I sat down to write this life update and immediately found myself scrolling through my camera roll to remember what the last couple of months actually held. Does anyone else do that? It is funny how quickly life moves. Looking back, we had a pretty strong start to the year. There were a few hard moments mixed in, but overall it has been full in the best way. Busy, meaningful, and filled with a lot of joy.
At the beginning of the year, we experienced one of our lower points. We lost our first family pet. While I was not especially attached to our bunny, the kids absolutely were, and it was heartbreaking to watch them walk through that kind of loss for the first time. There is something especially difficult about guiding your children through the natural, painful parts of life. My oldest took it the hardest. She has always had a deep love for animals and dreams of running an animal shelter someday. This experience gave her a glimpse into the harder side of that dream. I remember her saying she had not really thought about this part before, how heavy it can feel. Still, after a few weeks, she decided she wants to try again. So now we are on the hunt for another bunny, and she is continuing to lean into her love for animals.
We also made it out to Sucker Creek, one of our favorite places to take the kids rock hounding. The weather could not have been better, slightly overcast, which is ideal since there is not much shade out there. It was a simple, successful day, the kind that reminds me how much we love getting outside together.
The girls have been deep in dance season, right in the middle of their competitive time of year. As spring rolls in, the boys are picking up their activities too, flag football for one and baseball training for another. It makes for a full schedule, but I genuinely love it. I have realized that I am someone who thrives in a fast paced, always moving environment. At the same time, being forced to sit still and simply watch my kids, whether they are performing on stage or playing on the field, has been really good for me. I truly enjoy watching them grow, learn, and excel in their own ways.
Speaking of growth, I officially became shorter than my second child. He has always been tall. He passed his sister when he was five, and now he has passed me. It is such a bittersweet milestone. There is something surreal about looking your child directly in the eye like that. While part of me feels emotional about how quickly time is moving, I tend to focus more on the sweetness of it. As the kids get older, life feels less chaotic and more connected. I have loved being able to do more with them, to have deeper conversations, and to enjoy each stage alongside them. It is a far cry from the days of having four kids under five, when it often felt like constant motion and putting out fires. This season feels different in the best way.
On the business side of things, the past couple of months have been challenging. Entrepreneurship today looks very different than it did even five years ago. There are so many tools and resources available now, which is amazing, but it also means the digital space is incredibly crowded. It can be difficult to be seen, to be heard, and to truly find your voice online, which is where most of my marketing happens. Because of that, we have been leaning more into in person markets and trying to figure out how to work smarter with the limited time we have. Like most people, I am constantly asking how to get more meaningful results with less input, especially since my priority is still being present with the kids and our homeschool life.
I still deeply love my jewelry line, this blog, and my podcast. Balancing all of that while trying to be a fully present mom is no small task, but it is something I care about deeply.
Chris has also been investing in his business, recently purchasing another truckload of inventory. It has been a tougher journey than we initially expected, especially when it comes to turning a profit. We are still figuring things out, and the jury is definitely still out, but we decided it was worth trying again. This latest truckload has actually been the best one so far. We finally found a solid supplier and a reliable shipping company, which feels like a big step forward. The process of getting this business off the ground has been full of lessons, honestly enough to fill an entire post on its own.
As we move further into the year, I hope your start has been a good one. I hope you are finding moments of joy in the middle of the busy, everyday things. If your schedule looks anything like ours right now, you might also be settling into your role as a spectator, on the sidelines of sports fields or in the audience at dance recitals. There is something really special about that space.
I am looking forward to what the next couple of months will bring. Until then, I will be sharing more over on Instagram and the podcast. Talk soon!
