22 Comments
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Caroline Beidler, MSW's avatar

Hello! So nice to see your name in my email inbox. Even nicer to hear your real, unfiltered voice 🙏🏼

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Ashley Carroll's avatar

Hello from Gray camp! Loved getting this in my inbox today. Especially loved the unfiltered use of curse words.

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Mackenzie's avatar

Loving this authentic writing!!! So beautiful, creative, honest. Enjoy this trip with your husband. I absolutely love Japan.

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Abby Cabush's avatar

What a TREAT it was to wake up to this in my inbox! Also, I’m loving the evolved writing style (since we haven’t seen any of your writing in 2 years!!), while simultaneously appreciating how the same heart behind your writing is still shining through. I always feel so reflective, so challenged after reading your words. Thank you for them ❤️

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Diana Darling's avatar

Unfiltered in camp gray with a decade of deepening love by choice looks good on you;). Welcome back to the stack! Two year one liner challenge: i am living one dream and countless nightmares to be here, where i want to be.

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Stephanie Gentile's avatar

Manda! It's so good to read your writing again. I hope you and Eric have the best time in Japan!

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Emily Lawson's avatar

Happy anniversary! What a trip! Congratulations; so glad you’re taking this time for yourself. (I was an exchange student in Japan in high school … we should swap stories!)

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Kristina L's avatar

I'm so happy you're back to writing and we get to receive!! I relate SO much to the whining* piece and I also have yet to take the rage whining fills me with to therapy. Your trip has inspired me to dream and plan a small and then a big trip for our 5th and 10th anniversaries. I am in the grey camp with you and wish you a wonderful and relaxing trip where you likely are constantly remembering all the reasons why this type of trip is needed and all the things you are grateful for back home that allowed it to happen :)

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Liz Merringer's avatar

You are a breath of fresh air! I hope you have the most amazing and restful vacations!

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Tamara Carpenter's avatar

Congratulations on your 10th wedding anniversary! Loved your post and always appreciate your transparency. 🤍

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Bonnie's avatar

Ahh glad to have you back! And 1000% feel the camps and want to live in the grey. Sometimes I feel like I'm giving more caveats than content.

It's been 3 years since the Soul Care Retreat in LA. We talked about fostering and the hard choice to have biological children or not. The next day we met a 14 yr old boy who we adopted in March 2024. In April 2024 we got a call for his baby brother - surprise! We bought a bigger house in a neighborhood with more people who look like my kids than who look like me. He is a year old now and we are about to be assigned an adoption worker. What a rollercoaster. Not including any caveats because I know you get it.

That's more than a sentence, but the best I could do ;) Sending all the love to you and your sweet fam <3

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Mackenzie's avatar

Loved reading this and continuously inspired by you to share what is on my heart. Have fun in Japan! (Flying without children IS a vacation!)

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Megan Parsons's avatar

Even though I get the privilege of our IRL proximity, I missed your writing pal. Can’t wait to read more of the Japan adventures, reflections & food reviews. 🫶🏼

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Tracy's avatar

I am glad and encouraged reading your writing again. Thank you.

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Vanessa Daves-Poarch's avatar

So happy you're back :)

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Kirstie's avatar

Wow welcome back!!! This was TOO relatable. From the triggering with whining (seriously is there a support group for this?) to immediately wanting to help another mom the second you’re childless.

Enjoy this trip and thank you for your beautiful words as always.

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