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bracelet 7"

"Be Still" Necklace
Price$27.00
"Promise" Necklace
Price$32.00
El Roi
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High Places Necklace
Regular Price$22.50Sale Price$12.00
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Star-Breather's Daughter, Necklace
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Beauty In The Real

What do you do when your big kid has an explosive meltdown in a public place?

For me, keeping myself ultra calm has become the priority but being sure to check in with my own suppressed emotions after the fact has become really important.

#beautyinthereal #autismparenting #caregiving

What do you do when your big kid has an explosive meltdown in a public place?

For me, keeping myself ultra calm has become the priority but being sure to check in with my own suppressed emotions after the fact has become really important.

#beautyinthereal #autismparenting #caregiving

It’s been a hard day...
Jonah has been tense and on the verge of a meltdown most of the day, so this activity is not only helping him to regulate but it is also a reminder we all need sometimes.

This day is not wasted.
If there is air in your lungs then this day was assigned to you as well and God has a good purpose in it.

No matter what circumstances you might find yourself in.

These will be available soon...
they are first splotched with coffee, fitting don’t you think?

Then we stencil them with black paint...

and when Jonah isn’t looking I burn the edges with fire. Also very fitting and somewhat symbolic of what many of our days look like.

But We can make it into art that encourages us to keep looking to Jesus who promised that NOTHING would separate us from Him and his plans for our life!

#beautyinthereal #caregiving #sometimesautismlookslikethis #purposed

It’s been a hard day...
Jonah has been tense and on the verge of a meltdown most of the day, so this activity is not only helping him to regulate but it is also a reminder we all need sometimes.

This day is not wasted.
If there is air in your lungs then this day was assigned to you as well and God has a good purpose in it.

No matter what circumstances you might find yourself in.

These will be available soon...
they are first splotched with coffee, fitting don’t you think?

Then we stencil them with black paint...

and when Jonah isn’t looking I burn the edges with fire. Also very fitting and somewhat symbolic of what many of our days look like.

But We can make it into art that encourages us to keep looking to Jesus who promised that NOTHING would separate us from Him and his plans for our life!

#beautyinthereal #caregiving #sometimesautismlookslikethis #purposed

NEW Podcast Episode!
E4: Sudden Loss & Sustaining Faith with Jessica Kime

In this episode, join me in a conversation with Jessica Kime, an artist, a mother of 4 kids, and a widow. She shares with us a glimpse into the day that she lost her young and seemingly healthy husband to sudden cardiac arrest and testifies to the faithfulness of God who has continued to walk with her through the grief.

With grace and grit, she shares with us the honest ups and downs of the last few years and gives us insight into how we can better love and serve those walking through loss.

The Beauty In The Real Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Links are in my bio.

#beautyinthereal

NEW Podcast Episode!
E4: Sudden Loss & Sustaining Faith with Jessica Kime

In this episode, join me in a conversation with Jessica Kime, an artist, a mother of 4 kids, and a widow. She shares with us a glimpse into the day that she lost her young and seemingly healthy husband to sudden cardiac arrest and testifies to the faithfulness of God who has continued to walk with her through the grief.

With grace and grit, she shares with us the honest ups and downs of the last few years and gives us insight into how we can better love and serve those walking through loss.

The Beauty In The Real Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Links are in my bio.

#beautyinthereal

Jonah’s Birthday LIVE!

Jonah’s Birthday LIVE!

Lots of you say how great it is that he keeps me young.

I understand the sentiment… but that’s not exactly how it works.The truth? I’m not chasing him around.
He’s chasing me.
He won’t move unless I do. And it’s essential, for his physical and mental health, that he keeps moving. So I move. And in the process, I get a pretty great two-for-one deal.

Here’s my gentle encouragement for you today:
Whatever your caregiving situation looks like, modeling movement for the people around you will make a difference. Maybe not today.
Maybe not tomorrow.
But it will.

So don’t sit on the bench and watch them play. Get up and move.It won’t be wasted.

#beautyinthereal

Lots of you say how great it is that he keeps me young.

I understand the sentiment… but that’s not exactly how it works.The truth? I’m not chasing him around.
He’s chasing me.
He won’t move unless I do. And it’s essential, for his physical and mental health, that he keeps moving. So I move. And in the process, I get a pretty great two-for-one deal.

Here’s my gentle encouragement for you today:
Whatever your caregiving situation looks like, modeling movement for the people around you will make a difference. Maybe not today.
Maybe not tomorrow.
But it will.

So don’t sit on the bench and watch them play. Get up and move.It won’t be wasted.

#beautyinthereal

February Photos! We had lots of laughs and a few adventures, a few tears a few meltdowns.

I had a birthday, restarted the podcast, made some scripture art prints and bought more plants 🪴😍 I got to visit my sweet Aunt Jimma and hug her tight. That was a highlight for sure.

Jonah wanted to go back to sky zone 😍Oh, and he is learning to text on his phone. And of course, he’s already planning more trips.

If you are still here, following along with our real life moments and messes, we are thankful for you and count you among the beauty that we count daily.

#beautyinthereal

February Photos! We had lots of laughs and a few adventures, a few tears a few meltdowns.

I had a birthday, restarted the podcast, made some scripture art prints and bought more plants 🪴😍 I got to visit my sweet Aunt Jimma and hug her tight. That was a highlight for sure.

Jonah wanted to go back to sky zone 😍Oh, and he is learning to text on his phone. And of course, he’s already planning more trips.

If you are still here, following along with our real life moments and messes, we are thankful for you and count you among the beauty that we count daily.

#beautyinthereal

Finding Rest When You Can’t Sleep…
Reflections from my morning.

I would love to hear what helps you find rest when circumstances are hard and regular rules do not aply! 👇🏻

#beautyinthereal

Finding Rest When You Can’t Sleep…
Reflections from my morning.

I would love to hear what helps you find rest when circumstances are hard and regular rules do not aply! 👇🏻

#beautyinthereal

I get to be his mom, his activity partner and his best friend. And today was a good day for all three.

We tried out Sky Zone again after he “canceled” it a few years ago. He used to love it and I was hoping he would again. He Did and I am so thankful for an activity that is also exercise… for both of us!!!

Also, this is Jonah’s song pick for you today!

I get to be his mom, his activity partner and his best friend. And today was a good day for all three.

We tried out Sky Zone again after he “canceled” it a few years ago. He used to love it and I was hoping he would again. He Did and I am so thankful for an activity that is also exercise… for both of us!!!

Also, this is Jonah’s song pick for you today!

I was recently asked if Jonah is possessive or controlling of me —
and if I could share how we handle that.

Short answer?
Yes.

Long answer? Also yes… but with context.

It’s not something I’ve really wanted to unpack in a public space. Because the judgment (and the ahem “expert advice”) that would flood my DMs would not be fun — for me or for the other moms quietly navigating similar dynamics with their kids.

So let’s just say this: I am Jonah’s greatest regulating factor. His nervous system finds safety in me. And over time, that safety has turned into a level of dependence that isn’t really healthy for either of us.

Is it possessiveness? Sometimes.
Does it look controlling from the outside? It can.
Is it actually anxiety and dysregulation in a 23-year-old autistic man whose brain still defaults to “Mom = safe”? Yes.

This isn’t about a toddler clinging to my leg in Target.
This is about an adult son whose nervous system hasn’t caught up with his age.

Acknowledging it is one thing. Untangling it is another.

We’re working on it — slowly. Stretching tolerance in inches, not miles. Practicing space in small, sustainable ways. Building regulation tools that don’t have my name attached to them.

And in the meantime?

I remind myself that my goal isn’t to make him independent overnight. It’s to help him build safety that lives inside his own body.

If you’re walking this road with an autistic child,teen or adult — if you feel like the “safe person” role is both an honor and a crushing weight — you are not alone.

We have to learn to hold boundaries and compassion at the same time.
We try to reduce dependence without withdrawing love.
And we can trust that slow growth is still growth — even at 23.

One inch at a time. 💛

I was recently asked if Jonah is possessive or controlling of me —
and if I could share how we handle that.

Short answer?
Yes.

Long answer? Also yes… but with context.

It’s not something I’ve really wanted to unpack in a public space. Because the judgment (and the ahem “expert advice”) that would flood my DMs would not be fun — for me or for the other moms quietly navigating similar dynamics with their kids.

So let’s just say this: I am Jonah’s greatest regulating factor. His nervous system finds safety in me. And over time, that safety has turned into a level of dependence that isn’t really healthy for either of us.

Is it possessiveness? Sometimes.
Does it look controlling from the outside? It can.
Is it actually anxiety and dysregulation in a 23-year-old autistic man whose brain still defaults to “Mom = safe”? Yes.

This isn’t about a toddler clinging to my leg in Target.
This is about an adult son whose nervous system hasn’t caught up with his age.

Acknowledging it is one thing. Untangling it is another.

We’re working on it — slowly. Stretching tolerance in inches, not miles. Practicing space in small, sustainable ways. Building regulation tools that don’t have my name attached to them.

And in the meantime?

I remind myself that my goal isn’t to make him independent overnight. It’s to help him build safety that lives inside his own body.

If you’re walking this road with an autistic child,teen or adult — if you feel like the “safe person” role is both an honor and a crushing weight — you are not alone.

We have to learn to hold boundaries and compassion at the same time.
We try to reduce dependence without withdrawing love.
And we can trust that slow growth is still growth — even at 23.

One inch at a time. 💛

A beautiful conversation about holding pain and grief and being honest with God while still holding onto faith.

Listen to the whole conversation on the Beauty In The Real podcast, available on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcast.

#beautyinthereal

A beautiful conversation about holding pain and grief and being honest with God while still holding onto faith.

Listen to the whole conversation on the Beauty In The Real podcast, available on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcast.

#beautyinthereal

#beautyinthereal

#beautyinthereal

I don’t really have any new content right now.

No new systems.
No big wins.
No “this changed everything for us” update.

It’s just been the same cycle on repeat.

Same needs.
Same struggles.
Same conversations.
Same prayers that feel unanswered and have me questioning if I am even praying the right things.

Life in a hard season can feel a lot like Groundhog Day — wake up, do the exact same exhausting stuff, go to bed, and do it again tomorrow.

And sometimes… This kind of season can mess with your faith.

Not in a dramatic, crisis-of-belief way.
But in a slow, worn-down way.

Where you still believe God is good…
but you’re also tired of asking for strength.
Tired of waiting for change.
Tired of feeling stuck while everyone else seems to be moving forward.

Some days faith looks less like confidence and more like just… not quitting.

Getting up.
Doing what needs to be done.
Choosing to trust God again even though nothing looks different than it did yesterday.

Choosing to worship God in the hard places.

So if you’re in a season where it feels like you’re living the same day over and over — whether that’s caregiving, grief, burnout, health stuff, parenting, work stress, whatever —

You’re not broken because you’re struggling to stay hopeful.

Sometimes holding onto faith looks like hanging on by a thread and saying,
“God, I don’t see what You’re doing here… but I’m still here, and I believe that you are too”

And that still counts.
#beautyinthereal

I don’t really have any new content right now.

No new systems.
No big wins.
No “this changed everything for us” update.

It’s just been the same cycle on repeat.

Same needs.
Same struggles.
Same conversations.
Same prayers that feel unanswered and have me questioning if I am even praying the right things.

Life in a hard season can feel a lot like Groundhog Day — wake up, do the exact same exhausting stuff, go to bed, and do it again tomorrow.

And sometimes… This kind of season can mess with your faith.

Not in a dramatic, crisis-of-belief way.
But in a slow, worn-down way.

Where you still believe God is good…
but you’re also tired of asking for strength.
Tired of waiting for change.
Tired of feeling stuck while everyone else seems to be moving forward.

Some days faith looks less like confidence and more like just… not quitting.

Getting up.
Doing what needs to be done.
Choosing to trust God again even though nothing looks different than it did yesterday.

Choosing to worship God in the hard places.

So if you’re in a season where it feels like you’re living the same day over and over — whether that’s caregiving, grief, burnout, health stuff, parenting, work stress, whatever —

You’re not broken because you’re struggling to stay hopeful.

Sometimes holding onto faith looks like hanging on by a thread and saying,
“God, I don’t see what You’re doing here… but I’m still here, and I believe that you are too”

And that still counts.
#beautyinthereal

Finally! There is a new episode of The Beauty In The Real Podcast ready and waiting for you…. There are so many of you who have inspired this new season and the episodes that will follow. Your stories, your tears and prayer requests are what I held in my heart as I recorded.

I hope you will be encouraged.

Beauty In The Real Podcast is an available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

#beautyinthereal

Finally! There is a new episode of The Beauty In The Real Podcast ready and waiting for you…. There are so many of you who have inspired this new season and the episodes that will follow. Your stories, your tears and prayer requests are what I held in my heart as I recorded.

I hope you will be encouraged.

Beauty In The Real Podcast is an available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

#beautyinthereal

Jonah and Officer John ended the afternoon by exchanging Bible verses. Of course Jonah had to have the last word but John shared with us how he keeps this verse from Isaiah 6 in his heart and mind every time he goes out on a call. “Here I am Lord, send me” and then he goes, to the lost, the broken and the hurting. We can all use that reminder in whatever God is calling us to do today.

Thank you @johnlively410 for answering the call of your community and your Creator.
#beautyinthereal

Jonah and Officer John ended the afternoon by exchanging Bible verses. Of course Jonah had to have the last word but John shared with us how he keeps this verse from Isaiah 6 in his heart and mind every time he goes out on a call. “Here I am Lord, send me” and then he goes, to the lost, the broken and the hurting. We can all use that reminder in whatever God is calling us to do today.

Thank you @johnlively410 for answering the call of your community and your Creator.
#beautyinthereal

When God wants to remind you that he’s paying attention, sometimes he does it with a police truck on the beach!

Jonah first met Officer John in October of 2024 while we were in Myrtle Beach, SC, filming Traveling On The Spectrum Season 2. The production crew arranged a beach visit with an officer who was incredibly kind and so in tune with Jonah. They hit it off immediately. Jonah even got to ride in the truck and make announcements over the bullhorn—much to everyone’s delight.

When we planned another trip to Myrtle Beach 16 months later, Jonah asked if he could see Officer John again. We didn’t have his contact information, so we quietly let the idea go.

But God had another plan.

Yesterday, as we were turning into our hotel after a walk on the beach, I spotted a Beach Patrol truck in the distance and suggested we wait and wave to the officer on duty. I thought it might help check the box in Jonah’s mind—and I always love when he gets to interact with officers in positive settings.

As the truck slowed and the window rolled down, we were stunned to discover it was Officer John. He remembered Jonah from the filming, and we were all in awe of how perfectly God orchestrated the timing.

Jonah got to ride in the truck again, and Officer John even invited us to the station for a tour. It has been the highlight of our trip—not only because of how much joy it brought Jonah, but because it was a sweet reminder that God is always working behind the scenes for our good. And sometimes, He lets us catch a glimpse of the blessings He’s been arranging all along.

#beautyinthereal #sometimesautismlookslikethis

When God wants to remind you that he’s paying attention, sometimes he does it with a police truck on the beach!

Jonah first met Officer John in October of 2024 while we were in Myrtle Beach, SC, filming Traveling On The Spectrum Season 2. The production crew arranged a beach visit with an officer who was incredibly kind and so in tune with Jonah. They hit it off immediately. Jonah even got to ride in the truck and make announcements over the bullhorn—much to everyone’s delight.

When we planned another trip to Myrtle Beach 16 months later, Jonah asked if he could see Officer John again. We didn’t have his contact information, so we quietly let the idea go.

But God had another plan.

Yesterday, as we were turning into our hotel after a walk on the beach, I spotted a Beach Patrol truck in the distance and suggested we wait and wave to the officer on duty. I thought it might help check the box in Jonah’s mind—and I always love when he gets to interact with officers in positive settings.

As the truck slowed and the window rolled down, we were stunned to discover it was Officer John. He remembered Jonah from the filming, and we were all in awe of how perfectly God orchestrated the timing.

Jonah got to ride in the truck again, and Officer John even invited us to the station for a tour. It has been the highlight of our trip—not only because of how much joy it brought Jonah, but because it was a sweet reminder that God is always working behind the scenes for our good. And sometimes, He lets us catch a glimpse of the blessings He’s been arranging all along.

#beautyinthereal #sometimesautismlookslikethis

Well, we checked the box!
Or at least we tried…
🥶😜😆

Well, we checked the box!
Or at least we tried…
🥶😜😆

A new day that was assigned to us… complete with a beautiful sunrise, crisp ocean air and joy in motion.

Thankful for the gift of this day and endeavoring to give God glory in it.
We hope the same for you!

#beautyinthereal #specialneedsfamily #sometimesautismlookslikethis

A new day that was assigned to us… complete with a beautiful sunrise, crisp ocean air and joy in motion.

Thankful for the gift of this day and endeavoring to give God glory in it.
We hope the same for you!

#beautyinthereal #specialneedsfamily #sometimesautismlookslikethis

Today is my 56th birthday and I set a goal of being able to do 56 pushups (not all at once 😜 cause I’m not that girl!)

A couple years ago, I couldn’t even to one! So much inflammation in my joints, weak muscles and some extra weight I was carrying around…. Little by little, day by day I’ve gotten stronger and today was a celebration of that!

I did them everywhere we went today, and sometimes Jonah jumped in and joined me. I made it to 60 and then saw one more cool place to film another set!

Then my mom said I was just showing off so I decided to go to 83 in honor or her 83 years of life and the fact that she chose life for me as an unwed single mother.

So many of you celebrated my birthday by doing a few pushups yourself and it made me so incredibly happy to have you join me!

God has been so incredibly faithful to me and his goodness has followed me all the days of my life! I am so blessed.

#beautyinthereal

Today is my 56th birthday and I set a goal of being able to do 56 pushups (not all at once 😜 cause I’m not that girl!)

A couple years ago, I couldn’t even to one! So much inflammation in my joints, weak muscles and some extra weight I was carrying around…. Little by little, day by day I’ve gotten stronger and today was a celebration of that!

I did them everywhere we went today, and sometimes Jonah jumped in and joined me. I made it to 60 and then saw one more cool place to film another set!

Then my mom said I was just showing off so I decided to go to 83 in honor or her 83 years of life and the fact that she chose life for me as an unwed single mother.

So many of you celebrated my birthday by doing a few pushups yourself and it made me so incredibly happy to have you join me!

God has been so incredibly faithful to me and his goodness has followed me all the days of my life! I am so blessed.

#beautyinthereal

No fish were harmed in the making of this video, though that jellyfish might be slightly traumatized 😜

But Jonah had a great time today at @ripleysmyrtlebeach and we love how welcoming they are to individuals with autism. It was honestly the best aquarium I’ve ever been to and it was fun to watch Jonah enjoy the experience.

I thought about adding some fancy audio but decided that all of Jonah’s utterances are much more “beauty in the real” 😜😍😆

#beautyinthereal

No fish were harmed in the making of this video, though that jellyfish might be slightly traumatized 😜

But Jonah had a great time today at @ripleysmyrtlebeach and we love how welcoming they are to individuals with autism. It was honestly the best aquarium I’ve ever been to and it was fun to watch Jonah enjoy the experience.

I thought about adding some fancy audio but decided that all of Jonah’s utterances are much more “beauty in the real” 😜😍😆

#beautyinthereal

Hey Sweet Mama, If you are in a hard season of caregiving, I see you, I’ve been you, somedays, I am still you.

But God sees you too!
Come along as I preach to myself about his Love and Faithfulness
as I look for beauty in real life moments and messes and meltdowns.

#beautyinthereal #caregivers

Hey Sweet Mama, If you are in a hard season of caregiving, I see you, I’ve been you, somedays, I am still you.

But God sees you too!
Come along as I preach to myself about his Love and Faithfulness
as I look for beauty in real life moments and messes and meltdowns.

#beautyinthereal #caregivers

Actual real life with Jonah. Not riveting content but I think it’s beautiful… and real, which is what I’m all about.

#beautyinthereal

Actual real life with Jonah. Not riveting content but I think it’s beautiful… and real, which is what I’m all about.

#beautyinthereal

The journey of fatherhood has taken a turn some men never imagined.

This wasn’t the path they dreamed of, but they stayed the course.
The story looks different than they would have written it, but they keep coming home, even when they don’t know what will be on the next page.

Even through the hard days and sleepless nights, they learn patience and skills they never knew they would need.

This kind of fatherhood isn’t loud.

It’s consistent.
It’s steady.
It shows up.

Yes, they fail sometimes.
They lose their cool.
They say things they wish they hadn’t.
But they don’t give up.

It’s a different kind of strength.
Not loud. Not perfect.
But enough.
The kind God knew I would need — and I don’t say thank you nearly enough.

Send this to a dad that needs to know he is appreciated.

#beautyinthereal #autism #specialneedsdad

The journey of fatherhood has taken a turn some men never imagined.

This wasn’t the path they dreamed of, but they stayed the course.
The story looks different than they would have written it, but they keep coming home, even when they don’t know what will be on the next page.

Even through the hard days and sleepless nights, they learn patience and skills they never knew they would need.

This kind of fatherhood isn’t loud.

It’s consistent.
It’s steady.
It shows up.

Yes, they fail sometimes.
They lose their cool.
They say things they wish they hadn’t.
But they don’t give up.

It’s a different kind of strength.
Not loud. Not perfect.
But enough.
The kind God knew I would need — and I don’t say thank you nearly enough.

Send this to a dad that needs to know he is appreciated.

#beautyinthereal #autism #specialneedsdad

LIVE Q & A! Reflection on Faith, Meds, Travel, and more! Thanks for joining me.

LIVE Q & A! Reflection on Faith, Meds, Travel, and more! Thanks for joining me.

“Behold, I am making all things new.”
It’s a promise. A vision of future hope.
A current work with future results.
And yet… some days it feels like nothing is changing.

The same patterns. The same prayers.
Healing hasn’t come. The page hasn’t turned.

If we’re honest, we don’t always like this part of the story God is writing for us and we long for something new.

But God, whose ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours, He wants something new for us too. Not always new circumstances right away, but new life within them. A new heart where ours feels tired or guarded. A renewed spirit when hope feels thin. A transformed mind when the anxious thoughts rush in.

“Forget the former things… See, I am doing a new thing!”
Sometimes the new is already sprouting beneath the surface, long before I can perceive it. (Isaiah 43:18–19)

He is creating clean hearts
(Psalm 51:10).
Replacing stone with flesh
(Ezekiel 36:26).
Renewing minds and steadying our steps (Romans 12:2).
And faithfully completing what He began, even when progress feels painfully slow (Philippians 1:6).

So today, we press on, not because we have it all figured out, but because God is not finished yet (Philippians 3:13–14).

The Author is still writing.
And the promise still stands:
Behold… He is making all things new.

I am trying out something new too… An art print with this devotional card is now available in my shop. 💛

#beautyinthereal

“Behold, I am making all things new.”
It’s a promise. A vision of future hope.
A current work with future results.
And yet… some days it feels like nothing is changing.

The same patterns. The same prayers.
Healing hasn’t come. The page hasn’t turned.

If we’re honest, we don’t always like this part of the story God is writing for us and we long for something new.

But God, whose ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours, He wants something new for us too. Not always new circumstances right away, but new life within them. A new heart where ours feels tired or guarded. A renewed spirit when hope feels thin. A transformed mind when the anxious thoughts rush in.

“Forget the former things… See, I am doing a new thing!”
Sometimes the new is already sprouting beneath the surface, long before I can perceive it. (Isaiah 43:18–19)

He is creating clean hearts
(Psalm 51:10).
Replacing stone with flesh
(Ezekiel 36:26).
Renewing minds and steadying our steps (Romans 12:2).
And faithfully completing what He began, even when progress feels painfully slow (Philippians 1:6).

So today, we press on, not because we have it all figured out, but because God is not finished yet (Philippians 3:13–14).

The Author is still writing.
And the promise still stands:
Behold… He is making all things new.

I am trying out something new too… An art print with this devotional card is now available in my shop. 💛

#beautyinthereal

I honestly never know what he is going to say! But I think this one was a good reminder for our Monday! Now get out there and share what you have!

#sometimesautismlookslikethis #beautyinthereal

I honestly never know what he is going to say! But I think this one was a good reminder for our Monday! Now get out there and share what you have!

#sometimesautismlookslikethis #beautyinthereal

“You are such FUN parents!”

This comment came in recently, and my immediate thought was… well, that needs a little context.

Because the truth is, neither of us really wanted to go sledding today. But we’re Jonah’s only option for a fun life, and if we don’t make these moments happen, no one else will. So we layered up in snow gear, loaded the car, and went in search of adventure.

What that actually looks like is careful planning and a lot of mental gymnastics—dodging triggers like too many kids, missing gear, or anything that could turn laughter into a full-blown meltdown. Add in the very real fear of injury (which, for Jonah, could be traumatic in ways he might carry for years), and “fun” starts to feel like a strategic operation.

But we did it. And it was fun… even if Jonah’s face looks unimpressed 😜We did not hit the tree (though I was convinced we would on every descent).

It’s been a really hard weekend for all of us, but this moment ended it on a happy note—and I’m grateful for that.

Fun parents? Maybe.
Tired parents in snow pants? Definitely.

#beautyinthereal
#specialneedsparenting

“You are such FUN parents!”

This comment came in recently, and my immediate thought was… well, that needs a little context.

Because the truth is, neither of us really wanted to go sledding today. But we’re Jonah’s only option for a fun life, and if we don’t make these moments happen, no one else will. So we layered up in snow gear, loaded the car, and went in search of adventure.

What that actually looks like is careful planning and a lot of mental gymnastics—dodging triggers like too many kids, missing gear, or anything that could turn laughter into a full-blown meltdown. Add in the very real fear of injury (which, for Jonah, could be traumatic in ways he might carry for years), and “fun” starts to feel like a strategic operation.

But we did it. And it was fun… even if Jonah’s face looks unimpressed 😜We did not hit the tree (though I was convinced we would on every descent).

It’s been a really hard weekend for all of us, but this moment ended it on a happy note—and I’m grateful for that.

Fun parents? Maybe.
Tired parents in snow pants? Definitely.

#beautyinthereal
#specialneedsparenting

The calendar may have turned to a new year, but it can feel like nothing has really changed. The same script plays on repeat, day after day, and the hope of change can feel risky—too fragile, too slippery to hold onto.

As a full-time, all-the-time caregiver to my adult autistic son, many days feel like Groundhog Day. Add in sleepless nights and a lack of outside support, and it quickly becomes a recipe for overwhelm.

So where do I take my weary heart when my circumstances are likely to remain the same for the foreseeable future?

I look backwards.

I look to all the ways God has carried me through the days, months, and years behind me. Not as a highlight reel of miraculous answers to prayers prayed through tears, but as a sacred remembering of how He has met me in every painful season. I can trace His good and gracious work in my heart—even when I longed for a different story for my life.

And it is in this remembering that my heart is convinced anew: He is still at work. He is still meeting me in the pain. That is the hope I carry into this new year—not the promise of a new script, but the assurance of the same faithful God walking with me through it.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
—Lamentations 3:22–23

If you’re stepping into this year tired, disappointed, or holding a story you didn’t choose, you’re not alone. May you find just enough strength for today—and the quiet comfort of knowing God meets us right here.
#beautyinthereal

The calendar may have turned to a new year, but it can feel like nothing has really changed. The same script plays on repeat, day after day, and the hope of change can feel risky—too fragile, too slippery to hold onto.

As a full-time, all-the-time caregiver to my adult autistic son, many days feel like Groundhog Day. Add in sleepless nights and a lack of outside support, and it quickly becomes a recipe for overwhelm.

So where do I take my weary heart when my circumstances are likely to remain the same for the foreseeable future?

I look backwards.

I look to all the ways God has carried me through the days, months, and years behind me. Not as a highlight reel of miraculous answers to prayers prayed through tears, but as a sacred remembering of how He has met me in every painful season. I can trace His good and gracious work in my heart—even when I longed for a different story for my life.

And it is in this remembering that my heart is convinced anew: He is still at work. He is still meeting me in the pain. That is the hope I carry into this new year—not the promise of a new script, but the assurance of the same faithful God walking with me through it.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
—Lamentations 3:22–23

If you’re stepping into this year tired, disappointed, or holding a story you didn’t choose, you’re not alone. May you find just enough strength for today—and the quiet comfort of knowing God meets us right here.
#beautyinthereal

Those elementary school songs sure come in handy when making plans for the new year! 🤣😍😜
#beautyinthereal

Those elementary school songs sure come in handy when making plans for the new year! 🤣😍😜
#beautyinthereal

I don’t know what your 2025 highlight reel looks like.
Maybe it’s a life others would envy… or maybe it requires just the right trending audio to help sell a story you wish felt more true.

For most of us, though, real life holds an ebb and flow—beauty woven into the mess, tears no one sees, and joy that doesn’t need likes or comments to settle deep into our souls.

For us, the year began with Jonah moving into a group home, where he lasted forty days and forty nights. I was honestly so relieved to have him back home. Since then, there were a few grand adventures to exotic locations—like Lincoln, Nebraska and Waukesha, Wisconsin. There was water and leaves and snow as the seasons turned. There were trials and victories, good friends, a new podcast, Christmas ornaments, and necklaces shipped around the world.

But more than anything, there was a steady thread of God’s faithfulness—woven through every high and every low. And we end this year more convinced than ever that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

My greatest prayer is that you, too, would be convinced of this truth as you walk through the circumstances of your own life.

Happy New Year.
“It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.” — J.R.R. Tolkien ✨

I don’t know what your 2025 highlight reel looks like.
Maybe it’s a life others would envy… or maybe it requires just the right trending audio to help sell a story you wish felt more true.

For most of us, though, real life holds an ebb and flow—beauty woven into the mess, tears no one sees, and joy that doesn’t need likes or comments to settle deep into our souls.

For us, the year began with Jonah moving into a group home, where he lasted forty days and forty nights. I was honestly so relieved to have him back home. Since then, there were a few grand adventures to exotic locations—like Lincoln, Nebraska and Waukesha, Wisconsin. There was water and leaves and snow as the seasons turned. There were trials and victories, good friends, a new podcast, Christmas ornaments, and necklaces shipped around the world.

But more than anything, there was a steady thread of God’s faithfulness—woven through every high and every low. And we end this year more convinced than ever that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

My greatest prayer is that you, too, would be convinced of this truth as you walk through the circumstances of your own life.

Happy New Year.
“It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.” — J.R.R. Tolkien ✨

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Truly wishing you JOY in every season.
💛
#beautyinthereal

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Truly wishing you JOY in every season.
💛
#beautyinthereal

Just saving this fun family memory right here… because when your sister majored in Theatre, every family gathering becomes a full-blown production 🎭✨

A few things you might be wondering:
• The table — yes, I bought it on FB Marketplace. Turns out it doubles as a very solid stage for workouts and impromptu dance numbers. Best money I ever spent.
• Jonah did not, in fact, drink the beer. Though he is 23 and if he wanted to, we’d allow it 😉 The empty bottle just makes an excellent microphone.
• Our Siri actually married a teacher and kisses him regularly, which is why she can sing this song with her whole devoted heart 🎶💋

Wishing you all a very Merry Un-Christmas 🎄
Not because we don’t celebrate the birth of Jesus—but because our traditions get a little… wonky on Jonah’s timeline.

#beautyinthereal

Just saving this fun family memory right here… because when your sister majored in Theatre, every family gathering becomes a full-blown production 🎭✨

A few things you might be wondering:
• The table — yes, I bought it on FB Marketplace. Turns out it doubles as a very solid stage for workouts and impromptu dance numbers. Best money I ever spent.
• Jonah did not, in fact, drink the beer. Though he is 23 and if he wanted to, we’d allow it 😉 The empty bottle just makes an excellent microphone.
• Our Siri actually married a teacher and kisses him regularly, which is why she can sing this song with her whole devoted heart 🎶💋

Wishing you all a very Merry Un-Christmas 🎄
Not because we don’t celebrate the birth of Jesus—but because our traditions get a little… wonky on Jonah’s timeline.

#beautyinthereal

I was having a hard morning. The combination of life circumstances and life cycle changes had my insides in a knot and my spirit spiraling into dark places of doubt and despair.

But I know the drill, and I know what pulls me out of it. So I put the worship music in my ear, got my body moving and focused on the words of truth as they blasted in my ear. Then I took my phone, the one I am trying to spend less time on... and walked around my house, taking photos of the things that make me smile and remind my heart of God’s faithfulness.

1. The water droplets glistening on my thriving Spider Plant
2.Shells that I collected on the shores of Japan over 30 years ago. I had sent them to my mother who saved them all these years and gave them back to me this past summer.
3. Then sings my soul... the sign in the sunroom that frames my view as I go about the day.
4. The December sun, low and soft in the sky, making it look like a sunset all day long as the evergreens have their moment.
5. A painting and a tiny clay pot, both reminders of beautiful women who are walking through their own tear filled days but holding on to Jesus in the midst of hard seasons.
6. Sweet tangerines that Jonah likes to press into juice.
7. A painting of Kaneohe Bay that hangs on my wall. I was 13 when we moved to Hawaii and into a house that had a view of these mountains. I was 15 when I got baptized in the turquoise waters that you see, just off Chinaman’s Hat.
8. The words that hang over my often unmade bed and remind me that God is forever faithful.
9. A photo that I took at sunrise in Maine. It seemed a perfect backdrop for these words that I need to hear every day so that I don’t lose my way on the hard days.

Each of these photos captures a reason for my heart to find gratitude today and I am sharing so that maybe you will be inspired to find the beauty in your own real life moments and messes. I would love to hear what yours are today.

I was having a hard morning. The combination of life circumstances and life cycle changes had my insides in a knot and my spirit spiraling into dark places of doubt and despair.

But I know the drill, and I know what pulls me out of it. So I put the worship music in my ear, got my body moving and focused on the words of truth as they blasted in my ear. Then I took my phone, the one I am trying to spend less time on... and walked around my house, taking photos of the things that make me smile and remind my heart of God’s faithfulness.

1. The water droplets glistening on my thriving Spider Plant
2.Shells that I collected on the shores of Japan over 30 years ago. I had sent them to my mother who saved them all these years and gave them back to me this past summer.
3. Then sings my soul... the sign in the sunroom that frames my view as I go about the day.
4. The December sun, low and soft in the sky, making it look like a sunset all day long as the evergreens have their moment.
5. A painting and a tiny clay pot, both reminders of beautiful women who are walking through their own tear filled days but holding on to Jesus in the midst of hard seasons.
6. Sweet tangerines that Jonah likes to press into juice.
7. A painting of Kaneohe Bay that hangs on my wall. I was 13 when we moved to Hawaii and into a house that had a view of these mountains. I was 15 when I got baptized in the turquoise waters that you see, just off Chinaman’s Hat.
8. The words that hang over my often unmade bed and remind me that God is forever faithful.
9. A photo that I took at sunrise in Maine. It seemed a perfect backdrop for these words that I need to hear every day so that I don’t lose my way on the hard days.

Each of these photos captures a reason for my heart to find gratitude today and I am sharing so that maybe you will be inspired to find the beauty in your own real life moments and messes. I would love to hear what yours are today.

Well, he said the same thing last year 😜 but still wanted to go this year so we will see what he actually decides for next year 🤣.

#beautyinthereal

Well, he said the same thing last year 😜 but still wanted to go this year so we will see what he actually decides for next year 🤣.

#beautyinthereal

That finger at the end is my favorite… but this is the way Jonah has to do the 12 Days of Christmas, he will borrow a couple extra fingers from whoever is in the vicinity 😍

#beautyinthereal

That finger at the end is my favorite… but this is the way Jonah has to do the 12 Days of Christmas, he will borrow a couple extra fingers from whoever is in the vicinity 😍

#beautyinthereal

Maybe your house sounds a lot like mine… loud.
And maybe it’s just as loud as the excuses in your head telling you not to move your one beautiful body today.

While Jonah’s script runs on repeat—over and over in his mind and right out of his mouth—mine tends to stay locked inside my head. Those thoughts get reinforced by the constant noise, the endless distractions, and a life that feels uncomfortable and exhausting. Everything in me is screaming for rest, not reps. Add in sleepless nights and everyone else’s needs, and suddenly being sedentary feels completely justified.

I’ve tried it that way. And honestly? It left me more tired, in more pain, and less equipped for the calling I’ve been given.

So, step by painful step, I climbed out of my excuse-filled hole and started finding my way back to energy and mobility. I don’t know what kind of pain your hole is filled with, and I can’t tell you what your step-by-step process should look like. I just want to encourage you to find your next step.

As a now 55-year-old woman, I can tell you with confidence—no matter your age—it’s never going to be easier than it is right now. You won’t magically find more time or energy in the next season. And if you’re a caregiver-mom carrying extra needs, it may actually get harder.

So start today. One push-up. A few stretches. A short walk.
Put the phone down, lift your eyes to the sun and the sky, and remember the Creator who fashioned you with purpose—and strength you’re still allowed to steward.

You’re worth the effort. 💛

#beautyinthereal

Maybe your house sounds a lot like mine… loud.
And maybe it’s just as loud as the excuses in your head telling you not to move your one beautiful body today.

While Jonah’s script runs on repeat—over and over in his mind and right out of his mouth—mine tends to stay locked inside my head. Those thoughts get reinforced by the constant noise, the endless distractions, and a life that feels uncomfortable and exhausting. Everything in me is screaming for rest, not reps. Add in sleepless nights and everyone else’s needs, and suddenly being sedentary feels completely justified.

I’ve tried it that way. And honestly? It left me more tired, in more pain, and less equipped for the calling I’ve been given.

So, step by painful step, I climbed out of my excuse-filled hole and started finding my way back to energy and mobility. I don’t know what kind of pain your hole is filled with, and I can’t tell you what your step-by-step process should look like. I just want to encourage you to find your next step.

As a now 55-year-old woman, I can tell you with confidence—no matter your age—it’s never going to be easier than it is right now. You won’t magically find more time or energy in the next season. And if you’re a caregiver-mom carrying extra needs, it may actually get harder.

So start today. One push-up. A few stretches. A short walk.
Put the phone down, lift your eyes to the sun and the sky, and remember the Creator who fashioned you with purpose—and strength you’re still allowed to steward.

You’re worth the effort. 💛

#beautyinthereal

A section of Christmas lights went out this afternoon, and in the upside-down world of our kind of Autism, that meant ALL the Christmas decorations had to come down. Immediately. ❄️✨ No questions, no hesitation, no “but it’s only December 11th!”—just poof, Christmas is DONE 🎄🚫

And honestly? I wasn’t even sad about it. Everything has been up since September 😅 and this mama has been “festive’d out” for weeks. But since a few questions always seem to come up, let me go ahead and answer them:

1. “Will this affect how presents are handled?”
NOPE. Jonah cancelled presents years ago. 🎁❌ The whole gift-opening thing made him anxious, so je declared that presents are JUNK. Our kids were older by then anyway, so now we just slip them some cash and call it a very Merry Minimalist Christmas. 💸🎄

2. “Does Jonah understand the calendar?”
YES—better than most ! 📅😂 He’s obsessed with dates. But understanding time doesn’t mean he plans to live by it. He makes up his own timelines… like the year he decided 2024 and 2025 were actually one giant mega-year. Or how he rearranged a birthdays to accommodate his own schedule of cake making.

3. “It seems like you let him control the whole house! Why can’t you just tell him NO?”
Oh friends… we tell him “no” ALL. THE. TIME. 🙃 The reality is that there are so many things in his life that he will never get to control. But he is a 23-year-old man with likes, dislikes, and opinions about his environment—and when we can honor them, we do. Choosing our battles keeps the peace for everyone. ✌️ And believe me… we have tried it the other way. No one was happy. Not even a little.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR… at least until that get cancelled too 😜

#beautyinthereal

A section of Christmas lights went out this afternoon, and in the upside-down world of our kind of Autism, that meant ALL the Christmas decorations had to come down. Immediately. ❄️✨ No questions, no hesitation, no “but it’s only December 11th!”—just poof, Christmas is DONE 🎄🚫

And honestly? I wasn’t even sad about it. Everything has been up since September 😅 and this mama has been “festive’d out” for weeks. But since a few questions always seem to come up, let me go ahead and answer them:

1. “Will this affect how presents are handled?”
NOPE. Jonah cancelled presents years ago. 🎁❌ The whole gift-opening thing made him anxious, so je declared that presents are JUNK. Our kids were older by then anyway, so now we just slip them some cash and call it a very Merry Minimalist Christmas. 💸🎄

2. “Does Jonah understand the calendar?”
YES—better than most ! 📅😂 He’s obsessed with dates. But understanding time doesn’t mean he plans to live by it. He makes up his own timelines… like the year he decided 2024 and 2025 were actually one giant mega-year. Or how he rearranged a birthdays to accommodate his own schedule of cake making.

3. “It seems like you let him control the whole house! Why can’t you just tell him NO?”
Oh friends… we tell him “no” ALL. THE. TIME. 🙃 The reality is that there are so many things in his life that he will never get to control. But he is a 23-year-old man with likes, dislikes, and opinions about his environment—and when we can honor them, we do. Choosing our battles keeps the peace for everyone. ✌️ And believe me… we have tried it the other way. No one was happy. Not even a little.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR… at least until that get cancelled too 😜

#beautyinthereal

A clip from our holiday episode of The Beauty In The Real Podcast… and the reminder that Jesus meets us right here in the middle of our moments, messes an meltdowns….

#beautyinthereal

A clip from our holiday episode of The Beauty In The Real Podcast… and the reminder that Jesus meets us right here in the middle of our moments, messes an meltdowns….

#beautyinthereal

Well, I thought it was GLORIOUS! And he got some exercise so we are going to call it a win! 😜🤣💛

Well, I thought it was GLORIOUS! And he got some exercise so we are going to call it a win! 😜🤣💛

November, I actually think it is one of the prettiest months of the year. Something about the soft muted color palate and the sunlight that hangs low in the sky, it makes it look like a gentle sunset all day long. The days were long… but beauty showed up in the every day “real” and I am thankful for family and anniversaries and the lights in the sky and the colors on the trees and stollen moments of stillness
What were you thankful for in November?

November, I actually think it is one of the prettiest months of the year. Something about the soft muted color palate and the sunlight that hangs low in the sky, it makes it look like a gentle sunset all day long. The days were long… but beauty showed up in the every day “real” and I am thankful for family and anniversaries and the lights in the sky and the colors on the trees and stollen moments of stillness
What were you thankful for in November?

Happy Birthday to The Mom, The Myth, The Legend! She has been an unforgettable force since the day she was born over 8 decades ago and the hands of God have never let her go. She has shaped me in ways that God is using for our good and his glory and I am so thankful for her. Happy Birthday Mom!

Scroll to the end for a trip down memory lane 💛
@u_r_joy

Happy Birthday to The Mom, The Myth, The Legend! She has been an unforgettable force since the day she was born over 8 decades ago and the hands of God have never let her go. She has shaped me in ways that God is using for our good and his glory and I am so thankful for her. Happy Birthday Mom!

Scroll to the end for a trip down memory lane 💛
@u_r_joy

This is what the hard days look like...
When the stress of caregiving and the constant needs and noise starts to rise like a wave of anxiety in my heart until I am holding in the silent scream and the unshed tears, stuffing them down into deep places that only God can see.... That is when I remember to run to him. To raise a hallelujah from the ashes. It only takes a moment, one song blasting in my ears and in my heart as I mouth the words of truth that transforms my heart, even when the circumstances don’t change.

If you find yourself in the same hard place, try lifting a song of praise to God who never leaves us or forsakes us but promises to meet us in the dark places with the light of his presence.

#beautyinthereal

This is what the hard days look like...
When the stress of caregiving and the constant needs and noise starts to rise like a wave of anxiety in my heart until I am holding in the silent scream and the unshed tears, stuffing them down into deep places that only God can see.... That is when I remember to run to him. To raise a hallelujah from the ashes. It only takes a moment, one song blasting in my ears and in my heart as I mouth the words of truth that transforms my heart, even when the circumstances don’t change.

If you find yourself in the same hard place, try lifting a song of praise to God who never leaves us or forsakes us but promises to meet us in the dark places with the light of his presence.

#beautyinthereal

“Chin Puppets” have become a tradition in our crazy house and Jonah always picks this song. I love how he loves it and laughs at himself!

Do it with your kids! It will be so fun.
#beautyinthereal

“Chin Puppets” have become a tradition in our crazy house and Jonah always picks this song. I love how he loves it and laughs at himself!

Do it with your kids! It will be so fun.
#beautyinthereal

Life without trending audio can be really really loud 😜
If your house sounds like this… you are my people. And if you long for the day that your house sounds like this… I see you too 😘🙏🏻

The spectrum is wide and our days can be a crazy mixture of hoping for words and longing for quiet all at the same time.

(Ps. The BUS is not here for him 😩)

#beautyinthereal

Life without trending audio can be really really loud 😜
If your house sounds like this… you are my people. And if you long for the day that your house sounds like this… I see you too 😘🙏🏻

The spectrum is wide and our days can be a crazy mixture of hoping for words and longing for quiet all at the same time.

(Ps. The BUS is not here for him 😩)

#beautyinthereal

Episode 8 will be out soon and it’s my favorite yet! Samantha and I talked about the joys and the honest struggles of the holiday season and how to navigate the chaos, the cookies and the family dynamics! Keep an eye out and follow Beauty In The Real Podcast on Apple, Spotify & YouTube.

#beautyinthereal

Episode 8 will be out soon and it’s my favorite yet! Samantha and I talked about the joys and the honest struggles of the holiday season and how to navigate the chaos, the cookies and the family dynamics! Keep an eye out and follow Beauty In The Real Podcast on Apple, Spotify & YouTube.

#beautyinthereal

Somebody call @veggietalesofficial and tell them we need a refresher course… well, that and some “frozen toilet paper” 😆

Leaving this here, mostly for me… I doubt that anyone else will be amused for the whole 3 minutes but on the hard days, I will watch this back and it will make me smile! Hope all you Instagram Aunties get a smile out of it too!

#beautyinthereal
#madamblueberry #veggietales

Somebody call @veggietalesofficial and tell them we need a refresher course… well, that and some “frozen toilet paper” 😆

Leaving this here, mostly for me… I doubt that anyone else will be amused for the whole 3 minutes but on the hard days, I will watch this back and it will make me smile! Hope all you Instagram Aunties get a smile out of it too!

#beautyinthereal
#madamblueberry #veggietales

Had some spicy moments today but time outside, with a little work and a lot of prayer and we are doing better now. #beautyinthereal

Had some spicy moments today but time outside, with a little work and a lot of prayer and we are doing better now. #beautyinthereal

Supplements, seasons and support! Live Q&A �💛

Supplements, seasons and support! Live Q&A 💛

Northern Lights…. Filipino Style 🤣

#beautyinthereal

Northern Lights…. Filipino Style 🤣

#beautyinthereal

“How do you prioritize your marriage?”

A special-needs mom slid this question into my DMs, sharing how her marriage was struggling. My honest reply: “We don’t always.”

Today is our 28th anniversary. Our last date night? Our 27th anniversary. The truth is, our son’s needs often have to come before our relationship.

Is that ideal? No. But it’s reality for many of us living in a daily battle zone with no relief in sight. We slip into “caregiving co-workers,” passing the baton back and forth just to survive and care for everyone else. Conversations get shelved because even talking can trigger a meltdown. Conflicts go unresolved because there’s never a good time to deal with them.

Marriage is hard even in the best circumstances—and we’re not in the best circumstances. So what do we do?

We fix our eyes on something greater than our marriage or even our love for each other.
We cling to God’s promise:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And friends—we are weak. Our marriage has walked through deep valleys. Our love story is not a fairy tale. It’s required sacrifices we never would have chosen.

But 28 years ago, we made a covenant before God. We said “I do,” and we keep saying it—on the mountains, in the valleys, and in the messy middle. We rely on grace freely given, and we try to pour that same grace on each other. Some days we fail miserably. But we keep trying again.

If this sounds nothing like your life, and you struggle to understand our choices—I’m genuinely glad for you. I’m thankful your path is easier.

But if you do relate… you are my people. I see you. And I pray that God’s power is made perfect in the beautiful, exhausting, holy mess we call life.

#beautyinthereal #autismfamily

“How do you prioritize your marriage?”

A special-needs mom slid this question into my DMs, sharing how her marriage was struggling. My honest reply: “We don’t always.”

Today is our 28th anniversary. Our last date night? Our 27th anniversary. The truth is, our son’s needs often have to come before our relationship.

Is that ideal? No. But it’s reality for many of us living in a daily battle zone with no relief in sight. We slip into “caregiving co-workers,” passing the baton back and forth just to survive and care for everyone else. Conversations get shelved because even talking can trigger a meltdown. Conflicts go unresolved because there’s never a good time to deal with them.

Marriage is hard even in the best circumstances—and we’re not in the best circumstances. So what do we do?

We fix our eyes on something greater than our marriage or even our love for each other.
We cling to God’s promise:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And friends—we are weak. Our marriage has walked through deep valleys. Our love story is not a fairy tale. It’s required sacrifices we never would have chosen.

But 28 years ago, we made a covenant before God. We said “I do,” and we keep saying it—on the mountains, in the valleys, and in the messy middle. We rely on grace freely given, and we try to pour that same grace on each other. Some days we fail miserably. But we keep trying again.

If this sounds nothing like your life, and you struggle to understand our choices—I’m genuinely glad for you. I’m thankful your path is easier.

But if you do relate… you are my people. I see you. And I pray that God’s power is made perfect in the beautiful, exhausting, holy mess we call life.

#beautyinthereal #autismfamily

Sometimes he gives himself a good Bible Verse pep talk… and other times is more of a practical, real life, immediately applicable kind of self talk 🤣
He said this movie line over and over and over and both his therapist and I were happy that he took his own advice !

#beautyinthereal

Sometimes he gives himself a good Bible Verse pep talk… and other times is more of a practical, real life, immediately applicable kind of self talk 🤣
He said this movie line over and over and over and both his therapist and I were happy that he took his own advice !

#beautyinthereal

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