like that] has made a huge impact on my life. It's a group of women supporting other women. I have met so many wonderful ladies in this group, who have changed my life in so many ways. I am grateful and I hope that others have groups like this in their area and are able to find as much motivation and joy from it as I have. I also had a CrossFit membership where I would go to 5am workouts 3-4 times weekly. I loved the camaraderie that the gym provided, and I also loved the weight lifting aspect of CrossFit." After covid-19: " At first when the stay at home order was put out and the gyms closed, I felt a little defeated. I was just getting back into working out and I was worried that this was going to be a set back. I knew I could still run in my neighborhood, but I was worried about running alone. I had been running with friends for a long time and I was worried I wouldn't have the motivation to run alone. But, after the first few days of quarantine I decided I'd keep a schedule and make sure I made time for me to workout. I get up at 5:30am and I either run or makeup a workout that I can do in my basement with the gym equipment I have at home. Thankfully I was an exercise science major and I had to create several group workout classes during my time in undergrad. I had accumulated quite a bit of workout equipment, like TRX, bands and dumbbells. I've even being doing box jumps, but instead of having a box I jump up on the stairs."
Has this virus given you MORE free time? This may be just what you needed to get started in your own fitness journey. 

Misery enjoys company, y’all. But so does happiness. Active people want others to be active too. This is why you might see people sharing their walks, virtual workouts or their run routes on your social media feeds. They want for you to join them. They want for you to share how you are being active, too. It is a way of connectedness in this new normal of closed gyms and staying home all of the time. It is solidarity.
If you’ve been looking for a sign that YOU need to start getting up and moving more, HERE IS YOUR SIGN. Start today. No, seriously. Start today.
Your heart and your mental state will thank you immensely. 
Tell me, how will you jump-start your active lifestyle? With a walk/jog? With a YouTube workout? Feel free to comment below and allow us all to cheer you on. You are about to make yourself so proud!


Until next time . . .
True story - I'm off to work out after hitting POST. Tell me in the comments how you will move your body today. Huge thanks to Syreeta, Selina, Jill, Audrey and Rebecca for sharing with all of us. And thanks to YOU for reading my post today! <3

Isn’t it interesting how quickly times can change?


At the start of this month I was prepping for our busiest season of the year. All six of my kids were signed up for Spring season sports. Baseball, softball and soccer. We would have a practice nearly every evening. We would be double or triple booked some nights. We also had one night a week of religious ed and were looking forward to our 8-year-old’s first communion.


Every time a friend would ask how I was doing, I’d reply with “Busy. But it is a good busy.”

I knew it was a ‘good busy’ because my kids enjoy sports and I enjoy watching them play. I knew it was a good busy because time is crazy fast and I’m aware that one day I won’t have littles to take to practices and games and school science fair nights and friends’ birthday parties and . . . well, you get it. It is a busy that I wanted. A busy that I appreciated.


Now the calendar has been wiped clean of all of that and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me sad. And anxious. And a little afraid of just how long this all will last.


But I have an internal mama bear instinct and I’m thriving on that currently. It is my job to give my kids a sense of normalcy and a feeling of security amid all of this chaos. I’m in brainstorm and planning mode now of a new routine at home.


This past week was our school district’s Spring Break – so we slept in every day, went to the park some, and mostly have been really lazy.  But next week? The week we were supposed to return to school and sports and church? Since we can’t, now, I’m planning to homeschool.


I am not going to be overly ambitious and try to implement some rigorous 8-hour schedule of school work. But I also can’t let my kids become zombies with their faces stuck in devices all day – we need some sort of routine. So I’m prepping for that. We are fortunate that we are going through this while we have so many resources available to us – technology is amazing and the internet has a plethora of information for homeschooling parents. I’m grateful for that.


I already miss my gym, but I’m doing home workouts thanks to Youtube. If I am going to have my kids with me 100% of the time now I’m going to especially need the self-care that working out provides, so I am taking that seriously. I am still staying alcohol-free. I remember in the past when I was drinking how it made my anxiety worse, so the last thing I need is to fall back on something unhealthy.


I’m really sad about missing out on Mass. But I can read aloud the daily readings with my kids each day. We can watch Mass being streamed online. We can pray together just as we always have.

This is difficult for all of us but in my home I am choosing optimism and choosing to trust in God’s plan for all of us. I pray you keep your spirits up as well.




Until next time . . .