Hello sweet friends!

Ohio has truly been giving us a little bit of everything these past few weeks. A few days of fake spring sprinkled in between bursts of crazy snow and plenty of rain. My mood definitely seems to flow right along with the weather…on snow days I tend to drag a bit, but when the sun pops out and it feels even slightly like spring, I instantly have a pep in my step.

I am beyond ready for the rebirth of all the things—bright colors, longer days, sunshine on my face. How about you? This winter has felt especially brutal. I think Mother Nature might need to relax and unwind a bit, don’t you?

Connection. Being close to others. Opening your heart and allowing yourself to be vulnerable, even when there is no guarantee the people around you will always be the safe keeper of what you share.

We need each other. We truly do.

Taking that initial step toward connection can feel like a risk, but honestly, I’ve never really looked at it that way. I’m the kind of person who jumps in with both feet, heart on my sleeve. Have I been hurt by being that open? Yep. Have I learned something from every single connection? Absolutely.

Each experience has helped me better understand what I truly need in a friendship and in the connections I choose to keep close. I made the decision long ago not to shut the world out. Not to let a negative experience close off my heart to new people. Instead, I learned from it, grew from it, and continued to seek out relationships that feel fresh, authentic, and real.

Because as humans, we need connection. We thrive in it.

I recently read a post that really stuck with me. One line in particular made me pause: “My son said he doesn’t need friends.”

It made me a little sad. Because the truth is—we all need friends.

Some people thrive with a big circle, others with just a small, tight-knit few. But either way, we need each other as we move through life. We need people to share our gifts and our light with. People who laugh with us, support us, experience life alongside us.

Life is simply better when you have someone to share it with.

Taking the time to show up for one another, creating a safe place to land when life gets messy—that’s what connection is all about. And I am incredibly grateful for the friends in my life. In all the ways.

My heart and my life feel full because of the connections that carry me along this journey.

With Marin at school and Tuck here, there, and everywhere, it’s a rare moment when the four of us are together in one place. But by pure magic, Marc, Tuck, and I were able to pop over to Wittenberg on a Sunday and grab Marin for lunch.

Seeing her face after more than a month was the absolute best. Tennis season is in full swing for her right now, and between classes, practices, lifts, and her on-campus job, she is busy in the best kind of way.

Sitting around a table with all four of us together felt like such a gift. One that definitely wasn’t lost on me.

I couldn’t contain all the questions—I always try to hold back a little, but I just can’t help wanting to know all the things she’s been up to. We text and check in at least once a week, but face-to-face conversation? That is something else entirely.

That short, sweet lunch absolutely made my week. Moms (and parents) of big kids know exactly what I mean. Those moments together become so special.

There is something about sharing a meal with the people you love. Sitting close, making eye contact, exchanging smiles, hearing each other easily. It’s such a simple thing, yet it creates the kind of connection that fills your heart right up.

That little lunch was exactly what my “mom of big kids” heart needed.

Now…let’s talk spring cleaning.

I am all in this year—and honestly, a little ahead of schedule. The very first spring-feeling day we had, I threw open the windows and went straight to work in the kitchen. Every cabinet. The fridge. The pantry. Everything came out.

I purged, reorganized, and tried to create a new flow—an easier flow—for how our kitchen works. Truthfully, I hadn’t really wanted to cook or even spend time in that space lately because it just felt chaotic. The buzz and busy of the holidays definitely took its toll, and I kind of ignored the mess…until that first warm day when fresh air was flowing through the house.

Spring cleaning is definitely not my favorite chore, but once it’s done? It makes such a difference in everyday living.

So here is your little nudge for the week—get yourself outside. Sunshine or rain, it doesn’t matter. Step outside and feel that fresh air that is slowly making its way back in.

Spring is right there on the edge, bringing with it a fresh start and a new rhythm.

Get your toes in the grass.
Take a few deep breaths.
Reset a little.

It’s time to bloom, my friends. 🌸