I'm glad you're here. And I'd love to hear your stories too.
My favorite and most joy-filled story is my family, even with the hard chapters. It's an ongoing one, but here's a little of how I got to this place of living an extraordinarily ordinary life that is absolutely nothing like I imagined.
I'm a typical first-born child who married my college sweetheart, Greg, who demonstrates additional first-born qualities. He's helped me chill out some and I've showed him the importance of organization. We fit together well. After meeting Feb. 7, 1998, we were married Aug. 3, 2002, on the hottest day Louisville, Ky., had had in five years. Thankfully, our wedding was inside.
Since planning an indoor wedding, our best decision as a couple was to adopt our daughter, Cate, when she was born in 2007. Thirty months later, we welcomed our son, Ben, into our family through a second adoption process. Having just assumed we'd have kids when we were ready, God showed me He is in the details of putting together families.
We've long thought we'd have three kids, but we had no idea what that was going to look like We pursued options that weren't for us and even decided to lay down the desire. But then in May 2015, God surprised us with a connection to a local birth mom. We became a family of five in September 2015.
This picture from September 2011 in Kennebunkport, Maine, says much about me: I like the ocean {lakes work too} and my girl does too. Pink is a favorite color of mine. And I'm a momma -- all of the time, wherever I go, and I won't ever be the same.
I used to be a newspaper reporter. After saying I'd never work at the Murray Ledger & Times, I spent four years writing news for the six-day-a-week paper. When Cate was born, I thought I'd balance the job I loved with my new baby. Well, turns out my baby won over all my affection. Greg and I figured out how I could stay home, and I began an even better job when Cate was 4 months old. Had you told me I'd be a stay-at-home mom, I would have laughed and listed all the reasons that wasn't a good idea.
Turns out, God is in the details of our daily lives too. He made me being at home possible for us, financially, and continues to encourage us in our decision through Greg's law practice.
I like my in-laws. Plural is necessary because there are lots of them, most of whom live in the same small town we do. In fact, my mother-in-law is one of my favorite people to hang out with. We like to yard sale and eat her fantastic strawberry pretzel salad that has absolutely no resemblance to a salad. The unexpected death of my father-in-law was a surreal experience that continues to impact us.
Years ago, probably the same day I said I would never work at the Ledger & Times, I told Greg I didn't want to live in Murray ... ever. We moved here in 2003, when Greg graduated from University of Kentucky's College of Law so he could practice in his hometown. I was hesitant. But, you know, a funny thing happened: I really love it here. I consider it home. And I really can't think of anywhere else I'd rather live, especially when I think about our community of friends who are like family.
I sometimes scrapbook our daily lives in albums that help me remember things I worry I'll forget. Blogging is therapy for my soul and my camera is usually by my side. I like to play games, especially cards, Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride. I like to watch TV with my current favorites being "Parenthood," "Bones," "Scandal," and "The Good Wife." I like to plan parties, host game nights, send text messages, and hang out at Kentucky Lake.
All the while, Jesus is the foundation of it all.
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