Calm Before Me

🎃 Happy Halloween Week! 👻 I can’t believe how fast time is flying — seriously, where did the year go?! It feels like just yesterday summer was winding down, and now we’re right in the middle of Halloween week. 💤 Pajama Day Fun Landen’s school is kicking off Spirit Week, and today is Pajama Day! There’s something so heartwarming about seeing the kids (and teachers!) cozy, playful, and excited to start the week with a little fun. I even caught Landen grinning ear-to-ear, rocking his Snoopy pajamas — and he even wanted to bring his soft blanket to channel his inner Linus. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him; if I could bring my blanket to work, I’d do it too! 🛌🐶 💕 Reflections on Love This week has also given me a chance to reflect on how lucky life has been lately. After my divorce, I honestly never thought I’d find love again — but here I am, almost a year into a wonderful relationship with my boyfriend, TJ. Our anniversary is coming up on November 16th, and every day I’m reminded ...

  Counting My Blessings & Embracing the Journey Ahead Wow… where do I even begin? Yesterday was one of those days that reminds you just how precious life truly is. It started out completely ordinary — just another school morning — and ended with me holding my heart in gratitude and disbelief. Landen’s bus was in a minor accident yesterday morning, possibly because of the weather. The moment I got the call, my heart stopped. No matter how “minor” an accident is, those words are every parent’s nightmare. But thank God — truly, thank God — everyone was okay. Not a single person was hurt. I can’t even explain the wave of relief that washed over me. It was one of those moments that makes you pause, breathe deeply, and realize just how fragile life can be. Despite everything, Landen still made it to school and had his 7th grade photos taken — can you believe it?! My boy is growing up so fast. I swear it feels like just yesterday he was starting kindergarten with his oversized b...

  Love isn’t always easy to put into words—especially when it feels as deep and real as what we share. Today marks 11 months of an incredible journey with the person who has changed my life in ways I never imagined. I wanted to take a moment to celebrate us, to honor this love that continues to grow every day. This letter is for him—the one who holds my heart, my peace, and my forever. Here’s to us, to love, and to all the beautiful moments yet to come. Babe- Eleven whole months of growing, learning, laughing, and loving — together. And somehow, it still feels like we’ve only just begun. What we have isn’t just special… it’s something I never saw coming. Something that unfolded so effortlessly, so beautifully — like it was always meant to be. You know what my favorite part of us is? It’s how unwritten we were. How everything just happened — no deadlines, no pressure, no plan. Just two hearts finding their way to each other. It was raw. Real. Unfiltered. And maybe that’s w...

It’s been one week and a few days since my leg surgery, and overall — healing is going really well! 🌿 With the exception of one stubborn little wound that’s taking its sweet time to close (seriously, it’s hanging on like it pays rent). But we’re getting there! This coming Wednesday morning , I head in for an ultrasound to check on the graft in my left thigh and take a closer look at a deeper vein that was causing issues before. Fingers crossed everything is progressing the way it should! 💪 And now for something a little sweeter… Thursday marks 11 months for TJ and me — can you believe it?! This relationship has been one of the most unexpected blessings in my life. Honestly, we make each other so incredibly happy. He’s been by my side through everything — the good, the tough, the in-between — and I’ve done the same for him. There's a special post coming to celebrate our milestone, but now I’m already wondering... how do I top this for our 1-year in November? We shall see. ...

  Series Six: What We Will Miss Most About the Dever Elementary 💬 From the Voices Who Lived It 🎓 Landen Buckman Former Dever Student, 2018–2025 As a recent graduate, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ll miss most about the Dever—and it’s not just one thing. It’s all the little moments that made this school feel like home. More than anything, I’ll miss the simple, joyful times spent with my friends during recess and lunch. Those were the moments we got to just be ourselves—laughing, joking, and hanging out. I’ll also miss being part of the Chess Team, which not only challenged me but helped me connect with others in a fun and meaningful way. But what I’ll miss the most is the time I spent with my teachers. They weren’t just there to teach—they were mentors. They cared, even when I was (admittedly) a bit of a pain! They always seemed to know what I needed, even when I didn’t. I’m especially grateful for our amazing principal and all the staff who supported me every step of the ...

  The School That Raised Me — And the Fight to Save It  There are moments in life when everything shifts — when showing up for your child becomes something more. A calling. A fire you can’t put out. This is a recount of events that took place.  For me, that moment happened at the Paul A. Dever Elementary School in Dorchester. What started as simply being present for my son quickly became a fight to protect home — not just for my family, but for every student, every parent, every educator who had ever been silenced, ignored, or made to feel invisible. The Dever wasn’t just a school. It was a heartbeat. A sanctuary. A place where cultures met and intertwined, where languages echoed through the halls, and where love revealed itself in quiet but powerful ways — a teacher’s hug, a call home after a hard day, a classroom that embraced difference rather than pushed it away. But like many schools serving historically marginalized communities, the Dever was also a battleground. ...