charlaanne

I am grateful for a risen Savior. Because He lives, I have hope for the future.

Last year it felt too painful to do any of our usual Easter activities. This year I decided to make it up to the kids by making things extra special. I filled their Easter baskets with things they love, and we dyed Easter eggs. We went to church and spent the day hanging out with family.

Today Galin would have been 47.

3.25.2021

There is nothing I would love more than to celebrate this special day with him. The kids and I would make him all his favorite foods. We would spoil him with gifts and handmade cards. We would tell him how much we love him. We would wrap our arms around him and never let him go.

photo taken on Galin's 35th birthday

Life has changed so much

since I took these photos in February 2019. It seems like a different lifetime. 

I am happy to say Lily’s adorable stitching survived the tornado.

Q & A with Jaxson

3.5.2021

what makes you happy: “Whenever you take us to get ice cream, playing games with you, and whenever we see Jack.” 

what makes you sad: “Missing Daddy.”

favorite dessert: “If I had to choose, it would be a cookie, because you do make pretty good cookies.”

favorite Bible verse: “One of the really short ones.”

best friend: “If I had to choose, it would be Mason. You mean my bestest, bestest? Okay, yeah I told you.”

worst food: “If I had to choose, it would be raspberries. I’m not a big fan of them.” 

greatest wish: “To live in a mansion, one huge RV, and a small pantry with a lot of carrots in there, and to have a lot of money to give it to the poor.”

if you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be: “Make it better by spreading the message about Jesus.”

favorite summer activity: “Stay inside and be by some cool air.”

how many kids do you want when you grow up: “One is enough, because if I had too many kids who would hold them all. That would be really hard.” 

our ongoing weekend project

2.21.2021

joy

2.12.2021

A while back, a dear friend asked what brings me the most joy in life right now. 

Today my answer is a friend picking up the little kids to take them sledding, an unexpected date with Kayla, and getting to witness some of Jack’s first steps. 

What has been bringing you joy lately?

The little kids and I started making a list.

2.2.2021

It is full of fun things we want to do together before Lily turns 18. We are going to hang it up when we move into our new house.

I know this would make Galin happy.

I felt so lost after he died. Each day felt incredibly long, and I couldn’t imagine ever looking forward to life again. That is why this list feels like a big deal to me. We are slowly but surely figuring out how to live again.

Hello friends,

1.24.2021

I am still here, taking it one day at a time :)

The holidays felt so heavy without Galin. We decided it would be easier if we spent Christmas away from home, so we rented an Airbnb. 

I got to spend Christmas Day with all my kids and JACK. We played games, made personal pizzas, and had a cookie decorating contest. God gave us a beautiful day together.

Jaxson wrote his first letter to me. He gave it to me a few days before Christmas because he was too anxious to wait. 

Dear Mom, I love you huge. I love you to the moon and back so much. xoxo God loves you outrageously. I know you are sad. I’m sad sometimes. We are happy sometimes. Jaxson