Friday Thoughts
Hey, friends!
How is the fall treating you??
It’s time for a quick Friday Thoughts check-in. We’ve got everything from memes to mental health today.
I love these posts because of everything you share in the comments. They’re my favorite. YOU are my favorite(s).
1. Two memes to sum up my existence right now.
That koala bear meme. Please tell me I’m not the only parent that can relate with that one.
And also, the reason I feel like a permanently exhausted pigeon is almost certainly because of the second item in today’s Friday Thoughts lineup.
2. Piglets, piglets, piglets.
If you follow my faux farm account on Instagram, you’ll know that our kunekune pig momma, Olivia, had a litter of piglets 2 1/2 weeks ago. And oh my gosh, they are the cutest things ever. But they are also so much work!
The original plan was to time the litter birth for when the kids were home from school in the summer, but the best laid plans didn’t account for the pigs taking forever to “get the job done” if you know what I mean.
So. I’ve been largely responsible for the piglets while the kids are at school. And to say these little zoomie rascals are more than I bargained for is an understatement.
We lost one in the first few days to a birth defect, another one has struggled to thrive so I’m constantly trying to keep her eating and growing, and they’re so adorable, that, yes, I spend a lot of time sitting out in the pig hut watching them play, because I can’t tear myself away. #pigsoverpeople
Three of the kids invested their savings in the adult kunekune pigs in the hopes of making their investment back by selling piglets. So, here we are. It’s been an adventure!
If you go to the PIGLETS highlights on Instagram, you’ll see all the antics from the last few weeks. Warning: turns out, piglet content is highly addictive.
3. My Friend Maria
I want to tell you about someone really amazing. My friend, Maria.
Earlier this year, Brian came home from work and asked if I still had the reading book I used when our kids were learning how to read. When I asked him why, he said a sweet lady he works with (Maria) had come to his office asking if he had any resources or places that could help her because she didn’t know how to read.
He explained that Maria is one of the most hard working employees at the plant, that she raised five kids as a single mom, and that she is also smart, kind, quiet, and a caretaker of others. Her life has been challenging in ways he and I will never be able to fully understand.
I pulled out my old reading lesson book for Brian to take to work…and immediately felt this strong desire to help Maria learn to read, even though she and I didn’t know each other yet.
After Brian helped arrange things at work, Maria and I started getting together every morning (4X a week) back in May to do reading lessons together. I doubted I’d be a very good teacher, but it turns out, this rather old-fashioned book is just as effective teaching adults to read as it is teaching kids to read!
Of course, the main reason for success is because of Maria’s heart. Her determination. Her unfailing willingness to keep trying. She persevered even after years of being told by many, many people that she was stupid because she couldn’t read and that she’d never be able to learn.
Over the last five months, Maria and I started out each lesson together talking about life and family and stresses and food and teenagers and everything in between…and…eventually we got to the reading part. 🙂
I legitimately have tears in my eyes as I’m typing this, because Maria has become such a dear friend and inspiration to me.
She’s taught me that it’s never too late to learn something new or try something hard (especially learning to read in English when your first language is Spanish). She’s taught me it’s ok to cry (she has the kindest heart in the entire world).
She’s taught me that in an era of fiery personalities, divisive opinions, and front and center merit for being “the best,” there’s a quiet, steady power in working hard every day to make your way in a world that most likely won’t ever notice, or reward, you.
And she’s definitely taught me to be more grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in life that too often I take for granted.
The first day that Maria read her first “real” word (it was ‘mat’), she stopped, shook her head, and with absolute awe in her voice kept repeating: wow, wow, wow. She couldn’t believe she was reading. (I was biting my lip HARD under my mask to keep myself from bawling that day.) Now, she’s reading full stories with dialogue and plots and characters. She told me that she feels like a whole new world has been opened to her now that she can read.
She just finished this book about brave Clara Barton. But to me, Maria is the bravest of all. She has defied circumstances stacked against her that would spell devastation for most of us, and she has done so with integrity, kindness, and endless, endless hard work. I’m so grateful to know her.
4. Halloween (cough, hater)
Are you a Halloween lover or hater?
I’m in the hater camp. I’m sorry if that causes some of you shock, dismay, disappointment, and horror. I just don’t find many redeemable qualities in this holiday. I’m a Verified Halloween Scrooge.
Except for, sometimes, the food. Like, the cutesy monster cookie type food.
Some years, we’ll decorate these fun little spooky houses (or a kit from Trader Joe’s or Costco). And if I’m really on my A-game, on Halloween night we’ll do dinner in a pumpkin or these mummy dogs.
Do you have any fun Halloween food traditions?
{P.S. Before anyone gets really worried, yes, my kids go trick-or-treating, but the process of finding a costume around here is…very much a create-your-own type situation.}
5. I’ve Gotta Know
Someone told me recently you can tell a lot about a person whether they wear crocs in public or not.
So. I have to know. Do you??
I do. Unashamedly. My kids have had crocs for years. I’ve had no real strong opinion about them. Earlier this year, they got me a pair for Mother’s Day.
And.
I wear them constantly. I hope we can still be friends.
Tell me your deep, dark thoughts about crocs. This is a judgment free zone.
6. Believe it or Not
This second son of mine is turning 16 a week from today. Many of you have been around since he was just four years old. (INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE.)
He’s evolved into a hilarious, witty, smart, hard-working young man who loves to take selfies on my phone during church while I’m painfully playing my way through the hymns on the organ.
I have a few ideas up my sleeve for his birthday but I can’t type them out here, because I know from regular comments left on my blog that he and his friends often read here during math class (ahem, BOYS, get back to work!).
Please share any of your sweet sixteen birthday ideas below!
7. Catch Up and Struggles
Catching up from the last Friday Thought’s post:
- Thank you for all the planner recommendations! I seriously spent hours researching different planners for next year. I’m not sure what I’ll settle on yet, but you definitely gave me some great ideas. You’re the best. (Some of the most common recommendations were Passion Planners, Emily Ley planners, Golden Coil, Planner Pads, Erin Condren, In the Leafy Treetops, bullet journals/planners, Plum Paper, Jordan Page productivity planners and a few others!)
- Also, we started watching Crash Landing on You on Netflix like hundreds of you suggested. 🙂 My boys didn’t stick around long, but Brian and I have liked it a lot. It’s quirky and funny and unique. Highly recommend!
I don’t talk about my personal struggles much on here, but for me, 2021 has been a hard year. I know I’m not alone. It’s been a difficult couple of years for the entire world! For me, 2021 has been filled with difficulties and stresses and challenges and heartache that have kind of rocked my foundation on a lot of levels.
I deleted these paragraphs a million times because I don’t want this to be a call for attention or a sympathy plea. Mostly, I just want to acknowledge that sometimes online and social media posts do a really good job of masking real life and real challenges. But I feel like it is important to acknowledge that life (and mental health) rarely fit into a neat, pretty little box.
If you’ve had a hard year (or years), just know that you aren’t alone. I’m slowly and stubbornly learning that it’s ok to admit I’m not ok. That’s a monumental step for me. And after getting awkwardly ghosted by a therapist earlier this year, I’m finally brave enough (I think!) to try again so I can get some help sorting through the chaos in my brain and bolster some puny coping skills.
Thanks for being here. I say that a lot, but I really, really mean it.
I am certainly grateful for all of you that allow me to be very, very human even when society seems to prize and reward unsustainable and misleading perfection. I’m so grateful YOU are real and beautifully imperfect, too.
Love your guts.
Love you, Mel! Thank you for sharing your fabulous recipes, the farm, the piglets and your Friday Thoughts. Loved the story of Maria reading – oh my word that is the best.
Mental health – this has been a rough year for me as well. Our Relief Society lesson brought the question “what have we gained from living during these times in the past year? Everyone was answering a closer relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior, better Come Follow Me study, closer family, etc. To myself I acknowledged that I had gained depression, anxiety, OCD, 30 pounds and was feeling like a spiritual slug. Combination of stuff – finding out my son has serious drug addictions, work stress (healthcare) of a whole new computer system to learn and teach others, and then the regular life stuff. The chaos that drug addicts bring to a home are unimaginable. Had my own little mini breakdown and then finding out that going to therapy caused me more stress because I felt like the therapist was just one more person that I was letting down! I’m doing better now, have a wonder PA that is following me closly, got some Prozac and some anxiety meds (to take as needed) and I’m learning to recognize what emotions and feelings are actually my own anxieties surfacing.
Thank you for sharing your own ups and downs. Love to you and the family and those piglets!
I love your Friday thoughts. Your transparency is so refreshing. I wish more people were that way. Sometimes I want to just post pictures of a messy kitchen or sewing room that is trashed or a dinner that is “ugly” because this is real life. The story of Maria is lovely. We need more of that today. I also love watching the pigs. I feel like all I want social media to be is food, sewing inspo, funny memes and animal videos. Everything else can just go away!
I just love your guts. Beginning of 2021 has been fine, not horrible, not great. The next 2 months are making me want to hide in a corner and eat my weight in dark chocolate. It’ll be fine, but I’m overwhelmed. Also, my daughter made your pumpkin sourdough muffins the same day, and I’m loving them as a quick snack! I finally braved sourdough, and I’m surviving because of your lazy guide, and the links to pizza and waffles. I tried a bread that my friend gave me the recipe and I wanted to rip my hair out, it was so involved! You’re the best, hope you find the help you need to make it through the rest of the year!
Mel, when you mentioned that the pigs took forever to “get the job done” I laughed a little, because my first thought was that the actual deed, ahem, took forever. I used to do lab testing for a pig breeding company, and at some point I learned that male pigs can ejaculate up to half a liter of semen. So it kind of does take forever! The stuff that takes up space in our brains sometimes…..
And what about people who don’t wear crocs in public, but they do wear their leather house slippers. Asking for a friend. 🙂
Your post made me laugh and cry! First, SUPER Halloween fan and I won’t apologize. Lol. AND, I used to have 14 pairs of Crocs ( yes, you read that correctly) in all colors and I loved them. I’m down to one pair left after my cats nibbled on most of them. I tend to wear the Crocs Walu loafer now and have four pairs of those. Anyway, hang in there and always known that you are appreciated!
Please keep posting piglets! They make me smile on good and bad days!
We did a fire pit and lots of food when my now 21 yo turned 16.
Thank you for keeping it real on here. Life is messy.
Try again with another therapist. You can do it. Even if the therapist doesn’t ghost you, it still takes several tries to find a good fitting therapist. Trust me, I’ve been seeing therapists for 25 years.
Love your thoughts! What a sweet story about Maria! You are amazing! I am sorry you were ghosted by a therapist. That is not ok. I am a counseling student at NNU and if you need help finding a therapist I would be happy to get some recommendations.
Mel! Your Friday thoughts are my favorite (which says a lot because I visit your website almost every day for your life-changing recipes)! I’m always touched by your authenticity and goodness that you so freely share. The story about Maria made me cry and made me want to do more to reach out and help those around me. You truly always inspire me. I’m so sorry for your struggles. Thank you for being open and honest about them. ❤️ Wish I could reach through the phone to give you a giant hug. Thanks for making the world a better place!!
2020 has NOTHING on 2021. I’m so grateful for your honesty and resilience. You keep showing up with recipes and Friday Thoughts and barnyard antics. I’m grateful we are (one-sided) besties. Thanks for being there in my darkest times!
Oh, my favorite posts! The piglets are so cute. I have strong therapy opinions. When you have mental stuff that needs unpacking (and honestly, we all find ourselves there at some point) you need the best, smartest therapist you can find. If the one you try isn’t a good fit, try someone else. A good, smart therapist is worth their weight in gold, but a bad therapist (and there are many!) isn’t worth a second appointment. Someone well trained and smart will help you sort what needs sorting and get you out of their office and back in the middle of your own life. A bad therapist will charge you to watch you swirl in the same confusion you had when you came in. Expensive and unhelpful. Trust your gut and hope you find someone who can help you leave some baggage behind. Have a great day,
You are an inspiration to me, Mel, for your dedication to faith, family and friends; your commitment to living a well-rounded life; and your willingness to admit that life can be hard. Your piglets are adorable, your kids have grown so much (when did that happen?), and your recipes are always a hit with my family. I believe it’s ok to ask for help, admit we’re not perfect, and pull back the social media facade that makes everything seem rosy. You’re doing a great job! Also, no crocs for me, and I’m not judging! 🙂
I love your Friday thoughts posts so much! I don’t comment much, but I’ve been following you & using your recipes for more than a decade now and feel like we are friends even though you don’t know me. We joke around here that you’re my BFF but you just don’t know it yet..
The older I get the more I realize that no matter how perfect someone’s life seems every single one of us has some kind of difficulty and heartache we are dealing with. Thanks for sharing your heart with us. I hope you easily find a therapist that’s a good fit.
That’s not always easy.
I’m with you on Halloween, it’s not my favorite holiday.
What a beautiful experience you had with Maria! I teach English to refugees in my area and it is the best thing when they succeed and we can celebrate their progress together. Getting to know them and associate with them has definitely made my life better.
Thanks again for sharing your life with us including some of the hard stuff. You’re seriously my favorite. Have a fantastic day!
Oh my gosh, Mel, I swear if we knew each other in real life, I feel like we would be best friends! I love you so much! I am also a Halloween hater! I can’t help if, I’ve tried but I just can’t get excited about the holiday. I also play the organ at church and your comment about fumbling through the hymns made me laugh! My 12 year old daughter is obsessed with pigs (I really don’t know why) and I have to show her some of your pig content on Instagram. I know she will love it! Coincidentally, a friend of mine has pigs and they just had a litter last week too and we went to see them. They were so cute, but the mom wouldn’t nurse and so they were having to bottle feed them. I couldn’t believe how much little piglets are like little puppies, they are very active and fast! Last thing, I appreciate you being open about your mental health. I have struggled with my own mental health for the last several year and I have found so much strength in sharing my struggles with friends who have experienced similar things. I don’t try to hide it from my kids or anyone really because I think it’s important for people to know that other people are struggling. It’s ok not to be ok. Truly. Love you so much Mel even though I don’t know you in real life. I’ve followed you from the beginning and my kids know that you’re one of my besties even though we’ve never actually met. Hope that’s not creepy! Have a wonderful day!
Mel, I love your Friday thoughts and most especially your recounting of your friend Maria. I loved your sharing of her quiet determination and strength of character. What a gift you have given her through opening up the world of reading. You are certainly an angel among us! Thank you, Bev
Oh my gosh. Just the post I needed to read! I’ve never commented before, but I use (and my family enjoys) plenty of your delicious recipes. Thank you for being so honest! It’s hard to talk about parenting or your kids, because although we’re a part of the story, sometimes it’s not our story to tell and they deserve their privacy. I completely identify with your first meme! I’ve said to my husband, more than once, what if you give it all you’ve got and it still doesn’t work out? That’s how I feel with regard to parenting at times. I so enjoyed my kids when they were little but the teen years and older have been the difficult ones for me.
Additionally, I live in a materialistic city in So CA where it’s all about buy, have and compare, which makes it difficult to be vulnerable. Oh, I’m going to borrow that phrase which sums it up so beautifully ” society seems to prize and reward unsustainable and misleading perfection.” Well said! Just want you to know that I appreciate your authenticity! It encourages me and gives me hope that “if you can do it, so can I.” More than that, I feel like I’m not alone. You mentioned church and Jesus is who is holding me up most of the time! Thanks again–you’re the best!!!!
HOW ARE YOUR KIDS GETTING SO OLD!?
I don’t do Crocs but I live in Chacos and have multiple pair. The day it gets too cold to wear them is a sad, sad day around here. (which coincidently was this week because Nampa is stupid with it’s weather lately!)
Maria. What an amazing human. (both of you!) You made me cry. Rude.
As a former history teacher, as long as the boys aren’t reading here during that class, I’m cool with it. 🙂
Long-live Halloween. I used to be a hater but now with littles (6 & 7), we are all about spooky and pumpkins and bats and the such.
You’re awesome. I’m glad you’ve keep this space going for over a decade. Been with you since the beginning.
You’re recipes are always amazing, but I have to say I always love these Friday thoughts the most. Thanks for your candid thoughts, just what I needed this Friday morning.
On my 16th birthday, my dad had arranged for someone important in my life to bring me a rose and a note on the hour, every hour for 16 hours. Some of them were at school, which was a little embarrassing :-). Some of the people were young women’s leaders, family friends, or aunts and uncles. At the time I thought it was a little embarrassing, but secretly loved it. It’s been 20 years and it’s still touching to me. Of course, boys might not like getting 16 roses – haha!
Touching to me to hear about this, Laura!
How beautiful, loving, and lasting <3
What a gift from your dad- including the slight embarrassment!
I loved hearing about, Maria! This is seriously what life is all about. I helped teach some women to read as a missionary in the DR, and I feel it’s one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.
It’s obvious you have a big heart, Mel and we love you for that.
I wish I could give you a hug. Thanks for the light and love you bring to this space. I struggle, too. <3 You are loved.
Thank you for being real and open. Your posts are really the only ones I look forward to reading because it doesn’t feel like you are posting just to be seen and stay popular like so many others. You are never fake and I appreciate that. Reading your Friday thoughts posts feels like catching up with a friend than reading a blog (a friend I’ve never met, but still ☺️). Keep being you in whatever shape or form that takes. Wishing you all the best as you begin your therapy.
Your story about Maria was what I needed today. Kudos to the three of you – Brian for creating the type of workplace where Maria felt comfortable coming to him and asking him for help (that’s really, really huge today), Maria for having the courage to ask and determination to learn, and you for selflessly giving yourself and your time to improve someone else’s life.
And, the piglets have saved my sanity this month.
Love your Friday thoughts! Maria is an inspiration, and made me think of a lady in my friend’s church congregation. She is in her 70’s and decided to learn to play piano. Her first “recital” was to play for the women’s group — a very simple song but she proudly rocked it. Kudos to Maria for her courage and determination!
And kudos to you for your transparency and courage to acknowledge that we all need help sometimes. The online veneer of “my life and my family are so perfect” can be discouraging, and I love your guts because you are real. Wishing you the very best.
I went to a drive-through movie theater with friends for my 16th birthday. It was a novelty because we had to drive an hour and a half to go to one. It is kind of a novelty if you have one in your area. Just an idea. Maybe they could go to the new James Bond movie at a drive-through theater. Also laser tag with friends It’s something my husband loves even though he is over 30.My aunt got my cousin a toy car of his favorite model of vehicle. It was a joke that she was getting him a car ha ha. That could be fun if you know that he likes a specific type of car
Oh Maria! I LOVE THIS STORY!!! Reading about this experience you have shared is so inspirational. Thank you for sharing! Pig photos and video stories have kept me afloat on many a hard day from the last couple weeks. Thanks for your contributions all around!
Love your guts, Mel.
Maria’s story made my day and beyond. Feeling humble, grateful, and renewed- thanks to you both for connecting us with boundless love, truth, commitment. Keeping this close to return to for reflection.
Talking about caring for your mental health reality is brave and helps more people than we can know- thanks. Hope you can laugh someday about the ghosting therapist- so ridiculously bad, but therapists are just people too, hoo boy. Hoping you find a good fit and and support soon. When you find that it can be exceptionally healing <3
And, with you on Halloween…I'm happy for others who love it, but l'm earning that it is just fine that I really don't. Instead I enjoy all the pumpkins, fall decorations, and festive treats
My 7yo son has anxiety and we’ve watched the piglet highlights on your faux farm Instagram together to calm him down. It’s easy to feel happy watching little piglet tail wiggles. Piglet therapy works even from afar!
I really like rad and happy undated planners and teachers planner. I am not a teacher but for a mother of five it works really well too,
Thank you for your open honesty and relatable content.
I always think you don’t really need to hear from me with so many comments, but so many of your thoughts resonated today! Especially the memes, and the struggle with a hard year. Also, I love what you are doing for Maria! My mom teaches English to refugees and worked as an adult ESL teacher for years. I would love to get involved, but Wyoming doesn’t have a refugee program. So sad. 🙁
One last thought on Halloween. I used to hate it, but a friend changed my mind. She was a dentist and said it was her favorite holiday. When I asked why, she said because of the low expectations. Buy a bag of candy, pull out the dress ups (or go through your closet), and you’re done. Decorate or don’t. But there are no big family and friend expectations, no guilt, just eat candy and be happy. 🙂
These Friday posts are some of my favorites because they are REAL. Thank you so much for it all, but especially for baring your soul and sharing your piglets, and your Maria!! I pray that she will continue to find success and loving people in her life to help her along. She is such a great example, thanks so much for sharing her story with all of us, such an inspiration.
I am wiping away the tears as I type this. Yay for Maria (and you)! Have you ever read the children’s book by Jerry Spinelli called Maniac MaGee? He teaches the old baseball groundskeeper to read and it is the sweetest chapter. Maria reading her first words reminded me of this book!
I’ve been around almost from the very beginning. I can’t believe he’s almost 16!
My heart broke hearing that you were ghosted by a therapist. Mine is my lifeline right now. Praying you find the courage and that you are blessed with an incredible therapist!
Also, Mel’s Faux Farm stories are my favorite!! ❤️
When I grow up I want to be more like you Mel! Loved!!
I don’t know why I always forget that I’ll be sobbing over my breakfast when I read these.
Maria is amazing. I truly admire her. It was also a small reminder to me that it’s ok for me to focus on my little piece of this life and I don’t need world recognition to make an impact with my people in my home.
Crocs… totally not above them and wearing them in public. Maybe I need a pair… I’ve really liked Chaco’s Chillio slides. They’re much equivalent to crocs in my mind.
Thanks for being a safe space in the web. I hope you’re able to find a therapist who is the perfect fit for you.
How did you come to decide you were in need of a therapist? I sometimes wonder if it would be a good idea for me to find one…. But it’s not like I have major life events that are causing me trauma. So I guess I just wonder how do you know you need that extra bolster?
❤️❤️
I’m not Mel but hope I can share a few ideas including most humans have varied little t trauma(s) and can benefit from therapy…even just a few sessions. @revacooklcsw has a highlight bubble on Instagram about finding/choosing a therapist. @aundikolber has an amazing book, Try Softer which can be an intro to some therapy practices. And many employers offer an EAP program which includes a few free sessions with a list of providers. Best wishes!
Hey Katrina, this is actually a really good question. I don’t have an official answer – I can only speak for myself…but while I haven’t had any huge major traumas in my life, I reached a point where the things that were besetting me were taking over the happiness I felt in normal situations with my family and other situations. And I wasn’t able to get past the anxiety like I used to. So for me, it was just realizing that I would appreciate some help learning how to get through situations that are difficult bc I wasn’t able to just power through like I used to. Don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s just my experience.
I appreciate you discussing mental health. It’s an issue that touches most of us and is not talked about enough. My son struggles with depression and his therapist recommended we consult with a psychiatrist. My son thought that meant he was “psycho”. It broke my heart. The brain is one of many organs in the body that needs care.
Thank you Mel! Thank you for your thoughts (which are absolutely some of my favorite posts) and honesty. I love that you taught Maria to read. Thank you for believing in her. You made my day and probably my week for sure. Though I admit, I’m firmly in the Halloween fan club
Although I love the recipes, and rely on so many of them time after time after time it is these Friday thoughts posts that are my very favourite. The love for your family, your current interests and thoughts, projects and admissions of vulnerability strike a chord with me every single time. I appreciate the time abd effort it must take to write one of these posts. Know that they are read and reread and cherished. And P.S. your son looks exactly like your husband!!
I was slow and stubborn to admit that I was not okay as well. But I am so glad that I finally did and sought help. It has made a world of difference for me. I hope you find the same. Thank you for sharing your recipes, your farm stories, and your life stories with us! You make the world a brighter place!
Thank you, CG
I love your deep thoughts and your belly-scratching pig thoughts, too. Thanks for sharing your real!
Mel, I’m so proud of you for getting help. I’ve been to a counselor for help years ago and it’s so helpful. Journaling your thoughts are so helpful. And most important, daily intimacy with Jesus, giving Him our burdens, and holding on tightly to the grace filled lover of our souls will get us through!! Love you and love your blog. We are all imperfectly perfect saved by Grace.
I love Crocs and I can’t wear them. I found out in two painful falls that stuff on the ground can get stuck in those lovely treads and help you trip. Your knitting trick seems a very useful excuse for buying new Crocs and just wearing them indoors. I will do anything for knitting fun.
You are my favorite person to read on the whole internet. That is all.
Ditto!
1,000% agree. I find reading the church magazines a daunting task, but I find my very soul healed in just a few paragraphs by Mel. What a tender mercy to have found this blog.
I love these posts! thank you for sharing your life with us! I’m particularly moved by your story about your new friend Maria. I hope she knows about this post and can read it herself!! Way to go Maria!!
Also I want to read the Maria story to my kids but they’ll have to halfway through bc I’ll be bawling
I cried reading about Maria! She sounds amazing. I care for a little boy that can’t go to school because of various health challenges and I’m trying to teach him to read. It’s hard! Hard to teach and hard to learn. He read his first sentence yesterday though and I was so proud- I let out a big squeal and it startled him and he started crying. Oops!
Thank YOU for being here! We all love your guts around here too!
Funny, I’m jumping on the therapy train too (I call it counseling ha). Some stuff has been sitting with me since I was 12. Time to move forward. I want pigs, the end.
Love you so much, Mel!!!!!
I love this whole post, especially your transparency about mental health. I too have been struggling a lot, and I finally started seeing a therapist in July (plus some medication), and it has been soooo helpful! That stinks you were ghosted by your first therapist, but I hope you find another that will work for you. Your site is a high point in my life – most of the recipes we cook at our house come from here, and I love that you have five kids, so I know that it has been family approved so hopefully my kids will eat it too!
I love that Maria was humble enough to ask for help to learn how to read and that you were able to help her. Life changing for both of you!
Yeah for your uplifting and heart warming thoughts. Good luck with your brood of piglets—they look adorable. I am a paper calendar person and have been using Polestart Family Calendar for 25 years. They have become like journals. The company is in British Columbia, Canada. You have to choose the form that works best for you.
Those monster treats look yummy. Thank you for sharing photos of your family—everyone looks awesome. You are an amazing lady, Mel !