Head down.
Work hard. 

Chin out. Shoulders back.
(But not too far back.)

Confident steps, one foot in front of the other.
Confident.
Confident.
Confident.

Breathe it in and out, close your eyes, and

Confident.
Confident.
Confident.

I can do this, it's going to be okay.
I can do this, it's going to be okay.
(But can I really do this?)

I think it'll be okay, but -
head down.
work hard.

Smile bigger. Yes.
​That might be an answer.
Smile. Smile. 

Your shoes are cute.
I like your hair today.
You're so smart. 
Smile. 
I'm so glad you're here.
Smile. 
Tell them every good thing. 
Cheer them all on. 
And then smile. 

Confident steps. One foot in front of the other. 
No one is keeping score. 
(Are they, though? I think they might be.)

Eyes open at night, a movie playing on the ceiling.
My day, in chunks. 
My day, dissected.
My day, a mess.

Tomorrow will be better.
(Maybe.)
Tomorrow has to be better.
(Maybe.)

The grocery shopping.
The laundry.
The trash cans.
The dinner dishes.
The calendar. 
The ... the ... the ... 

Be a go-giver.
Be a go-giver.
Be a go-giver.
I'm tired.
I'm tired.
I'm tired.

Hair down. Hair down.
Ponytail.
Ponytail.
Ponytail.
Ponytail.
Why do I have long hair?

Nobody starts a business at 35. 
Nobody makes new dreams at 35.
Nobody whispers out into the dark at 35.
(Do they?)
(They do, right?) 
(Yes.)
(But only if -)

Head down.
Work hard. 

Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe more tomorrow.
Maybe tomorrow.

xoxo, B.

On a piece of paper, tucked in between notepads, near my desk - scrawled hurriedly across yellow lines - 

And even if you have to crawl.

Sometimes people tell me I have pretty handwriting, but this is anything but. These letters, pushed together look so much like my brother's handwriting that when I saw them the other day, I actually did a double take.

Did I actually write that?

Yes. I did. 

It was a passing thought written in a margin and just like always - if it doesn't come out at that second, then the words will clang around in my head. 

And I write to feel the quiet. 

...

"I feel like I'm a fraud," I whispered to Craig one night not long ago. 

His arm, heavy with assurance and faith, pulled me closer. 

Sometimes, my confidence slips down through my toes and before I reach down to gather the remnants, 

I have to take a second. 

...

I need a pep talk, I called out to my friends last night. 
You can do this. 
Baby steps are still steps. 
Tell me something good.

And they showed up for me. And sometimes, their words don't even matter. Sometimes, all that matters is the gentle nudge. A hand reached out, a hand that answers. 

A second to catch my breath.

....

When Craig and I first started dating, I told him that sometimes I feel like a banging piano during a refrain. It was the first letter I'd ever mailed him, and I wanted him to know - 

Sometimes I have bad days. 
...

And I just think that even on the bad days. 

Even on the days that I doubt every single thing about myself. 
Even when I feel like I'm not a good writer or teacher.
A good mom.
A good girlfriend.
A good daughter.

Even when I think that I cannot do one thing right - 
Even when I don't feel brave or courageous or progressive - 
Even when my breaths are shallow and the tears are plenty -
Even when I go to bed early just to stay awake all night - 

Even if I have to crawl -

an exhale is coming. 

​xoxo, B. 

You guys. 

It is almost the holiday season, and it's time.

It's time for the GIANT DUMP OF STUFF that I have bought all year long. Maybe you, too, can benefit from the vast amount of things that have piled up in my Amazon cart. Or, maybe you'll just like a little inside view of what's showing up on my front porch.

All.
The.
Time.

Here we go!

1. Tuck's Thanksgiving Shirt. I like themed holiday shirts. I can't help it. One day, he'll roll his eyes at me, but that day ain't today! 

4. Deli To Go Containers. I know what you're thinking - why not just buy the stuff at the grocery store. I don't know, Karen. I just like these better. I love that they can be used a couple of times, and I do. not. feel. guilty throwing them away. 

5. She Reads Truth Bible. It's just beautiful. With perfect artwork, good study questions, and that gorgeous grey cover - I can't even. It's the best bible I've owned.

6. Remote Controlled Candles. Because ya darn right I need another remote in my life. #checkcheck

And THAT concludes this episode of "What Becky Bought". I'll be back next week.

Probably.

Happy Holiday Season, everyone!

​xoxo, B. 

Well, hey. 

I typically don't blog over here anymore, and if I do - well. It's just a transfer of stuff from my FB page. I sort of abandoned this space for a hot second - I'm never really quite sure what to do here. I spend A LOT of my time in Insta and FB, and it seems redundant to come here, as well.

In the end, though. 
In the end.

I think I'll probably use this as a tool to look back on our lives - to see what's been going on.

And.

A lot.

​A lot has been going on. 

We Halloween'd, and my mom was in town, and school started, and The Boyfriend still lives 1,000 miles away. 

Life has ebbed and flowed, and I feel like it always takes me a hot second after the school year starts to come back around to this space. 

I've got some exciting things planned. 

I can't wait to take you along for the ride. 

​xoxo, B. 

This weekend, Craig and I stopped by a man’s house to deliver a grill. His garage was packed with stuff - an old music stand he was refinishing for his great-grand niece. Ice skates that no longer fit. A cabinet full of trinkets that came from his dad’s garage. I ran my fingers down dusty wood, stepped over projects, and wondered where it all came from.
On my way out, there was a small square table. The top was dusty, and it was buried under other pieces of wood. The chairs were scattered, but were equally as beautiful.
“That’s a cool table,” I said.
“It’s from my great-grandpa,” he said. “It’s for sale. Comes with six leaves.”
“SIX leaves,” I mused. He pointed to a tattered cardboard box with the leaves inside. “That’s a big table.”
“Lots of good times at that table,” he said, smiling.
“You need it!” Craig exclaimed. “It’s perfect for your house!”
I shook my head and laughed at them both. “Yea. Right. It’s just me and my son,” I explained. “We do NOT need that large of a table.”
And wouldn’t you know it, I’ve been thinking about that damn table ever since.
…
Craig made us breakfast this morning. I snuggled under a fleece blanket and listened to the rain hit the living room window. Our conversation, quiet. Both of us still waking up. He brought me a plate, and sat down next to me.
“The thing is,” he said, staring at the wall in front of him, fork poised over his omelet. “The thing is that you … you are just trying to bring everyone else with you. And people don’t understand that. They don’t understand that you’re not trying to step on them to get to the top - you’re DRAGGING them with you to the top.”
And he sunk his fork into his potatoes.
And wouldn’t you know it, I’ve been thinking about wagons ever since.
…
My friend Kevin - “You’ve come a long way from your days of shying away from publicity and recognition. Bravo. Proud of you.” And my heart stuttered for a second or two. He’s right (as usual).
Bestie Betsy emails me every single morning. “We’re doing it,” she calls to me. “We’re dreaming and talking and praying and it’s happening. Can you see it?” She asks me every morning.
Can you see it? 
We’re getting there. 
Baby steps. 
Big steps. 
We’re walking towards more and dragging each other along.
BFF Suzy messaged me yesterday and the timing could. not. have. been. more. perfect. Remember what Brene Brown says, the message read. And a graphic that spelled it out for me -
If you’re not also in the arena getting your ass kicked, then I’m not interested in your opinion.
And wouldn’t you know it? I’ve been wondering about who else is in the arena with me ever since.
…
Craig and I sat at a bar on Saturday night, my hand lightly resting on his leg, and his crooked grin falling on my tense shoulders.
“When I have a succession of crappy days, I envision a scale,” I said, my hands gesturing. “I just feel like that means I haven’t done enough good for other people. Haven’t done enough good to balance, and that’s why the crappy keeps coming.”
“Most people don’t think like you do,” he said. “I don’t think like you do,” he laughed.
Earnestly, I leaned into him. “I’m not joking,” I said. “I’m 100% serious. There’s a sign on my desk that says, ‘be a go-giver as well as a go-getter,’ and that’s what I try to do every dang day.”
He rubbed my leg. “I know that, but not everyone else does.”
And wouldn’t you know it? He’s right.
…
The thing about Keith’s table? Stuck in the garage after years of use?
It’d be big enough for all of us. We could pull our chairs up together and eat green bean casserole that someone made from their great aunt’s recipe. We could pull our chairs up all together and pray - heads bowed, hands clenched together. We could pull our chairs up all together and tell stories from back in the day - our laughter falling out of our mouths together.
We could pull our chairs up.
All together.
And we wouldn’t need a wagon because we’d all be there. 
And we wouldn’t need an arena because we’d all be there.
At a table that’s long enough for all of our success, all of our dreams, all of our ideas and values and heart whispers.
…
This week has been crazy. A little article I wrote on my phone, while sitting on the couch listening to Bubble Guppies got picked up by a few different outlets, and with that has come some unsavory feelings from several different people.
And Bestie Betsy. “I guess this is how you know you’re making it?”
And BFF Suzy. “This is probably going to come with the success territory.” 
And The Boyfriend. “The haters just mean you’ve made it.” 
And inspiration from my friend Lauri this morning. “If you’re unhappy - that’s on you.”
I guess what I’m trying to say today is that I’ve got shit* to do.
And if you’re coming with me, c’mon. 
And if you’re unsure, then get in the damn wagon because I’ve been going to the Jesus Gym and I will freaking carry you with me if I have to.
And if you’re just here to be mean?
Get out of the way.
xoxo, B.
* DEFINITELY not sorry for swearing this time, mom.