Annabeth is 14!

 Last weekend, in addition to celebrating Mark's homecoming, we also had some BIG events for Annabeth. Saturday night was her first high school dance and Sunday was her 14th Birthday!

Homecoming Ready

Mr. Oscar Chase was also all smiles 

Annabeth's shoes are from Amazon (she purchased with a giftcard)

Her dress is from At Home with Heartland (a local Boutique) 

Retro looking hairclips were a $6 (for 5!) find at Marshalls

Before the dance, we met her friend "A" for dinner at Fazoli's. Both girls manage food allergies and the families felt safer if the girls ate safe food before the dance and did not consume anything while at the dance. We were worried about cross contamination, lack of food labels, or improperly labeled foods. We had a fun dinner and it eased all of our worries.

Annabeth loved the dance and is already planning next year's dress and overall look. This year she was channeling "Alice" from Twilight. 

Sunday was her 14th birthday. She was up at 6:30, even after a late dance night, ready for presents before church. With zero toys on her list we went for teenage and practical - a CD, new pajamas, snacks, and her big gift was a new suitcase set. I realized on our Arizona Trip that she is maybe too old to still have an American Girl Suitcase and she agreed. Mark found a fun pink one that will be easy to spot on planes and busses. We passed her AG suitcase along to a sweet little friend of Owen's later in the week.  

We went to early church, met up with a friend who gave her the sweetest gift, and then had lunch out at Jockamo's. Her friend Maggie made some handmade items, gave some snacks, and then also gifted her a little New Testament which she had marked with her favorite passages and verses. We all thought this was such a unique, beautiful gift idea!

We always allow the kids one eat out meal and one paid for activity for their birthday. She said the dance could count as her paid for activity as we paid for tickets. For the afternoon we watched Wicked and then headed out to youth group. Since it was her birthday, we took dinner so she could have just what she wanted. We made BBQ meatballs, BBQ weenies, chips and queso, veggies, and she made an adorable Taylor Swift friendship bracelet themed birthday cake. 

I really felt like a "big kid" mom as I didn't have to 

help at all with her cake. She LOVES baking and was more

than happy to do it all by herself.

Annabeth also led the lesson, music, and games for youth night. She chose a lesson based on her dance solo song for the year "Flowers"  She did such a wonderful job fostering thoughtful conversation based on this song. She chose it about six months ago as her solo and has been excited to share it with everyone she can. It's so true - in the valleys of life God plants the seeds that become the flowers.

Leading  Youth Group

I could not be more proud of our Miracle Girl for using every moment of her life to share God's goodness and grace. I have shared many times that while I waited for the call from NICU to know if she had survived or not, I bargained with God. I pleaded with Him and said "If you just save her - we'll give her to You for life!" He did and so we have. To see her live for Him is the greatest gift! There is nothing she could do that could be more amazing, more powerful, or more meaningful than to do the work that lasts - the work of testifying to His good grace and saving power. 

Happy #14 to our girl! 

Mark is HOME!!!!

Mark is home!! 

I've just wrapped up a season of solo parenting while Mark was away at Bomb School. 

Since around the time Owen was born, Mark has served on our county's Bomb Squad and we have known that whole time that eventually his number would be up for a 6 week course in Alabama. He has been away a week or two each year for smaller trainings but this year was the big one.

He left in the heat of August, pools were still open, we were in shorts and tanks, the house was decorated for summer and now he's home in October. We are working our way through our Fall Bucket List, the house is decorated with pumpkins, and we are ready for fall fun together!

These past weeks have been so incredibly hard. As the primary caregiver and home educator, I am used to long days/nights with the kids. I am used to carrying the bulk of the home/child/errands for our family but somehow knowing that I was going to have to do it completely alone overwhelmed me. I was a mess before he left, sobbing as I tried to learn to use the weedeater so I didn't have to pay for yard help, and crying myself to sleep each night. (I'm thankful he didn't RUN out the door at that point)

In the first few weeks, I was incredibly bitter and jealous. I've certainly never gotten to come home and say "Hey, I'm headed out of town for 6 weeks..." I tried, but failed, to be happy for him as he lived a dream and accomplished a goal that he has worked hard for. 

In the middle, thankfully, my parents and sister had us along for a big trip to Arizona. We got away, relaxed, saw somewhere new, and I came home refreshed. I came home focused. I came home determined to savor these weeks of just the kids and me.

We certainly didn't carry on as normal. They had extra TV time, they had cereal for dinner one night, we ate pizza rolls every week, and my yard hasn't been weedeated since my dad kindly did it in Week 2 BUT we did it. I did it. 

We are SO proud of Mark's hard work at school, for all of the 100s on his exams, for passing with flying colors and coming home with ideas to help train his team better. 

I did not share outside of a small circle of friends/family that Mark would be gone so long as I didn't feel entirely safe with everyone knowing he was gone. In turn, this lead to some confusion as the kids and I took a trip to Michigan City and the Arizona Trip and Mark was noticably absent in pictures as well as in our daily lives. Have no worries, we are happily married, we were just long distance for a bit like our dating/engaged days. I am forever proud to be married to an honest, hardworking man, who shows integrity in all aspects of his life. Welcome home my love. 

Our Fall 2025 Bucket List

 Hello Frugal Friends!

Many of you enjoyed reading our Summer 2025 Bucket List and now that we've completed it, I wanted to share our Fall 2025 Bucket List.

As a reminder, the kids choose these items without any kind of prompting or guidance (clearly). I LOVE seeing what they actually want to do...it's always so simple! So instead of running myself ragged giving them alllll the fall fun this year, we are just going to do what they want. Here's to affordable family fun!

Riley Family Fall 2025 Bucket List

Register for 4H (October 1)

Start 4H Projects

Take photographs for 4H

Annabeth's Birthday (October 5)

Chicken Fingers/Mashed Potatoes/Gravy/Corn Dinner

Make Homemade Starbucks

Vacation with Kuhns (Scheduled)

Apple Orchard with Cousins

Fall Camp (Owen and Mark)

Go on a Fall Hike

Go to a Football Game (Scheduled)

Bake a Pie

Playdate with Neighbors

Zoo Teen Sign-Ups

Trick-or-Treat with the Sichting Family (October 31)

Throwback to Fall 2017 and my favorite

picture from October ever!

I am looking forward to a busy fall filled with the things we want to do!

What's on your Fall Bucket List? 

2,025 in 2025!

 Yesterday we finished our 2,025 in 2025 Decluttering Challenge!

Surprised?!

ME TOO!

If you remember, we cleared out 2,024 items in 2024. We finished in late September, having actually started in November of 2023. It was a project I took on, inspired by my friend Justina over at Well Planned Mama, and that the family went along with it. In the end, we all learned a lot! I was VERY into the project and loved the process. I shared many updates last year on the blog and loved talking about it with people in "real life" too. I felt accomplished, in control, and excited that we had done it. Mission Complete.

So...imagine my surprise when on January 1, 2025 Mark and the kids asked where our 2025 coloring sheet was and where we would declutter first! I had no intention of doing the project again or asking them to do it again but they asked - so we did! 

Now, not even all the way through August, we are 2,025+ items lighter!

Annabeth decluttered and colored in the final 10 squares yesterday!

Last year I made a point of not setting monthly goals or personal goals and that worked really well for the family. This year I only had the goal that I wanted to be patient and try to sell more than last year. Last year felt like a frantic rush to let things go but this year the house already felt more manageable. In 2024 we made just over $500 from our decluttering and this year we made just over $1700. This was a huge blessing in our budget as we spent a decent amount of money on gas, experiences, and lodging as we traveled Indiana and to the kids dance nationals. I am thankful that we were able to turn stuff into money for experiences!

So...where do we go from here?

Well, we already have three huge totes filled and tagged for the HWGA Kids' Sale in October. These items are NOT included in our 2,025 items gone so we're already well on our way to keeping the trend of letting go, going!

ALL of this is leaving soon!

Another 100+ items headed to new homes

How do I feel now that it's done?

I am glad we did it again! When my Momaw passed in June, we were blessed with many items from her home. We took some furniture, clothing, decor, Christmas ornamnets, etc and thus quite a few items entered our home. Thankfully, we knew right where each item was going to live and how we wanted to use them. Our decluttering journey helped us wisely choose to bring in only items that we love and/or that serve us well. It's given us the confidence to say "I don't need that" and even "I don't want that" when offered something or out shopping. We choose to bring in less, manage what we have, and to continue to bless others with our excess. 

Secretly, I am hoping we've created such a standard of letting go that we won't even need to color and track in the future. I hope that we've all learned to simply let go when it's time to do so.

Are you on a decluttering journey? Are you meeting your goals? 

Peace on the Little Pigeon River

 July 5 we headed to Pigeon Forge, TN for the kids' dance nationals. It was our third year in Pigeon Forge and we were already dreading the huste and bustle of the parkway. If you read my last post you know that our summer has been filled with loss, grief, changes, and many days an overall sad spirit. Needless to say, we were not in the mood for overpriced mini-golf, wax museums, or crazy souvenier shops. 

Our first morning in Pigeon Forge was a Sunday and instead of worshipping online with our church from home, I found that First Methodist had a service time that worked with our dance schedule. I made the short drive and found myself, in the middle of the PF Strip, at the sweetest brick church right along the Little Pigeon River. The sign out front told me of church ancestors who had built this little place after the last pandemic and a historic flood over 100 years ago.

Just beyond that tree is the Little Pigeon River

Inside, I was warmly welcomed like a lost friend. Seated in the "Midwest section" among other out-of-staters from Ohio, I was greeted by the pastor and most of the church members. I heard "Glad to see ya" and "What brings ya'll here?" and "So glad you've stopped in today" over and over again. 

Seated on a pew, well worn by 100 years of use, I worshipped alongside those in their Sunday best, those decked out in Dollywood souvenier gear, and even a gal ready for her next work out. We sung old hymns accompanied by a piano and organ that have been used by several generations and worshipped the One who's been here for all time. 

In a church who's mission statement read "...to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly" it was a JOY to commune with them. I typically choose to visit Methodist churches while traveling as they all practice open communion, allowing for any and all to commune with them. As the pastor welcomed all to the table he said, "Welcome All. We care not what journey in life brought you here today or where you are in your spiritual journey just that you are in this space with us today. Because you are here, you are welcome."

During prayers, they asked for names to be spoken aloud

for the church to hold in prayer. I took this as I spoke dear Halle's name

into the silence. In the moments that followed, a congergation of strangers

lifted her name in prayer alongside me.

At the end of service, this church often filled with travelers, acknowledges that many will never worship together or in that space again, and thus they sing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." Someday, other the other side of the River of Life, we'll all sing and worship together.

Dear Readers, if you have not yet found a place to worship that says "I'm SO glad you're here" or "You're welcome just as you are" - I am in prayer for you! It is my dearest desire that all would find a church home that is warm, welcoming, and inclusive. If you're local to me, please ask about our church home and how you have a place there. 

Dear Readers, if you already have such a church home - are you welcoming all who stop by on their journey? Are you grasping the hands of others, making eye contact, welcoming them in on this day that your paths have crossed?

I have written Psalm 40:10* and Acts 20:24** on my heart and aim to live them daily. Friends, even in this hard season, I am living in faith, in hope, and in the promise that God loves us. ALL of us! God has chosen us to be here in this time, living for Him, and for His people. My goal is to speak Truth, to love big, and to witness boldly that all might know Him. I am thankful for that quiet reminder on the banks of the Little Pigeon River. Amen.

* "I do not kept the Good News hidden in my heart. I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone of your unfailing love and faithfulness." - Psalm 40:10 

** "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me - the task of testifying the Good News of Jesus Christ." - Acts 20:24  

Where We've Been...

 Hello Frugal Friends.

Long time no "see"

It's been a month since I've posted, probably the longest break I've taken since beginning blogging in 2008. 

Our June was . . . 

I don't know how to describe our June.

The end of May, we had the most beautiful day with my Momaw. We had lunch with her, talked about home projects, celebrated Owen's birthday, and for a bit of the afternoon just she and I sat in her living room. I read a long time ago that "grandparents are your first best friends" and that is 100% true for me. Momaw was always my voice of reason, encouragement, and her pride in me was just what I needed when I was unsure. We left that evening with a "See you next Friday."

Over that weekend, we celebrated Owen's 10th birthday a day early with a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo for the rhino experience. He was thrilled to meet his favorite animals and watching him pet them was a gift to me as much as it was to him. There was a long moment where he stood, eyes closed, hands to the side of a rhino and it was almost like a religious experience. I could feel him speaking to the rhinos soul and back. 

Owen turned 10 on June 2 and that same evening Momaw entered the Life Eternal. 

We did indeed go back to visit her that Friday - for her funeral - but we did go. Like many funerals, it brought family in from far away, put nearly everyone in the family in the same space at the same time, and I tried to enjoy that gift. God is always good, always working for us, and we all couldn't help but smile that the route from church to the cemetery (without any planning by the family) took us past the Barnard-Jones building at KWC, her favorite bread shop, the old neighborhood, the country club, and past her favorite orchard. It was one last tour with her of all of her favorite places. 

We spent a week+ in Evansville/Owensboro with our family, doing what needs done to begin the process of closing a house. Then we came home to our busiest week of summer - VBS and six dance shows all in one week. My parents came up for that week and we enjoyed even more time together.

Last week, Annabeth had her favorite week of summer - Production Camp and Owen and I finished our Indiana Counties tour. We also said "See you soon" to one of our pastors. As United Methodists, we are always changing pastors and this was our third to leave since 2020. We'll say "hello" to our second new one in just a few weeks. I love our church and this tradition as we faithfully accept the will of God for leadership in our church but it isn't always easy as we truly miss the people. 

As we left church that afternoon, I said "Lord. Please no more." 

Then we got word that a dear little girl, a friend of Annabeth's since Kindergarten, was in a car accident. We've spent day and night since then praying for Halle and for her family. Just like my Mama, I'm one for pacing the house at 3 AM when I can't sleep, and I've covered many miles it seems as I pray for Hal and her family. I am so thankful for a BIG God who can do BIG things. If you would, join us in prayer for her.

This month I have not been at my best. I have not shown up for others as I probably should have. I have not felt like connecting but God had a different plan. In a month when I've wanted to be selfish and sad, God has given us neighbors who needed lawn care help, friends who needed meals made, birthdays to celebrate, and life to live. 

Today I am so thankful to be here, for my children to have started school this week, and for the gift of serving God and others every single day. 

Thank you for your patience as I let this space go to hold space in "real life" for work that needed to be done there. 

See you next week Frugal Friends! 

Owen and I found solace in a tiny house in the woods.

We saw deer, rocked in a hammock, and

walked down the road for dinner. 

Our Summer 2025 Bucket List

For the past few Christmas seasons, we've had the kids made a Christmas Bucket List. I found when we did it the first year that what the kids wanted was always very simple and small compared to what I thought they wanted.

We've never done a Summer Bucket List before but last year we saw our friend the Swanson Family's list. Annabeth remembered and asked if we could do it this summer too. 

While I know most people are just beginning summer, we are already at our halfway break from school. We go back July 1 so we've been really working on crossing items off. Our goal is to finish our list by August 1st. 

Riley Family Summer Bucket List

Sign Up for Summer Reading

Finish Summer Reading (I'm the only one not done)

Finish Indiana Tour (9 counties to go!)

Visit Momaw

Visit Eblings

Movie Night with Sichtings

Cook-Out with Friends

Annabeth Learn to Mow Lawn

Eat Ice Cream Cones

Play in Backyard Sprinkler

Swim in a Pool

Wash Cars

Go to Farmer's Market

Owen to Summer Camp (Scheduled)

Annabeth to Production Camp (Scheduled)

Annabeth Post-Dance Haircut (Appointment Booked)

Ice Cream Cones ON our Indiana Tour

2 Birds, 1 Stone.

I love doing these lists with the kids because it shows me what really matters to them! It's never big, fancy, or expensive. They truly love seeing family and friends, being together, and simple fun. 

Do you have a summer bucket list? What plans are you most excited about?