Mama, You Got This

Whew. The past four weeks have felt like a whirlwind—and honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath.

The first two weeks, I was working as a camp counselor for a children’s grief and loss camp, juggling 25+ hour weeks away from my girls. It was such a huge shift from my regular rhythm and a crazy glimpse into what being a working mom full-time might feel like. Let’s just say: I do not love that life. I missed my girls constantly, and by the time I got home each day, I was completely drained…emotionally and physically. My time with them was short and not as sweet as I wanted it to be.

But even in the exhaustion, I grew so much. I learned more about psychology than I expected to—about behavior, motivation, and how to hold space for people of all ages. I discovered my limits and when I need to take a step back. I grew even more than I did last year, and really fell in love with the play therapy model used at camp. It gave me such a clear vision for the direction I want to take my internship, and for that, I’m truly grateful.

While I was at camp, my amazing mother-in-law, Melanie, came to help take care of the girls. She’s such a gift. Not only did she keep things running smoothly at home, but she also poured into LALA’s speech development in the most beautiful way. It’s incredible how much progress LALA made in just two weeks—something I’ll forever be thankful for.

Melanie also has two fantastic YouTube channels for kids: Sing, Move, and Read and Jesus Songs and Stories. I highly recommend subscribing and following for uplifting, educational content your littles will love!

Right after camp ended, we packed up and headed to Utah to spend time with Isaac’s family. Watching LALA run wild with her cousins filled my heart. She was thriving—laughing, exploring, and soaking up every moment. MJ, who might be the smallest in the bunch (but isn’t the youngest!), tried her best to keep up. She’s a tiny powerhouse, and it was the sweetest thing watching her join in with the big kids. In total, there were 13 cousins—ranging from 6 months to 7 years old—running around in pure cousin chaos and absolute joy.

There were parties, fireworks, park days, and soda runs constantly. It felt like one big celebration all week long, nonstop fun around every corner. And although we were missing a few people, the memories made were so special. I can’t wait for more years of cousin adventures to come.

One of my favorite highlights was boating day. It was a simple, special outing with just my father- and mother-in-law, Isaac, and the girls. Both LALA and MJ got to go out on the lake, and it was one of those memory-making days I’ll never forget. They tubed with Isaac and I, LALA had the biggest smile, and MJ was having a blast. LALA even got to try wakeboarding with Isaac and totally rocked it. She looked so cool and confident. Of course, the fun came with its fair share of scrapes and bruises, but she wore them like badges of honor.

Coming home this week has been… rough. Like, let’s-just-lay-on-the-floor kind of rough. Re-entry after vacation is never easy, especially on the heels of two intense weeks of camp. And now I’m sick, and the girls are starting to get sick too. So we’re in full-on recovery mode—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

With just a few weeks of summer left, we’re soaking in what we can. We’ve got some exciting adventures ahead: Disneyland, Raging Waters, and fun days with Daddy. I even have a short getaway planned with my mom in early August that I’m really looking forward to.

And in the middle of all this chaos, something new is stirring in my heart. I’ve decided to start a new project, something I thought about a few weeks ago and finally decided to go for. I’ll be working on it through late September/early October, and I can’t wait to share more soon. Here’s a little hint: it has to do with faith, healing, and drawing closer to God. ❤️

So that’s where I’m at right now, exhausted, inspired, and holding onto grace one day at a time. Reminding myself, as always:

Mama, you got this.