What We Found On The Water

  

The river cools our feet as we step in to steady our kayaks, before beginning our voyage; a very first trip for Grandpa, that we got to share as a family. 

The cat tails along the river are so tall. I've never seen them this big. We meander through them along a river path to an opening. 

It looks like an old forest that flooded. There's stumps spotting the lake with new growth on them. Like headstones of the past.  

Nature is resilient. 

Little blue dragonflies balance on my fishing pole.

Lily pads and soft white flowers sway as my paddle skims the water. 

Edee calls to the Mama swan as she leads her babies into the water. The swan calls back, returning as many calls as she makes. 

We count 8 turtles sunbathing on a log. As we get closer they plop into the water, retreating to safety. We keep saying, they're so cute!

There's so much beauty around us. 

A bald eagle soars and swoops down and we watch it until it lands on the tippy top of a tree. 

We stick our feet outside our kayaks and dip them in the lake to cool off, lazing in the sun and letting our paddles rest a bit. 

We talk about God and the miracle of baby Jesus. We talk about Edee's love for all the animals and sharing that love with others. 

The sun is warm on our skin and I soak it all in. I'm bottling up these moments. This feeling. I never want to forget this.

 

There's not a cloud in the sky and no schedule to keep. We're carefree and giggly. 

Keep loving.

-Karlee

Best back-to-school tip EVER!

When I pulled up Edee's 3-page school supply list. Yes, I said 3 pages. My first thought was, holy cow that's a lot of supplies. My second thought: How will she carry/manage all of these supplies? Several other thoughts followed like. We always have so many supplies left at the end of the school year. Will she actually use all of these? Donations? How? My giving heart wants to donate supplies to help these amazing teachers...maybe I can get a 2nd job to fund the donations list?

Am I the only Mom who had at least a few of these thoughts when you saw THE list? Back-to-school time is always a very transformational time. Moving from sleeping in and staying late, vegging out on the couch or "rotting my life away" as my 13 year old would say, to a schedule, higher demands, and all the socialization. It's a lot for both parents and kids.

As we help our kids through this transition, again this year school supplies should be the least of our worries. So, if you're like me and received a very long list of school supplies and slightly freaked out when you got it, check out my best back-to-school tip EVER:

1. Screen shot your kids school supplies list. (Assuming you're using a phone to access the list.)

2. Upload it to ChatGPT (I don't care if you're not a fan of AI or ChatGPT, once you use it you won't be able to deny how helpful it is.)

3. Paste the following into chat: "Can you combine the school supplies list and remove anything that is duplicate that my child won't need multiples of? For example if she needs pens and pencils for several classes, we'll just buy one pack."

4. Hit send and wait for the magic to happen. ✨

Our school supply list was organized by subject. There was a lot of repetitive items. What ChatGPT did in 3 seconds saved me a headache, time, and money. It did exactly what I asked it to do; organize the list, removing any duplicates that won't be needed. 

I hope this is helpful! Please share with all your Mom friends.

Best of luck in this Back-to-school season!

-Karlee

PS. If you want to take it a step further ChatGPT can also find best prices on any of the school supplies at stores near you!

PSS. If you're working with a tight budget I recommend contacting teachers mid-year to help them re-stock up supplies for their classroom! 

You Can't Hug A Car Goodbye

It's time to say goodbye and let go of my Ford Escape. It's just a material object and yet it's so much more than that, which I'm realized as I cleaned it out. Reminiscing about the road I traveled with this car makes it all the more important to me. 

My Ford Escape has been my reliable mode of transportation for 10 years. We've ridden a lot of miles together. E was in a car seat when we bought it. She transitioned into a booster seat and then into the front seat. I remember that transition well. Being able to see her next to me instead of a rear view mirror was a major upgrade. I remember her asking me what the CD player eject button was for. I asked her, "what do you think it is for?" She said, "it ejects you out of the car?" I still laugh thinking about it. A sign of the times. 

I've waiting in traffic, in drive-thru lanes grabbing food on the go, doing nightly bank deposits and at stop lights thousands of times. E and I've waiting in it when it wouldn't start in 20 degree weather. That'll test your patience. I've waiting in my Escape for my toddler to practice dance in pink ballet slippers and I've waiting for my teenager to finish art classes 2 years in a row. 

In my car I've read books, I've sang, I've prayed, I've cried, and I've laughed. I've gotten through my worst days and some of my best days driving in my car. I've taken countless selfies with my family, made videos when I felt inspired. I've sat a little longer to finish a song on the radio or a phone call before moving on to the next moment of my day. 

My escape has taken me home to my parents dozens of times, to my siblings for coffee or puzzle time. It got me to book club once a month for last few years. Always bringing me to occasions with high anticipation for conversations and laughter. And then it brought me home, safely. 

I've given people rides in my car, picked up my nieces and nephews in my car. I've ridden shot gun in this car when Ryan and I would have to carpool. It's saved us time and time again. 

I paid off this car and many other debts as it carried me to work 5 days a week for those 10 years. When I got my Escape I was taking a completely different exit to work each day. I was a different person then. I've grown a lot in the 10 years I've been driving that car.

So much relied on my silver Escape. I relied on my silver Escape. 

You know, you can't hug a car goodbye. But as I remove the stone decor from my rearview mirror and close it's door for the last time I have nothing but gratitude for my Escape. You can't hug a car goodbye, but you can have miles and miles of gratitude for it. 

Always lead with your heart.

- Karlee

2011 Me Would Be Confused, But Proud

Hey it's me! I have a truth for you and a long over due update. 

My truth and small confession: I didn’t really mean to stop writing here. Life just… filled up.

Somewhere between raising a little girl who isn’t so little anymore, building a career I care deeply about, and finding small creative outlets like crocheting, gardening, and reading, writing slowly slipped to the side.

To be honest, I think the pressure of posting or having something perfectly put together to try to gain views became an undesirable focus, so I quit. But I’ve missed this space. I miss the act of noticing things and putting them into words to document my journey and to inspire others. Ya know, those ordinary moments that don’t feel like much at the time, but somehow become everything when you look back? Yeah, those.

Life feels different now than it did back in 2011 when I first started this blog. Who would've thought I'd start a blog right before I was married and pick it up again 14 years married, 2 houses and an apartment, 1 step daughter, 1 baby (now teenager), 8 nieces & nephews, and 3 cats later (RIP Sebastian)? I think 2011 me would be confused, but proud. 

My life is fuller in some ways, heavier in others, but also more grounded. I see things differently. I move a little different. I notice more. 

So I’m coming back, but not in the same way.

This space won’t be about keeping up or doing it “right.” It’ll be shorter entries, real moments like what I'm crocheting in my favorite spot on the couch, and whatever feels worth remembering like family movie nights and the day Edee decided swearing feels right. Sometimes it might be what I’m making, some weeks what I’m learning, and some weeks just a few thoughts I want to document.

And for the parts of life that are places we go, work life and all bookish things, I’ve been sharing those over at Booked In Michigan, which I’ll link here from time to time.

Here's my commitment to writing more, again. I’m really glad to be back. 

As always, keep loving,

- Karlee

We have a teenager! Edee turns 13!

 What? 13?! You're 13 today. Officially a teenager and my mama heart is in shock. It's truly amazing that you're this healthy, tall, sassy, determined, teenager. You're making all your own choices and forging a path of your own. As your Mom, it's pretty cool to witness.

I'm 99% sure if you weren't thriving as a 13 year old my Mama heart would break because now, I can't fix everything. Cuddles and tickles once took away your tears but all of a sudden your emotions are big and "I don't get it." Even if, so much of what you're going through is like looking in the mirror at my adolescents. 

With every new year of your life I learn 1,000 things, about you, about myself, about how to raise you, and how to love you best. And with every year you change so much, showing us how smart, creative and silly you are again and again.

In the blink of an eye you went from dancing in pretty dresses to singing Weezer at the top of your lungs.

You once loved the stuffed animals with "the big eyes and little bodies," to using a squish mellow for a pillow. Your stuffed animal collection never ends. 

Your video game choices are typically Dandy's World, 99 Nights in the Forest, and Cookie Kingdom or something like that. Which just reminds me of Cookie Swirl C videos you and Grandma watched on repeat when you were still small enough to fit in our laps. 

You remind me of your big sister, with your boy shorts and sometimes I see her smile in your smile, her personality in yours. 

You went from hating school to a brand new school where you finally got excited to go, even if it means it's  because you made a handful of new friends that are 'your people.' Everyone told me you just need to find your people and I thank God that day was the first day of school this year.

You're still marching to the beat of your own drum. Right now that looks like band t-shirts, fuzzy short hair, graphic novels, "Kandi" bead bracelets and coloring your nails with black Sharpie. Dad said, no more drawing all over your skin. 

You're so passionate about your people, your YouTube channel and your cats (still). You are not passionate about food but we're always gently encouraging you to choose a fruit to go with your funnyuns. But somedays I wonder if you'll turn into a Wesco slushie - even if we limit them to one a week. 

You asked me last week if you can take a Gap year this year. Oh bug, you're so silly! However, you are insistent you will not be going to college and you will own your own business. I have no doubt in my mind that will be true 5 years down the road. I just hope you let me design your logo. ;)

I have a feeling your going to bring us even more lessons, joy and love through your teen years. As much as I miss your chubby cheeks and toddler giggles I know I'll miss these years too. So, I'm holding onto every day of your first year of a teenager. 

We are so very very proud of the girl you are and the passion you carry with you. Always sweet and creative, sometimes silly and sensitive. Happy 13th Birthday, bug!

Life Lately: Books, Seeds, Art Club, and Renovations

If I've repeated anything on my blog it's probably: Time flies, or life moves quickly. Weekends move quicker than week days but, then I look back at the week and feel like it flew by. For so many reasons, including: that I haven't made much time for writing lately, I am summing up this update with a few of the joys we have had lately. I think it's important to find joy as you're speeding through the day. So here's ours:

I finished two books last week. One was a major accomplishment because one: it was an assignment for work and two: I started it in December. I learned some things, but mostly I am proud that I stuck with it and completed it. It was a big read for me. If you'd like to read more about it, I share my current reads and book finds on Instagram. 

We planted our seed (starters) for our garden. We as in all three of us and E's friend. It was important to me to include the girls in the process so that they can experience growing their own food start to finish. 

I am excited about tomatoes, red peppers (for Edee) and cucumbers but I am very excited about the salad mix we planted. Within 2 days we saw sprouts. On day 3 we say purple sprouts! That was a pleasant surprise. My main goal is to grow everything to make a salad. It's going to be such a delicious goal to achieve. 

E joined an Art club! Talk about cool! I can't wait to see what she learns. I pray she enjoys it and find friends with similar interests. I am so happy for this quick development. I should've signed myself up.

 *Update* She found her people. I picked her up from Art club yesterday and she said, "I had the best day ever!" She exchanged phone numbers with two kids and said they couldn't stop talking about all the things. 

Our bedroom renovation project is underway. Ryan has been up to his elbows in planning for it. We're converting our garage into a master bedroom. Currently we're sleeping in the smallest room that will eventually be an art studio. As we work through the process of the renovation my goal is to remember how much we hoped and dreamed and planned to be where we are now. I remind us both that this is all supposed to be fun. We get to choose paint colors, carpet and lighting. We get to choose and make our dreams real life. 

Well, there it is. books, seeds, art club and renovations. I can't wait to see where each of these things leads because you know, there's so much transformation happening in these joyful things. 

Keep loving,

Karlee

15 Reasons Why I Choose To Love You Every Day

15 years ago I gave you the key to my apartment, a day we'll never forget because it was also the day I gave you my heart. I've given it to you every day since. Because, like they say, love is a choice. Once the butterflies have settled it's ultimately choosing to love that makes a relationship work. Here's 15 reasons why I choose to love you every day:

1. You're committed. Committed to us, our dreams and our family. 

2. You're funny. You still make me laugh, even on the hard days. 

3. Because you love the outdoors.

4. You see me for who I am but, also call me out when I need it. 

5. Because you're a loyal guy.

6. You're Edee's Daddy. 

7. You're a great cook! I'd starve without you.

8. Because doing life without you would be boring.

9. You add the element of surprise to regular ol' days.

10. You listen.

11. You keep me safe.

12. Because we're growing together.

13. You love to drive and you're good at it, too.

14. You're smart.

15. You make life interesting and fun.

It should come as no surprise that we're standing the test of time but it does. I still feel luck to be your wife and to call you my husband and my Valentine.

Happy 15th Valentine's Day, Ryan!