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What My Grandmother Taught Me About Faith, Family, and Unconditional Love
My paternal grandmother was truly my hero. Honestly, I want to be just like her when I grow up. She was sassy, loving, wise, and deeply rooted in her faith—and she had me in stitches constantly. When I was younger, I’d spend weekends with her. She introduced me to crime shows and gave me my love for reading the Bible. As I got older and life filled up with school, sports, and driving, she’d call and say it was time for a grocery run. She didn’t ask—she told—and I always said yes. Time with her was sacred. But what made her so incredibly special is that she wasn’t my dad’s…
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How My Aunt’s Unshakable Faith Changed My Life: A True Testimony of Trusting God Through Hardship
A Family Rooted in Love and Faith There’s something special about my dad and his siblings. As adults, they share a closeness that’s rare and beautiful. My dad is the oldest of six children, and I deeply love each of my four aunts and my uncle. But one aunt, in particular, has had a profound impact on my life—especially my faith. Faith That Doesn’t Waver My aunt was the kind of Jesus-follower you only read about—someone who walked through fire without ever letting go of God’s hand. Her personal story is hers to tell, but I can share how her faith shaped mine. She had two double lung transplants. Yes—TWO.…
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There’s Something Special About Farm Kids
I’ve said it time and time again—there’s something special about farm kids. They truly are a breed of their own. And if there’s one week that proves it, it’s fair week. Fair week is a time when farm kids come together and live in a world that feels entirely their own. At the county fair, you’ll see them up early, wearing boots and shorts, caring for their animals. They make sure the animals have food, water, and a clean place to rest. They walk them for exercise and prep them for their upcoming shows. Some kids are laser-focused—locked in, maybe a little frantic—as they get ready to enter the show…
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Keeping The Spark Alive
Keeping the Spark Alive with a Roadside Flower After eighteen years of marriage, it’s easy for the spark to fizzle a bit. Life gets busy—we’re wrapped up in parenting, work, farming, housekeeping, and, let’s be honest, just trying to survive until bedtime (or sneak in a nap). Somewhere in all of that, we can forget to pursue one another. Every now and then, my husband gently reminds me to reflect on whether I’m still pursuing him. He doesn’t do it with words. He does it with a daisy-looking weed. (Daisies are my favorite.) The other day, we were at our farm when he got back in the truck holding a…
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School Lunch Ideas for Busy Families
I don’t know about you, but I run out of ideas for my kids’ lunches—especially ones they’ll actually eat without wasting food. I also don’t want them getting tired of the same old thing every day. With school starting soon, I thought I’d share my Pinterest board full of school lunch ideas. These are quick, easy, and inexpensive options that your kids will (hopefully!) love. Along with ideas from the board, I also send leftovers with my kids. Our cafeteria has microwaves, so it’s super easy for them to reheat food. If your school doesn’t have microwaves, I’ve got a tip for you… Some time ago, I found metal thermoses…
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Why Coffee Dates with Friends Matter -Even if You Don’t Drink Coffee
One way I’ve been able to reconnect with friends is through coffee dates. I don’t even drink coffee! But we’ll head over to our favorite local coffee shop, grab a tea or smoothie, and sit there and chat—catching up on life. I do this with one friend as often as I can, which seems to be about once a year now. We sit and talk about anything and everything. One time, we even sat by the window watching people try to parallel park. It was just as fun as you’d think—especially with our commentary! It’s such a peaceful environment to connect. Today, I met up with four friends I used…
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You’re Winning, Mama!
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Back-to-School Time! Give Them Back to the Teachers!
It’s back-to-school time!Some schools have already kicked off their first day, while others are just around the corner. Teachers have been hard at work—prepping classrooms, carefully planning lessons designed to stick (like a catchy TikTok sound), and praying over their rooms and every single student who will walk through those doors. It’s a bittersweet time. They’ve spent the summer getting things done at home, relaxing, taking professional development courses, and being with their own families. Now, they’re shifting back into full-blown school mode. Let’s pray for them—for wisdom, patience, love, and guidance as they welcome each child into their classroom. There are kids who are genuinely excited to return. They’re…
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Special Education-High School
High school special education is my favorite. I do miss the endless hugs from elementary students—but in high school, I get something just as sweet: “I love yous.”Almost daily, as students leave my room, I hear:“Bye, Mrs. Carnahan! I love you!”“Bye! I love you!”And they’ll hear me shout back—loud and proud—“I love you! Bye!” Just like in elementary, I’m here to help anyone who needs it. I’m not built to support only the students with IEPs. I’m built to serve—to lift burdens, lighten loads, and help both students and teachers understand what’s being asked of them. When I first started teaching high school special ed, students were embarrassed about their…
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Elementary Special Education
Special education isn’t one-size-fits-all—for students or for teachers. Every day is a pursuit of progress, and each classroom comes with its own unique joys and struggles. Take, for example, a multiple-handicap unit. Or elementary special education—which is a glorious, beautiful beast of its own. When I taught elementary, I worked alongside two general education teachers, supporting any student who needed help—regardless of whether they had an IEP. I would pull students into my classroom in small groups, track their progress, and gather data on those who were struggling. I listened when they needed someone to talk to and stepped in to calm them when behaviors began to escalate. Elementary-aged students…
