August 31, 2026

Every day, we have the opportunity to live what we say we value.

More than twenty years ago, when I became a mom, I knew what I valued deeply. I wanted our children to have parents who were present, engaged, and willing to walk with them through every season.

Was I perfect? Absolutely not. Was I intentional? Absolutely.

And because I knew how quickly I could get ahead of myself, I began keeping a simple phrase in front of me: All the way through.

Those four words became a quiet commitment.

• All the way through the ordinary days.

• All the way through the demanding seasons.

• All the way through the growing and changing and letting go.

They reminded me not to rush into the next season before faithfully living the one I was already in.

There were dreams in me, too.

Dreams for meaningful work. Dreams for Bar 33 Leadership. Dreams that began taking shape when I launched my business at forty and continued growing quietly alongside the life Fred and I were building with our family.

But “all the way through” reminded me that I didn't have to force two seasons into one.

I could trust that what was meant for another season would still be there when the space opened for it. And now, that space is beginning to open.

A couple of weeks ago, we launched our son, Owen, into his senior year of college. And just yesterday, we dropped off our daughter, Averee, to begin her first year of college!

And somehow, that chapter I knew would eventually arrive is here: Empty nesting.

I won't pretend there isn't emotion wrapped around those words - there is. But there is also tremendous gratitude.

God has been faithful “all the way through.” And now, I find myself asking what faithfulness looks like in this next season.

For years, I have asked God to keep my heart content with where I am while remaining open to where He may be leading me—to help me live the season I'm in without getting ahead of it, and to trust Him with the dreams He's placed within me.

I believe some of those dreams are now being given room to grow.

And here's the beautiful part: You get to experience some of that growth with me.

Happy Monday has been part of my life for more than twenty-five years. Its heart isn't changing, but its roots are growing deeper.

In the weeks ahead, you'll notice a refreshed look and a more intentional rhythm to both Happy Monday and Happy Friday. You'll see more of the rural imagery and lessons that shaped me growing up on our cattle ranch in western North Dakota.

And you'll experience more of a belief that has quietly been taking root in my work for years: Leadership is the outward expression of an inwardly rooted life.

Underneath it is a question I believe matters far beyond our titles or workplaces: Who am I becoming while I lead?

Or perhaps even more simply: Who am I becoming as I live this life?

Because becoming doesn't happen someday; it happens in the choices we make today.

• In the values we actually live.

• In the people we choose to be present for.

• In the dreams we're willing to pursue—and sometimes willing to wait for.

• In our willingness to stay faithful to what matters all the way through.

So, as I step into a new season, Happy Monday is stepping into one too – not away from what it has been, but deeper into what it has always been about:

• Growing intentionally.

• Paying attention.

• Living what matters.

• Becoming, one ordinary day at a time.

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Carry It With You

What is this week's Happy Monday inviting me to notice?
What do I value enough to live “all the way through”?

Why does it matter?
Where might I be tempted to rush into what's next instead of being faithful to the season I'm in?

What will I do with it?
What would trusting this season look like for me this week?