Tales Of The Wild Things

The New Year is just days away and, like most people, I've been thinking about new goals and reflecting on goals set years ago. It's interesting to see the things that I was successful at achieving and the things I fell short of. It became even more interesting when I realized the differences in my successes and failures came down to 4 simple things: •My "Why" •My Plan •My Support System •Grace The things I achieved, had a rock solid "Why" behind them. My superficial goals like "look good in a swimsuit" never really motivated me because I will, in fact, always choose a donut over a flat stomach. But, my goals like "Live Healthier" worked out because my "Why" was about my ability to do the things I love and setting a good foundation for my kid's health and self-image. The whole idea that your kids are always watching and learning from you, really helped me kick my butt in gear. In addition to a solid motivator, my succ...

"He's on the Spectrum," she said. The words rolled off her tongue like it was nothing. Like she had just told me the sky was blue. But those words sent tears rolling down my cheeks and sucked the air from my lungs. We had been dancing around this diagnosis for over a year, but hearing the words made it so real. I knew that my son was different. I knew that he had struggles that needed to be addressed. But the big A word. Autism. My son was Autistic. I wish I could go back to that moment and tell myself what I know now. I wish I knew what a gift this diagnosis would be. I wish I knew it would open the door that would completely change Wyatt's life for the better. I think the #1 thing people ask me, is "How did you know he had Autism?" The answer is, I didn't. Not until that phone call. The reality though is that knowing he had autism, wasn't nearly as important as the moment I knew he and I needed help. That moment came when he was 2 1/2...

I grew up as a middle-row every Sunday kind of Christian. Like most church kids, I knew the classic Christmas story forward and back. The virgin birth. Son of God. Wisemen. Shepards Manger. And most importantly, it's NOT ABOUT THE GIFTS. When I became a mom myself, and I started teaching my kids about Christmas, without even really thinking about it, I continued the mantra that Christmas was not about the presents. But this year as I watched the news turn from political turmoil and celebrity feuds to stories of Christmas Magic, I realized, it is absolutely about the gifts. And I believe that's the way Jesus wants it. Sure there's the classic gifts like presents and money --and those can go a long way in bringing Christmas joy -- but there are the far more important gifts that are given this time of year. There's the gifts of time spent with those who might otherwise be lonely. The gift of volunteering for those who need a hand. The random acts of kindness ...

I sit on the couch cuddled under a blanket with my still hot coffee in hand. Cartoons flash on the TV, and I run my fingers through my son's dirty blonde hair as he blinks the sleep away from his eyes. It's still dark outside but my husband has already been gone for an hour. I imagine they've probably settled into a spot and are carefully setting decoys for their morning hunt. I slide to the weather app on my phone that says it's still well below freezing outside and I pull the blanket up a little higher and tell myself I'm more than happy to stay home with the kids. But there's that quiet whisper at the back of my mind that reminds me that isn't quite true. I would gladly sit in a cold blind, shoving handwarmers in my boots, just for the chance to watch the ducks fly across a Colorado sunrise. My inner wild always gets a little jealous on these mornings. She's never been happy that I pushed her aside to be a mom. If I'm not careful, her little ...

I originally thought I wanted to talk about Holiday eating on this #FitnessFriday, but I've had a change of heart. I want to talk instead about our mental health during the holidays. More specifically I want to talk about the power that we give our relatives over our happiness. Go ahead and slip into some bell bottoms and put a flower in your hair, because I'm going to drop some hippy shit on you, but hang with me. YOU are entirely responsible for the way you let other people make you feel and YOU get to decide how much joy you take away from your holiday. And that can be a really hard pill to swallow when you are sitting across the table from a family member who you just don't vibe with. So how do you combat that? How do you push away their negativity and let yourself enjoy the festivities? The truth is, it starts with your own thoughts. In these days leading up to Christmas, take the opportunity to find the positive in the things that are about to happen. I don...

I pulled a jacket out of the closet this morning, and before I could close the door, my dusty hiking boots caught my eye. Maybe it’s the trees changing color or the nip in the morning air, but I feel the pull to be places I’ve never been. My heart feels like it’s banging against the walls of my chest begging me to break free from the routine, and those boots are the keys to my freedom. I close my eyes, shut the door, and load the kids into the van for the drive to school. Since becoming a mom, I struggle with that pull. I feel guilty when I put those boots on because it means I had to ask someone else to take my kids. But leaving them in the closet? That doesn’t feel right either. Those boots have been a part of making me…ME. You see, those boots have followed in the footprints of the men who taught me to be a strong woman. Those boots have rested on rocks while I talked about life with my dad. Those boots have slipped on hillsides where I learned...

We've had a few people ask, "Why would you take a 6-year-old girl Elk hunting?" The truth is, because I want her to know she can. My daughter craves adventure. I love that about her, and I want to stoke that fire in her soul. So when she asked to come hunting, saying "No" didn't cross my mind. See, we tell little girls that they can be whatever they want to be. Hairstylist? Get it, girl! Scientist? More power to ya! CEO? Put those boss skills to work, chica! The trails have been blazed, and little girls know they can do it all because they've watched the women before them do it. The thing about being an outdoorsman though is that it teaches little girls (and everyone for that matter) not just that you CAN be self-sufficient, but that you are CAPABLE of being self-sufficient. By camping and waking up before sunrise, she's learning that some things are worth showing up for. By going on challenging hikes, she's learning that sometimes hard...