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When we first got Kona, she had already lived with two different owners. Her first was a college student who kept her kenneled for most of her first year of life. Her second was a foster home with two dogs, two cats, and more than a dozen children—where, once again, Kona spent much of her time in a kennel. By the time she came to us, she had spent roughly the first eighteen months of her life confined. Because of that, she had no real understanding of how to simply exist  in

Let’s get this out of the way: Your dog isn’t plotting against you. They’re not stubborn. And they DEFINITELY didn’t wake up wondering how to ruin your day. If anything, the only chaotic creature in the room… might be you. People love to say their dog is “being dramatic.” But the truth? Most dogs aren’t dramatic — they’re confused. Usually because we’re sending mixed signals like a malfunctioning turn signal. Last month I worked with a dog everyone swore was “stubborn” and “s

There’s a moment when you say, “We’re getting a dog!”  and it feels like the start of something magical. You picture happy kids, long...

“You were with me through so many seasons of life. I just wish I could hold on to this one a little longer.” It doesn’t happen all at...

The Shift You Don’t See Coming One minute, she was asking me to braid her hair and singing Disney songs off-key in the backseat. The...

I don’t live in a house. I live in a zoo. And not the kind with tidy exhibits and tranquil animal enclosures. No, this is more of a...

I've heard stories where there was a time when motherhood was loud with laughter and quiet with support. A time when women helped raise...

Some mornings, getting out of bed feels like climbing Everest. Not because I stayed up too late binge-watching TV or chasing kids, but...

Marriage is one of those wild rides that no amount of premarital counseling, Pinterest boards, or romantic comedies can truly prepare you...

Marriage is built on love, laughter, and the occasional laundry mishap. My husband, Jarred, is a wonderful man—thoughtful, helpful, and...

Raising girls is a lot like trying to navigate a tornado while wearing roller skates—it’s wild, unpredictable, and someone is always...

In the fast-paced world of parenting, writing, and renovating, every day brings new challenges and triumphs for Jess, the creative mind...