January 2022 was filled with both joys and pains, beauty and suffering.
Time in nature is a beautiful balm
time with the pup is another balm
The Reservoir is one of our favorite refuges
beauty and Vitamin D
Getting to work at Kolbe's preschool was a blessing. I cannot imagine having to have been even more apart from my sweet little monkey. I'm so grateful that I got to see him at school most days, even when it wasn't my night with the kids. You guys, I cannot explain how our hearts are literally ripped to shreds being apart, but I can tell you that anything that helps bring us together just a little more often is a huge blessing because the pain of being apart is so sharp and sad for each of us.
Look at his little face.
What a joy he is.
Christmas cards are my favorite
So are these amazing and wonderful kids.
tea!
Look at those low, fluffy clouds over the mountains. It was so cool in person; the camera only captures a small portion of the beauty.
Gingerbread houses with friends
Kayla made cake pops and let me try one!
more sweet Kolbe
He wanted to take a picture by these elephants because he said they were like him and I.
Oh, my heart.
He is so very precious
When your friends and family pour on the love because they know you are one big struggle bus.
Sweet at-home date with Elise. She is such a goofy, wonderful kid.
Sophie's turn! I am so blessed to have such amazing kids.
More reservoir time!
walks in the winter-y sunshine are good for the soul
for ALL of us!
Making time to be with each other, being active, being outside, being together despite the pain is good.
Candyland with my little man
It's just so beautiful
Llama llama, red pajama
My dear friend Megan gave me this lamp that we could both light (she has one too) and my polar bear buddy, Bruno.
Pajama day at school!
Neighborhood mom squad dinner
We love Thai food and each other!
It was my birthday month, so we went out for fun desserts after dinner!
This boy is just the best. It was hard for him to go to preschool this year. He wanted to be home with Mommy. And frankly, I wanted to be home with him for last year before Kindergarten. I'm just grateful that at least we got to go to preschool together. :)
Isn't he handsome?
my lovely girlie
This must have been on Kayla, Ava, and Sophie's dance day. Selfies while we waited for them to be done.
Read-aloud time
Saint John Bosco: the kids loved learning about him
Friends let me use their suburban in the winter because the traverse doesn't do so well in the snow.
morning front porch time wrapped in a blanket watching Kolbe play in the snow.
twinning with their shirts
cranky...
there's that smile!
helping Mommy clean up after lunch
I am so loved and so grateful
Chris came to read the kids a story in Kolbe's class. I love how happy that made Kolbe.
Sophie got a nasty cut. I tried my best....but a wonderful friend ended up coming over and helping out. Thank you, James!
sledding with friends
You guys, I'm not going to pretend like this is easy. It's not. It sucks. Divorce sucks. No one wins. Don't tell me "you're better off without him". It's not that simple.
I'm a mom; I was already giving my all.
And now I have to somehow have even more to give because I'm on my own.
Perhaps aspects of it are better if he doesn't want to be in this with me, but life is multi-faceted, and there's definitely a whole lot of it that is so difficult without him.
All I know is I'm not giving up.
These beautiful kids deserve all the love and joy in the world. As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will be fighting to show them the love and peace that Jesus offers, because HE is the only one that can bring good out of all this, and He is. He's got us.
Jesus, help us to love like you do.
