Krista Lauren

The days are long, but the years fly by. That’s what they say about parenting. I can see that.

I have been deleting old photos lately to clean up my storage. I look at “today’s date” every day, just to see what I don’t need. I am reminded of old vacations, the pandemic, puppies who turned into dogs.

I am nostalgic, but I also am a very present-oriented person, so it’s really been taking me back. I can’t believe that Jax was once so little.

He was the chubbiest boy. The sweetest. He still is.

April 19, 2016, I said goodbye to Robert one last time before his deployment.

I cried a lot that day. That was the beginning of a lot, and the end of our first few months of dating in the same state. The honeymoon stage was changing to a long distance relationship.

That shirt still exists almost ten years later — but I’ve taken it upon myself to wear it. Wearing someone else’s clothing could be a sixth love language. I feel like I’m wrapped in a hug. Maybe it’s aligned with physical touch somehow.

Going even further back, I found pictures of Gracie. She was my original “good girl,” and I do think of her often still. She was the first big experience with death I have had. This year has been a difficult one for that.

2024 – 2025 has been quite the whirlwind with pregnancy and childbirth, then becoming a parent. It is easily the best time of life, but there has been a lot of loss, too. I am tired, but am feeling thankful.

I know what I will look at ten years from now and miss. Rose colored glasses that forget the exhaustion will be worn, and thankfulness for all of the things life will bring our family will overwhelm me then, too. I know what I have and I really do feel lucky. I have a lot I want to write about, at least in my journal. I hope to continue to see blessings throughout the year. I’m going to go look at my “picture of the day” now.