• A video call with a smiling child surrounded by childhood photos, symbolizing my daughter’s birthday far away and long-distance motherhood.
    Personal Reflections

    My Daughter’s Birthday Far Away

    My Daughter’s Birthday Far Away, and the Love That Still Shows Up Today is my daughter Chloe’s 11th birthday, and I honestly do not know how that sentence is real. Eleven. Somehow the tiny baby I once held is now a full-on human with opinions, interests, and a personality that keeps evolving right in front of me, even from far away. Celebrating my daughter’s birthday far away never gets easier, but it has taught me a lot about love, grief, and showing up in different ways. Chloe lives in Georgia with her dad, and I miss her like crazy. That part never stops hurting. But I refuse to let distance…

  • A collage-style image showing a woman surrounded by symbols of hardship and transition, including medical monitors, job loss paperwork, housing uncertainty, a damaged car, a new vehicle, family imagery, and signs of hope marking the start of a new year.
    Personal Reflections

    Starting Over in 2026: Tired, Hopeful, and Still Standing

    Starting Over in 2026 If I’m being honest, starting over in 2026 feels less like a fresh start and more like dragging myself across the finish line with one shoe missing. 2025 was brutal. In August, we lost our home. Not “downsized” or “moved on purpose.” Lost. We ended up in my partner’s mom’s boyfriend’s basement, which sounds temporary and harmless until you live it. It was toxic. Constant tension. Drama that clung to the walls. The kind of environment where you never really exhale. About a week later, I landed in the Emergency Room with chest pain. What I thought was anxiety turned into a three day hospital stay…