Ode to Sam on Your 21st Birthday

February 8, 2026

My Dearest Sam,

Happy, Happy 21st Birthday!!

I can hardly believe that you're 21-years old AND studying abroad in Copenhagen AND that I'm not the only blogger in the family!  It's been amazing keeping track of all of your incredible adventures through the eyes of your camera and masterful writing.

It reminds me of when I was your age studying in Greece and Turkey.

Aw man, Sam, there are so many things I want to share with you, but in a weird way, I feel like as you've grown and gone away to college, that I've really lucked out and been able to have many meaningful, beautiful conversations with you--particularly when you were home for a month before heading to Europe.

Often, we grabbed hats, gloves, and all of the big questions we could muster and made multiple loops around Elmwood Park sharing stories, getting into the weeds, picking up acorns (to remind us of our potential) and wrestling with the unanswerable.  I think I've kind of been waiting for this closeness in our relationship.  It's the gift of a lifetime to journey and to learn from and with you.

Over the years, people would tell dad and me that you remind them of an old soul and that your focus on the things that matter and your loyalty to your friends and family is unparalleled.  So, while I would love to offer you pieces of advise or words of wisdom--it's hard to encourage you to do anything differently, because you've got such a north star guiding you that it's both inspiring and comforting.

The one thing that fifty years of life does bring is the gradual understanding that the questions are infinitely more interesting and more true than the answers.  This is why when you declared studio art and philosophy as your majors I was thrilled beyond measure.  I knew you'd be reading the good thinkers and asking the hard questions as you examined what it means to live a good life.  

I'm not very good at it, but I'm learning that getting comfortable with uncertainty and not knowing is the mark of peace.  And that following your heart/gut/intuition/longing/yearning/curiosity/wonderment/hope/despair/concern/belief will never steer you wrong.  The danger lies in doing what you think the world wants you to do to prove your worth or your value.

So, let me say it now--no matter where you go, who you meet, what you study, where you work, who you love--you are a child of God with a purpose and a free will and a big, beautiful, wild, unique, precious life...so, live, really, live fully into it knowing that it doesn't have to look like anyone else's except for yours.  And that is the tricky part--because the world won't always understand or even condone your choices--they'll tell you that smart people do this or pragmatic people do that or strategic people work here or successful people look like this or love like that.  Fuck them.  

Stand up straight.  Walk into the rooms.  Be brave.  Tell your story. Share your dreams and don't be afraid to be the only one listening. 

And as you grapple with internships in other states, graduate school or jobs, relationships and what is meant to be--trust that if you remain open and let your voice be the loudest, you'll know when it's time to throw yourself at something or to pivot gracefully and move toward something else.  And as you do so, keep taking your cameras and journals with you-document it all.  Remind yourself of the incredible architecture, the extraordinary food, the loud, beautiful, kind people, bike riding and metro hopping and all of the culinary meals with newfound friends from across the globe, and say to yourself--this life, my life--isn't always easy, but it's really, really good.

Here's to so many blessings and adventures in this 21st year and may all of your memories bring you back to your 2026 mantra of wild independence.  

I could not love you more,

xoxo, Mom

 

Ode to Kate on Your Sweet 16th Birthday

July 8, 2023

My Dearest Kate,

Happy, Happy Sweet 16th Birthday!

Oh my goodness!  You woke up today, headed to driver's ed and all of the sudden, the world changed, and you are officially so grown up!

Tomorrow, you'll take your driver's test and then, freedom awaits you.

My goodness, Kate.  You are such an amazing person.  It's hard to find the words to share all of the things I love about who you and what you stand for.

You recently completed your sophomore year at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart--and during that time, managed rigorous classes while dancing multiple nights a week at the Omaha Academy of Ballet, solidifed your love of fashion through costume design in the production of Macbeth and Omaha Fashion Week, and shot as many bulls eye's as possible in archery.

 

You are such a creative, thoughtful, intentional, interesting, wise beyond your years person--that you're continually inspiring me.  

You recently applied to be a participant in Duchesne's trip to Madrid next summer, and when accepted, understood that in order to go, you'd need to pay for half of the trip.  And so, by the grace of God, you nannied for a wonderful family teaching their little guy to sew and earning your ability to explore another country.

You're love for creating also secured you a spot in the Kent Bellow's mentoring program where you learn from a fashion design mentor and are designing and sewing pieces for upcoming shows.

All the while, you're still managing Enchanted Toucan, your Etsy store, making several pink plushy bats every week for customers, funding your ability to buy oodles of fabric and to thrift on a dime.

 

What I think I love about you the most is your kindness.  You're a really good person who always wants to give the next person the benefit of the doubt, who seems to have infinite amounts of patience, and who trusts that all is well and that with enough elbow grease and magic, it will all work out.  I hope you never lose this beautiful way of being in the world.

So, as you embark upon the back half of high school, and we begin the college visiting process in your junior year, a few thoughts...

• The sky is the limit.  Venture to find the right place for you.  It will inevitably be different than your big brother's and it will be exactly where you're meant to be.
  
• Keep stretching yourself.  Soak up everything you can from the mentors, teachers, instructors, peers, and influencers that you can---but at the end of the day, follow your own north star.  Be Kate.  She's the best.  And there's only one of her ever.  Dive deeply into her and trust in all that she brings.
• Spain will be the beginning of recognizing that the world is a really big place and that there's so much to see and to explore--let it brew a hunger inside of you that makes you crave more experiences of the unknown knowing that your family is always here rooting for you, wanting to hear about the world through your eyes.
• When in doubt, turn to God.  Take your fear, your hurt, your "I don't know how it's going to all work out," and give it over.  You don't have to walk alone.  You are loved.  And in time, it will be revealed.
• Your family loves you more than you can imagine.  Let this foundation be the roots that you need to fly.  Your father, brother, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins have a giant "Go Kate" sign at all times and we are always here to remind you how loved and valuable you are.

So, now's your time, girl!  Here's to freedom, adventure, exploration, opportunity and deep love.  So much excitement in the new year.  Go take it by storm!! 

 

 

All My Love, Mom