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<p>Reading has always been one of my favorite pass times.  I love curling up, opening a book, taking myself to a different world for a while, feeling the pages between my fingers and smelling a mixture of ink and my&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2019/01/19/my-bookclub-my-sisters/#more-646">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>It&#8217;s that time of year! Cold weather in Missouri, delicious food, family gatherings, holiday shopping and Christmas magic.  I love driving around town and looking at all the Christmas lights and appreciating the creative minds that decorated their homes.  Decorating&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/holidays-past-and-present/#more-644">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>This Friday, my husband and I will be married 16 years.  So, so, so much has been packed into those 16 years.  I went in to this marriage with so many expectations and looking back, the image and idea of&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/a-trip-down-marriage-lane/#more-641">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m the only person who has noticed the lack of empathy youth and adults alike are showing each other these days.  We have all heard the sad stories of kids spewing hatred towards one another, relentlessly telling&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/10/12/where-did-the-care-go/#more-639">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Have you ever known people who complain constantly and blame others for all their problems and as they are talking, complaining, talking, complaining, you wish you had glitter in your pocket and you could gently toss it at them?  Maybe&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/are-you-a-lemon-or-lemonade-person/#more-626">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Where would I be without my friends?  I&#8217;ll tell you where I&#8217;d be&#8230; I&#8217;d be lying in a fetal position in my linen closet, sucking my thumb, humming mindlessly with chocolate chip cookie dough running down my chin.  I was&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/07/23/code-red-friend-therapy/#more-624">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>During the years of raising kids, I heard older, more seasoned people say things like &#8220;Enjoy the now, life flies by before you know it&#8221;, &#8220;Enjoy those kids, they will be grown in the blink of an eye&#8221; and &#8220;It&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/the-choice-of-change/#more-620">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>It seems like anxiety has been a main topic lately in my conversations with others.  My anxiety has been debilitating lately.  It&#8217;s affected my physical health and I&#8217;ve been pretty miserable.  I&#8217;ve had a few panic attacks in public (extremely&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/7-types-of-anxiety/#more-616">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Empathy is something we need more of in this world.  Relating to others, understanding their pain and comforting them.  I&#8217;m drawn to people who are sensitive.  I believe in not only asking others how they&#8217;re doing but actually listening before&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/03/22/empath-taking-on-the-emotions-of-others/#more-612">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I&#8217;ve said it before and I&#8217;ll say it again, being a parent is tough!  If you have teenagers in the home, the whole parenting gig gets a little more challenging.  But have you ever thought about how tough it is&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/teen-depression-and-suicide-youre-story-isnt-over-yet-2/#more-605">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>2017 started out with a BANG!  No, literally, it started out with the bang of a hammer and other loud tools.  Our plans for remodeling our entire upstairs started a little sooner than I thought&#8230;the day after Christmas.  In January,&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/12/07/2017-a-year-in-review/#more-598">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Before you read this post, I want you to think of that person who has hurt you, abused you, lied to you, cheated on you or has done something to you that you feel was unjust and unforgivable&#8230;.I&#8217;ll wait&#8230;. Now&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/forgiveness-its-for-you-not-them/#more-596">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I remember, in my younger years, when I felt anger, I didn&#8217;t know how to express it without getting into trouble, so I held it in.  In my mid to late teens, with the help of puberty and hormones, my&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/10/18/keeping-my-anger-in-check/#more-534">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>It&#8217;s that time of year where parents have sent their babies off to college a little over a month ago and the reality of it all has sank in.  I have talked to many friends or have read many posts&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/09/20/the-empty-chair-at-the-table/#more-498">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Have you ever been under so much stress you felt if one more thing happens, you were going to crack&#8230;then that one more thing ALWAYS happens?  I know I have and I&#8217;ve come to realize that life is messy and&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/when-its-too-much-stress-management/#more-496">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I am about to share my very personal experience with anxiety.  I am not searching for sympathy.  I AM hoping you will read it and if you or anyone you know suffers, please, know you are not alone and somebody (me) understands.   I&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/im-fine-how-are-you/#more-494">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I wrote this poem in 2012.  I was very depressed and couldn&#8217;t pull myself out of it.  I have been fighting depression mixed with hypomania for 2 weeks now and found this poem I wrote 5 years ago and wanted to&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/06/23/poem-describing-depression/#more-458">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>Parenting&#8230;the HARDEST job in the world!  I have 4 kids and each have totally different personalities, needs, wants, dreams and strengths.  The very second I found out I was pregnant with each of them I fell in love with them&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/parents-take-it-easy-on-yourselves/#more-426">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>As I type this I have so many changes going on regarding my kiddos.  I am happy, proud, sad and worried.  I feel time has flown by so quickly and I am remembering when my children were little and I&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/my-children-my-loves/#more-351">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>

<p>I read an article today that really hit home.  I felt I had to hop on my blog and talk about it.  When you think of depression, what do you envision?  Is it someone laying in bed crying? Not able&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://keepingitrealjourney.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/signs-of-depression-you-didnt-know/#more-325">Continue Reading &rarr;</a></p>