On May 31, 2019, we welcomed Curtis Boy #3 in a beautiful water birth at our home. I give thanks to God for such an incredible and empowering blessing. Both of our older two children were born in a hospital. The backstory of those experiences helps explain my choice for a home birth this time around. If you’re looking for the birth story only – scroll to the…
Our favorite family vacation so far was exploring the Caribbean Sea on a 5 night cruise. For a crew that loves the sun, sand and ocean – this was literally the perfect getaway. My water babies were in paradise, and it brought me and their dad so much joy to watch their spirits ignite in a whole new way. I was 21 weeks pregnant at that time, so we rushed…
Growing up in Alabama, I’ve taken lots of trips to the Gulf Coast. I love it just at much today as I did when I was little. The Curtis Tribe has been bringing our boys to Florida since they were toddlers. We like to establish a love of the ocean and the sand from an early age! They are both natural swimmers and spend lots of time at…
O’Bryan worked in Mobile, Alabama for two months during the summer of 2018. As a family that is used to spending time together every day, the boys and I missed him a lot. Summers are busy for us because I work full time and the kids go to different camps each week. Our crazy schedule helps the time pass quickly, but weekends are for slowing down and reconnecting…
Seven years ago, we bought our first house and could finally get the dog we always dreamed about. As I looked around for Huskies in our area, I came across a litter of Akitas that would be available for adoption soon. I googled the breed to see what they were and instantly fell in love. I understand that many people are not supportive of dog breeders and advocate purchasing rescue…
This is one my favorite images. We are an adventurous and energetic family. Our two boys are usually exploring and doing some wild stuff. No matter what they get into, there are always two sets of eyes watching over their path. Trent and Robby are behind me on the beach, racing each other. Daddy and Koda are intently observing. They don’t interfere. They don’t instruct them…
I call him an angel, because he is. For me and for others. I hold him to a higher standard and expect more from him. I know what he was created for, and I will encourage him to live up to that potential. He brings me more joy than I could ever describe. He sends a peace to my soul that is unmatched by anyone or anything. He caused me…
Some days, there’s nothing that really stands out or speaks to me when I read my Bible. Other days, like today, the words on the page completely captivate my heart. The entirety of the first few verses in Hebrews 13 say, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have…
Progress, not perfection. This is my reminder for the hard days. The ones where your mind is totally unfocused. Everything seems to distract you and even though you’re completely aware, you still allow it. Where your willpower is weak and you’re not prepared to handle any obstacle. When you doubt yourself, and let negative logic take over your whole spirit. Each seemingly insignificant thought can quickly turn…
Adventures nourish the spirit like nothing else in life. The boys and I have been missing daddy while he’s working in another part of the state, so we decided to intentionally reconnect by driving down to visit him. As a mom, we’re usually responsible for planning and organizing. Most will understand that packing for a trip can be very complicated if we allow it to be…
I woke up this morning thanking God for thirty-one years on his earth. Last year, turning thirty felt like a big milestone. I imagined a shift from childhood into adulthood, and convinced myself I should be at a certain place in this path of life. A race against time gave me overwhelming anxiety about how I’m going to get everything accomplished. In reality, I was only concerned…
We are raising little wolf pups, and a lot of people don’t understand. This is Robby, and this is his favorite shirt. He is a warrior. He has the fiercest heart, the strongest spirit, and the kindest soul. As parents, we encourage him to Be You. Even if that goes against many customs of our society. He is expected to sit still, listen and obey. To follow a…
