🌻 Simply Samantha: It’s Been a While…

It’s been a while.

And if I’m being honest, no amount of sticky notes or calendar reminders have been keeping me upright lately.

Part of it is just the season we’re in. My husband is inching closer to his busy season—and if you know, you know.

And his busy season is just that… a season(s). Not a weekend, not a week, not even just a couple of weeks. Heck, with both of us in the Guard, we’re well acquainted with time apart—it happens every single year. And lucky us, some years (like this one), we’re gone during the same couple of weeks. That means our kids with no parents, which is a whole other roller coaster in itself.

But his busy season? It stretches from spring into summer… and into fall. Sometimes without a break in between.

Busy season for him means long stretches of not seeing the kids for days, but usually more like weeks, and me getting a sleepy “hi” or “bye” as he comes and goes—always before I’m up and long after I’m asleep.

And when he’s gone… everything shifts.

There’s no splitting up pickups. No cooking supper together. No help with laundry, dishes, or even something as simple as taking out the trash. It all falls on me.

It’s not new.
It’s not something I can’t do.
But somehow… it still takes adjusting every. single. time.

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And right when things start to feel like they’re unraveling—that’s usually your sign.

Your sign to pause.
To plan.
To prep.
To realign.

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But here’s the other layer…

I’m in pain.

For those who don’t know, I hurt my back back in October. Yes… October. Six months ago now. And while I wish I could say it’s behind me, I’m still dealing with flare-ups—and this one has been especially tough.

Six days of pretty constant, intense pain.

Simple things feel hard or near impossible:

• Getting our youngest in and out of bed
• Lifting the girls into car seats
• Even just standing up straight most mornings

And when your body is fighting you on top of everything else… it hits different.

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So if life feels like it’s falling apart right now…

I just want you to know—you’re not alone.

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I was in a webinar last week, and they asked us:
“How would you introduce yourself—and your work/life balance—to someone you didn’t know? What do you have going on that makes you you, and how do you do it?”

I started writing:

Hi, I’m Sam.
I work full-time for SDSU Extension as a Program and Volunteer Coordinator, supporting just over 600 volunteers statewide.
At home, I’m a wife and mom to three kiddos (7—next week!—2.5, and 14 months), plus one German Shepherd.
I’ve served in the South Dakota Army National Guard for 16 years this July.
I’m also a Tastefully Simple Ambassador.
And occasionally, I bartend at a local bar.
Oh—and I like to read and work on my blog… Simply Samantha.

And somewhere in the middle of writing all of that… I stopped and thought:

Wow.
I might actually be a little crazy.

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But maybe not crazy.

Maybe just… full.

Full life.
Full schedule.
Full heart.
Full plate.

And right now? A little overwhelmed.

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🌱 Rooted & Rising

Rooted (what’s grounding me right now):

• Giving myself permission to not do it all perfectly
• Asking for help (even when it’s hard)
• Focusing on what has to get done—not everything that could

Growing (what’s helping a little):

• Slowing down when my body forces me to
• Letting some things go (laundry will still be there tomorrow… unfortunately 😅)

Rising (my intention):

• To move through this season with grace—for myself and everyone around me

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If you’re in a season like this too—busy, stretched thin, maybe even hurting a little…

Take a breath.

You’re doing more than you think you are.
And it’s okay to adjust.

Even if it’s every. single. season. 🌻

Simply Samantha 🌻
Simply Real. Simply Me.