Hello, sweet friends!
Well, here we are. Mid December, how have we arrived in this spot so quickly? Like, wasn’t it just summer? With the holiday season in full swing I am working hard to stay in the moment. Not looking back and trying not to look too far forward, which is incredibly hard for me. Can we say Type A, Planner much?
This season is a level up from the ones before it…in every way. Staying in the moment and enjoying it all while starting to look ahead to the new year is a challenge. Who is with me on this?
I am ready to chase new goals, create more and kick the heck out of the new year…but for now, now I am simmering and loving having a full cozy house. College parents get it-there is something so special when your kid comes home. Your puzzle is complete if only for just a bit.
Waiting. Waiting for the perfect conditions to do something… to finally go after the thing. Who’s been here? Have you ever caught yourself saying, “When I do this, then I’ll do that,” or “When this happens, I’ll finally…”? If so, I get it. Truly. I’ve lived in that mindset more times than I can count.
That waiting place is oddly comfortable, isn’t it? It’s where you can dream big without risking big. Where you can think about the possibilities without actually stepping into them. But let’s be honest—it’s a place with no real wins. No gains. Just time ticking by.
I’ve been there. I’ve hovered there. And what I’ve learned is this: jumping in is better. Jumping in with fear. With uncertainty. With anxiety. That’s what builds the next level. Choosing to move forward when the conditions aren’t perfect—that’s brave. And it can be life-changing.
I’m just going to say it: life is too freaking short to stay in the waiting place. To only talk about your goals, dreams, and aspirations. Get up. Get out. And go make it happen for yourself.
MOM LIFE WITH BIG KIDS
One of my absolute favorite things about being a mom to BIG kids is getting to share life with them. Marc and I love giving our kids experiences—gifts that turn into lifelong memories. The kind that stick, shape them, and grow with them. Some of those moments include one of us, some include friends, but all of them matter.
Tuck and I have shared so many Buckeye football games together, but my favorite will always be the Tennessee playoff game in the Shoe last December. It was the first-ever December game there—and the Buckeyes won. It was absolutely freezing, but it’s a game I’ll talk about forever.
Marin and I share a deep love for live theater, which is why Broadway in Columbus season tickets were her yearly gift for about five years. Nights filled with music, stories, and memories I’ll always hold close.
Tuck is a big country music fan and loves concerts, and Marc has been right there beside him for so many of those moments. He even surprised Tuck with a VIP experience to see one of his all-time favorites. We go big when we can—because at the end of the day, it’s all about creating those core memories.
We also all LOVE the Cincinnati Open—a world-class professional tennis tournament we look forward to every single year. It’s a tradition that creates memories not just for Marin and Tucker, but for Marc and me too.
These moments hit differently in this season of life. The impact isn’t the same as when the kids were younger—and that’s a good thing. It’s deeper. More mutual. More shared.
There’s something incredibly special about not just witnessing core memories anymore, but participating in them—side by side.
Our first Christmas as a married couple was truly magical. Marc and I were settled into our home after spending the summer making it ours—learning how to live together within its walls, soaking in newlywed life. That Christmas felt exciting and full, with decorating, entertaining, and loving side by side.
Our first tree was real, filling the house with the fresh scent of pine. It was perfectly round and full, just right for the corner where it stood. As newlyweds, we had a few ornaments from our families, but we knew we were beginning something new—our own collection. Starting our Christmas traditions felt special that year. Everything was bright, shiny, and full of possibility.
One thing we took very seriously was finding our tree topper. We knew it had to be meaningful. It would crown every tree from that year forward. We imagined future children knowing it, remembering it, and eventually arguing over who would get to place it on the top branches.
So one Saturday, we set out to find the topper—and it quickly turned into a Goldilocks-and-the-Three-Bears kind of search. One was too bright, another not bright enough. Nothing felt just right. We drove all over Columbus—truly all over. Finally, we popped into Pottery Barn… and there it was. A silver star. Simple. Timeless. Perfect. We knew the moment we saw it.
That star has topped every Christmas tree we’ve had for the past 27 years. The search was worth it. And the story behind it is one Marc and I still hold close to our hearts.
