erica danielle

In the chilly-est days of January I find myself wondering if the sun will ever shine again and if the ground will melt and if the buds on the trees will bloom again. Why do I doubt? The sun always shines, the ground always melts. There is always new life in the spring. And then I get outside on a day that’s chilly, but not the chilly-est and I love it. I wonder to myself how anyone could live without experiencing winter. How you could go through life never wondering if the ground will melt. I remember when Sigge was 3 and we had SO much snow that year. He asked me one day if we would ever seen the green ground again. And I seriously struggled to answer definitively yes. But the good thing about living here almost my entire life is that I KNOW we always swim in the lake in the summer. I ALWAYS get home from a July run and I can’t stop sweating and the sun is so hot I think it might burn off all my skin in the best way possible. So even tho the days have been bitterly cold and I don’t un...

 I am certain written on my gravestone will be the words: everything can be solved by homemade bread.  I am firmly in this camp. I try to give it up, to eat eggs, and I can’t. I literally can’t.  And you know what. it's ok.  We had a no school day and I made bread and bagels and granola and homemade meatballs and this also gives me life. Cooking when there’s time and there’s no timeline and the kitchen will get cleaned up again because I don’t have to rush off somewhere. There are moments that I think I could stay home while the kids are in school. Where I could be a stay at home-r, long term. but then I think about the joy of the weekend, and the way I’m kind of falling in love with what I do, and that I still have the ability to still see my kids a lot but also have a totally separate life, and I think: this is truly what God wants for me right now. It’s a re-building in a way. It’s a re-learning of who I am. I went through the last year and a half a little lost. I...

Friday was Hansel and Gretel at River Crest with Lucy as our #1 actress (Gretel) extraordinaire. She did amazing and knew all her lines and pretty much everyone else’s and she definitely shone bright.  Most expressive child ever.  Olle rocked his “Taffy Troll” role as well! Although I am not sure he has the same intense love of theater as Lucy does :)   We also did some skating at Jessica’s house which was so fun and rewarding and being outside just does something good for me.  On Sunday the run club went for an epic 7 mile snowy run at Willow River. It was: snowy! And wonderful! Also— we officially have an Olle man who is 9 1/2! Can’t believe he’s halfway to double digits. Makes me happy and sad all at the same time.  xo. edc. 

Lucy and Olle were in a play last week, so it was just Sigge after school each day. On Wednesday Sten had a meeting after work, so I had the little guy all to myself for a couple hours. Just like the old days :) we made hummus and bread and grated cheese and made tacos. It was the absolute best. Hearing about his days and his friends and his thoughts. It felt like time was miraculously moving slow and I was so happy.  Sometimes I believe God gives this gift of time when we need it most. When we’re a little dried up and need a little something to feel not so dry.    Candles also make everything better. And I think Sigge took this picture. But you know it’s a good day when there’s that much liquid wax. Like it’s been burning for a while which means you’ve been home for a while… and that’s a good feeling.  xo. edc. 

I love a new year. A calendar flip, a blank slate, a fresh start. I like goals and thoughts of bettering myself and my life. I love the idea of what my life could look like in 365 days with a few small tweaks. Or what could be waiting on the other side if I change my outlook and have renewed focus and excitement in a particular area of my life.  This year is no different. However I am approaching it a little uniquely. For one, I didn’t make “25” goals as I have in the past. I also didn’t choose BIG goals. I am making small goals with the hope that I’ll actually keep them and build some trust in myself that what I say is what I do. As I get older I am looking more “big picture” which means brain health, living long and being able to enjoy life as I age. This is important to me as I think about the act of aging and being miserable. I want to be the opposite of that.  So my tiny goal is that I make a promise to myself everyday to write down my 1 priority, read my Bible and devoti...

SNOW DAY!!! Checking out the Stillwater lights + fancy drinks at LOLO A Christmas toast with Mar, Jenny and Andrea.    Movie night at church! Christmas run with Christmas tree route! + hang out after to chat about running highs and lows of 2024 :) Great Grandmas 100th birthday!!! Christmas at the Bernards with homemade fettuccine and tomato sauce! Christmas Eve brunch. With sourdough cinnamon rolls from Andrea ♥️ Family secret Santa gift exchange and it had to be homemade. Sigge got the best gift when Lucy sewed him a lion  Christmas at Midcurrent  Christmas in Chicago! The BEAN Eately with the fam.  Getaway for me and Sten ♥️ Best way to end 2024.  Cheers to 2025!  xo. edc.