In a heartfelt reflection on a year of transformation, this mother shares how deep pain led to renewed purpose. From reuniting with her son to hearing unexpected words of love from her oldest, she discovered that the strength she thought was lost had always been there—anchored in her children. Through faith, self-reflection, and the pursuit of her dreams, she found joy again. This is a story of resilience, motherhood, and the quiet victories that prove healing is always possible.
Off to New Mexico!!
This year was a year of awakening. When I thought I had nothing left within me but brokenness. Then I was reminded I had so much more, I’ve always had more, my boys were always the reason I had pushed myself as hard as I did. Then to have the opportunity to finally reunite with my middle baby after all the time lost was something special that not many can ever say they ever get. Many time over I have been reminded that God is with me and listening to me and holding my hand even when I didn’t deserve it holding me, every time I felt alone and pushing me along the way especially now.
He isn’t letting me turn around, or look back or become sidetracked by useless things that once got in the way. My time is now and I have a purpose. I want to share with you what my oldest son shared with me on the drive home from Michigan that I’m told many parents don’t normally hear until their children have children of their own. Mind you we had been joking and laughing about everything, so to suddenly hear something serious come out of his mouth like this didn’t really click at first. He told me he had a good childhood, and I was and am a good mom, he never knew we were poor or really had money issues. He missed me at times because I worked a lot, and he wanted more time with me, but he remembered playing and the laughter. This right here let me know I was doing it right. I was showing my boys and raising and have been raising my boys the best way I could and be the best mother I could also be. I never lost my inner child while being a mother, I did lose me at times but it happens. We just gotta recenter and guess what sometimes that means also learning from our children too.
I’ve always told my children when I messed up because we are not perfect, life is hard even more so now on children and to put impossible expectations on children as they grow when they fall is unfair. Mistakes happen but growth comes from mistakes, and pain. I know this post is incredibly long and has nothing to do with photography but oh it does!! Because of my fall I’ve gotten to focus on myself and my dream and been given opportunity after opportunity to achieve this goal and grow! It’s meant so much to me and I’m grateful for it. Oh yes I’m totally crying right now but tears of overwhelming joy. I hope that anyone who ever felt lost or feels lost, don’t worry 
you will get there and find peace and happiness to finding the better version of you soon! Xoxo