I enjoyed soaking up the start of summer with some extra time to spend with my family as well as additional time to relax. I found myself reading more, laughing more, and even sleeping more soundly. In the blink of an eye, the month was over. As I transitioned into July, I thought about a reflection practice that I learned from a favorite author of mine, Emily P. Freeman.
The Unexpected Ever Afters will be taking an early summer break so we can spend time with our families. We look forward to returning with a new post Monday, July 15. Happy Summer! -Wendi & Jessica
I thought of how real my dreams felt at that time and how I still, to this day, don’t think they were wrong, they just didn’t stay right. Which leads to my conclusion that more than one dream can be real, more than one dream can be the right, AND dreams can and will change.
Then one evening in February, after a record-setting 60 degree day, I was getting ready for bed when my phone rang... Right in the middle of our mild winter was a good old-fashioned North Dakota blizzard!
Recently I lovingly reminded my son, a “small mistake doesn’t change who he is. He is still thoughtful, smart, and kind. Everyone makes mistakes.” I firmly believe this truth. And yet, when the situation is flipped, I struggle to talk to myself in a similar, gentle way. Instead, I find myself ruminating on the could-haves and should-haves. Life is irritating that way.
When I think about it, it makes sense, this goal for both being in the moment and dreaming about the future, because today’s moments are a result of dreams from previous years. And, the dreams I have today will, hopefully, lead to future moments to be thankful for. I wish you all the best as we continue this new year. Happy 2024!
We are excited to continue the celebration of our fourth blogiversary of the Unexpected Ever Afters! As a way to mark this blog milestone, we decided to venture way outside of our comfort zones and record our first video posts! You can find Part One of this two part celebration here. And, we are excited …
Continue reading Our Blogging Journey: A Celebration of Four Years (Part 2)
Merry Christmas from the Unexpected Ever Afters! As we celebrate with our families, we wanted to share two Christmas posts from past holidays. Enjoy! We will see you back here in the new year. -Wendi and Jessica Jessica: I wrote The Comfort of Christmas in 2020, a Christmas which was full of celebrations that looked …
We are excited to celebrate our fourth blogiversary of the Unexpected Ever Afters! As a way to mark this blog milestone, we decided to venture outside of our comfort zone and record our first video post!
I have found some peace when I am intentional about changing my mindset to focus on gratitude. As Thanksgiving nears and I continue with this busy fall season, a shift to gratitude seems especially important. I will share some of the things on my current list and encourage you to consider your own list. What is saving your life right now?
the unexpected ever afters 