9-25-2025 Family Time, Anniversaries, and Quiet Wins

Family Time, Anniversaries, and Quiet Wins

This past week was a blend of quiet and meaningful moments. With Tag working marathon shifts, fourteen days straight of thirteen-hour days, it’s been mostly me, the kids, and Adam. We filled the time with board games, laughter, and the kind of chaos that only family game nights can deliver. Sometimes it feels like the simplest things, like accusing someone of sneaky Monopoly deals, are what keep us closest.

In the middle of all this, Tag and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Fifteen years feels like a big milestone, one that makes me both grateful for everything we’ve built and also amazed at how quickly time passes. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but looking back, I wouldn’t trade the lessons, the laughter, or even the hard parts. They’ve all shaped who we are today.

I’ll be honest, I’ve also been working more than usual. After such a slow summer, I’ve felt the pull to catch up and rebuild momentum. That drive to provide safety and security—my big why—has been front and center. Have you ever noticed how life constantly asks you to juggle being present with loved ones while also pursuing the work that supports them? It’s not easy, but those moments like our anniversary dinner or watching the boys crack each other up remind me why the effort matters.

Real Estate, Rediscovering Purpose, and Failing Up

On the business side, I had the chance to attend a convention in Vail that was both inspiring and clarifying. The biggest realization? If I truly want to be the best, I can’t do it all on my own. I need to recognize my shortcomings and surround myself with people who excel where I don’t. That shift in thinking feels like the difference between pushing a boulder uphill alone versus building a team to roll it together.

It was also refreshing to reconnect with my office mates. Since stepping back from committees to focus on family, I haven’t seen them as much as I’d like. Spending time together reminded me how much I value those relationships and how important it is to stay plugged into that community.

The most meaningful part, though, was finally uncovering my big why. For years, I’ve searched for a guiding principle that keeps me anchored. I’ve landed on safety and security—not just for myself and my family, but for my clients as well. That clarity feels like finding my North Star, something steady to steer by when everything else gets messy.

So, let me turn the question to you: what’s your big why? What drives you forward when life gets heavy or complicated? You don’t have to share it publicly, but I encourage you to think about whether your days are aligned with that why. And if they aren’t, what small steps could you take to shift things?

Because here’s the truth: none of us gets it right all the time. I’ve had plenty of what some might call failures, but I see them as lessons that helped me “fail up.” Each twist and turn has taught me something valuable, and that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.