Connect What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

Specifically being a stay at home mama: having the blessed opportunity to walk step-by-step alongside my children; experiencing, watching and relearning life through fresh, innocent, and unbiased eyes.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

My favorite quote by Abbie Halberstadt is, “Hard is not the same thing as bad.” When I first heard that quote about a year ago, it resonated so deeply with my motherhood journey. Being a fire family, I’m a single mom to 3 under 5 for at least half the month, day in and day out. And while many days are hard, they are not bad. They’re filled with sweet smiles, warm hugs, and little kisses. Some days are extremely hard, but even in those moments, there is growth—for both my children and myself.

What would you do with $20,000?

As a one-income family in CA, $20k would go far beyond “extra money.” It would create breathing room, stability, relieve daily pressure & build memories that last a lifetime. It would pay down debt, build an emergency fund, help us homeschool with more freedom, & simply allow us to be more present instead of surviving month to month. It would allow us to focus less on financial stress & more on raising kind, grounded children, strengthening our marriage, while continuing to build a peaceful home