July - December 2020 Social Media Posts

July 8, 2020:

My feed is full of posts from worried and frustrated parents and my phone has been blowing up with texts from friends. I get it. This is an impossibly difficult decision that we have to make.

So I wanted to offer some encouragement this morning:

Our kids will be okay.

I have had the privilege of serving at my kids' school for six years and have gotten to know the teachers and staff there very well. My mom was a teacher, David's mom was a teacher, we have a lot of educators on both sides of the family, and some of my very closest friends are/were teachers.

There is a lot of uncertainty and debate right now (and boy am I OVER it). But I do know this: the teachers WILL rise to the challenge. Whether you decide in-person or digital, they are going to come through like it's their JOB...because it is. They did not enter the profession for the fame or fortune, they did it because they have a passion to love on and educate these kids. And they will. No matter what mandates are handed down to them. I realize this is not true for every teacher everywhere, but in my experience, I have yet to meet one that is not about to absolutely crush this school year.

So make the best decision based on your individual child and your family's circumstances, knowing that you are not signing a contract and you can change your mind. Then breathe.

Our kids will be okay.

Lastly, I will gently remind you that little ears are listening (or big ears, depending on their ages). More than anything, your kids are looking to you to set the tone for the year ahead. Of course you should speak honestly about what things may look like at an age-appropriate level, but if they are only hearing your negative bemoaning of what lies ahead, their outlook and attitude will follow suit. So sell, baby, sell! They've had enough on their kid-size plates these past few months to have to take on anything but the usual school jitters.

As parents we do the best we can and we pray for God's grace to fill in the gaps. And He will.

It’s certainly not going to be an easy year, but our kids WILL be okay.

July 16, 2020:

We were supposed to be exploring San Francisco and Yosemite this week. Our plan B was a short getaway to St. Simons that turned out to be the most 2020-esque trip ever.

Just a few hours into our first afternoon there, a jellyfish got a hold of Luke something fierce. We doctored him up and ended up having a wonderful second day…until Audrey got “glutened” from dinner and spent the second evening vomiting. We canceled our kayaking plans and spent the third and final day taking short outings to see a few nearby things. It was so hot we couldn't last long. We (carefully) drove back yesterday and made it home unscathed.

So incredibly apropos for this year, right?! But NOT because it was completely awful…because there were some really special things in the midst of the challenges. And the sweet moments were all the more meaningful and appreciated.

We have walked through some sadness over here on top of the regular ol' current chaos of our world. David lost two grandparents between March and May (non-Covid related) and we have grieved both big and small losses. But there has also been such good interspersed, too. During this time the kids have developed new skills and independence and we’ve gotten more family time and grown closer together.

It is a daily struggle for me to keep a healthy perspective and choose joy. Most of the time I don’t know whether we’re making the right decisions in the midst of this madness. BUT, if I cling to the Truth that I DO know (James 1:5, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 2:8, to name a few), it makes all that I don’t know a lot more manageable. So here’s to looking for and soaking up the beauty in the muck and continuing to rely on and rest in a God who is good all the time. “Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

August 7, 2020:

Middle school, here she comes! (Or rather, home she’ll stay, but you get it...) Thankful she at least got to meet her teachers in person at open house today. So grateful for how hard they’re all working to make the best out of this situation!

September 1, 2020:

Tomorrow this cutie starts school in person and I’m going to miss him something fierce. This afternoon he helped me load up and then unload nearly 500 lbs of stone for an upcoming project, adding to a long list of things we have taken on as a family these past five and a half months. It hasn’t always been easy or fun, but we’ve been healthy and we’ve been TOGETHER. And for that I’m so grateful.

But in the morning, this baby of the family will be the first to step out of our home and back into some normalcy. He’ll be at a school we know, love, and trust with teachers that we know, love, and trust. For him and for now, it’s the right call. (I think.) But my thoughts still race and my heart still hurts.

Say a prayer for the parents, teachers, and students in your life. I don’t know a single one that is not struggling to some degree over these impossible decisions we’re having to make. We don’t need judgement or opinions. But we sure could use some prayers.

And if anyone wants to fill in for my sidekick and help unload more stone, let me know.

September 2, 2020:

“2nd 1st Day of 3rd Grade” He was so excited, but made sure we knew he would “miss us TONS.”

Same here, Bubba. Praying for it to be a great day for all those starting back in person!

October 19, 2020:

She’s been rocking the digital learning, but as an academic who loves school, it was time to get her back in a classroom. I am thankful for the extra time we got to spend together, especially when this age usually means my influence shrinks. My mama heart is struggling, but for us and for now, it’s the right thing (I think?!)

Praying for my best girl to shine bright and for middle school to please be kind to her tender spirit.

October 22, 2020:

And now it’s time to get back to work making an impact in the areas we can control: donate food to the co-op, thank a teacher/police officer/healthcare worker, have meaningful conversations with your kids, give money or volunteer your time to a charity doing worthy things. Vote. And then stop wringing your hands or shouting your stance and get back to work.

October 26, 2020:

PTA Legacy Project for the 5th Grade Class of 2020. Covid caused a bit of a delay, but we finally got it done! Each homeroom voted on their favorite book to stock it with and a duplicate copy was also purchased to donate to the GCPS Book Mobile.

Thank you to the amazing David Robinson for donating his time and talent to build it for us!

October 31, 2020:

Happy Halloween! Any other year we would’ve taken tonight for granted, but not in 2020. So thankful we got to go!

November 2, 2020:

I found this note tucked in the bottom of a bag of co-op donations. I wish I knew the sweet baby that wrote it so I could explain how very kind and generous they are and the difference they made by showing up and giving what they could. I have to think the families on the receiving end feel like this child made an impact!

We totaled over 1,000 items, y’all. In the midst of a pandemic, in the same week as a dang tropical storm that meant two days of digital-only learning. Our school gave over 1,000 items. I’m so grateful for and proud of our Riverside Rockets!

November 14, 2020:

In December 2019, we set a goal to run four 5k races together as a family in 2020...20k for 2020. This morning we completed our 4th.

December 17, 2020:

This year’s class parties definitely looked different than the previous 13 that I’ve done. It took some serious creativity to put together a prepackaged, Covid-friendly celebration and I desperately missed being with all the kids and teachers. Still, I’m thankful they got to celebrate and enjoy one of the best days of the school year. (I’m also grateful @lindsndavis and I got to work together again from afar!

You’re the best

! )

December 23, 2020:

We missed our traditional Santa visit at the beginning of the month due to quarantine, but the kids humored me and dressed up for pics with this version today.

January - May 2019 Social Media Posts

January 11, 2019:

A little Friday night demo...pulling up carpet in the sunroom in preparation for laying tile. The family that renovates together...well, first they disagree and fuss and get on each other’s nerves. But eventually they learn teamwork and the satisfaction of a job done well.




January 17, 2019:



They grow up so fast. My little 100 year old on the 100th day of school.




January 22, 2019:

This is where I’ll be if you need me this week...grouting my life away and regretting not choosing 18x18 tiles with every single swipe. 




February 5, 2019:

Daddy-Daughter Date Night: dinner at Provinos. Mommy-Son Date Night: dinner at Zaxby’s followed by some Madden Football on XBox. All of us had a blast. (And I promise to teach Luke what a proper date night is...in about 15 more years! )







February 22, 2019:


As I'm fixing up Luke's room with some new bedding and decor to surprise him for his birthday today, I'm thinking back through the transitions this room has seen. It's gone from crib to toddler bed to big boy bed and now it's out with the little boy train stuff and in with the big boy sports stuff.

 
I confess that I'm unsure about this new stage of boyhood we're entering. There are barely any recognizable baby/toddler features left in him. My snuggle bug now hardly ever sits in my lap and is often more interested in wrestling with Daddy or tossing the football. Our conversations used to be filled with tales of superheroes and now it's mostly sports stats. (Rest assured, though, that the bathroom humor is still as strong as ever. I don't know that that ever diminishes.) He's already taller than his big sister was just a few months ago and he can officially out-sprint me, as he proved in a recent game of tag.

 
I know all these are normal, healthy signs of a growing boy. I know his heart of gold is still as generous as ever. I know he loves his mama something fierce and you'd better not cross his sister or his friends. I know he is crazy smart, sweetly sensitive, and absolutely hilarious. He brings such joy and fun to our family and is exactly what God knew we needed to balance us out.

 
I know all of this well. What I don't know is whether my heart can bear his growing up.

 
Happy 7th Birthday, Lukey. Being your Mama is a holy privilege and I love you more than you'll ever know!


February 26, 2019:

These cutie 4th graders worked hard today and made 24 Project Linus blankets for patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In the process, they learned how to serve others and that doing so can be fun! Thankful for a school and a PTA that support these projects and for the volunteers that helped me pull it together.








March 14, 2019:

Today I got to drop off Riverside’s Project Linus blankets with these sweet ladies and get a behind-the-scenes tour of CHOA’s Satellite Blvd location. These blankets and handmade cards will go out to patients right here in Gwinnett! Thank you to all that gave of their time and effort to contribute these to this amazing organization. They will bring comfort to so many.




March 25, 2019:

Guess who gets back from South Korea tonight?! Not only did he fix a problem that others were unable to fix, but he finished the project four days ahead of schedule. ‘Cause he’s our “Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva engineer.” Welcome home, babe! 





April 13, 2019:

Fun small group date night at Bury the Hatchet.

May 22, 2019:


This school year has been amazing. For Audrey in particular it has been one of tremendous personal growth (and academic too, of course.) We owe so much of that to these incredible teachers. I could ugly-cry just thinking about what they’ve done for all of us and how much we’ll miss them! (BUT, just to be clear: I could also ugly-cry with joy over not having to pack lunches for tomorrow or wake them up so early!) Happy Summer!!!

June - December 2019 Social Media Posts

June 20, 2019:


It’s been a wonderful day celebrating a decade of Audrey. I can’t even begin to share the lessons this girl has taught me or the joy she has brought our family these last ten years. We are so proud of her and the amazing person she is becoming.

 
Motherhood is indeed a holy privilege. Ten years in and I’m still not sure I’m doing a lick of it right. But I will never stop trying my best and praying for God’s grace to fill in the gaps. She is so worth it and He is so capable.

 
Happy Birthday, Sugar. Thank you for giving me the precious title of “Mama.” Here’s to another decade of growth for both of us.






July 9, 2019:


I've had several conversations recently where I've tried to articulate what these last few years of parenting have been like. When I heard this on a podcast yesterday, it immediately struck a chord and I just had to share:

 
“I’m fresh out of that beginning part of motherhood where you’re just trying to survive. You’re just trying to make sure your kid is alive, they’re fed, they have everything that they need. But at some point, the mode of motherhood has to shift away from just surviving and toward 'what is my PROACTIVE approach to raising this person?' As they grow, things get complicated. Schedules…school…everything that comes can be an overwhelming sea of stuff where you just continue to survive all the way to middle school. Then you get to middle school and they stop talking to you and their door shuts. I have talked to so many parents at parent-teacher conferences asking 'why is my sweet daughter not talking to me anymore?!' If you have not laid the groundwork ahead of time for conversations…if your whole approach up to this point was just trying to survive and get through your days…you’re going to wake up when they’re 12, 13, 14 and realize you have a gap in your relationship that has been filled by a lot of other things but not by the tools necessary to help her get through that struggle of a time. As soon as you get your bearings [from early motherhood], the shift has to happen to intentional parenting all the time. And it’s exhausting. IT'S EXHAUSTING. But we’re wired to do it.” - Erin Weidemann on the Treasured Podcast with Courtney DeFeo
YES. It is often exhausting...and sometimes terrifying. There are days I would give anything to go back to issues like sleep schedules and temper tantrums (...but not potty training. GAH that was awful.) But the joy that comes from connecting at these older stages is just as precious and just as sweet. Maybe even more so, because it's harder won. I know my influence is slowly shrinking in their worlds, but I pray God gives me the endurance and the wisdom to keep at it.




July 17, 2019:

In the past two weeks, this girl had her ears pierced, got new glasses, and got her braces off. Look out fifth grade, we are coming for you! 

July 31, 2019:

Today marks 15 years of marriage for us. Back in May, we celebrated early and got to take a once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii. We experienced so much beauty and had some wonderful adventures.
But that’s not real life. Today is real life.

 
Today we will be attending open house at the kids’ school. We’ll be shuttling them and their supplies to their new classes, calming their nerves, and filling out endless forms while juggling our volunteer and work responsibilities. There will be rushed meals and forgotten errands and probably a passive-aggressive comment about whose turn it is for what chore. I’ll annoy him and he’ll forget something and the kids will interrupt at least a dozen attempted conversations.

But I know this much: We couldn’t do what we do without each other. I couldn’t wear the hats I wear without him and he couldn’t do the job he does without me. And for sure neither of us could do any of it without God’s grace and guidance.

 
I am so very thankful for you, David Sinyard. Fifteen years in and you are still my favorite. There is no one else with whom I’d rather do this ordinary day-to-day life and I love you!


August 27, 2019:

Tried a new sport tonight. She crushed it (and the three boys in her group.) This girl of mine is so much stronger than she realizes in so many different ways.








September 1, 2019:

Braves win!




September 22, 2019:

Don’t know what I’d do without her.  6 more days!!! #timbertrek5k www.timbertrek5k.org



September 29, 2019:

Yesterday we raised over $5,000 for our 5th and final Timber Trek. 5k for a little neighborhood 5k that began in 2015.  To some that may not seem like a lot, but it feels like $500,000 to this girl!

 
It started with a push from God. A call for me to step up and do something to raise money for and awareness of organizations in our community that were doing hard, worthy work in His name. I’m embarrassed to say that it took me awhile to say yes, but once I did, I was all in.

And year after year, God proved faithful. Even when I doubted. Even when I was met with opposition. Even when it felt like it was all too much for too little. God showed up and showed off. Every. Single. Time. And, as is always the case when we decide to obey Him, I was the one that was changed for the better. The lessons I have learned, the people I have met, the personal goals I have seen achieved, the community spirit I have witnessed, and most of all, the difference the organizations get to make with the dollars given…all of it was worth every drop of sweat and tears put in.

This race has been a part of our family’s culture and DNA for five years, but it’s time to move on. I don’t know what’s next, but you can bet that I’ll rope you in if I can. 

If you ever participated in one of the races, cheered on someone who did, gave a dollar, volunteered an hour, or said a prayer for the event: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means the world to me and you have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of people.

October 4, 2019:

Luke’s field trip to the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center today.







October 31, 2019:
Happy Halloween from Laura Ingalls Wilder and Ronald Acuna Jr.! 







November 8, 2019:

Over 2,000 items donated for the North Gwinnett Co-Op. (That’s 500+ more than last year!) Way to go, Rockets!!!  As for whether the boys or the girls won bragging rights for the next year... You’ll just have to wait and ask your kiddo when they get home today!





November 10, 2019:

Reflections Program Reception. First place in the county for literature...second year in a row! 

December 3, 2019:

I almost didn’t email the Co-Op about their angel tree program. We’ve never done it before and I wasn’t sure I wanted to add something else to my already-full plate. I reasoned we were doing enough and there would be plenty of others to step up. But I went for it anyway.

What came back brought me to tears. One of our assigned kids is named Audrey. Similar in age, same size clothes, and her favorite color is pink. And the gift ideas she requested? Books, journals, stationary, and crafts. If you know my girl, you know there is no one more suited to handle this shopping list.

 
God is in the details, y’all. The Creator of the Universe cares that a little girl in our county named Audrey is perfectly shopped for and lavished on this holiday season.

 
If you’re on the fence about doing something kind, especially on this “Giving Tuesday”, DO IT. Even if it means something else comes off your list. (Gift cards and store-bought cookies never hurt anybody.) Make time to listen for and lean into those nudges this season.


December 7, 2019:

Dressed up for David’s company party tonight. We made it to 10:30pm! 

December 21, 2019:

If you need a little Christmas spirit boost, I highly recommend wrapping presents with a seven year old. Favorite quotes: “Mama, I’m not like an expert at spy stuff or anything, but when you told Audrey to stay upstairs, you kinda gave it away that we were up to something.” “Why use a few small pieces of tape when you can use one rrreeeaaallllyyy long one?!” “How do you do that bow thing?....Oh. Nah.” 




December 31, 2019:

Like many others are posting, we’ve been sick for the better part of our winter break (including Luke waking up on Christmas morning with a fever) BUT, we’re on the mend, we’re together, and we’re ready for a new decade of adventures! God bless you and your families and may this next year be your best yet!