Hello, I go by Steph. I have stayed home and taken care of my medically fragile son for nearly a decade. I have learned and experienced many things most people will never have to go through in their lifetime. I am grateful for the wisdom I have learned and the experiences I have had. Although my journey was not easy, and it tested me to the fullest. I am truly grateful for my son and his sweet soul. Being around Jax you feel nothing but love and innocence. I feel called to share our stories and strength with people who need it most. My son is my biggest teacher, hero, friend and inspiration.

I am hoping his life can inspire others as well.

​​

I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, with great parents and three older siblings. Today, I have a family of my own, and being a mom is one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Our journey to growing our family wasn't easy. After everything we had been through with Jax, we chose to do IVF to help us grow our family. It took us years to get to this point, and I am incredibly grateful we were able to do so.

 Although both experiences with my kids have been completely different, I am grateful for both of them.

​

I started this blog because I love writing, but more importantly, I felt called to serve people who are struggling. I love connecting with people and sharing stories that changed us forever and the wisdom we found. It brings connection, healing, support and feeling less alone. I once heard a teacher say, “If it only helps one soul, it will be worth it.” That has stayed with me.

I've wanted to tell my story for a long time, but for years, I didn't feel like I had the whole story to tell. I was still living it. I spent so many years caring for Jax and simply trying to survive. It wasn't until years later, after experiencing child loss, grief, trauma, and an identity crisis, that I realized something in my life needed to change.

At 33, I was thrown into what would become my wellness and healing journey. I had spent years living with fear, anxiety, isolation, and depression, and I wasn't happy with my life anymore. Something was missing. So much of my time and energy had gone toward taking care of Jax's medical needs that somewhere along the way, I forgot to take care of myself.

My relationships suffered, and eventually, I lost myself completely. I knew I needed to get my head above water so I could show up differently for my kids, my husband, my family—and for myself. There had to be more to life than simply surviving.

 

Losing myself was easy, but finding myself was hard! At the time, I felt like I had wasted so much of my life to grief and darkness. I wanted to start living and thriving, so I dedicated my time to feeling good, healing, and having more fun. I did a lot of therapy and a ton of internal work on myself.

Nearly four years later, I finally feel free and whole again. I know I still have a long journey ahead, but I am committed to my growth and healing for the rest of my life. I am striving for happiness and freedom, no matter what life brings me.

Today, I know those weren't wasted years—they were my learning years. I was becoming who I was meant to be. I gained so much wisdom through the experiences that stretched me to my fullest. I learned to be grateful even for the situations that made me the most uncomfortable because, many times, they revealed something within me that still needed healing.

I believe God had a plan to use my experiences for good. I feel honored that He trusted me with such an amazing soul in Jax. I believe He was preparing me for who I was meant to become and for the purpose I feel called to today.

This journey of finding myself again and learning to love myself has brought joy, healing, fun, and a sense of self-worth back into my life. Although it has been one of the hardest journeys of my life, it was absolutely worth it.

 

I also have a love for fitness. Not only does it make me feel stronger and better, but it's therapy for me and has become part of my spiritual practice. It's been a huge part of my personal growth, healing, and self-care.

I love traveling with my husband—he's the best travel agent! Give us a beautiful beach and we're happy, although one day we'd love to explore Europe together. I also love spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains or anywhere near the water.

There's nothing better than a good self-help book or a podcast that leaves you feeling inspired. I enjoy a good movie, doing something artsy, and spending time with the people I love. My husband and I are huge foodies! We love staying home and cooking dinner together—although he's actually the better cook. We also love fine dining and going out on dates. Keeping intimacy, connection, and fun alive in our marriage is important to me.

Girls' nights are a must. They feed my soul and are sometimes the best form of therapy! I value close friendships and meaningful relationships, and I love spending time with my kids and planning fun things for us to do together. Holidays are especially important to me, and I love making them memorable. Every year, we throw a big birthday party for Jax. It's a ton of work, but totally worth it!

Through everything, my husband and my parents have been my greatest sources of support. Their love for me and my kids has helped carry me through some of the hardest seasons of my life.

After everything this journey has taught me, I'm grateful for where I've been, grateful for where I am, and excited for everything still ahead.

Today I am grateful for this journey!