Introduction

Hello friends! I am so glad you dropped by today and I hope your coffee hasn’t had to be reheated yet. Personally, I’m on reheat number two but who’s counting? These words you’re reading here are my very first on my shiny new blog! I’m squealing on the inside louder than a little piggy running through the muck..! (No I don’t live on a farm or have a farmhouse, but it’s the rainiest and stormiest day here in California and the muck is on my mind okay?!) Back to my intro, my blog, why I am here and how Thrill of Home came to be…

I have a very long version that I’ll try to summarize for you all. My husband and I met at the ripe ages of 21 and 22. He proposed the month before shipping out to basic training and 10 months after dating we were married in good ol’ San Antonio Texas. Our officiator smelled like a pack of smokes and the ceremony happened in a cheesy set-up under a convenient store. We’re talking small room, no windows, cheap gazebo with fake greenery and flowers… THE WORKS guys!!! So classy right?! We laugh whenever we look back on that sunny Texas day in April 2011. But we were so in love and did not have a care (or a CLUE) in the world.

Fast forward three years. We had bought our first home and had our first baby… our sweet, perfect little girl! Everything seemed to happen SO FAST. I always dreamed of becoming a mother and it truly was the best day of my life! I will always cherish those first few years of being a new mom. BUT I could have never anticipated just how HARD it all would be. The challenges I faced were more than I could have ever imagined. Two months after our girl was born my dad was tragically killed in a car accident and my whole world felt like it disintegrated into irretrievable pieces. The months turned into a blur and I found myself in a cycle of immense grief wrapped up in postpartum depression.

During this time my husband had been working long hours, days at a time as a firefighter. Most of my days and nights were spent completely alone with my daughter. Family lived hours away; the “help” that I needed would never come. The loneliness and isolation sent me into a dark downward spiral.  I wouldn’t get out of the house for much other than grocery store trips. I stopped taking care of myself and was just trying to make it through each day. It was SO HARD. And although my husband tried to convince me to get out and make friends, I just didn’t have it in me.

 I can’t remember when it finally happened, but I do know some day, one day, I decided to get out. I joined a baby group and met a mom. Before I knew it, I had met several moms and we got together for playdates (bonus I also really liked these moms!)! It seemed as if one small choice helped open doors that my aching heart desperately needed. It all snowballed into play dates and feeling confident in my abilities as a mom. I got Pinterest and instead of just pinning and never looking again, I tried new recipes and crafts with the kids. I made notes in my phone with activities I wanted to try that required minimal supplies. I shared photos and videos on social media of the kids doing all these fun things.  It seemed as if everyone loved to see the fun we were having and appreciated seeing a mom (actually) trying new Pinterest ideas!

Countless times I’ve been asked if I had ever thought about doing photography or starting a blog. Honestly, it just hadn’t seemed like the time for me until very recently. That “tug” on my heart to open-up and share my story has become stronger from one day to the next. So this is me, believing in my message and hoping to build community with you all. Being a mother in today’s modern world isn’t for the faint of heart, but together we can raise our families with more than good intentions. We can be passionate about everyday moments and rejoice in each other’s triumphs. Moments will pass quickly-from the good and the bad… But if we look closely, we can learn to count each one as a blessing. If there is one thing motherhood has taught me it’s that we are truly stronger together. And I am THRILLED you are here, from my home to yours thank you for being part of our incredible village and story.

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