Why the name?

Recently, someone asked me, "Why the name 'Mud Pies and Milkshakes'?"

Now, when I decided on the name, it made perfect sense to me. Explaining it to someone else was a little more difficult.

Mud Pies. I have some incredible childhood memories of making mud pies in my backyard with my cousins. We actually used the pie plates and everything. It was an amazing moment of “free play” that you just can’t get any other way. No restrictions, no time limit, no lesson, no wet wipes - just fun and free. You can't get that back.

Kristi and I (wearing matching swimsuits) making more of a mess than a sandcastle, Daytona Beach, 1980-something

Milkshakes. I can remember slurping down peanut butter milkshakes that my aunt would make for us while we watched the show “Dallas” on a Friday night. (Looking back, it’s quite funny to think that we were allowed to watch that show given the drama of it all.) Anyway, the bigger the chunks of peanut butter, the better. This is something I will ALWAYS remember with a smile. It was before there were worries or upsets, stress, complications, serious decisions. It was just fun and free.

Julie, me, Kristi, and David losing at Tug of War at Mamaw's, 1980-something

And it’s how I got here.

Those two simple words put together sum up the purpose of my blog. I wanted something fun and free…just for me. No real stress. No high expectations. We, as a family, have experienced our share of unexpected complications in the last several years. Now more than ever do I know how pure and precious mud pies and milkshakes are.

And that’s what this journey is for me. Pure and precious. Fun and free.