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Another Reason to Love Burn Boot Camp

As you know, I’ve been posting all about Burn Boot Camp for months. This month I was trying to think of what I haven’t mentioned before. There are so many reasons that Burn is just such a positive community to be a part of. So what else could I possible have to say? Two words.
Floating Floor.

That’s right, a gym with a floating floor uniquely designed to protect your body as you do challenging workouts each day. Working out on a hard surface can definitely wear on your body over time. At Burn, the floor has just enough give to protect your joints and helps keep you safer from impact related injuries.
Things like broad jumps, sprinting, and jumping rope are much safer on the floating floor. It is reassuring to know you will not be landing on a hard surface when performing moves of this sort.
I hate to age myself, but as I near 40 I will say that I tend to consider possible injuries way more than in the past. Achey knees and even plantars fasciitis don’t keep me out of the gym, because I know I have the added protection of the floating floor to help me complete my workout with an overall lower impact than other gyms can provide.
It might sounds simple, but trust me, the floating floor is a game changer. Come see for yourself! You can always try Burn Boot Camp for free if you haven’t been in before, and many special rates are offered throughout the year.
Visit BurnBootCamp.com to checkout Burn Bentonville or another location near you.

Every week is different at Burn. You’ll never get bored doing the same workouts week after week. This week’s protocol below is a great one. No better time to give it a try!

This is a sponsored post, but reflects my honest feelings about Burn Boot Camp after four years as a proud member

FAQ: Burn Boot Camp Bentonville

I’ve been sharing my love for everything about Burn Boot Camp for almost four years now. It has had a huge impact on my life and so many other members across the country. I’ve found when I mention Burn to others, everyone generally asks me the same few questions. Here are my personal responses to those most frequently asked questions based on the Bentonville, Arkansas location:

What times are the camps? Can I fit it in with my busy schedule? Camp times are offered at a variety of times Monday through Saturday. Each day begins with a 5:00 am express camp, then continues with camp times throughout the morning. You can also attend the noon camp, or get in on an afternoon camp starting at 4:30. On Saturday you can attend at 7, 8, or 9:00 am with yoga being offered at 10:00 am.

I haven’t worked out in years. Do I need to get in shape a little before I join? Burn is just right for all fitness levels! I hadn’t worked out consistently for several years before I headed to my first camp. I was so nervous, but quickly realized that the trainers always explain how to modify the exercises to meet your needs. I have never once felt judged for having to modify to make an exercise easier. The cool thing is that before you know it you might even be trying the trainer’s suggestions for how to make the exercises more challenging. Whether you are a beginner, or have been on your fitness journey for a long time, you can find a safe, supportive environment at Burn Boot Camp.

Is it expensive? I get it. Committing to a gym membership is a big decision. What I love about Burn is how inclusive it is of everything I need to accomplish my goals. First and foremost you get personal training in a group setting. Yes, really! The trainers are circulating the floor to correct improper form, to help you modify if needed, and to push you to your best workout. Burn also provides nutritional guidance through one-on-one focus meetings with the trainers. Childwatch is included in your membership as well. Those things alone are well worth the cost to me. My favorite bonus benefit of having a membership is being a part of such a supportive community of like-minded people. We are all on our own health and fitness journeys, but it truly feels like we are a team at Burn Boot Camp Bentonville. Everything from the way we cheer each other on in camp to the way everyone interacts in such an uplifting manner in the members-only Facebook group keeps me motivated to keep coming back week after week.

If you’ve been considering coming to Burn Boot Camp to try it out, now is the time. A new promotion just launched and you can get 4 weeks for only $69! This is the perfect way to start putting yourself first and prioritizing your health and fitness by adding Burn to your routine.

Sign-up HERE today! Let me know if you have any questions or need any other information before you get started.

This is a sponsored post, but reflects my honest feelings about Burn Boot Camp after three years as a proud member.

Become a Better Version of Yourself at Burn Boot Camp

Before committing to and sticking with an exercise plan I had so many excuses as to why I just couldn’t make it work. There’s never a dull moment with four kids and a full-time job, and I really didn’t know how I could add anything else to my schedule. I also hated the thought of missing out on any more time with the kids each day. Not to mention the cost of finding childcare while I worked out. As soon as I tried Burn Boot Camp Bentonville, I knew they really had answers for all the excuses I made for not working out regularly.

Burn Boot Camp Bentonville offers camp times starting at 5:00 am and running through 6:30pm. The 5:00 am is an express camp that lasts 30 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes so you can still get in a great workout if you have to be at work at an early hour. They also offer morning camps on Saturday as well as one yoga session. This provides all the flexibility that I need to make sure my workouts fit in around whatever is on the agenda for the day. I like to plan what camp times I’ll attend at the beginning of the week, so I know which days I’ll go in before work, and which days the afternoon camps will work better.

Burn Boot Camp Bentonville also offers free child watch to all members. My boys absolutely love it! The child watch staff even goes above and beyond to make special crafts with the kids all the time. The coolest part is that my kids get to go to the gym with me so they can see me making fitness and health a priority. I hope that will help them set healthy habits they will continue as they grow up. The staff at Burn makes my kids feel like they are truly part of the gym family. Occasionally there are workouts scheduled for the kids and the trainers give them a chance to see what they’ve got on the floating floor. That’s always a highlight of being a Burn kid!

Another thing I love about Burn Boot Camp is that I can sign up for a focus meeting every few weeks to discuss my goals and progress. A trainer records my measurements and talks through my diet. We discuss what is going well and what I’m struggling with. Sometimes I haven’t made the progress I wanted to between focus meetings, but I always leave with clear goals that I feel like I can work toward. Focus meetings are the best way to stay motivated and accountable.

Probably the single greatest thing about Burn is that even after over three years of attending camps, I’ve never felt bored with the workouts. When they say that you never do the same workout twice it’s actually true. Every Sunday Burn headquarters releases the weekly workout protocol so you can see what the week will hold. An example of what you might see in a typical week includes leg day, metabolic conditioning, athletic conditioning, arm day, core conditioning, and a wide variety of other cardio and strength exercises. Each workout is designed to push you out of your comfort zone and help you to get a little bit stronger every time.

Of course with Covid requirements some things are a little different than usual at Burn. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the way the staff has worked to ensure the health and safety of all members. We each have a marked off area on the floor to make sure we are properly distanced during the workouts. Sanitizer wipes are provided to wipe down any equipment you use. Burn also regularly brings in a sanitization company to spray down all surfaces and equipment throughout the gym. For now, camps are scheduled on an app to maintain a safe amount of members in each camp. It’s easy to do and there are always plenty of camp times available to sign up for. When you arrive at the gym, your temperature is taken and you are asked the Covid screening questions required for gyms to be open at this time. The few adjustments that have been made haven’t impacted the intensity and challenging nature of the workouts one bit.

A glimpse at a typical pre-Covid workout. High energy and lots of motivation from fellow Burn members.

I’ve had setbacks here and there during my journey, and most recently I’ve been out for three months to recover from a shoulder injury. Every time I’m out of my routine at Burn Bentonville, I can’t wait to get back to it. I actually miss the workouts and the consistency I have at Burn. Why have I stayed committed to Burn Boot Camp Bentonville for over three years? I really believe that it is because the mentality at Burn is so different than a lot of gyms. I feel like the owner and the trainers take a personal interest in my health and happiness. They take the time to know what is going on with me both at the gym and in the rest of my life.

Ultimately I know what I need to do. I know what works for me and for all kinds of women and men across the country who share my love for Burn Boot Camp. I need to set my goals, get refocused on my why, plan for consistent workouts, and utilize all the tools that Burn provides for me. I can’t wait to start seeing progress again and seeing what all I can accomplish in the next phase of my journey at Burn Boot Camp. The best part is that you can join me! If you want to truly feel supported on a journey to a happier, healthier you then reach out to Burn Bentonville today and ask about a free trial. You can try it with no obligation and find out why it might be just the thing you are looking for.

If you don’t live near the Bentonville, Arkansas location head over to https://burnbootcamp.com/ to browse the list of nearly 300 locations across the country.

This is a sponsored post, but reflects my honest feelings about Burn Boot Camp after three years as a proud member.

No Laundry Today

I’ve been so consumed with the stress of being stuck in the house with four bored kids for a week straight, the worry of possible frozen pipes and power outages, and trying to keep the kids learning and myself working that I almost missed something so important.

Friends, we have been given direct instructions from the powers that be to NOT do any laundry. Not only should we not do it, but it’s the best way we can help ensure that our communities do not lose power from an overloaded system in this crazy winter storm. So today there will be no shame when you walk by the baskets spilling laundry onto the floor, no fussing at your teenagers to wash their smelly clothes, and no feeling like you should be getting caught up on laundry instead of relaxing on the couch.

In this not-so-much-better-than-2020 year we’re living in where we’ve been introduced to another thing to hate with “forced rolling blackouts” we are going to embrace this freeing gift we have received and let that laundry sit as we proudly celebrate the way we are doing our part for one another.

Disclaimer: if you live somewhere that hasn’t been affected by this snowpocalypse I’m pretty sure you are still entitled to this laundry-free time because surely your support of our cause is essential.

That Time I Stayed Home with the Kids for Five Months

Tomorrow I will head back to work after five long months staying home with the boys. Even with the uncertainty and worry of going back to school, sending the boys to on-site school, and the baby starting daycare for the first time ever, I have felt ready. Ready to get back to being “me.” The mom of four who also works full-time. The woman who leads a building full of teachers to improve math instruction for all students. To get back to a job that I love.

So this morning took me by surprise. I have shed more than a few tears after dropping the oldest off at football practice and sitting down for one more slow morning of snuggling and watching tv with the little guys. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional thinking back over the last five months. I didn’t expect to feel so nervous to get back out into the world, but it’s all hitting me today. I have been hesitant to weigh-in on the virtual school vs. on-site school options because everyone has their own unique situation to consider. My kids are going to school because that’s where I will be. It’s also where I want them to be. Where my boys thrive and grow best. But am I nervous they’ll get sick? Yes. Am I nervous we won’t even make it a week before we are back to virtual school? Also yes. But that’s not why my heart is aching this morning.

I have done my fair share of complaining, yelling, and crying over the last few months. Staying home with four little boys from ages 1-12 wasn’t easy for this mom. Most days from March to May, I loathed virtual schooling and longed to go back to school/work. I struggled to get any work done in my job as math coach while helping the kids with their classwork, keeping the preschooler busy, and chasing an energetic and destructive one-year-old. I just wanted to be around adults and have grown-up conversations. I have worked outside the home since I was fourteen. I took short maternity leaves with each baby, but quickly returned to work because that’s who I am. I have never idealized the role of stay-at-home mom. I saw my mom do it with five kids, and I know it is insanely hard. Although my children are my world, staying home for two months in the summer is always great for me and I’m ready to go back to school each fall.

Then June and July came and went. Our days were less structured, but there were no waterparks to visit, no vacations to take and no fun adventures beyond the backyard and a few trails around town. With social distancing and keeping our family as safe as possible, it just wasn’t the summer I normally get to have with the kids. Fun summer off-work mom was more like same-old-mom who’s been on our backs for three months already. We did share some fun together, but the day in and day out of being home felt heavy most days.

So why am I sad, if we all so desperately want to get back to whatever “normal” looks like now? Because I just got to spend 5 months with my kids. Just being their mom and loving them the best way I know how. I didn’t have to entrust their care to someone else, I didn’t have to worry if they were safe or feeling okay. I didn’t have to rush home from work to scramble them from activity to activity. We baked cookies way too often, did fun home improvement projects, played in the sprinkler, and grew even closer as a family. I watched the boys pair off with different brothers depending on what their interest was that day. I got to sip my coffee while listening to their giggles and watching them show off their newest (wrestling/singing/dancing/ninja) skills. I was there to hug the four-year-old when it all felt like too much and the sadness of missing his friends at preschool was so heavy for him. I rubbed the seven-year-old’s back when the school writing assignment caused him to stress about spelling words correctly. I was there to see for myself every time the baby learned something new or said an adorable new phrase. And I was moved to tears more than once watching the twelve-year-old turn into such a grown person right in front of my eyes. He effortlessly helped me care for his little brothers, keep the house clean, and always knew when I just needed a break. He has always been a nurturer and my right hand man when Daddy isn’t here, but he grew into something much more the last few months. Despite the pre-teen moments (yes we had plenty of those too), I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a pretty good adult one day.

So today, I’m going to let the tears fall. They tell a story of the toughest, yet most rewarding parenting months of my life. Tomorrow I will put on a smile and excitedly look forward to working once again, but if you see a tear or two slide down onto my mask, just know I am a Mom who got a little too attached to staying home with her four amazing kids and needs a little time to get used to being “just Allison” for eight hours a day once again.

Easy Kitchen Shelves DIY

Quarantine has had us, like many others, finally doing lots of projects we’ve wanted to do around the house. My husband has worked tirelessly outside putting in a french drain and landscaping the backyard. We just have some finishing touches to do and then it will be done. Since we are wrapping that up, I’ve started several projects inside the house.

When we bought our house last year, we loved the wooden shelves the previous owners had in the kitchen. Unfortunately, they took them down when they moved out. Life got busy, and we just never really looked into buying or making any. Then suddenly we have a lot of extra time at home (looking at you Covid-19) so we decided to tackle making some ourselves. I absolutely love how they turned out! The best part is they took very little time or skill. They were also inexpensive to make, but look like high quality shelving that we could have purchased.

What you’ll need to purchase:

Wood- My husband purchased an unfinished board that was 2″ thick and 10″ wide from Lowe’s for around $10. It was twelve feet long, so we were able to get two 4 1/2 foot shelves out of one board.

Wood Stain (you can pick up one from Walmart or order this one from Amazon)

We wanted a dark walnut finish, and it turned out just like we hoped!

Brackets- The possibilities are endless depending on what look you are going for. Our house is decorated in a modern farmhouse-ish style, so metal brackets were what we decided on. We purchased these from Amazon and they arrived in about three days. Our shelves are 10 inches wide, so we ordered an 8 inch wide bracket. This is big enough to support the weight of the shelf, and gives a nice look.

Now you’re ready to begin! After my husband cut the board to the size we wanted, he used a sander to go over all the edges where it was cut. Then I used 150 grit sand paper to sand down every inch of the board. We were going for a rustic look, so I didn’t worry about it being too perfect. Sanding is a must if you want to ensure that the wood will take the stain somewhat evenly though.

I hadn’t really ever stained wood, so I had some learning to do. I used a test piece of scrap wood to get the hang of it. At first I didn’t stir the stain up well enough, so I thought it was too light of a color. Then I realized that there was a good deal of stain sitting at the bottom of the can. Once mixed thoroughly, it was perfect. The key to getting a good stain is to paint some on with a brush and then follow by wiping off the excess with a clean, dry cloth. I took it about a foot at a time painting, wiping, then repeating. The wood only needed one coat and it dried in less than an hour.

To install it was as simple as screwing the brackets into the studs on the wall, placing the boards, then securing the boards to the brackets. So simple! The shelves aren’t anything fancy, and I haven’t entirely decided how to style them, but I’m so happy with how they transformed our kitchen. It’s crazy how a few simple shelves can really add to the space. If you are looking for an easy project that you can knock out in a day, make some shelves and change the look of any room in your house. I’m already considering making more for the boys’ rooms and the guest bathroom.

Figuring Out Finances: A Plan for Parents Planning for the Future

Guest post by: Sara Bailey

Are you a parent looking to organize your finances? Wondering where to start? Financial planning should be at the top of every parent’s “to-do” list, so make it a priority to get your finances straight with these helpful hints:

Organize Your Assets

One of the first steps to financial planning is organizing your assets. Gather bank statements, mortgage documents, and any other items that pertain to your finances. Figuring out the value of your home will help you get a head start in calculating your assets, so use this tool to find your home’s value. This is also a good time to review your credit report to make sure there are no inaccuracies that could impact your future. Identity theft can happen to anyone, so it’s wise to stay on top of your credit report.

Keep Multiple Savings

As a parent, you’re constantly thinking about your family’s future. One of the best ways you can prepare for what lies ahead is to start saving. You can set multiple goals for your savings accounts. There’s more to save for than just college. Start thinking about what you would like to do when the kids are grown up as well. Retirement should be a time for parents to relax and enjoy life after working so hard to raise a family. Make sure you are prepared with a retirement fund that can keep you comfortable and happy when the time comes.

Invest Wisely

Investments are a wonderful way to enhance your financial portfolio and better your family’s future. When you think of investing, you likely think of the stock market. While putting money into stocks can definitely earn you profits, there are other ways to invest your money as well. From minerals to becoming a silent partner, you can help your assets grow in a variety of ways. If you do decide to make a major leap, think about consulting with a financial advisor to make sure you’re being smart with your money.

Update Insurance Policies

Insurance is another way to invest in your family’s health and future. Health insurance will help you cover any medical costs that arise as your children grow. It’s also a good idea to look into life insurance and familiarize yourself with the different kinds of policies and protections that are out there. Having life insurance is one of the best ways you can protect your family. Coverage provides financial peace of mind if the unthinkable happens, but you can also cash out certain policies for other expenses, like retirement or higher education. Review your car insurance as well. Instead of just purchasing minimum coverage, you may prefer full coverage so that your family has full protection. You can save on auto insurance by grouping other insurance policies together, being a safe driver, and installing an anti-theft device in your car.

Consider Charitable Giving

Philanthropy is a wonderful way to instill positive values in your children and connect your family. Giving a portion of your assets to organizations in need helps build up your community as well. To make the most of your giving, sit down as a family to talk about the causes that mean the most to each of you. Make an activity of it and give each family member a certain amount to donate to the cause they care about. Be sure to check out non-profit ratings before you give to ensure your money is being put to good use.

Have a Will

Life insurance will help your family in their time of need, but a will can make managing finances easier if something should happen to you. Work with an attorney to write out a will and make sure all of your assets are included in it. Think about your burial wishes, whether you’d like to be cremated to prefer a traditional burial, and put these last wishes into writing. It’s never pleasant to think about our own demise, but doing so becomes a necessity when you’re a parent.

Financial planning is something every family should accomplish. As a parent, you want what’s best for your children and organizing your assets is a great way to give them the stability they need to grow and thrive. So sit down and get your finances in order to offer your family — and yourself — some peace of mind.

Why the New Movie “A Quiet Place” Made Me Cry

Warning…significant spoilers ahead for the movie A Quiet Place, so if you haven’t seen it, go get a ticket today!

My husband and I decided to get a sitter and go see A Quiet Place last night. I had no clue what the movie was going to be about because my husband heard that it was best to see it without knowing too much. Of course I was up for any excuse to eat an entire bucket of popcorn, so off we went.

The movie is about a family that must be silent in order to survive. The evil creatures in the movie hunt and kill anything that makes sound. You can imagine the implications this has for a family with three children. This part of the plot alone made me sick. I’ve tried to keep three boys silent…it isn’t possible. My first thought was that our entire family would have met our demise in about two minutes. Anyway….

In the first few minutes of the movie, their youngest child is killed because the toy he is playing with makes a loud sound. I feel like the writers of the movie did a commendable job portraying the grief and guilt the rest of the family felt. As a mother who has lost a child (three in my case), I am obviously always super sensitive to child loss. I was pretty much mush from the beginning of the movie to the end, as the death of their son was a driving-force in the movie.

The couple conceives another baby, and ultimately the mom delivers a healthy baby boy. She goes to great lengths to keep the baby quiet and undetected by the creatures.

The scene that left me audibly sobbing in the theater occurred just after she delivered the baby. Her husband finally made it to her side, and she instantly started reliving the death of her son.

I’m sure the group of teenagers surrounding my husband and I in the theater probably thought I was ridiculous. I would guess that most people would have been thinking about the impending return of the murderous creatures, but not me. I sat there and choked back sobs because I had been where this woman in the movie was right then.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski star in the Paramount Pictures production.

I so clearly remember looking down at my precious Gavin in the minutes after his birth. He was born two years after my triplet sons passed away. I had prayed every day of my pregnancy for Gavin to live, and when he came out breathing it was a surreal moment. I was overwhelmed with thankfulness and joy. However, I was also overcome by grief and longing for his older brothers. Just like the mom in the movie, I was blindsided by my feelings of failure to protect my children.

The character in the movie mentions that her hands were free at the time of her son’s death. She blamed herself for not holding him and keeping him safe. She agonized over what she could have done differently to save him. I too have done the same. For years I have recounted the events surrounding my sons’ death and tried to think of how I could have saved them. There is no greater pain I will survive in my life than knowing I just couldn’t make them live.

My husband and I talked on the way home about the way we “saw” the movie. We wondered if anyone else was sitting in that theater feeling the kind of gut-wrenching pain we were while watching the scene unfold onscreen. Were there any other people in that theater that are also parenting after loss? We’ll never know for sure. What we do know is that we aren’t alone. There will be thousands of parents who will sit in a theater and see this movie. Some, like us, will be taken back to the grief of losing their child. They will shed silent (or in my case not entirely silent) tears as they feel that pain deep inside.

I’ve come to understand that people like us are forever changed by the loss of our children. We will never be truly whole again. No matter the age of their child, or the circumstances surrounding their death, a parent becomes something entirely different after their loss.

I am so pleased that a Hollywood movie tackled this delicate situation with transparency and raw emotion. It is important that parents who are grieving the loss of their child know that they are not alone. Simply seeing a character go through this on screen made me feel a little more normal. Like maybe I’m not the only Mom in the world who still feels broken years after her children’s death. My grief is part of my story, and oddly enough I wouldn’t change it for the world. As long as I still feel the pain from time to time, my boys will live on in my heart.

Moving on After a Tough Year

As I sit here reflecting on 2017, I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness. I hear squeals and laughter coming from my three boys playing in the other room. I scroll through pictures from our 15th wedding anniversary trip to Costa Rica earlier this year. I stop to work a little on things for next semester with my third grade students.

As I soak in all the good in my life, I’m not quick to forget how I got to this place. My mind slips back to seven years ago when all of the above mentioned things seemed so far from reach.

My husband and I were both recovering from job loss. Dwindling enrollment at the school I worked at caused me to be working as a teacher’s assistant and dreaming of one day having my own classroom again. My husband suddenly lost the job in the field he thought would be his career.

We had just lost our precious triplet sons, and didn’t know if our oldest would ever have a sibling.

Below I share the blog post I wrote on December 31, 2010. The emotion and devastation in my “voice” is painful to hear.

“Looking back at 2010 and forward to 2011…

It was very hard to read what I wrote on New Year’s Eve last year. I wished for a sibling for Josey, more financial security, and Mike to continue to have fun with his band. Little did I know that we would be desperately close to all those things, but in the end lose them all.

2010 began just fine until May 1st. Mike left for work that morning and returned just a few short minutes later. We never saw a dime of unemployment because they blamed him for getting fired. Don’t ask me what circumstances unemployment is for because I don’t know. He did nothing wrong, they simply were done having him around and paying his high salary I guess. So there went financial security…and for five long months, no income at all. We found out 5 days after he was fired that we were pregnant. We had been through rounds of fertility and were EXTREMELY excited. Two months later we find out it was TRIPLETS! Another huge excitement, but with worry as well. Then only 3 weeks later, the morning that will haunt us forever. I lost Johnny and then 2 weeks later lost Jaxsen and Asher. I’ve already written endlessly about the loss but it was the biggest part of our 2010. Looking back it doesn’t even seem real most of the time. Seems like it happened to someone else…because things like that WOULD NEVER happen to me. Mike worked random jobs off and on and hunted endlessly for something steady. Finally in September he found a low-paying job, but a job! We are still struggling financially. Maybe struggling is an understatement.

Looking ahead to 2011, I still want the same things as last year. I hope to look back and read this next year as I hold a little baby in my arms. Yes, I do still want that, and no pain, suffering, or sacrifice will change my mind. I am still praying for a classroom job next year, but no matter what, I am doing what God intended me to do. I will continue to teach children and care for them in any position I am placed. I hope that Mike finds true friends to play music with that will stand by him and appreciate the amazing man that he is. Maybe he will find a better paying job, maybe not. I simply wish for his pain to fade. Most importantly I hope that next year finds us stronger than ever in our love for eachother. We have been through more in this one year than all 8 years of our marriage put together. I hope we continue to provide a stable, loving, life for Josey. He is our world, and remains our focus through it all. I wish the best for all our family and friends who carried us this year when we couldn’t walk on our own. My personal goal is to mold myself into the old Allison that was not angry, sad, and confused all the time. I struggle daily with wanting the memories to fade, and wanting to never forget the way my sons felt in my arms, or what their beautiful faces looked like. I simply want to be more “normal” again. I will embrace God’s plan for my life…whatever that may be.”

I share these words now, seven years later, to say that we made it. Somehow we crawled out of that dark, hopeless place and came out standing on the other side.

We have THREE beautiful little boys now. My husband has a great job. I have been back in a classroom teaching job for almost seven years. My husband did find musicians that share his passion for music. His music even lead to us finding our dearest friends.

I had no idea how hard we would have to fight for our marriage as the grief of losing our children threatened to tear us apart. I wish I could say that we were able to quickly get back on track, but it took us years of trying to really understand each other again. Celebrating our 15th anniversary was a testament to the work we chose to put into strengthening our relationship.

I’ll never know why we were faced with the trials of 2010, but I can say that we learned a lot from that devastating year.

Most importantly, I learned that sharing the difficult stories is just as important as sharing the good ones. You never know who might be watching and might find hope in your journey. If your 2017 was like our 2010, please know that it doesn’t have to break you. No matter what trials and losses you faced, you can choose where 2018 takes you. You can choose your attitude and how you will react to challenges in the new year. It won’t be easy, but you can survive whatever has happened. Get up, put one foot in front of the other, and keep on going. 2018 just might be your year.

Sometimes a Biscuit Isn’t Just a Biscuit

A biscuit. Such a simple breakfast item, yet today it was so much more. A bacon biscuit allowed two very different moms to share a connection.

My five-year-old son is home sick today with a very high fever. He has been sick for over 36 hours now and the fever just won’t let up. I was going to leave him with my amazing parents again today, but my momma heart was just tugging at me to stay home with him. I was up with him most of the night so around 4 am I started making lesson plans and arranged for a substitute to teach my class today.

Of course I needed to drop the other two boys off and make sure copies and plans were ready on my desk at school, so I had to drag my sweet sick boy out as well. After everything was settled we started the 20 minute drive back home. Despite the fact that he hasn’t kept anything down in over 24 hours, he wanted to stop at a gas station for something to eat. Last year when he was in preschool, his Daddy would stop on the way to school if they needed gas and let him pick out a breakfast item. I knew this wasn’t a great idea, but I couldn’t say no to his precious little request.

Unfortunately, by the time we got to the gas station he had to rush inside to be sick again. As I ushered him back out to the car he again asked politely for a biscuit. I thought it was probably a waste of $2.50, but decided to let him pick something out anyway.

All my son wanted was a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, but there were none. I asked the cashier and she said they no longer made bacon biscuits. They only had breakfast pizza, sausage biscuits, and bacon croissants, which he wasn’t interested in eating. In his true kind, understanding fashion he reassured me it was okay and he would just eat some Jello when he got home.

As we once again started out the door a sweet voice called out to us from the deli section of the gas station. The lady behind the counter said she noticed he wasn’t feeling well and would be happy to make him a special biscuit just the way he wanted it.

I thanked her for going out of the way to show us such kindness. She said although her kids were grown, she was a mom too and understood how hard it is when your kids are sick. As she loaded up a biscuit with extra bacon for my little bacon-lover, she reminisced about when her kids were small. She said that one time a year she would let each of them stay home from school to spend some special one-on-one time with her. I could tell she was taken back to a happier time as she talked about how they lived in Seattle and would usually take a little day trip to a fun location.

I told her how much I loved that idea and that I try to spend time with each of my three boys too. She shared with me that she had two daughters and a son. I felt her body tighten as she said those words. What she said next took me by surprise. This sweet woman stood there behind the gas station deli counter and shared with a total stranger that one of her daughters had died.

My reaction might have surprised her too. I didn’t say a word at first. As she looked up, our eyes met and I could tell she knew I understood. I asked what her daughter’s name was and then shared with her that I too have three sons that are no longer in my arms.

In that brief moment, we weren’t just strangers standing in a gas station making small talk. It was more. We were two moms separated by more than twenty years in age, obviously from very different walks of life, connecting over a bacon biscuit. We were moms who both carry the unimaginable pain of losing a child who were able to find comfort in a stranger’s story.

Neither of us were passing judgement of the other. She didn’t comment on the fact that my son was still in his pajamas. She didn’t seem to notice that I didn’t even bother to use make-up to cover up the tired bags under my eyes from a sleepless night. We stood there as two moms who were just doing their best on a Friday morning.

As I sit here watching my sick little guy rest on the couch, I can’t help but to be thankful for the biscuit that he only took one bite of. This story isn’t really about a biscuit at all. It’s about a random act of kindness and moms supporting other moms. The last 36 hours have been filled with worry, stress, and fatigue for me, but today the mess that is motherhood turned out to be pretty beautiful.