When Nick and I started attending our church, we got plugged into a small group. The group was… very small. It started with us and two other couples. Eventually, our group started to grow, and so did our circle of church friends. However, we still felt slightly alone or out of place in our group….
When I was a teenager, I remember sitting in my doctor’s office. I had just completed an ultrasound and tests. The test results along with my abnormal menstrual cycles were clear. The doctor told me I have PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome. He told me bluntly, a young teenager with hopes and dreams for her…
Girls are trained early for motherhood. Raise your hand if you carried around a baby doll or two as a kid! And what is playing with dolls but practice for motherhood! Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a mom. I cared for my baby dolls with pride. My stuffed animals or Barbies…
When I was in college, my sister had a friend who’s mom had cancer. I remember going with my family to the friend’s open house after their high school graduation. Their house had a really pretty garden in the front yard with lots of flowers and was full of life. I remember seeing this woman…
Every summer when I was a kid, my mom would grow a little garden in the backyard. We had a detached garage. The garden was placed along the side of the garage that got the most sun. I mainly remember her growing tomatoes. As I became an adult, got married, and started to build my…
Every summer when I was in college and graduate school, I worked at a small amusement park. I was pretty spoiled. I had a cushy job in the office with the air conditioning! As a perk for working at the park, I got to go to the park for free on my days off using…
Sweets were my family’s kryptonite growing up. Every family gathering, and every holiday, we’d have dessert, and lots of it! At Easter we’d have lots of pies and cookies in addition to jelly beans and robin eggs. At Christmas we’d have lots of candy in our stockings. After opening presents, we’d gorge ourselves on more…
We all do it. At least those of us who are trying and struggling. We research different sex positions. We lay on the bed with our legs in the air after sex. We try different diets. Then we try a couple more. We try different workout routines. We take weird supplements that are supposed to…
I am a board certified music therapist. According to the Music Therapy Association, “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music intervention to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” I use music all day at my job to help others…
In December of 2019, Nick and I decided to start trying for a baby. I was working on completing my 6 month internship in Chicago and would come home when I could to visit my husband. Nick was still in Michigan. We had been married for about a year and a half, and being apart…