The tough times taught me how the ultimate beauty lies in the mundane. — “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Robert Brault I have always prided myself on my ability to practice gratitude. Ever since I was a child, I’ve thanked the Lord for my blessings on the majority of my days. …

Mom of two, freelance writer, peanut butter lover. — Mom of two, freelance writer, peanut butter lover. “Accept what people offer. Drink their milkshakes. Take their love.” Wally Lamb Hey there! I’m Amanda — mom of two, freelance writer, and peanut butter lover, but let’s start from the VERY beginning. I was born (and raised) in a teeny Southern…

How our daily commute sheds light on the metaphors of wind — “If the wind brushes against you, do not complain; it brushes against everyone.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo “Can I feel the wind on my face for a minute, mommy?” My sweet, 5-year old asks every morning — on our half-hour commute. “Yes, honey, of course, you can,” I always say as…

Trying to make sense of our political world. — I’ve been a people pleaser since I can remember, and for most of my life when it came to controversial conversations, I’d shy away or stay silent. Some close friends never even knew my political affiliation. Controversy has never been my thing. Then I became an official writer, and life spilled on the page. For someone…

Before the pandemic, I started training to run a 5k. In fact, I wrote about this experience here. — Before the pandemic, I started training to run a 5k. In fact, I wrote about this experience here. At the time, I was 37 and hadn’t run for years, even though I used to be a fitness obsessed D1 athlete. But life happened. Marriage, kids, a dog, the whole shebang…

As I drive my kids to school, I think how my world is so perfectly contained in this minivan. — As I drive my kids to school, I think how my world is so perfectly contained in this minivan. And as this thought — one of many — bounces around for a minute, my four-year-old lowers his window and confidently proclaims, “I’m feeling the wind, mommy.” (A statement his older…

My Scrambled Navigating Life Update — I haven’t written here for a while. Truth be told, a lot has been going on, so I’m having difficulties sifting through what’s appropriate to share and what’s not. You see, before I ever hit publish, I always ask myself the following questions: Does this post have the potential to help? Does this post respect others? Does this post relate? If the answer to…

How taking breaks makes me a more effective entrepreneur and mom. — “Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” Maya Angelou I recently wrote about how I skipped out on all I had to do and watched the…