My treasures

this and that

crayfish, anyone?

fun in the sun

all in a hard days fishing

all work and no play

Precious First Born and a Special Day

Steps of Faith

Sometimes Hardly ever all together!

Let Us Pray!

Springtime—not really!

Family Time

My treasure on this earth

I always knew that you would be a good dad. But wh

I always knew that you would be a good dad. But what I could never have known way back then was just how AMAZING of a father you would be! How blessed our young adults are to have you on this journey called life! We love and treasure you and are ridiculously grateful for the way you love us all, Anthony. Happy Father's Day. ❤️

When my children who have special needs were littl

When my children who have special needs were little, I often wondered what it would be like to parent them as they got older and bigger. As I cherished the years while they were young, my mind would often drift to the years ahead when they were no longer little. What would it be like having a teenager who has Down syndrome? We had zero experience and had no one in our lives who had walked this road ahead of us. Would I know how to parent her and help her to become the very best that she could be? After all, raising little kids is so very different to navigating the challenges that come with older, bigger children. And added to that the various dynamics that come with raising a child who struggles more than others, well, I simply had no idea what life would look like. But I did know that I had lived enough life to know that God would meet us there. And He has! Now that all of our children are either teenagers or adults, it's amazing to see His grace poured out. His manna for each new day. His unending wisdom when we have needed guidance. Goodness, we are loving this season of raising these precious teenagers! Seeing their sweet personalities develop is such a gift. They keep us laughing and remind me every single day that what happens inside of my home matters so much more than allowing my heart to fret over the things of the world that I cannot control. They ground me, steady my heart, and keep me so focused on the greatest call that God could ever have given me...being their mom. ❤️

I've been told a few times recently that my latest

I've been told a few times recently that my latest adventure into the world of pageantry is "very out of character." I've thought about that a lot. Because in many ways, it is. I'm pretty sure I wasn't God's first choice for this. I live in gym clothes, messy buns, and sans make-up ninety-five percent of my life. And the mere thought of wearing ridiculous heals is slightly terrifying. If you arrive at my house unannounced, you'll find me living my very unglamorous (yet amazingly beautiful!) life. Actually, me and fancy feel like polar opposites. But here's a little secret that I have learned in my now-seasoned life, and it's something I tell my children...when we allow God to write our story, something amazing happens. When we step aside, lay down our pride, our fears, our preconceived ideas of what our lives SHOULD look like, God steps in and writes a story that we simply could never have dreamed possible. I have failed so many times at getting this right. I have clung to my own life far too often and sadly, learned to regret not listening to His still, small voice. But God is so creative and so amazing to give us all a testimony--a story to shout from the rooftops that He is good. And kind. And trusts us to actually DO the things He calls us to do--even when it's the last thing we ever imagined ourselves doing. I am so far beyond living a comfortable life. I seek one thing and one thing alone...HIS STORY for my life. He seeks the willing heart, not the seemingly perfect candidate for the task.

Allow Him to write your beautiful, amazing, sometimes-out-of-character story. You will never regret it." ❤️

I finally got around to sharing my heart in a blog

I finally got around to sharing my heart in a blog post. Link in bio. "Since the beginning of my journey on social media, I have always shared my life with vulnerability and honesty here, while at the same time sharing the hope that I have, no matter what life throws my way. Some have mentioned that I live a life that seems like it is without many trials and challenges. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like you, I walk through the fire daily, it feels like. The last three years have stretched me and my faith more than anything ever has. I have been hurt, broken, stretched to the point of clinging to Jesus and often left feeling utterly depleted. This is real life and no one is immune to suffering and hard times." ❤️

When people tell me that miracles don't exist in 2

When people tell me that miracles don't exist in 2022. Or that miracles were only for Bible times. Or that I'm crazy to believe that God can do the impossible these days. Or that the steadfast, audacious hope we have to believe for the miraculous is futile. I simply tell them...
"Let me show you my children."

We're messy. Hardly ever all put together. We're b

We're messy. Hardly ever all put together. We're broken. Bruised. Healing from the scars that life has thrown our way. We're figuring out how to live our best lives together. We never have it all figured out. But we sure are trying daily. We make mistakes. And extend immeasurable grace daily. We laugh a lot. And goodness, do we cry too! We hug and we forgive. We're growing up together. We live one day at a time. And we trust that God will meet us there. He always does! We focus on what matters and do our best to let the rest go. We teach each other about grace and mercy every day. We fail so many times. But we're always there for each other, no matter what. We hurt. We love deeply. And we never imagined that we would find each other, but gosh, are we thankful that we did! We're imperfectly perfect and are so thankful that we get to be family. This is real life in all of its gloriousness, and if I could go back in time and choose my path all over again...

I choose this. ❤️

Good morning, friends! I haven't been here for a w

Good morning, friends! I haven't been here for a while. Some days the world just feels so hard and messed up, and honesty, I just don't even know what to say here. And so I stay off of social media and focus my heart and my time on the things that matter most to me and keep my eyes on our Everlasting Hope. Our hearts ache for the recent tragedies in this nation. We grieve with those who are hurting more than my heart can comprehend. Such unfathomable evil! I am so thankful that this world is not our home, that we're just passing through. Because it feels like things are getting worse by the day. Come back, Jesus! But while He still gives me breath and a purpose on this earth, I pray that I will remain steadfast in faith, content in my calling and my purpose in this life, faithful to do His will, and so anchored in that glorious eternal hope that we have. And these sweet girls? Well, even on the darkest days when I feel like nothing makes sense and the weight of the world is so heavy, their sweet smiles, their random hugs, their gratitude for all things, and their precious innocence remind me that God is good. No matter what, He is a good, good Father. ❤️🙏

Twelve years ago, I Skyped Anthony from my cold, d

Twelve years ago, I Skyped Anthony from my cold, dreary apartment in Ukraine. I had just met our newest daughters and could not hold back the tears."I just don't know if I can be Hailee's mother," I told him that day. "I don't know if I have what it takes to parent her. What if I fail her?" I asked him through so many tears. I had just discovered that Hailee had been drugged with an adult tranquillizing drug for her entire five years of life. She could not handle being held, and she screamed for most of my visit. Being taken out of the only environment she knew--the confines of a crib--was absolutely terrifying. She pulled her ears until they were raw and infected. She banged her head on anything near to self-soothe. She could not eat solid food. At five years old, she weighed just eleven pounds. Back then, I questioned a million times whether I could be the mother Hailee so desperately needed me to be. I felt so inadequate for the calling. Goodness! It's been a journey! We have both grown and learned how to live our best life together. We've succeeded and we've failed. Looking back, Hailee has been one of my greatest teachers in this life. I have learned so much being her mom. But more than anything, I have seen the hand of a faithful, loving, merciful Father as I have shared my life with this little girl. And I have seen that when we give God our yes--so often afraid and unsure and positively terrified over all of the unknowns--He turns it into our greatest blessing. I just cannot imagine my world without this little darling in it. She keeps me on my toes, ensures that we are always laughing over something that she does, will dance with us day and night, and gives the very best hugs that make any hard day better. Today, on her seventeenth birthday, we count the enormous blessing that is Hailee. We thank God for the gift of this child who just makes life so much sweeter. Happy, happy birthday, sweetest Hailee! I am so, so grateful that twelve years ago, your precious Dad reminded me that I had what it took to be your mom. Because being your voice, your caregiver, your dance partner, your hugger, and your mom is, by far, one of my greatest delights in this life!

Growing up, I never really wanted to be a mother.

Growing up, I never really wanted to be a mother. In many ways, the thought of raising another human terrified me. What if I failed? What if I couldn't be the mother a child needed me to be? I was so afraid of all the things that could possibly go wrong. Goodness, was I wrong! Now that I have young adults, I look back on my mothering journey and honestly, it makes me tearful. I'm 100% sure that I have failed these sweet humans more times than I care to remember. I know for sure that there have been times when I handled situations all wrong and wished that I could have had a redo. But children don't need perfect parents! There is no such thing. God chose me--in all of my brokenness and with my countless flaws. This Mother's Day, I am so thankful for the enormous amount of grace that these five extend me every single day. They see past the things that I see as my weaknesses and love me so sweetly. Motherhood is such a precious gift from God. My highest calling. And though I never knew it and could not see it all those years ago, I am so thankful that God knew that I needed these five blessings so much more than they would ever need me. Because He's just so very kind like that. I hope you all had a beautiful Mother's Day. ❤️

Thank you, @shadwickstrom and @julie.wickstrom, fo

Thank you, @shadwickstrom and @julie.wickstrom, for the blessing and the absolute honor of being able to share my heart, my journey, and His redeeming love in my life this morning. He is worthy of it ALL--every broken piece made whole, every victory we see, and every praise whispered through tears. Happy Mother's Day, friends. It's been a most beautiful day with my beloved family. ❤️

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