Somewhat clear skies

We’re still under an air quality alert (because of the wildfire smoke), but today the atmosphere was much better than last Wednesday afternoon.

And the temps were a little cooler with a nice breeze.

We’ve been able to get out and enjoy the park again.

I just love visiting parks tucked away in neighborhoods near our house. The neighborhood parks feature a playground with paved walking paths good for walking and riding bikes or even skating.

One of my favorite features is how the walking paths go around the playground making it easier for us to keep an eye on the kids while we walk.

It feels good to see people out jogging, walking, riding bikes, and playing at the playground again.

Last week’s thick smoke made everything look like a ghost town because no one was out walking in the neighborhood or at the parks. Traffic was even lighter than usual.

I know the kids are thrilled to be back at the playground.

They’ve had the best time going to the park three days in a row. They asked me if we can go everyday. Lol 😅

Travis and I enjoy walking together while the kids play at the playground, so I think we just might make evening walks part of our nightly routine! ☺️

💜 XO


Happy Friday

Three things to reflect on in honor of September 11th.

Pool day ☀️

It was another hot day, so the kids and I spent some time at the pool today. The temps reached 94°F, but i think the weather app said it felt like 102°F! 🥵

I’ll be honest—for most of the summer, I kept putting off going to the pool because I don’t particularly like wearing a bathing suit. 🫤

But once we got in the pool and started swimming around, I really started to enjoy myself! 😄🏊‍♀️

It made me realize I need to just relax and take a break sometimes, stop being so hard on myself.

I mean, it is summer after all. Lol ☀️😊

Mj (24), my oldest daughter stopped by to hangout with us at the pool after she got off from work.

She has her own apartment in our neighborhood—just three minutes walking distance from our house.

It’s nice having my daughter live in the same neighborhood as me. I really enjoy having her live so close by to us.

I’m so glad we went to the pool around 1 p.m. and hung out for a couple of hours because the weather unexpectedly got bad later in the day.

All of a sudden, around 6 p.m. the air quality became hazy and unhealthy because of the wildfires in Canada. 😲 (We live about 40 minutes from the Canadian border.)

The atmosphere became very smoky outside as if the entire neighborhood had finished shooting off fireworks. You could even smell the burning wood!

I’m keeping Canada and all U.S. states affected by these wildfires in my prayers! 🙏🏽

💜 XO


Happy Friday!

Four fun things for Friday, including a new art exhibit I’m excited to see.

World Marriage Day

Today is World Marriage Day! Travis and I have been married for 14½ years now. ❤️

At church today, the priest said a special blessing and prayer for the married couples. Then, the wives were given a beautiful white rose, and the husbands received a marriage prayer card.

Travis and I were married on August 3, 2011. We look so young in this photo dated August 2011, just a couple of weeks after we were married.

One of the many things I love about being married to my husband is that we get to grow old together. It is truly a great blessing from God to share my life with Travis.

I love looking back on pictures of us from over the years (like the one above).

To me, these photographs show how much we’ve grown together—both as a couple and individuals—deepening in love, faith, and spirit.

Present day — February 8, 2026. One of the many things I love about being married is we get to grow old together. ❤️

I can’t help but smile when I see the gray in our hair and the silver in Travis’ beard. They’re cherished reflections of the milestones we have reached together in our fourteen years of marriage.

❤️ XO

P.S.— Happy World Marriage Day to you, too, if you are married! 😊💗

“Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away.” Song of Songs 8:7