There's a whole, big, beautiful back story here, but I know you came to see the cover. So, let's just show it first, shall we?! 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... SURPRISE! Please tell me you love it as much as I do! Did Ave Maria nail it or did they #nailit? The back story goes something like this. I'm a freelance graphic designer so well-designed pieces are a big deal to me. I had this "vision" of what I hoped the cover would look like and I prayed hard that Ave would be able to see inside my brain. And, by "see inside my brain" what I really meant was I sent them three pages of notes, including font suggestions, colors, book covers I loved, backgrounds that screamed TEXAS! and a few photos, particularly of my beloved Old Gringo cowboy boots. Publishers are the ones who design book covers, not authors. Did you know that? So, while I had input, they ultimately have the final say. It was such a beautiful process and I felt included all along the way. The marketing team and I went back and forth via email with ideas and clarification and when my editor sent me the final cover, I … [Read More...]
You’re 18! And How I Feel About It…
Eighteen. Can we all just sit with that number for a quick second? I (a mom who still doesn't feel that old) have an adult child. And it sure happened a helluva lot faster than I thought it would. I mean, time sure seemed to slow down that one time when Will was two-years-old and kicking and screaming in Sally Beauty Supply because I wouldn't let him buy that flat iron. "He sure is unhappy," … [Read More...]
Lent, and what it’s NOT
Ash Wednesday is um, Wednesday. As much as I'd like to give up winter for Lent (dang you Texas spring, where you at?!), I think God wants me to dig a little deeper. I've written a lot about Lent here on the blog over the last decade. I've chatted about how to make it meaningful for your kids, why we keep missing the point and why I want the world to know what it means (a la sassy … [Read More...]
Cleaner, Safer, Better
If you've been following me over on Instagram, you know that our family recently embarked on a major diet change. For two of our family members, it was medically necessary. The learning curve to cut out gluten has been steep (oh pizza, I miss you), but it's something we've been contemplating for more than a year. Well, that and a few other changes. As the mom of six, I've always been … [Read More...]
The Book! (and a title to boot)
I realized, after looking through all my 2018 posts, that I never "officially" shared on the blog that I'm writing a book. #badblogger So, yes, it's actually happening. I could not be more thrilled or more terrified. At first it sounded so cool to share the deepest recesses of my heart and then I panicked. What if people hate it? What if *I* hate it? What if, what if, what if. I knew, deep … [Read More...]
Happy 15th aka “Almost Street Legal”
John Paul is 15 which means the insurance rates just went up, again. That's okay, he's cute so we'll let it pass. It's time for the first birthday letter of the year. Let's get to it, shall we? Dear John Paul (the Great), You're halfway through with your freshman year and already I'm thinking, 'where did the time go?' I wish it was possible for me to adequately convey what a … [Read More...]
2019 Word of the Year
Resolutions and words of the year are my spirit animals. But, truthfully, they don't mean much unless you actually take the time to implement them. Every year, about mid-January, we hear about folks falling off the wagon, so to speak, with all those good intentions. But you know, we never hear about those that get back on it, even though they fail. January gets a lot of press for being the … [Read More...]
Let’s Get Something Straight About Christmas Trees
Every December 26 I see it. And, I'm pretty sure you do, too. Friends and neighbors put their Christmas trees out for recycling. How dare they, right? Don't they know that the Christmas season lasts twelve full days? Don't they know they should leave their trees up until at least Epiphany? Oh gracious, y'all. Let me just state this up front: the decor of your house does not dictate the … [Read More...]
