Moving to Australia as an au pair was exciting, but loneliness hit harder than I expected. Without close friends, I felt disconnected—until I found Horizon Church. Attending services and joining the young adults group gave me a sense of belonging. Then, after the new year, a wave of new au pairs arrived, and we started bouldering together. What began as a casual hobby turned into deep friendships. Now, I am surrounded by an incredible group of friends who make Australia feel like home. Putting myself out there changed everything, and I’m so grateful for the community I’ve found.

Around July, I wrote about my top favorite books I have read for the first half of 2024. Now here is a review of the top 10 books for the second half of my favorite books of 2024.

Every daughter’s worst nightmare is the thought of turning into her mother. I had no plans having kids myself, so surely it would never happen to me. Nope. I am, in fact, turning into my mother.

January. The first month of the year. Everyone is so full of hope for a better year. Winter is in full swing—at least for everyone in the United States. This week, the American Midwest experienced the biggest snow storm in a decade. Scraping ice off car windshields and shoveling snow from the driveway are the hallmarks of a classic January winter.

Nothing feels quite as disorienting as celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer. Imagine walking into a store filled with little Santa statues, holiday wreaths, and fake snow while you’re sweating through your shirt in 90°F weather. It feels like one of my dad’s Christmas-in-July Hallmark movies brought to life. This year, I celebrated Christmas with my brother-in-law’s family in Boat Harbour, Australia. Spoiler alert: it was weird, wonderful, and wildly different from anything I had ever experienced.

I have always wished I had a sibling who was significantly younger than me. Although I do have a younger brother, he is only two years younger, so I never had the chance to take on the role of the doting older sibling. I wanted to take a younger sibling on special outings, spoil their dinner with chocolate, and then hand them back to our parents to deal with the inevitable sugar high.

This week did not go as planned. What was supposed to be a weekend filled with brunch and hiking turned into days spent in bed, armed only with Netflix, a book, and endless cups of chai tea with honey. Being sick reminded me of the simple comforts I usually take for granted—breathing clearly, a cozy blanket, and a warm bowl of soup. As I lay there, homesickness crept in, making me long for my familiar couch, my cat napping in my lap, and the soothing taste of chicken noodle soup. Sometimes, all it takes is a rough weekend to make us appreciate the everyday comforts that truly feel like home.

Motivating kids sometimes means making unusual promises! Follow the journey of a parent’s brave Vegemite challenge to help boost confidence—and the hilarious results that followed on the ice and off!

If I thought driving in the US was difficult, let me introduce you to Australian roundabouts. Driving is perhaps the scariest thing I have ever done, and driving with me—whether in the US or Australia—is even scarier.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of change as I moved from North Carolina to Kentucky, and then to Canberra, Australia. After a year of living with my sister and her husband, I’m beginning a new chapter as an Au Pair in a new country. Saying goodbye was tough, but the experience of settling into Canberra has been exhilarating, from exploring the city to bonding with my host family. The kids I’m caring for are full of energy, and their parents have made me feel so welcome. Despite the challenges, I’m excited for the adventure that lies ahead.