Where did I go?

This is for all the dear people who have continually checked in and left comments asking where I went. I know that blogging is a thing of the past, but I have kept this little space alive for almost 15 years, and I have no intentions of giving up posting. Sharing more detailed bits of my life and photos here has been a fun, creative outlet for me, and I have missed it.

I wrote the section below a few months ago and sat on it a bit before (finally) pressing the publish button. Thank you to the sweet few who still stick around here. I've missed you!

 

Sometimes I look at photos from last year and I don't recognize the person I see. One thing that I've learned in life is that when you are in the middle of something, you seldom realize just how bad it actually is. I am willing to place a safe bet that it's a simple survival mechanism. 

2024 was a hard year for me. In many ways, it was the worst year of my life. To know that something that you have worked so, so hard for is coming to an end, to see the flames, but not be able to put out the fire, is a special kind of agony. 

To realize that no matter how hard you try, hope, work, and want something, when it comes to relationships, both parties need to put in effort. That you can be 100% committed and trusting, and realize that someone you have known for years can still lie, manipulate, and discard you without thought. 

My (soon-to-be ex) husband and I separated almost a year ago now, and while it's been a heartbreaking, intense, life-changing event, it was also something much needed. 

I won't be going into much detail here, as I want to protect my children's privacy; however, I may share a bit more at some point. 

In the meantime, life is good! We are happy and healthy. We are enjoying a very new and different life, and I am so proud of myself. I have faced things I didn't know I could, and am coming out the better for it. 

From leaving an abusive relationship of almost 11 years, to working full-time, homeschooling a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, and a preschooler. Being a full-time single mom with little to no financial support, to advocating for myself and my children in the court system has been a lot, and I'm so proud of how far I have come. 

It's taken me a long time to come to a point where I feel like I can share this, so please be kind with your comments. But this is a little update on why I've been so silent for so long on here. 

ox