Tag: home

The Bittersweet Beauty of Going Home

Hi friends,

Today I want to share something a little more personal.

Opening my heart like this doesn’t always come easily. Vulnerability can feel uncomfortable, and sometimes it’s easier to keep our feelings tucked away. But I have learned that when we share honestly, we often discover that many others are carrying the very same emotions.

For the past several weeks, I have been spending time in Brazil with my family. As many of you know, I live far away from my parents, and because of that, every visit feels incredibly precious.

I am an only child, and being separated from my parents is one of the hardest parts of living abroad. We don’t have the luxury of seeing each other whenever we want. We can’t simply meet for lunch, stop by for coffee, or celebrate every special moment together. Because of that, whenever we have the opportunity to be together, we hold on tightly to every moment.

People often ask about vacations, travel plans, and all the beautiful places in the world they dream of visiting. And while there are certainly many places I would love to see someday, I find myself choosing something different.

I choose family.

The truth is that most of our vacation time is spent coming here, spending time with the people we love. Could we be exploring somewhere new? Of course. But right now, my heart is drawn to the people who matter most.

Time is a gift.

And when the people you love live far away, you become deeply aware of how valuable that gift truly is.

This visit has been filled with simple moments that don’t look extraordinary from the outside. Long conversations. Shared meals. Watching my girls laugh with their grandparents. Sitting together without rushing anywhere. Ordinary moments that somehow become the most meaningful memories.

At the same time, this season has also reminded me how difficult it is when your heart belongs in more than one place.

Part of my heart is here with my parents, my family, and the place where so many of my roots were planted.

Another part of my heart is back home with my husband, our life together, our routines, our friends, my work, and all the beautiful things God has built for us there.

Living between two worlds can be both beautiful and painful.

As this visit comes to an end, I find myself feeling grateful and heartbroken all at once.

Grateful for every hug, every conversation, every memory made.

Heartbroken because goodbyes never get easier.

No matter how many times you do it, leaving the people you love always hurts.

Thankfully, we live in a time when video calls, messages, and technology help bridge the distance. Those little screens cannot replace a hug, but they certainly make the waiting a little easier.

Lately, I’ve been trying to prepare myself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for the transition back home. It’s a bittersweet feeling.

I am excited to return to my home, my routines, my responsibilities, and the life waiting for me there.

But I am also grieving the end of this season of togetherness.

And maybe that’s what love does.

Maybe when we truly love people, there will always be a little ache when it’s time to say goodbye.

So if there is one thing I want to leave you with today, it is this:

Enjoy the people you love.

Be present.

Put the phone down sometimes.

Have the conversation.

Stay a little longer.

Take the picture, but don’t forget to live the moment too.

The dishes can wait. Social media can wait. The notifications can wait.

The people we love cannot.

One day, these ordinary moments will become some of our most treasured memories.

Use your time wisely.

Love deeply.

Allow yourself to be loved.

And don’t take for granted the beautiful gift of simply being together.


With love and grace,

Tay ♡

His Mercies Are New Every Morning


Scripture

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22-23

There are days in motherhood that feel overwhelmingly heavy.

The laundry seems endless.

The dishes somehow multiply.

The house that you cleaned yesterday already looks messy again.

The meals still need to be planned, prepared, served, and cleaned up afterward.

The children need your attention, your guidance, your affection, and your patience.

And sometimes, if we’re honest, we simply run out.

We become tired. We become overwhelmed. We become stressed.

Then comes the guilt.

The guilt from speaking more sharply than we intended.

The guilt from losing patience.

The guilt from feeling frustrated when our children are simply acting like children.

We know they are little. We know they are learning. We know they are not responsible for the long list of responsibilities weighing on our shoulders.

Yet in our exhaustion, we sometimes respond in ways we wish we hadn’t.

And afterward, our hearts ache.

But this is where the beautiful truth of God’s Word meets us.

The book of Lamentations was not written during a season of comfort or ease. Jeremiah wrote these words in the middle of sorrow, grief, and hardship. Yet in the midst of his suffering, he remembered something greater than his circumstances:

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.”

Not His mercies once a year.

Not His mercies when we get everything right.

Not His mercies only on our best days.

His mercies never end.

For the mother carrying guilt today, God’s mercy is available.

For the mother who raised her voice, God’s mercy is available.

For the mother who feels overwhelmed and inadequate, God’s mercy is available.

For the mother who feels like she is failing, God’s mercy is available.

The Lord does not ask us to carry yesterday’s failures into today.

Instead, He reminds us that His mercies are new every morning.

Every sunrise is a reminder of His faithfulness.

Every new day is an opportunity to begin again.

As mothers, we often wish we could have a reset button after a difficult day.

In God’s kindness, He gives us one.

The day eventually comes to an end.

The house grows quiet.

The children sleep.

The night allows our bodies and minds to rest.

And when morning comes, God has already prepared fresh mercy for that day.

Not because we earned it.

But because He is faithful.

Mama, if today was hard, remember this:

You are not defined by your hardest moment.

You are not defined by your worst day.

You are not defined by your lack of patience.

You are defined by the grace of a faithful God whose mercies never run dry.

Tomorrow morning, when the sun rises, His mercy will be waiting for you again.

Prayer

Father,

Thank You for Your never-ending mercy. Thank You that when I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and discouraged, Your faithfulness remains unchanged.

Forgive me for the moments when I fail to reflect Your patience and gentleness. Help me to extend grace to my children and also to myself, remembering that Your mercies are new every morning.

Teach me to rest in Your love instead of striving for perfection. Remind me that You are present in both the beautiful moments and the difficult ones.

Thank You for being a faithful God who never leaves us and never runs out of mercy.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Reflection

What burden, failure, or guilty feeling do you need to leave at the feet of Jesus today instead of carrying into tomorrow?

With love and grace,

Tay

It’s Been a While…

Hi, friends.

It has been a very long time since I last showed up here to write. If I’m being honest, I’ve missed it.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. There is something special about sitting down with a cup of coffee, opening a blank page, and simply letting my thoughts flow. Writing a blog feels a little bit like talking to a friend, talking to myself, and somehow talking to people I haven’t even met yet – all at the same time. It’s funny because although many of you are strangers, it often feels like I know you.

One thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that consistency online is not exactly my strongest skill. If you’ve followed me on Instagram or TikTok, you probably already know that. I rarely post. I rarely share. Social media has never felt very natural to me.

But this space feels different.

Here, I don’t have to create perfect videos, keep up with trends, or worry about posting every day. Here, I can simply write. I can share my thoughts with people who still enjoy reading, reflecting, and slowing down for a few minutes. And honestly, that feels comforting.

Years ago, I had a blog where I shared recipes, product reviews, family life, and little pieces of my everyday routine. Looking back, those were sweet memories. But today, I feel called to share something even deeper.

I want to share about God’s goodness.

I want to share about gratitude.

I want to share about family, friendships, motherhood, and all the little blessings that often go unnoticed in the rush of everyday life.

The truth is that life isn’t always easy.

We all go through difficult seasons. We experience disappointments, heartbreaks, frustrations, and moments when we simply don’t understand what God is doing. Sometimes we pray for answers and receive silence. Sometimes we ask “why?” and don’t get an explanation.

But when I look back at some of the hardest seasons of my life, I can see God’s hand working through every one of them.

Not always in the moment.

Not always when I wanted.

But eventually.

The challenges that once felt impossible became lessons. The closed doors redirected me toward something better. The waiting periods taught me patience. The hardships strengthened my faith.

What once felt like a burden often became a gift.

And that’s one of the beautiful things about walking with God: even when we don’t understand His plan, we can trust His heart.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”

Not some things.

Not only the easy things.

All things.

The joyful seasons and the difficult ones.

The victories and the setbacks.

The prayers that are answered immediately and the ones that take years.

God is present in every chapter.

Today, I simply want to encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on the blessings around you. Take a deep breath. Look at your family. Look at your friends. Look at the life God has given you.

Even if you’re walking through a difficult season right now, trust that God is still working.

There is purpose in every season.

There is growth in every challenge.

There is grace for every day.

And there is always something to be grateful for.

Thank you for being here and for reading my words after such a long time away. I don’t know how often I’ll show up, but I do know that when I do, I’ll be writing from the heart.

Until next time,

With love and gratitude,

Tay 💖

When the Schedule Falls Apart (and That’s Okay)

Hi everyone 🤍

I know it’s been a little quiet around here.

This week was… not the typical rhythm. My little one got sick a few weeks ago, then both kids got a cold, and after that I had so many busy days coming up, and the ones not so busy ended up being busy… so I barely could give any attention to my personal matters. You know those weeks where everything just stacks up at once? That was this one. It felt busy, stretched, a little chaotic.

But I’m here. And I want to say something simple:

It’s okay.

Sometimes we are not able to do everything we planned. Sometimes the best thing we can do is go with the flow, handle what’s in front of us, and give ourselves a little grace.

And if you’re anything like me, that grace doesn’t always come easily.

✿

The Morning Routine That Keeps Me Grounded

I have a morning schedule that I truly love. It’s printed and hanging on my fridge. It helps me begin the day calmly. I know what comes next, how much time I have, what needs to get done. It gives my day structure and flow.

And honestly? It makes everything easier. (I will share it as a file for you to download on my next post)

But this week?

I barely followed it.

And that frustrated me more than I expected.

✿

The Weekly Reset That Didn’t Happen

I also have a weekly rhythm — certain days for certain tasks.
One day bathrooms.
Another day reorganizing the kitchen.
Another day resetting the entryway.

It keeps the house from feeling overwhelming because I’m not trying to do everything at once.

But this week… none of it happened.

The bathrooms waited.
The kitchen stayed messy.
The entryway definitely did not get its reset.

And I caught myself thinking, You’re failing. You can’t even keep up with your own system.

Isn’t it wild how quickly we can turn on ourselves?

✿

The Gentle Reminder I Needed

Then I paused.

My kids were okay.
They were fed.
They were clean.
They were smiling.
They were loved.

And that’s what really matters.

At the end of the day, we don’t get bonus points for perfectly cleaned baseboards. We don’t get eternal rewards for color-coded closets. But we are shaping hearts. We are building memories. We are raising little humans who need our presence more than they need a spotless house.

The mess? It can be cleaned later.

The laundry? It will wait.

The kitchen? Still going to be there tomorrow.

But your children’s need for your love and attention? That’s right now.

✿

Priorities, Mama

We all want the home to look beautiful.
We want it clean, organized, peaceful, smelling good.
We want to feel on top of things.

And structure is good. Routines are helpful. Systems are wise.

But priorities matter more.

First things first:

• Happy kids
• Fed kids
• Clean kids
• A present mom

Everything else can come later.

Sometimes being a good mom means closing the planner and sitting on the floor instead.

✿

This Is Your Reminder

Relax.

Go with the flow when you need to.

Set your priorities clearly.

Your kids are okay.
Your home will recover.
You are not failing.

You are doing better than you think.

With love and grace,

Tay 🤍