Joanna Billigmeier, Author at Crafty Nester

We have had a very exciting year! At the beginning of the year we decided we needed more mountains in our lives. We began looking for a place we could go to make memories with our loved ones, to relax and be rejuvenated, for respite and for sanctuary. We have named this place Aspen Sanctuary…

Before kids, and even after one or two kids, I used to try to get out of the house at least once a day. After Paisley, needing to keep her safe and needing to keep germs out of our house, I stayed home a lot more, especially through flu season…now? I LOVE to be at…

This season is my very favorite! I start planning my decorating after Christmas for the next year, and I start decorating a minute after Halloween is over, so we can enjoy our cozy Christmas house for even longer. I like to have a general theme for the spaces in our house with my holiday decorationsâ€¦this…

We make plans…and sometimes everything goes perfectly according to plan, and beautiful memories are made, and everyone is happy and healthy. Other times, like this month, nothing goes according to plan. The week before Thanksgiving we were ready to go on our annual trip out to Montana. We have made this trip every year at…

Because I get bored, and we have been at home constantly for the past years, I have been changing things up around the house… I am working my way through the house, but first I wanted to update our boring living room. Change is good! Last year, our living room looked like this, during the…

What was going to be a short break to focus on my family turned into years! I have missed this space, and connecting with readers, and leaving memories here, and writing all the words I have been thinking. If you are new here, or if you just haven’t been in a while because there were…

Hi there, and welcome to my little corner of the interwebs… If you followed this blog years ago, welcome back! If you are new here, welcome! I’m glad you are here. I am Joanna, and I write the words here at Crafty Nester… there are words about adoption, about parenting, and words about parenting kids…

This little heart of ours, weâ€™re gonna make it shine. ðŸ’™ðŸ’š A heart transplant is not a cure for heart disease… it is essentially trading one heart disease for a better, more manageable one. Paisley will take immune suppressing meds every 12 hours for the rest of her life so her body doesnâ€™t try to…

I don’t want my kids safe and comfortable. I want them BRAVE… I don’t want to be the reason my kids choose safety over courage. I hope I never hear them say “Mom will freak out” or “my parents will never agree to this.” May my fear not bind their purpose here. Scared moms raise…