Who is the "Her"???

When I typed the first post, I was typing it as if everyone that read it knows me. But if this crazy thing happened and someone who doesn't know me actually reads my blog!

So a little bit about the Her in Historic Home for Her.... No need to grab a glass of wine to prepare for some whirlwind story. My life and history are simple but nonetheless, it is MY story and has led me to the person I am today and I like her!

My stats

• Three children referred by themselves as "My Dream Team"
• Three college degrees
• Two divorces (I know you noticed the pattern of three but I am not going for three on this one 😃)
• One amazing career
• One Labradoodle  - I am sure you learn more about Paisley later. She runs the show
• A small circle of friends that I wouldn't trade for anything. At 46, you learn that friends are definitely about quality not quantity
• A love for cooking
• World traveler and by that I mean I WANT to be a world traveler but for now I settle for short trips and experiences
• And now one large historic home to renovate

If you don't know anything about Kentucky, it is a beautiful state with green rolling hills, mountains and lakes. We love horses, basketball and of course bourbon. Well my 21 year old daughter loves bourbon; she's an old soul. Sorry, I digress..... back to Kentucky. In the northern section of Kentucky, along the Ohio River, lies Gallatin County. It is one of the smallest counties in Kentucky and was named for Statesman Albert Gallatin. I am a bit of history nerd so you are going to see those fun facts occasionally. 

I grew up in Gallatin County. I left for college and returned to teach. Married, had children, etc...I am a private person. You wouldn't think that since I am writing a blog but some things are off limits. I will spare you and myself the tale of two divorces. The first in 2003 and the second in 2011. All I can say, is that I learned a lot about myself as a person, a mom, a friend and some hard life lessons as well. While there are several things I wish I could do over, I also believe in God's Plan. He led me through those experiences. My job isn't to question it is to have faith and trust Him. So carry on God....what's next 🙏

Back to my stats... My children are my great successes. They are not too big of fans of me talking about them on social media. I can't even imagine the backlash of a blog.... To keep them happy, I will say little. 

• My son Brandt is 24. He works at a utility company in electrical maintenance. He owns his own home. Ironically, it is the house his dad and I used to live him and he is fixing it up. I never thought I would be in that house again.... funny how life works. He loves tattoos and truck pulling... I know, I know....what is truck pulling? Google it...it's too much to type and that is his thing with his dad. Do the tattoos bother me? No...not at all! He bought me a shirt once that says "I love my tattooed son". There could be worse things right? You learn to pick your battles. Those tattoos have little to do with his character. 

• My oldest daughter Blaire is 21. And what I could say about her! I call it Second Child Syndrome. I could go on and on but she has given me some of the scariest and saddest moments of my life and also some of the proudest. She is a Specialist in the 101st Airborne Division with the Kentucky National Guard and  also a University of Kentucky student.  In February 2018, Blaire was deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months. Longest 10 months of my life... She is fiercely stubborn and independent.. I am often reminded by family and friends that she comes by that honestly. I wish I was as cool as she is....
  

• My youngest daughter  Rylann is 14. I thought the third time maybe a charm but it turns out she's just as big of a handful as the older two! I say that lovingly....she's a dime. Rylann was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was 6. She has a strict medical regiment to keep it under control. She handles her diagnosis with acceptance and grace. Even when she is in pain, you would never know it. She plays volleyball, basketball and tennis. She also manages to play the largest tuba known to man! Not really but it seems like it. I have no idea how she marches while carrying that thing. I never hear her complain or use her diagnosis as a crutch. She has such a great attitude....I want to be like her when I grow up!

As you can see, I have spent most of my time as a mother as a single mother. I didn't do it completely alone with the first two but Rylann is all mine. Let's just say some people should not be parents and leave it at that. I have spent countless hours at soccer, football, and baseballs fields and on basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. My children have always come first. I can't say that I had the best childhood so ensuring they had a great one has always been my priority. While I have failed at times, I have always tried my best for them. They are growing up so I am patiently waiting for them to realize that ⏰

After college, I started my career in education as a teacher in Gallatin County Schools. I worked for 17 years in the classroom teaching grades from Kindergarten to 8th grade. In  2014, I accepted a position as the Chief Information Officer for that same school district. I LOVE my job. It is something I have always wanted to so. In 1983, Gallatin County received its first computers. There was an article in the paper that referred to the computers as "magical machines". With that article there was a picture of me using one. My grandmother always kept newspaper articles about her family. When I started this position, she gave me that newspaper article. (Typing this reminds me that I need to get that framed and hang it in my office. ) I was in love with those "magical machines". After my bachelor's degree in Education, I received my master's degree in Instructional Technology. I truly believe that this is another example of God's Plan. I have come full circle in my career all through His plan for me and I am eternally grateful. I love this small school district and family of staff and students that I work with.

"Me and the Magical Machines"

I love to cook so don't be surprised if you see a recipe here and there. A year and a half ago, I started eating low carbs. I was researching ways to help Rylann control her arthritis naturally. We discovered that gluten and sugar contribute to the amount of inflammation in your body. In April 2018, we started. Honestly, it is not as hard as you think! Let me be specific, we do not do Keto, we do low carb. I don't count anything. We just don't eat bread, pasta or potatoes and we limit sugar. It has to be a special occasion. Blaire loves to comment on my #lowcarblife. I made the mistake of using that hashtag once on Instagram....I am still paying for that. 🙄  

I guess that sums up the "Her" in Historic Home for Her

Oh my.... how could I forget my "favorite child"! Meet Paisley....she's excited about the new house....well maybe... not sure how she will get along with the ghosts....