The Unexpected Ever Afters will be taking a fall break and look forward to returning in October. Happy Fall! ~Jessica & Wendi
Throwback: a collection of Jessica’s posts
As I re-read previous posts that Jessica has shared on The Unexpected Ever Afters, I was struck by the wide variety of topics and full range of emotions that she has written about. Her ability to articulate experiences and perspectives with clarity, authenticity, and insight has provided tremendous help and comfort in my own journey. …
Throwback: Candid Moments of Inspiration
This post is such a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best lessons in life are found right in front of us. I loved re-reading about joy, kindness, laughter, and praise through the eyes of a child.
Be in the Now: Another Piece of the Puzzle
As I thought about this, I wondered what was pulling me away from enjoying the moment. I realized it often wasn’t the “What’s next?” question, as I had expected and wrote about in my last post. Although, my emotions were still focused on the ingrained future-thinking, there was a key difference: “What’s NOT next?” What is part of this moment that won’t be the same in the future?
The Self-Care of Sleep
The other night, in the midst of fighting off a miserable head cold, the second bug to hit in less than ten days, I willingly went to bed at 8:30. This is not a normal routine but I was so tired I could hardly move. I fell asleep unusually fast and awoke the next morning …
Summer Break
The Unexpected Ever Afters will be taking an unexpected summer break until the middle of July. We look forward to returning July 17th. Happy Summer! ~Wendi & Jessica
Be in the Now
I am still struggling to be okay with being okay. I frequently find myself stuck in a cycle of thinking about “what’s next,” frequently daydreaming about the next big thing. Trying to slow down while inundated with the demand to do the opposite feels like a losing battle.
The Mystery of New Life
Over the past few months, I’ve posted about the variation between the theoretical and reality and how, often, the two can be quite incompatible. Sometimes life defies simple answers with its messy complexity and apparent inability to flow according to well-laid plans. Recently, my family embarked on a gardening adventure that reminded me just how …
For the Love of Libraries
From the small library down the street from my house to the museum-like city landmarks, I am always in awe of the role libraries play in our communities and the impact they have had on my own life. The last week of April was National Library Week, and in celebration of libraries everywhere I am sharing a few of my favorite library memories.
Know Answers vs. No Answers – Part 2
In my Part 1 post of Know Answers vs. No Answers, I talked about the theoretical versus reality and how the two are often, disappointingly, incompatible. There are so many experiences in life that defy simple answers. I struggle to accept that some situations don’t neatly fit the theoretically known answers and this often causes …
the unexpected ever afters 