A local restaurateur that’s a dear friend of ours was forced to shut the doors of his business. He also works with events with his catering business, and all events have been canceled. In a moment, his revenue went to nothing. He was forced to fire several people - faithful, hardworking people - and he didn't want to. He loves his employees. So, he started brainstorming. He found the opportunity in what was originally a tragedy. He asked a few of his employees to begin making 2 meal packs for $60 available for pickup. And $10 of every order would be donated to making meals for people who didn’t have the means to buy them.

Boom. He’s back in business.

Covid Part 1: Not much has changed for us.

I haven’t wanted to share my thoughts because everyone already is. Covid-19 rants are everywhere, and it feels LOUD. But I do have some thoughts, and if I’m honest, I’m sharing them now more for me than for you. I want to remember this weirdo experience, and I want to write out what’s going on in my heart and my head, and I want to do it in real time. So here we are, in the 2nd week of the nationwide quarantine, where we have been encouraged to not gather in groups over 10 people. Most of us aren’t gathering at all. Churches are online, all restaurants have been closed, and I legit had a “family dinner” via zoom with Will’s family, which was so sweet and hilarious and crazy. Honestly, it’s a memory I’m glad we made during this craziness.

If I’m honest, my current situation tells me to not plan anything, because my family is going to keep getting sick and I wont be able to do it anyway. I KNOW that sounds like I’m a grumpy pants complainer, but it’s honestly how I feel after the December and January that we’ve had! BUT. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that if I DON’T plan or try, it’s guaranteed that nothing will happen. So I’m going to keep showing up and trying. I’m going to keep setting goals. And if there is more sickness, I’ll push some of these goals back to March and ask for God to sustain us.

This day never gets old to me. The fresh start, the new year, the clean slate! 2020, being that it’s the mark of not only a new year but a new decade, feels like an entirely new chapter. Of course it feels that way to me especially, because I’ve closed down Nancy Ray Photography and am now looking ahead to my new rhythm and pace of life. I am FULL of expectation.

Many people have been asking, “So what’s next for you?”

I’ve finished several goals so far (like Read Life Giving Home through August, attend GLS, and make serious progress on a lot of my reading), but it was actually incredibly helpful to sit down and write it all out on August 15th.

Next steps for me: Sit down with my CALENDAR and write them in. Because that’s the secret to actually doing your goals, canigetanamen?

You ready for the BEST EVER Fourth of July Playlist? I got you! I created this a few years back, and every year we put it on repeat and blast it. It’s VERY patriotic. We love our country and I get all emotional listening to it each year, thinking about the sacrifices made to get us where we are today. I hope it makes your 4th even better!

June!!! Summer. Peach stands. Halfway point. Weddings. Anniversary. Pool time. Watermelon. Sprinklers. Thunderstorms. Books. Naps. Podcasting. Running. Working. Resting. Playing.

We’re 6 days in, and I’m already so hot 😂.

I’ve been traveling with our kids since they were babies and I’ve learned lots of tricks and tips along the way!

Get ready! This is a gamechanger. For you, the parent, as well as your kiddos!

It’s called “Mind Body Soul Time.”

Say this with me:

My phone is not a photo storage device.

It is a PHONE.

So, February feels like it was the fastest month of my life. Honestly, it was all a bit of a blur, and I’m still getting the hang of this mom-of-3 life. In short, it’s crazy. I’ve been a bit more brave, getting out of the house more and actually handling all 3 kids for preschool pick up and drop off by myself, which is nuts. (One day in the freezing rain. That was fun!)

A few years ago I heard about the Navigator’s Council - a tool created by a couple I follow and love: Jeremy and Audrey Roloff. In a nutshell, there are 6 questions they ask each other every single week, to stay in a place of healthy communication in their marriage.

While I’m in the middle of the Contentment Challenge, I find that refraining from buying all the things makes me appreciate things that I REALLY love and want to own. It makes me super intentional and thoughtful with what I buy.

So what happened after we paid off our house the first time?

In the 5 years following us reaching Baby Step 7…

We saved a lot.

We gave a lot.

We lived a little more, and I’m so glad we did!  (Because I can tell you one thing: it was HARD those first 5 years living on such a tight budget! We were ready to eat out a little more and take a few vacations!)

We also experienced life with a new lens: We became parents.

If you’ve followed our financial journey in the past, you know a few important things about me and my husband Will:

• We enrolled in Financial Peace University when we were engaged and it CHANGED OUR MARRIAGE.

• We followed Dave’s Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps to a T!

• We lived on a tight budget for 5 years, then paid off our first house at ages 25 & 26.

This Fun Friday is for those of us who are just DELIGHTED by clean floors!

Meet the Deebot.

The longest I’ve gone without washing my hair is 13 days.

I don’t know if that impresses you, or if that grosses you out. I realize I’m taking a big risk here!

But if you’re like me, I view not washing my hair as a skill to be proud of!

I’m pretty excited about this little idea. I’m looking at Fridays on this blog as a free pass - I get to talk about whatever little tip, tutorial, product, or life hack that I want! I know, I know, I plan the rest of this blog out, too. But Fridays are gonna be different, spontaneous, and maybe a little unexpected.

Today, I turn 32!

I LOVE birthdays, and I love parties and celebrations and decorating and cakes and all the birthday things. I am not one of those “low key” kind of people when it comes to birthdays - I like to celebrate every year of life BIG. I don’t mind aging at all… I see it as part of life and want to age gracefully. So the more candles, the better!

But this year, it’s quiet. And I’m LOVING it.