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Years ago, I followed one of my favorite writers, Emily P Freeman, on a quarterly habit of reflection. Now that I’m getting some of my pink back after having two kids in two years, it feels like a good time to revisit the practice. It’s important to look back before moving forward, to document what …

There’s a trend going around social media where you compare yourself now to where you were a decade ago. Despite having a blog, I put very little of myself and my family on social media these days. But I found the idea intriguing. In 2016, ten whole years ago, I was already more than 10 …

I’m not one for resolutions. I used to be. When I was younger, I’d look at the new year as a time to overhaul everything. Change myself, my routines, and try to make myself better than I was. There’s something to be said for grabbing and holding on to that kind of motivation when it …

We’re officially halfway through January. How are you feeling? If you’re a resolution setter, how are they going? (I’m not a resolutions person, although I do usually look at some of my habits and routines to see what needs to be reworked). Making resolutions, or recognizing where we need to change, is often the easy …

Years ago, on our first overseas assignment with the military, I had a really lovely habit of creating and reflecting regularly. An author that I love, Emily P Freeman, used to host quarterly link-ups for bloggers on her website. She would write a post about what she was learning, and followers could post links to …

A few weeks ago, we traveled to my parents’ house for a quick visit. The kids played, and my mom and I tackled part of a long-overdue project – cleaning out some of my stuff from their house. I lived with my parents well into my 20s, so this was a daunting task. We spent …

Some writing is easy. It comes easily and flows almost automatically from my brain through my fingers and on to the page. My brain has already done all the work and doesn’t feel the need to interfere with editing or additions while I’m writing. This kind of writing doesn’t make me stop and consider whether …

I recently got a new laptop. Not really because I wanted one, but more out of necessity. My old machine is being phased out, as Microsoft ends support for Windows 10. So I did my research. I created a spreadsheet, outlining the pros and cons of laptops in my price range (as any Type A …

Writing is not romantic. Growing up, I thought writers lived this wonderful life. They travelled often, wandering down cobblestone streets, notebook in hand, jotting down observations and thoughts. When it came time to write, words just flowed out of them. They would sit at a desk or a table in a little cabin tucked away …

Well, friends, it’s finally happened. After 10 years of living this military life, I’m just now starting to let go of the awkwardness of asking a new friend for her phone number. Oh, how I’ve waited for this day. A few weeks ago, my kids and I, along with one other mom and her kids, …

Things have been a little wonky over here lately. Not in a bad way. More like “I’m trying to figure things out without getting discouraged” kind of way. It’s no secret that the writing on the blog has been different. I’m working on a longer writing project and trying to save my creative energy for …

This post comes from January 2010. During my senior year of college, I took a class entitled “Life Journeys.” Part of our grade involved keeping a journal and submitting “small writings.” Small writings had particular requirements, including printing enough copies for everyone in the class. We played a song, passed around our writings for everyone …

I originally wrote this in April 2014. At the time, I was working in my hometown at a small local nonprofit. Housed in a church, it was the only free after-school program in the Valley. We provided after-school care for 30 upper elementary school and middle school students, many of whom were first-generation immigrants to …

I found this writing in a folder from a long-ago (and very short) stint of writing for a small local magazine in my hometown. I had titled it “Bread is Like Life,” which I still think can be true. Originally, I wrote it in 2013 after spending the morning in the world’s tiniest kitchen trying …

I’m the primary cook in our house. Part of that choice is because I’m the one at home. Part of it is because, for the most part, I like doing it. I’m not a great cook, but as time has gone on, I’ve gotten more comfortable in the kitchen. But it didn’t start out that …

A while back, as I was thinking through some ideas in my head, I wondered, “Why do I write?” What is it in my being that compels me to put pen to paper? Why do I feel more myself when I’m writing regularly? I had a health scare not long after moving here. Most of …

I don’t watch golf. It’s one of those sports I don’t really understand (see also soccer and water polo). But I do watch the news. Don’t worry – I promise those two things are related. Earlier this week, I saw a news story about a golfer named Scottie Scheffler. Apparently, he’s a big deal. He’s …

Most of these words came to me last week in a flurry. I sat down with my journal, and they poured out of me onto the page. I don’t usually write long form in my journal – it’s more for the day-to-day happenings, or maybe a note I hope to flesh out later. When the …

Italy was our most recent overseas duty station. While it brought its own unique learning curve and challenges (as all duty stations do), it was an amazing place to spend three years. We learned a lot while we were there and grew our family by two. We were stationed in Northern Italy. Of course, there …

PCSing with kids is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot that comes with moving with children. Both of our children were born in Italy. While we had done some European travel while living abroad, this PCS was our first big adventure with both children. With 14 hours of flight time and a …

It’s been a long road to get here, with blood, sweat, and tears (maybe literally). You’ve made lists, reservations, and flights. And today is a big box to check—moving day. Today, the movers arrive, armed with boxes and tape, ready to pack your whole life and send it across the country (or across the world). …

Our most recent OCONUS move was from Italy to the States in October 2024. At the time, my second child was about six months old and still nursing. I had quite the freezer stash of breastmilk and wrestled with whether or not to try to bring it with us. To be honest, this was one …

I married my husband when he was stationed in North Carolina. It wasn’t that far from where I was living, so it was easy enough to move down. Previously, I moved myself, with the help of family, into and out of college, then into my first apartment (and all subsequent apartments). A few carloads back …

The title of this post may be a bit deceiving. I’m not actually great at silencing the voice of guilt in motherhood or anywhere else. But I’m working on it. Maybe you feel the weight of mom guilt, too. I’ve been trying a few things lately – perhaps they’ll help you, too. Emotions have been …

When we first moved to Italy, I had a video chat with a friend. She and her husband recently relocated back to the States. They purchased a house and moved in after nearly two months of living in a hotel. During our chat, she told me about their home improvement projects—painting, electrical work, and landscaping. …

Motherhood is a lonely job. I’m sure I’m not the only one who missed that line in the job description. Loneliness is tricky. He looks different for each of us, and he often comes and goes as he pleases. It’s hard to know when Loneliness might come busting in the door, opening the fridge, and …

I didn’t feel depressed. I thought I felt normal, just more tired and fragile than before. I didn’t realize I was different until I suddenly started to feel more like my old self.

It’s never easy to come back after a long hiatus, but I’ve been thinking of you lately. We all have those friends that are gracious enough to overlook our absences and welcome us back with open arms when life allows us a bit more time. I like to think we’re those types of friends. The …

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you probably know that our little family has lived overseas for the last three years. We moved to Japan in 2018 and loved every second of that adventure. You also may have noticed it’s been a bit quieter on this side of the internet lately. I …

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been. – T.D. Jakes If you’ve been around this space for a while, you probably know I practice a quarterly habit of sharing some self-reflections and things I’m learning. Self-reflection allows me the opportunity to put words to experiences after they’ve …

Hygge implies comfort, warmth, a feeling of well-being, and a state of relaxed mood. – Judith Friedman Hansen It’s the end of February, the longest short month of the year. It’s no secret that a part of me loves winter. There is good work that happens within me in these months of huddling at home …

“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind” – C.S. Lewis If you’ve been around this space for a while now, or if you know me in real life, you probably know that a few years ago I gave up the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. I found that setting hard …

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. – Hal Borland Usually, I spend the week between Christmas and New Year reflecting on the past year. I like to look back before setting an intention for the upcoming year. I’ll …

I’m kind of all over the place, and I need grounding – Courteney Cox This past weekend was World Mental Health Day. With all that’s happening in the world, mental health has been a hot topic of conversation. And for good reason; 2020 is testing all our limits. Nearly every facet of our lives has …

Grief is the price we pay for love – Queen Elizabeth II Warning: This post deals with the sensitive content of miscarriage and grief. Please protect your heart, friends. A year ago, we were expecting a baby. It was a surprise, and while we had discussed “trying to start trying,” it was still a few …

Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself – Samuel Butler Friends, in the spirit of honesty, I have a confession to make. Writing is hard for me. Ok – so writing is hard for a lot of people. But as someone who feels a tug on her heart to share via the written …

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action – Peter Drucker Every quarter, I follow Emily P. Freeman’s practice of reflection. It was only in the last few years that I realized how much I learn about myself through reflection. As an avid journaler, I might have …

There are things I can’t force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest changes needed is a change of my viewpoint. – Denis Diderot Whew! You did it! Maybe you flew across the country, or across the world, and are still waiting on your household goods to arrive. Maybe you loaded up the …

With organization comes empowerment – Lynda Peterson Moving seems to attract paperwork. If you’re a military family, that paperwork seems to double, sometimes overnight. It’s imperative during a PCS to stay organized. Inevitably, an office will ask you for a copy of something you didn’t think you needed, so it’s better to be prepared. While …

Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want. – Kristin Armstrong My first PCS move left me wondering why we owned so much stuff. Our small shipment of unaccompanied baggage …

All great changes are preceded by chaos – Deepak Chopra In spring 2018, I embarked on the biggest, and longest, adventure of my life. Husband and I relocated to Japan with the military. Moving is one of the most exciting, and most heartbreaking and stressful parts of military life. As a new military spouse going …

You’re always learning. The problem is, sometimes you stop and think you understand the world. This is not correct. The world is always moving. You never reach a point you can stop making an effort – Paulo Coelho It’s hard to believe it’s nearly June. This summer is likely our last in Japan, and honestly, …

Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now – Eckhart Tolle Like many of you, my current pace of life has forced me to slow down. Although …

We can become anyone we want to become.  It takes focusing on the aspect of ourselves we want to change and reflecting on the beliefs that cause us to act in ways that are counter to the change we seek.  –Vanessa Diffenbaugh I’ve been blogging at Coffee + Camo for two years.  That’s hard to …

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection – Thomas Paine If you’ve been visiting the blog for a while, you know that I’ve adopted Emily P Freeman’s quarterly habit of reflection.  Reflection, in one form or another, has been a part of my journaling routine for years.  …

Into each life, some rain must fall – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When it rains, it pours.  But I’m learning rainy days are good too, even if they don’t always feel like it.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter – Rachel Carson Winter is the loneliest season. The bustle of the holidays seems like a distant memory.  The house is empty of decorations, and gifts have found a home.  Life has …

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream – C.S. Lewis I’m sitting in “my” spot on the couch, sipping tea, listening to Explosions in the Sky.  Fred is, as always, to my right, making sure I don’t do anything too crazy.  Life is, generally speaking, the same …

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards – Søren Kierkegaard The new year is prime time for reflections. Especially this year as we mark the movement into a new decade.  I’m a bit late on my reflections for the fall, so it seemed like a good idea to start here.  …

Eating is so intimate…When you invite someone to sit at your table, and you want to cook for them, you’re inviting a person into your life – Maya Angelou This post was not originally on my calendar.  To keep myself motivated and in the habit of writing, I do have a loose calendar of what …

Learning is not attained by chance.  It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence – Abigail Adams Well, here we are – back for another edition of what I’m learning.  If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you know I’m a long-time fan of Emily Freeman.  Each quarter she …

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it – Proverbs 4:23 Two weeks have passed since I last wrote.  Sorry about that.  With two trips in two weeks, life has been busy.  I’ve been enjoying seeing new things and soaking up this glorious life I’ve been given.  And I’ve been …

People need to spread love toward strangers.  We all bleed the same blood and we are all part of a global community now. – Aloe Blacc As some of you know, this year has been the year of international travel for me.  As of the end of June, I’ve spent time in 5 countries, not …

By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. – Confucius For me, spring is an easy season for reflection.  The cold and often dark months of winter are behind us, and new growth and sunshine are …

Packing is always a nightmare – Stefanie Powers A new year means a new PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season is fast approaching!  Spring of 2018 was my first PCS and my first truly big move.  Going from the States to an overseas duty station was daunting.  Until then, I had only relocated within a …

Falling in love with you was easy / You were always meant to have my heart / I was broken all to pieces / You were there to be the missing part. – JJ Heller, “Until You Came Along” It’s our third wedding anniversary.  It feels both like we’ve just met, and like we’ve been …

It is only by reflecting on the past that one can create a better future. – Rithy Panh   I’ve been following Emily Freeman’s What We Learned blog posts for years now (You can find some of her old entries here).  While she used to compile them more often, a while ago she moved them …

Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them.  They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits.  We can make our new normal any way we want – Kristin Armstrong   Here we are, already a few days into 2019.  How are you feeling?  For me, the start of …

We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community. – Dorothy Day Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take …

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”  -Maya Angelou   Have you ever been in a place where it was difficult to communicate with other people?  I’ve spent plenty of time choosing not to talk to …

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.  Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what’s truly important” – …

“The best stories come from real life” – Diane English “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings” – William Arthur Ward “All of life is a foreign country” – Jack Kerouac   It’s hard to believe a month (or more!) has passed since my …

“Moment by moment, we have the opportunity to say yes, to move into our lives and open ourselves to the adventure – but that doesn’t mean that we ever really know where we’re going or that we can predict what we’ll find when we get there.  If we’re lucky, though, the life we end up …

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.” – Mark Twain “I am not afraid of storms for I am …

 “You have to take risks. We only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen” – Paulo Coelho Hello from Japan! Husband and I have been here for about a week, learning our way around and trying our hardest to stay out of trouble.  I think we’re both finally over …

Well hello there! Welcome to Coffee and Camo, my tiny corner of the internet! I’m glad you’re here! I’m new here (and I suppose you are, too!), so I want to take a moment to introduce myself and this new space.  If you’re wanting to see the short version, check out my About page.  For …