The Mom Behind the Counter

Issue 10 • June 3rd, 2026 Behind the Counter, Literally “Sorry, our card reader is being finicky today…I’ll have to take your card and type it in.” ‘Oh no worries, I can just tap it if that’s easier?’ “nervous laugh No, haha, the whole thing isn’t working. I’ll just have to type it in. It’s not you, it’s us.” ‘Oh, of course, that’s fine! Here you go.’ Have you experienced this recently at Colorado Baby? How about, say, the last 5x you’ve been in? Literally me for the last 6 months. The amount...

Entry #27 • May 26th, 2026 There's Art in Storytelling Too Dear Reader, Before I tell you about the future of Just Me, I think it’s important to first tell you how it all began. Back in high school, I took a photography class that I absolutely loved. What that class really awakened in me was the ability to see art in ordinary things. I’d look at something as simple as a sidewalk or curb and suddenly see beauty in it. I became fascinated with the realization that art is everywhere, absolutely...

Entry #26 • May 19th, 2026 The Friendship Deficit When my son received his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in June of last year (how has it already been this long and yet also so short?—and we still have a lifetime ahead of us), a prayer formed in my heart almost instantly. Disclosure: This is my raw, unfiltered email series — part journal, part story, part processing out loud. You’re stepping into something personal here and just semi-polished for readability. My faith is a big part of my life, so...

Entry #25 • May 12th, 2026 The Quiet Work of Writing I’m itching to write even though I’m not quite sure what about. I’m still just riding the wave from that last entry I shared (JM#24). Starting this series has been such an interesting addition to my life. I’ve loved writing in my personal journal for years. It’s a powerful way to process circumstances and reflect back on past experiences. Journaling doesn’t have to be pretty or fit into some sort of system. I quite literally just write what...

Disclosure: This is my raw, unfiltered email series — part journal, part story, part processing out loud. You’re stepping into something personal here and just semi-polished for readability. My faith is a big part of my life, so you’ll often see it woven into these entries alongside everything else I share. If you’d like to catch up on past entries, you can find the full archive here (each one is labeled JM#[entry number] so you can read them in order). Entry #24 • April 21st, 2026 ...Sits...

Issue 9 • April 1st, 2026 Late Night Thoughts from Behind the Counter Well, well, well… It’s 11:11pm (which feels oddly important, haha) on Monday, March 30th, and I’m starting a newsletter that I plan to send to you in the morning. Like…Tuesday morning. That’s bananas. I know. I never start a newsletter this late with the intention of finishing it and sending it the next morning. It’s just not reasonable. But here we are. I might be feeling a little unhinged. I feel like I haven’t yapped at...

Entry #23 • March 24th, 2026 Headed for the Hills by Jess Ray I am headed for the hills, I am headed for the mountain lands. Somewhere I can breathe again, in the air of heaven. Somewhere I can see for miles, standing underneath the stars. See how small I really am, and how big you really are. I am headed for the hills. I am headed for the road, I am headed for the countryside. I am headed through the fields, just to drive and drive. If only for the love of a song in my ears, of the sun on my...

Disclosure: This is my raw, unfiltered email series — part journal, part story, part processing out loud. You’re stepping into something personal here and just semi-polished for readability. My faith is a big part of my life, so you’ll often see it woven into these entries alongside everything else I share. If you’d like to catch up on past entries, you can find the full archive here (each one is labeled JM#[entry number] so you can read them in order). Entry #22 • March 17th, 2026 This was...

Entry #21 • March 10th, 2026 Escapism Thoughts “What petty crime could I commit to get myself 3 hots and a cot?” “What if I just kept driving west for as far as I could get before having to turn around and be back home at a reasonable hour? Maybe I could make it to Richfield, Utah…then turn around and come back.” Disclosure: This is my raw, unfiltered email series — part journal, part story, part processing out loud. You’re stepping into something personal here and just semi-polished for...