Pearls are formed under pressure

Update: we have about 2 dozen snails!! lol!! 

A while back, my mystery snail laid eggs. I did my research—read everything I could about incubating and raising baby snails—and did my best to give them a fighting chance. Several hatched, but we ran into some water issues, and most didn’t make it.

While I was away on our cruise, I got the sad news that the momma snail had passed.

But today, I came home and found a tiny survivor—one baby snail, no bigger than my pinky nail, still holding on.

I’ve named her Pearl Hope. Because she’s small, beautiful, and a reminder that even when things feel lost, life has a way of showing up with quiet resilience.

Welcome to the world, little one.

#PearlHope #MysterySnail #TinyButMighty #HopeFloats #SnailMom

First Cruise Vibes: A Little Watery (and Not Just the Ocean Kind!)

Well… our cruise started with a few unexpected tears—mine.

I (embarrassingly) got a little overwhelmed once we boarded. It’s hard to explain… almost like a wave of claustrophobia hit me. The realization that we weren’t on land anymore—and that getting to someone or somewhere quickly wasn’t an option—felt a little isolating. I wasn’t expecting that feeling to creep in, but there it was.

That said—the check-in process was incredibly smooth (they really have it down to a science), and every staff member has been welcoming and kind!

We found the pool and the buffet first thing, of course. The pizza was amazing, we split a burger, and I had a little chocolate ice cream cone because: vacation.

We relaxed in the shade while waiting for our room, and now we’re all unpacked. It’s cozy—like a scaled-down hotel room with plenty of closet space, a bed, a couch, and best of all, a balcony. I’m so glad we chose that option—it already feels like a breath of fresh air.

There’s only one plug in the whole room (hmmm…) but hey—there’s a mini fridge, so we’re calling it a win!

Can’t wait to explore the evening entertainment and make some memories. One deep breath at a time.

My Daughter Has No Arms (and Other Survival Tips for Parenting Through RAD)

Someone recently asked the question: what is your best tip was for staying calm during intense moments with your adoptive kiddos—especially when Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) showed up like a freight train with no brakes.

My first thought?

Shouting “WTF?!” while hyperventilating.

Just kidding. (Mostly.)

The truth is, those moments are hard. Like, cry-in-the-shower, hide-in-the-pantry, question-everything hard. So what did we do?

We prayed. A lot.

We took deep breaths (when we remembered).

And Beaver and I had a hand signal—one that meant, “My daughter has no arms.”

Now, we didn’t actually have a daughter with no arms. But we did have kids with invisible wounds—trauma you couldn’t see. The hand signal was our quiet reminder to each other that just because something didn’t look broken didn’t mean it wasn’t. We’d say “daughter” to throw people off in case we ever slipped and said it aloud in public (because… survival tactics).

That little phrase helped us recalibrate. It helped us pause. It helped us choose grace instead of reaction—even when our insides were screaming and the situation felt out of control.

Parenting through trauma requires creativity, faith, and humor in equal amounts. Sometimes you need clinical tools. Sometimes you need a prayer. And sometimes you just need a secret code that reminds you that the battles your child is fighting aren’t always visible—but they’re real, and they deserve your gentleness.

And maybe, just maybe, a whispered “WTF” into your coffee mug.

Mirror Mirror on the Car! A cardinals (self) love story!

 For the past couple of days, we’ve had a little visitor. A pretty female cardinal who is convinced that Austin’s car mirror holds the greatest drama of her life. She lands, chirps, stares, and (I assume) gives herself a solid pep talk before flitting up on top of the mirror, only to hop back down and do it all over again. It’s so cute! 

At first, I figured she was just admiring her reflection. Can’t blame her, she is really pretty! But then I got online to figure out what’s going on. I read that male cardinals often do this during mating season, mistaking their reflection for a rival. Which makes sense, except… Beaver had the logical question:

“So why is the female doing it?”

Welp my take is that, “She must have a hot husband like me and wants to keep him all to herself!”

But the more I watched her, the more I think she’s just admiring herself, making sure she’s still got ‘the look!’ Or maybe, just maybe, she’s hyping herself up, because being a bird with responsibilities is not as easy as it’s cracked up to be! 

Either way, it got me thinking about how often we do the same thing—mistaking our own reflections (our insecurities, fears, or comparisons) for real threats.

How often do we stress over things that aren’t even there?

How often do we fight imaginary competition? How often do we doubt our own worth instead of realizing how beautiful He has already made us?

Maybe we should all take a note from this little girl, sing our song, 🎶 give ourselves a pep talk, and remember whose we are and that He’s cares for every feather…. erm..hair on our heads and has given us all we need to THRIVE! 

So here’s my takeaway: Don’t let mistaken reflections steal my peace. Own who and whose you are, appreciate what you have, and if needed, give yourself a good chirping-at in the mirror.

Here’s little video I caught of her….tell me—what do YOU think this little featherweight is up to?

Lord, I’m tired today!

Somewhere between my 12th meeting of the day and realizing I tried to unlock my office with my car key fob, I felt the weariness creeping in. This journey of implementing Aidin, and balancing other work and life has been a bit exhausting.

Which led me to think out how the path of doing good can often feel long and arduous. Weariness sneaks in, whispering doubts about whether our efforts are really making a difference.

But then, Galatians 6:9 steps in and brings encouragement: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Even at time when we can’t see the fruits of our labor, God is working behind the scenes. Our efforts are not in vain. He has gifted us with the ability to draw strength from His promises and to tap into His inexhaustible well of grace! 

His timing is perfect, and our faithfulness will yield results—even when our brains are too tired to tell the difference between an office door and a car.

Lord, when we grow weary, remind us that You are our strength. Help us trust in Your perfect timing and press on in faith, knowing that our efforts are never wasted. Amen.

For Such a Time as This

Esther 4:14 – “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Life has a way of placing us in situations we never expected. Maybe you’re facing a challenge that feels overwhelming, stepping into a role you didn’t anticipate, or navigating a season of uncertainty. In moments like these, it’s easy to feel unprepared, unqualified, or even unsure if you’re where you’re supposed to be.

Esther’s story in the Bible speaks to this. She never sought to be queen. She wasn’t raised for a life of influence. And when faced with a moment where she had to stand up for her people, she hesitated—because the risk was high. But her cousin Mordecai reminded her: perhaps you are here for such a time as this.

Esther’s story is a reminder that God places us where we are for a reason, even when we don’t feel ready. Leadership, influence, and impact don’t always come with a title or a perfect plan—they come with a willingness to step up, to trust, and to move forward even when it’s hard.

If you’re in a season of change, know this: you are here for a purpose. Whether you’re leading in big ways or small, whether you’re the one making the decisions or the one holding others up, your role matters. Don’t let doubt convince you otherwise. You are exactly where you need to be, and God is with you in it.

Heavenly Father, thank You for placing me right where I am. Even when I feel unsure, remind me that You have a purpose for this season. Give me the courage to step into the moments where I am needed, the faith to trust Your plan, and the wisdom to know that I am never alone. Help me to walk forward with confidence, knowing that I am here for such a time as this. Amen.

Church Giggles

 This morning at church, I leaned over to Beaver and whispered, “My stomach hurts.”

He, being the ever supportive husband he is, whispered back, “Like… your bowels are gonna let go and you’re gonna have explosive diarrhea hurt?”

Right at that moment, the worship leader said, “If you’re holding onto something this morning, you need to let it go.”

I started giggling.

Then he continued, “Just drop it at the feet of Jesus.”

At that point, I completely lost it. And thank God my mom wasn’t sitting next to me, or I’d have been snort-laughing my way right out of church.

Moral of the story: Sometimes the Lord speaks to you in mysterious (and slightly inappropriate) ways.

#SpiritualLessons #ChurchGiggles #BeaverDoesNotHelp