We celebrate one another. We celebrate one another’s accomplishments, big and small. And we definitely celebrate birthdays! Growing up, birthdays were a big deal in my house. My mom and dad went out of their way to be sure my sister and I felt very special on our birthdays. We always had birthday parties with
What does self-care look like for you? Is it a bubble bath at the end of a long day? Is it taking time for yourself away from the kids when they’ve been screaming at you all day? Or are those things a privilege and something more like “treat yo’ self” activities? Is true self-care something
Life can be extremely difficult some days, some weeks, and even the duration of many seasons. Chris and I are just coming out of a few weeks that have been extremely difficult. Actually, we’re coming out of a few years that have been full of difficulties. On Sunday, September 8, 2019, Beverly Willard – aka
There’s a saying I hear often in the adoption community: love makes a family. As the Willard Family of Five celebrates our one-year family anniversary, I’ve had this saying in my head for the past few weeks. I’ve also been trying to hold on to this incredible life-giving saying, which truly fills my heart with
How has the killing of Michael Brown Jr. impacted you? All I could do was stare at this question. I was with Chris at Greater St. Mark Family Church, the eve of the five year anniversary of Mike Brown’s killing in Ferguson, MO. We were attending a St. Louis Public Radio storytelling event, #LivingFerguson. Persons
August 18, 2014. I had gone to work that day as if it was any other day. But my plans that night looked different than a normal Monday evening. I had decided to go out to the streets of Ferguson, MO that evening. Five years ago, life forever changed for many people in St. Louis
Ok. Snacks are not just for the weak. Snacks are for everyone. But one Saturday morning while watching tv with the girls, I asked BW if she wanted a snack. Her response? “Snacks are for the weak, not for me.” I’ve loved that line ever since. Before we became the Willard Family of Five, I
Superstitions have never played a major role in my life or Chris’s life. Chris doesn’t have a pair of socks he wears every time the Cardinals play because he wore them one time the Cardinals won a World Series. I don’t throw salt over my shoulder after spilling it. And growing up, I had my
(Quote by Mother Teresa) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been judged as a mother. Before parenthood, I can recall times when I was judged for being a woman, judged for my weight, judged for my intellect, and judged for physical features and personality traits. These previous judgments pale in comparison to the
I’m unsure of where to begin. So much of me wants to ask: vacations- relaxing or exhausting? Another part of me wants to share how exciting vacations are for our girls because there are so many firsts that they experience on our trips. But honestly, all I can hear right now is SW (2 years-old)
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