I am a part of a photography group with Nancy as our fearless leader. Between teaching photography classes online, Nancy hosts a Facebook group for those of us who have completed the classes. We've become an international sisterhood of sorts. America, Canada, and...
As we finish week one of fostering a beautiful baby girl, the timing is ironic and beautiful - but that is a story for another day. Today, we celebrate six years of Riley officially being an Eschbach. First, I have to thank Nancy from Ordinary Miracles Photography for...
This is officially my new favorite picture. Aren't they the cutest?! Riley's great aunt spoiled us with a shopping trip for a new suit. Shopping with Riley can take a few hours so I had my chai tea and I was ready for the marathon. We walked into an almost completely...
When Mary Alice sees Julia, she calls her 'sister'. I don't know when that started, but hearing them call one another 'sister' as they play together and spend time together strikes a chord deep inside me. Julia is old enough to remember many of the miscarriages. She...
We are here. And we are good. Brian, the kids, and I are still physically distancing. This forced exile has been a beautiful learning for my heart. Where is my focus? Where is my attention? Where does my joy come from? We are here. And we are good. The first few weeks...
My two oldest love the chicken pasta salad with lemon vinaigrette dressing from Pita Jungle. Last week had been a particularly long week. Julia is working and taking a Spanish class. Nate has been studying for the SAT and helping me with projects around the house. I...
Riley is my outside kid. He loves to be outside. He loves to explore and ride bikes and take dogs for walks and swim. This summer has definitely been hard on him. He misses his friends and really doesn't like being stuck inside with the heat. When we moved into our...
When we announced we were expecting Mary Alice, we made a video, to remember forever the miracle that God had granted. https://youtu.be/o2sUEVjPUFc My sweet friend, Betty, saw the video and called to ask me if we wanted their crib. It was such a thoughtful and...
During this time, I am incredibly thankful for photography. I can do it safely, from a distance and it gives me the opportunity to be creative. This family is incredibly dear to me and they have also been physically distancing. We agreed on 10' apart and masks for...
Going up north to get out of the heat will always be one of my favorite things. It truly saves my sanity and reconnects everyone. A few weeks ago, we tried a new hike - Horton Creek. I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but we managed to get away with me wearing...
This guy. My Nate. It is time for me to document what a rock star he has been during the pandemic. 3 light switches fixed and rewired2 toilet seats replaced1 disposal fixedpiles of trash taken out for bulk trash daymoving the shed to the other side of the yarda new...
It was a good week. It was by no means perfect, but maybe, just maybe, they will see their shirts or crafts and smile fondly. On Wednesday, we talked about St. Claire. My sweet Goddaughter, Claire, sent us a book to read and her older brother, Luke, drew a comic for...
Today's saint was St. Anthony of Padua! (Thank you, Shannon Hards!) We began the day with our song "Waves of Mercy, Waves of Grace". We are starting to get the moves down, and it is certainly a great way to shake off the grumpies. Then, I read an email from Shannon...
Every summer, Vacation Bible School is something that my kids cannot wait for! They look forward to the t-shirts, the songs, the snacks, the friends, and all of the fun! We usually attend two or three each summer. Mary Alice had been so excited, because this would be...
Julia has this incredible way of creating original games for every celebration. Mother's Day was the weekend before finals, so they gave me a sweet redo today along with Father's Day. This year, we were invited to the lottery (lemonade stand) and given a dime from...
I've taken a little time off of writing to process all that has been happening - a pandemic, voluntary isolation since mid March, riots and looting and protests, racial injustice, pain, hurt, and confusion. Every time I sat down to write, Luke 2:19 would pop into my...
After bedtime tonight, I just laid quietly with Riley. He was sound asleep on my arm. I grabbed my phone and decided to catch up listening to messages on Marco Polo. My dear friend Shauna said something remarkable that I had to share with you. "You don't have to...
This is day 50 of social isolation for us. The number doesn't sound as high as it felt when I was counting the days on the calendar. The past few days I've been searching for joy. I thought I was looking really hard. I thought I was searching every under every stone...
The dress was hanging in the closet, begging to be worn by the sassiest five year old I've ever known. The date for the ballet recital came and went on the calendar. I know I am probably the only one that noticed, but I just had to see her dance in the Cinderella blue...
I think during the quarantine (or social distancing or social isolation or whatever we have agreed to call it), we all have a day that we feel especially disappointed. Today I was supposed to wake up in The Woodlands, Texas. I was to stand as a sponsor for my parents...
This may have been the sweetest birthday in the history of all birthdays. I love a good birthday. I blame my mom. She always made the most amazing meal, the sweetest cake, and we usually had some amazing outing. I'm not the kind of mom that is great at cute...