Hello, Beautiful You...
Welcome to the very first edition of Add Wonder. Let me take you right into a morning at my house… a place that’s part circus, part cozy nest, and all heart.
It’s 7 a.m., and the alarm is just a gentle suggestion compared to the real wake-up call… the sound of my grandson Zarigh’s tiny feet running down the stairs. Right behind him is Shyla, my 14-year-old, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she searches for her Stanley before school. Talia, my other teenage daughter, is most likely still asleep… because if there’s something that girl knows how to do, it’s hit snooze on the alarm.
The dogs, Chase and Macy, are already up and wagging, and the 3 cats, Ivy, Jade & Salem, are perched like little furry overseers, watching the morning hustle. My husband is in the kitchen, making sure everyone has what they need, and my son Steven is helping out before he heads off to his day.
In the middle of all this, I find myself smiling. It wasn’t always this way. My oldest daughter, Kylee, recently moved back in with my grandson, Zarigh, and Steven’s girlfriend, Kaitlyn, joined us while her family’s home is being remodeled. Almost overnight, our house became even fuller, and with it came a whole new layer of life.
Here’s the thing… I always wanted a big, bustling family. Growing up, it was mostly just me and my brothers, and I dreamed of having a home where everyone felt welcome… where my kids and their friends would want to gather… where there would always be someone roasting marshmallows in the backyard or jumping into the pool. And now, here it is… just showing up in a way and at a time I never quite expected.
It would be so easy to slip into overwhelm, to see the noise and the busyness as something to manage. But instead, I choose to see the wonder. I take a breath and realize that my house is full, and so is my heart. The universe delivered exactly what I asked for, just in its own magical timing.
So let me introduce you to the people who make up this full house…
Steve (my husband)
He just launched a car brokering business (a dream long held, now finally chosen) and somehow still shows up for everyone. He’s the volleyball team dad, makes all the airport runs, and sets up every massage table for my classes without ever needing the spotlight. He has way more on his plate than usual with the new business, and still finds ways to care for everyone, including me.
Shyla (14)
Our introverted extrovert who somehow glides through life with a sense of ease and quiet power. Freshman. JV volleyball player. And car ride conversationalist extraordinaire. She talks when we drive, so I slow down on purpose. Her teen years are unfolding with more awareness than I had in my 30s, and I’m in awe of the way she navigates life. She is gorgeous and watching her grow into this beautiful creature with so many facets takes my breath away.
Talia-sky (17)
My senior in high school and my human algorithm interrupt. She’s smart, stunning, sarcastic in the best way, and gives hugs like it’s her job. (And you will accept the hug. Resistance is futile.) She’s on varsity volleyball this year and wears my old jersey number, #9, which just about makes my heart explode every time. This girl knows her value and doesn’t settle for anything less… and gets REAL annoyed when she sees anyone she cares about settling for less than they deserve. She is everything I wanted to be in high school.
Steven (24)
My son. Funny, wise beyond his years, and sometimes so “old man” in his perspectives that we call him Grandpa. He’s applying to doctoral programs in Physical Therapy, inspired by his own injury in high school. He wants to combine athletic recovery with emotional and mental healing. He’s also just been offered a head coaching role at the Volleyball club he played for, and is navigating all the energy, celebration, and drama that comes with that. He’s been asking big questions lately, and it’s been beautiful watching him receive the Access tools I’ve shared to support him.
Kaitlyn (22)
Steven’s girlfriend, but really, she’s become another daughter. Sweet, attuned, and always crying at the good stuff (we love an emotionally fluent queen). She treats my girls like sisters and is an anchor of kindness and love in this house.
She’s been leveling up in her work at Lululemon and came home glowing with excitement for the new possibilities she has been creating! It was such a gift to be there with her to celebrate. Watching her step into her brilliance? Pure joy.
Kylee (27)
She’s my oldest daughter, born from my heart, not my womb. I’ve raised her since she was 9 months old, and she calls me “Momina.” She’s currently taking space from her relationship and has moved back in with her son, Zarigh. Watching her mother him, with gentleness, curiosity, and commitment to breaking cycles, has been one of the most healing things I’ve ever witnessed.
Zarigh (2)
My grandson and my favorite little chaos agent. He calls us “Nonno” and “SiSi” (Yes Yes, because if Steve was going to be NO NO, I wanted to be YES YES). He’s currently obsessed with excavators, incredibly verbal, and curious about everything (especially anything breakable when your back is turned). He’s a living reminder of the wonder we all came in with before we were told to get “serious.”
Living in a house this full has become the best kind of classroom…one that teaches me (daily!) that chaos and magic aren’t opposites. They’re dance partners. And in case you’re in your own version of a beautiful mess, here are a few tools I use to keep wonder in the mix…
What to Do When You're Overwhelmed (and Trying to Keep It All Together)
If your mornings (or, let’s be honest, your entire life) feel like a juggling act with flaming torches and no applause… here’s what I’ve been asking lately:
The Overwhelm-to-Wonder Reset:
1. “What’s one thing I could let go of right now that doesn’t really matter?
2. “What’s right about this moment I’m not getting?”
3. “If I didn’t have to hold it all together, what could I choose?”
You don’t have to pretend it’s easy. You don’t have to bypass the chaos; you have to choose to create WITH it.
What if overwhelm isn’t a signal that you’re failing — but an invitation to get bigger?
Wonder doesn’t always come in wide open skies.
Sometimes, it sneaks in between alarms and appointments, in the breath you take before yelling, or in the split-second choice to let the moment matter more than the checklist.
So this week, if it feels like too much…
Pause. Ask. Breathe.
And remember:
You don’t have to hold it all together to be held by something greater.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Let’s add a little wonder to our everyday lives, together.
With wonder (and a little wiggle room),
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