One of my mom’s favorite sayings is, “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.” As a kid, I heard this a lot, especially when my sister and I would beg for something. We were persistent, and the more we begged, the more my mom would remind us of this proverb. The perfect example of this came when we begged for hamsters. We promised we’d take care of them, so eventually, after much convincing, my parents took us to the pet store to pick out our new furry friends.

One of my favorite memories from second grade was when my mom volunteered in my classroom. But it wasn’t just her being there that made the day so special–it was because she brought our little white dog with her. I remember she hid the dog under the table while we were all working, and whenever I’d look over, I’d catch a glimpse of her wagging her tail. It was such a small thing, but it was exactly the kind of surprise that made my day. 

Growing up, my mom always said, “There’s no place like home,” and I never really understood the full meaning of that phrase until much later in life. As a kid, I just thought of home as, well, home–where I lived, where I slept, and where I did my homework. But my mom created something much more than that. She made our house a safe haven, a place filled with warmth, love, and security. No matter how chaotic or stressful school life could get, I always knew I had a cozy, welcoming place to come back to at the end of the day.

When my sister and I had to start taking the bus to middle school, things were different. We lived on this big hill, and of course, the bus stop was at the bottom. Mornings weren’t so bad–we’d chat and walk down together, but afternoons were a whole other story. After a long day of school, the last thing we wanted to do was trudge up that hill. It felt like a never-ending climb, and we’d usually complain about how tough it was.

When I was 7, I made a choice I’m not proud of–but it’s a memory I'll never forget. My mom, my sister, and I were all at the grocery store, and I spotted this adorable stuffed animal kitten. I wanted it so badly, but my mom said no. For some reason, I decided to take it anyway. I tucked the kitten inside the front pocket of my overalls, hoping no one would notice. But, of course, my mom saw it the second we got to the car. I thought I was in the clear, but I was so wrong.

I’ll never forget the Girl Scout trip when my mom and I spent the night in the manatee exhibit. I was so excited to sleep next to the manatees, imagining how cool it would be to wake up with them swimming around. But, of course, things didn’t go as planned. The floors were super hard, and the bright lights from the manatee pool didn’t exactly make it easy to sleep. I was exhausted, but so was my mom. She wasn’t thrilled about going there in the first place, and by the middle of the night, we were both ready to be anywhere but on that hard floor.

Growing up, Christmas at the tree lot wasn’t just about picking the perfect tree. It was a full-blown adventure, and my sister and I were always at the center of it. Every year, we’d run through the trees, weaving in and out of the rows like our lives depended on it. My dad would count to ten, giving us a head start, and then we’d take off, dodging low branches and trying to blend in with the camouflage jackets we’d sometimes wear. As we got older, and a little bigger, the game got more difficult–and let’s be honest, less graceful–but that didn’t stop us. It became a tradition, no matter how ridiculous it looked.

I’ve always believed that the simplest lessons are often the most powerful ones. My mom often said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” To me this wasn’t just a catchy phrase; it was a rule to live by. She taught me early on that treating others with kindness and respect wasn’t just the right thing to do–it was the way to build better relationships and a happier life. This wasn’t some abstract concept to her; it was something she lived every day, and she made sure we understood it, too.

One of my favorite memories with my mom is when my sister, my mom, and I would all dance around the house while our player-piano played. The music would fill the room all the way to our high ceilings and she’d always say, “Dance like no one’s watching.” It didn’t matter if we had rhythm or not–we’d just spin around, laugh and enjoy the moment. There was something special about those little dance sessions, where the goal wasn’t to look good or follow any rules, we just had fun and we were together.  

Hi there! We’re so excited to welcome you to our blog. My sister, my mom, and I have created this blog to share the wisdom, encouragement, and love that my mom has said many times over. Our mom has always had a saying for every situation, and over time, we’ve realized just how much these words have shaped the way we think, act, and navigate life. So, we decided to share some of her best quotes with you, along with the stories and lessons behind them. We hope this blog becomes a place where you feel inspired, supported, and encouraged-just as we have from our mom’s words.