Red Stick Mom

Single With a Purpose As a former co-dependent woman who obtained her identity and value through the lenses of the men in her life, I truly believed being single was the worst thing that could happen to me. I was so very wrong. The worst thing that could happen to me was placing my entire value on how someone else saw me and neglecting my true self. The poet Warsan Shire's poem, "For women who are difficult to love" says it best, "You can't make homes out of human beings...." Happiness consists of learning to be a whole complete person and maintaining your own self-identity whether single or in a relationship. People are not all you need to live and putting all...

True Crime Podcasts :: What To Listen To Next If you are like me and cannot get enough true crime podcasts, here is my list of what you should listen to next. 48 Hours: NCIS Pregnant 19-year-old Erin Corwin disappears in California's Joshua Tree National Park. After two months of searching the desert, her body is discovered in an abandoned mine. Listen along as the discovery of a secret affair leads police to the arrest of a fellow Marine. Nightmare Next Door This podcast series explores real-life murder cases in seemingly ordinary, small-town communities. The killer is often the neighbor or close to the victim, making you question, do you know what lies behind “your neighbor's white picket fence”? Snapped Each episode of Snapped tells the...

Waiting in Love Do you find yourself waiting for something in frustration, doubt, fear, and anxiety? Whether it is an answer to a prayer, promotion or raise, career, new baby, a relationship, new vehicle or financial miracle, the hardest and dreadful thing to do is wait for it. I spent many nights pacing the floors doubting and crying only to still be waiting for it the next day. I even tried to reach out to family and friends, and they would say wait with expectations or keep the faith it will happen and even God's Holy word tells us in Habakkuk 2:3 "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision...

Take Your Family to the Atchafalaya Rest Area {and Here’s Why} When you think of family field trips, your first thought probably isn’t, “Let’s head to the nearest rest area!” But hear me out: The Atchafalaya Welcome Center and Rest Area in Louisiana is no ordinary stop along the highway—it’s a hidden gem packed with nature, history, and adventure. Pair it with a hike on a nearby Louisiana trail, and you’ve got an unforgettable day of fun, exploration, and family bonding. The best part? You can do it all for free or very little cost with your library card! The Atchafalaya Welcome Center, located near Breaux Bridge along I-10, isn’t just a place to stretch your legs—it’s a gateway to Louisiana’s...

The Writer Who Keeps Me Awake It feels like reading is having a renaissance. I've always been a reader. I love escaping to different worlds or uncovering the truth in the mystery or hanging out with a fun and funny bunch of characters for a while. I'm not big into horror novels and I don't really do non-fiction, the world is scary enough sometimes. But, there is one author who keeps me awake at night, but not out of fear, it is because I need to know what will happen next. Lucy Foley novels may not be in line to win a Pulitzer, but they do keep me entertained and that's one of the main reasons I read. I've read all of...