Breathing Through the Journey

For those who’ve read my welcome page, you already know I am a wife and a proud dog mom. But there’s a little more to me than that.

We’re both homebodies in our own ways. Brandon loves PC gaming, and I’m happiest curled up with a TV show, working on a puzzle, or just being cozy at home (I genuinely own way too many sweatpants, hoodies, flannels, and band tees). This fits us.

We’re opposites in some funny ways—he can move on from a topic instantly, while I’m still processing conversation #1. He can talk to anyone; I’m a little shy unless there’s wine involved or we bond over music. But what we do really well is balance, support, and love each other through whatever comes our way.

When we moved from our condo into a house (with a big backyard) last year, we thought, “perfect, they can run free!” Reality was slightly different and more complicated.

The youngest gets so excited outside that she forgets to actually go to the bathroom…which sometimes leads to an “Oops, she did it again” moment once we are back inside. And with a big yard, if we don’t pick things up immediately, it turns into a messy situation—especially for Brandon, who somehow manages to step in it far more than I do. Maybe being 4’10” just keeps my eyes closer to the ground LOL.

My Puzzle Therapy

Another big part of me? Puzzles.

My grandma (Gramz) first got me into them. It was something she loved, and over time it became something I leaned on too—especially during stressful seasons.

When my pop was diagnosed with cancer, my sister-in-law brought over a 500- piece puzzle as a distraction. Five hours and a couple bottles of wine later, we finished it together. It was oddly therapeutic, and I never stopped after that.

Now I have several puzzles framed in my office and have even worked my way up to 2,000-piece puzzles. Once my husband realized I could finish a 1,000-piece puzzle in just a couple of days, he encouraged me to start tackling more challenging ones. Apparently, I was going through them a little too quickly. So now I ask for puzzles on special occasions (birthday & Christmas) so I’m not spending all our money on puzzles…hehe.

Concerts, Music & My Happy Place

If you know me, you know concerts are my thing. I love rock/metal—especially metalcore.

I got into it around 8th grade. Ironically, I remember thinking Demon Hunter sounded “too intense” when a friend played them…fast forward and bands like blessthefall and As I Lay Dying completely pulled me in. By high school, I was going to local Battle of the Bands shows where friends played, and I fell in love with the sound—the riffs, double bass, the energy of it all.

These days I usually go to concerts with my cousin. Every year, we map out our summer concert calendar, and yes… I almost always leave with a hoodie or T-Shirt (sometimes both).

Since my diagnosis, music has become even more meaningful to me. I’ve been more intentional about discovering new bands and revisiting older ones that once meant a lot. Lately I’ve been listening to PRESIDENT, Don Broco, and diving back into 12 Stones.

Faith— Imperfect but Real

Faith is another part of my story. I grew up Christian and still believe deeply in Jesus Christ, though my relationship with faith looks different now.

Over the years, church sometimes felt cliquey, and some difficult experiences—especially in high school—made me step back. Seeing how people were treated pushed me to be someone who welcomes the outsider instead of judging them.

These days, my faith is more personal. I still pray, I still believe, and I still value fellowship with close Christian friends. It’s quieter than it used to be, but it’s genuine—and it continues to carry me through this journey.

So that’s me—a wife, dog mom, puzzle lover, concert-goer, homebody, and someone figuring life out one step (and breath) at a time.

Thanks for being here.