The Mom Behind the Counter

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...

Entry #20 • March 3rd, 2026 Wow. It’s kind of serendipitous that this is Just Me #20. The only reason I say that is because I’m about to share birth story #2, as promised, since a birthday is coming up…my oldest will be 20. Oof. What. Can you please have a moment of slight freak out with me? Thanks. How did I get here? This makes me feel like I’m getting old, but I’m not. Right? RIGHT? Disclosure: This is my raw, unfiltered email series — part journal, part story, part processing out loud....

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 #19 • February 24th, 2026...

Issue 8 • February 10th, 2026 Hahahahaha. Oh man. I’m sitting here peeking through some recent newsletters, cracking up at myself. How pathetic. And I keep saying out loud, “Man, I have SO much fun writing these.” And I know I’ve already said that before in a newsletter. But seriously — that’s how much I enjoy it. Ask Sharon in the store if I ever shut up about it. I don’t. Poor thing — subjected to my antics all the time. Can you imagine?? And yet she’s stuck around for six years now....

Entry #18 • February 3rd, 2026 My January Ritual From my journal on 1/14/2026: 2025. DEEP. SIGH. DEEP. EXHALE. What a year. A year of what felt like constantly holding my breath. My flesh felt like it was in a constant chokehold but thank God He sustained my spirit. He gave rest to my weary soul. God sustains. That was a tough year. A shaping year. I think it would be worthwhile to reflect here on the hard things that I persevered through…all with God right by my side. Where to start… I...