Hey. Thanks for checking me out. I want this to be the start of something beautiful. I mean that.

I’m Amanda. Army wife. Mom of many. Lover of Jesus. Amateur comedian. Professional weirdo. Hopeful word-smith.

I’ve wanted to be an attorney, a museum curator, a politician, a teacher, a cowgirl, a professor, an astronaut, an Oscar-winning actor, a famous singer, a motivational speaker, a comedian, and chef. Now, I just want a nap. And food made to order.

I am married to my best friend. He happens to be active-duty Army. That means we have moved. A ton. 11 times in 18 years. He’s the most humble and selfless person I’ve ever met and he makes me a better person just for loving him.

I am a mommy to 6–five bio and one adopted. They are beautiful souls on loan to us from Him and I feel adequate at best for that task. They drive me crazy and make me insanely happy all at the same time. They are all weirdos and that makes me so proud. Seriously.

I am devout Catholic. I find encouragement in the lives of saints who turned their lives over to Christ, but I’m especially drawn to saints who were stubborn, illiterate, uncouth, unaccepted, and unloved or any combination of those. I love ALL people as Christ loves us all, even if I disagree with their opinions, beliefs, or actions. I hate hatred and believe that almost everything can be said or done with kindness…at least the first time.

I suffer. I struggle. With chronic illness. With mental health. With fitting in. With being positive. With suffering and struggling.

BUT… I believe we all suffer; we all struggle. This world needs, more than anything, transparency, vulnerability, and realness in our personal struggles. It takes courage. It isn’t easy. But in tearing down our “curtains to our hurtin’s” we empower others to see they are not alone. We become more approachable, more relatable. We become the embodiment of Love.

Know this…YOU MATTER. Even with all your imperfections and flaws. And if I can help just one person to see this by showing mine, then this little corner of the interweb is worth more than any ounce of worldly goods.