Helping others

I made a bunch of food for this couple with a new baby. They live a handful of neighborhoods away from us, and the midwife mentioned to me that the mom seemed to be really struggling, so I reached out to see how I could make a difference. The irony of my making a bunch of food for them is that I barely manage to feed myself still these days. But my husband was home yesterday evening, so I had him keep the baby outside while he cleaned his motorcycle and worked on it a bit, and I made us both dinner and then made the huge stir-fry and put together a crock-pot stew for overnight for the other couple.

So, dropped it off to them today – oh, and we had a multi-hour power outage today, which was a bit wild, but the weather was okay at the time, so we were okay physically – and found some ties with them. Turns out they go to a Church I’ve wondered about attending. So, might end up going with them after Easter, which could be cool. The husband seems super nice and friendly. When I had met the wife, she seems angry and overwhelmed and just done with the world. So, I don’t know if she’s just always kind of negative and angry, or if she’s merely a happy person who is currently in the pits of postpartum depression and physical-body-suck and minimal sleep and exhaustion and wits end and mostly-solo-parenting disasters… perhaps time will tell!

If nothing else, I did a good thing for a new family.

God, keep us safe and make us well, please, my husband and daughter especially. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Sleep

My baby fell asleep in the shower tonight. Fortunately, my husband was actually home and able to help this time, so I didn’t have to set her on the ground, propped against the wall or anything… But it was just incredibly sweet to see them cuddled up in the rocking chair after I got out of the shower. I love when they get to sleep together, in whatever ways it may come about. There’s just something special about napping and sleeping with another.

Thank you, God, for this beautiful family. Help us always to be our best selves and to pursue and fulfill your will. Make us well and keep us safe and together, please. Show us your way for us. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Stations of the Cross

We went to a Stations of the Cross for children this evening, and it was great. Granted, many kids were loud and annoying, the microphone sound was not loud enough for the kids doing the readings, and there were loads of errors in the printed booklets (not to mention that the words were way too complex for little kids to understand in the first place, let alone read aloud with a group). However, as far as they were reasonably well-behaved, kids got to be kids while experiencing the Stations of the Cross. We didn’t have to walk out every time our daughter made a noise or got excited and exclaimed something. We got to stay in the sanctuary and just redirect her attention as needed, continuing to participate in the activity. For that reason, it was awesome. Yes, loads of room for improvement in the future. However, this was a great start for the event, and I’m so glad my daughter got to attend fully.

Thank you, God. Please, keep us safe, make us well, and keep us together. Guide us financially. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Close!

My daughter started yesterday making sounds that she has never before made, sounds and intonations that are wildly similar to spoken English, and a touch of German. It would not surprise me at all if she suddenly started speaking clear words in a matter of days. It could also be weeks or months before she does, of course. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if she just whipped it all out within the next week, anyway.

Thank you, God, for our daughter. Please, keep my husband and our daughter and me safe, and make us well. Guide us kindly and encouragingly and clearly, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Opera

My mom and I used to love going to the opera together. However, we both hit a point this year where we weren’t sure we wanted to renew our subscription next year. Now that next year’s performances have been released, we have no doubts: We are not renewing. We like the old stuff. We kind of hate modern opera, though. And there are loads of the old operas to explore. However, it feels like Houston Grand Opera has gone further and further into pursuing new operas while repeating the same dozen or so old operas throughout the years. This upcoming year, the only opera we haven’t already seen in Houston is a modern opera. So, we’re passing. Maybe we’ll get single-performance tickets in the future, but we don’t care to see the same operas again and again, nor do we care to see any more modern operas. Well just have to keep an eye out every spring to see if there’s something playing that we want to see. For now, we’ll try the symphony subscription that is child-friendly and see how that goes. I’m actually quite excited about it.

Post-a-day 2026

Family day

Today, My husband was unexpectedly off work (again!), so we took advantage of the opportunity to spend time together. Given that it was a Tuesday, after he got his tires fixed, we went to ride the carousel for free carousel day – thank you, Exxon! – and then went briefly to the zoo to see the sea lions – exhibit was under repair, so no sea lions, but our daughter loved running through the exhibit, nonetheless – and then to the museum of natural science to see some dinosaurs and to be in the air conditioning. Then we had our standard Costco lunch, where my mom and grandma surprisingly joined us, and finally fought the beginning of rush-hour traffic to get home and nap. (At least, the baby and I napped. My husband worked on things outside.)

We had lots of emotions today, but it was such a pleasure to get to do these things with my husband. I am beyond grateful. And I am glad he agreed and was up for the adventure today.

Thank you, God. Please, keep us safe and make us well. Guide us financially, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Sick

Well, the baby and I both are ill now, I with my sinus infection and she with some unknown fever-inducing illness. They both suck. Poor thing has been very tired today, but still totally into her usual play and wildness. Just while also looking worn out a lot faster than usual. And I got to stay in bed late and go get a reflexology foot massage, but am still totally wiped and feeling borderline dreadful.

God, heal us both, please. Keep our family safe and together, and make us well. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Closing Day

Today has been closing day for the rodeo and livestock show this year. We went every day for all 21 days, doing all the kid stuff and more each day. I am exhausted, but it was totally worth it for me for my daughter’s sake. Tonight, we had dinner at a steakhouse to celebrate the closing. At one point my daughter started mooing next to me. I looked right at her and saw that she had her head kind of thrown back. Just in case, I turned and looked upward to where her eyes were focused. Sure enough, there was a bull mounted way up high on the wall. She wasn’t just randomly mooing, but was mooing at the correct animal. Wild and hilarious.

Thank you, God. Keep us safe and make us well, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026

Boy…

And that mindset was quite helpful applied to interacting with and dealing with other people again today, and in multiple situations. So, thank you, Hun, and thank you, God, again. Amen!

But we all matched today with skirts and bandanas that my mom and I, respectively, made. And that was awesome.

Post-a-day 2026

“Lower your expectations.”

That’s what my husband recommended this morning. And he was right. It made a huge and positive difference for me today – on multiple levels with multiple situations – having intentionally and consciously lowered my expectations of others for the day. I am so grateful for his love and his words this morning. It made for a junk-loaded day being truly fun and chill for me. Thank you, hun.

Thank you, God. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026