For most of my life, I have looked up to the southeast Tennessee ICON, Dolly Rebecca Parton. My parents had the iconic 8-track duet between Dolly and Kenny, "Islands in the Stream." To this day, I feel a certain way when I hear that song. As I grew up we would spent every Christmas in … Continue reading A Year With Dolly: January
Top 10 Purchases that Defined 2020
All year I have completed hundreds of 10 Good Things Lists. At the conclusion of 2020, I’m writing a series of blog posts on some of the best things that got me through this year. This list is dedicated to the top ten items I would say made the biggest impact on me during 2020. … Continue reading Top 10 Purchases that Defined 2020
Christmas Letter 2020
I've been writing these year end reflections for over a decade now but the last few have also served as a digital Christmas card in years when I haven't sent them at all or only sent a small stash to blood relatives. Photo credit: Liz MacMurray (Read previous letters here: 2017 || 2018 || 2019) … Continue reading Christmas Letter 2020
Top 10 Things I’ve Watched in 2020
Admittedly this year, I have probably consumed more media via television shows and movies than in many years if not ever. 2020 brought us A LOT of time at home sheltering in place, stuck at home, and without the ability to go see movies on the big screen. For posterity, here are my top 10 … Continue reading Top 10 Things I’ve Watched in 2020
“The Office” Themed Teen Gift Guide
Back in 2017, we introduced our three tweens/teens to our all-time favorite television show, The Office. Ryan and I have been fans from the day the show aired on TV. In order for our kids to speak our familial dialect of Office jokes and quotable lines, we knew they needed to watch. We believe there … Continue reading “The Office” Themed Teen Gift Guide
Top 10 Helpful Discoveries of 2020
All year I have completed hundreds of 10 Good Things Lists. At the conclusion of 2020, I’m writing a series of blog posts on some of the best things that got me through this year. The next list that is up is my Top 10 Helpful Discoveries of 2020. Think of this as kind of … Continue reading Top 10 Helpful Discoveries of 2020
Top 10 Books of 2020
All year I have completed hundreds of 10 Good Things Lists. At the conclusion of 2020, I'm writing a series of blog posts on some of the best things that got me through this year. The first list that is up is my Top 10 Books of 2020. (*denotes books that were released in 2020) … Continue reading Top 10 Books of 2020
So You Think You Want to Homeschool
Hi! I'm Claire. I'm so glad you made your way here. Click below: so-you-think-you-want-to-4-1Download
Fort Polk: Letters to Myself
The time has come to write my traditional "Some thoughts on __________ and why Fort _________ is the Army's Best Kept Secret" post like I have done at Fort Bliss , Fort Gordon, and for our short stay at Fort Jackson. I have found that writing these reflections are a vital part of my own closure … Continue reading Fort Polk: Letters to Myself
When a PCS and a Pandemic Collide
I know that everyone has it hard right now. There are dozens if not hundreds of extenuating circumstances that theoretically feel 100 times worse because you are adding the weight of that hard and terrible thing to a pandemic. Within my own personal circles I know of friends who are grieving lost loved ones during … Continue reading When a PCS and a Pandemic Collide
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