Fall Coffee Date, 2026

Hi Friend!  We are waaay past due…

I hate to admit that it’s been more than a YEAR since my last Coffee Date post.

2026 has been a doozy. Not all bad, but it has required a whole lotta…me.  🥹

If you’re newer around here, my Coffee Date posts are simply a time to share any news + updates (personal, writing, etc.), some favorite photos, and just catch up the way we would if we could meet for a real coffee date! (wouldn’t that be fun!?)

Then at the end, YOU get to comment with something from your end! (Because that’s what we’d do over coffee, right?) — And THAT enters you to win a really special GIVEAWAY! 🎁 (so if you’re in a hurry, scroll to the bottom and enter now!)

So– grab your favorite bevy, get cozy, and let’s do this!

It goes without saying that I will only scratch the surface here. If you’re following along on Instagram (and I hope you are) then hopefully you get to see my end-of-month photo updates and daily stories as I am able. But I’ll give some quick highlights on the major categories of life below. (and this is SO long, feel free to skim!😄)

You may recall that Dave and I signed a 3-book contract with Harvest House Publishers last winter. (insert soooo much happiness!) Here’s where we are in that process:

Book #1 has been written, and the major edits are done! 😮‍💨 Now we’re down to detail edits and the publishing process. Woohoo!  This is “The Table Talk Family Devotional”, and we cannot WAIT to get into your hands. Stay tuned as I’ll share more, but release date is somewhere at the end of summer, 2027. (Sounds far away, but blink and we’ll be there!)

Book #2 is what I am working on now! This one is for Moms of all ages! I’ll be sharing a relatable and grounded (and hopefully inspiring) approach to health for moms in every stage! If you have a minute, I’d LOVE your input on this topic! Would you answer a few survey questions to help guide me in my writing!? 🙏🏼

Here’s the survey

And Book #3 will be back to Dave and I together – writing about raising healthy, strong kids. (With the added benefit of Dave’s medical perspective!) I am so excited!

PODCAST! Coming (back!) soon–

In case you didn’t know, I’ve been on a break from recording new episodes for over a year (!!), and I am so looking forward to a re-launch in the New Year. There will be an updated format, and some fine-tuning of my topics and focus. More on that soon. But meanwhile you might catch up on old episodes or find them on your favorite podcast app here.

We said Goodbye (for now) to my Dad on April 21st. 🥹😭

Sometimes it still doesn’t seem real. The waves of grief hit me unexpectedly, as everyone warned me they would. What a great man I was blessed to call Dad. I continue to process his final weeks, which were a mix of emotions, but without a doubt, filled with God’s love and grace. There are some stories I hope to put into writing one day. But for now I remember him with gratitude, and know he is whole and happy in Heaven with His Savior!
PS: I don’t expect everyone to be interested, but this article in the Tacoma Bar Association journal was brilliantly written and a very true and honoring tribute to my Dad’s life. (Everything from crazy things he did in the courtroom, to his love of noontime basketball games, and his heart for family…it’s all in there!)

(Photo ^ taken exactly one month before Dad passed.)

Which brings us to…

JONAH and TAYLOR got married!

If you missed this post, it has a bunch of wedding photos and some favorite highlights from their incredible day! These two are loving married life in Ventura, California. They are thriving in their jobs (engineering for Jonah and Taylor is a behavioral specialist working with kids!), and plugged in and serving at their church. They visited us a couple weeks ago and it is just so fun to see them as a married couple!

Also, look!! I finally have a girl to love on! 💝

JOSIAH: Josiah is happy and thriving in Carpenteria, Ca.  He has a job he loves, (building software for an infrared camera company).  He ran two marathons in the last year, surfs often, and is one of the most well-rounded humans I know. He teaches Sunday School at his church, and hosts a surfer Bible study every week.  He and Jonah recently did a bro-hiking adventure in Sequoia National Park.

AND he just released a new book!

Tales of Yimoa, a perfect read aloud for families with kids between 7-14. Get it here!
Also, his devotional for tweens and teens is SO GOOD — if you don’t have that yet, get it here!

Luke: Luke is currently in Brazil, surfing in the WSL Challenger Series. (The Challenger Series is made up of around 100 of the top surfers in the world, all vying for a spot on the world tour. It’s tough, to say the least…🙃) Portugal is next on the tour. Then back to Hawaii for fall/winter contests. He is also enrolled at Grand Canyon University online, slowly making his way through college. 🙂 His girlfriend, Malia, is finishing college here on island, and she is a true rock and great support to him.

(They’re a little bit cute together. 😉)

Luke also keeps busy leading Bible studies, and has done a few speaking engagements! He even gave his first sermon at our church last winter! (It was good!)

He is also doing a great job with his YouTube channel and Instagram feed. Your support means so much to him!

Levi is a Junior in high school! (WHAT!?)   He is going strong with Enlightium Academy online. (more about the switch from traditional homeschool to that in this post.)  Enlightium has worked out well, and we recommend it if you are looking for an online academy-style school. I confess, I do miss our traditional homeschooling days (choosing our curriculum topic by topic,) but this has been a great fit for Levi. He is still golfing a lot, but rounding out his time with a new Apologetics + Speech and Debate class (with NCFCA), leading a Bible study, and playing soccer and tennis in his free time (because there is not enough time in the day for all the sports he loves to do! — anyone have a kid like that?).

Oh, he’s also grown about a foot in the last year. 😅
And he finally got his permit. 🚗

Speaking of sports!….
If you are a Sports Parent, Dave and I have something new for you!

I have been sharing Instagram posts each weekend for Christian parents raising young athletes (from little league to the big time). And we recently created a new free printable on THIS PAGE! Stay tuned for more sports parenting encouragement ahead!

Dave and I celebrated our 30^th anniversary last April.

One day we will take a proper vacation somewhere magical (wait, I think I said that on our 20th and 25th…haha) , but until then we are so blessed with lots of quality time together — mostly over morning runs with our dog, Thor, occasional date nights, and lots of book-writing bonding! (not for the faint of heart!)

Ok, that was a lot! 😮‍💨.

Now, this is when we refill our beverages, and pull out the phones to swap more photos!

Clearly — I can’t share a year of photos in one coffee date, but I’ll share a few favorites from the last season(s) next!

From family time with big boys visiting, to weighted vest walks, to our wonderful crop of dragonfruit, family tennis love, Luke surfing professionally, a surprise spring snow while visiting Gig Harbor, Wa., Dad’s last dance (at Jonah and Taylor’s wedding), and good times in California with Mom last summer.

WHAT’S NEXT!?
Before we wrap up our coffee date, we must quickly share what is coming up for our fall and winter time!

JOIN ME FOR WALKTOBER! 👟🍁 I’m so excited to get out and walk EVERY SINGLE DAY of October! A little or a lot– I hope you can do it (virtually) with me! (I’ll be checking in via my weekly emails and on social media too!)

In just over a week I’m headed back to Gig Harbor, Wa. to celebrate my Mom’s 85th birthday! (We’re sneaking away to beautiful Leavenworth to celebrate✨) From there I get to fly to Colorado Springs for another visit to Focus on the Family for a chat (alongside my dear friend Rhonda Stoppe) about raising boys! (and my BOY MOM book! 💙)

🗓️ MARK YOUR CALENDAR! — > The Character Training Course will open for ONE WEEK, beginning November 2nd! There will be a fall sale and you don’t want to miss it!
**Get a beautiful free guidebook packed with resources, fun facts, and practical parenting tips when you put your name on the waitlist, HERE!)

I have to pause here to make sure you know that EVERY WEDNESDAY I send out a short email with a word of encouragement, + great links (from book rec’s or parenting articles, to clothes or beauty products I find on sale, or a funny Youtube video!…anything goes). If you don’t get my weekly email yet, I hope you’ll sign up to get it, HERE!

A little variety of links from some of my emails…

• 🎶 the worship band Levi discovered and I can’t quit listening to.
• 🧴the self-tanning mouse (that almost makes me look like I live in Hawaii. ☺️)
• 🎃 Pumpkin baked oatmeal recipe
• 💛 My favorite menopause supplement stack (use code: MONICA for 15% off your first order)
• 🫧 The skincare line I’ve been using for over a year — that is ALL organic and feels like a spa on the daily! Use code: MONICA for 20% off — and see giveaway below! 🤩🥳🥰
• 🎥 My favorite movie of the summer
• 🕯️the fall candle I have enjoyed for at least 20 years.
• 🤓 3 (older) parenting posts that continue to get the most visits: (enjoy the old photos of my boys in there!)
  “What a Teenage Boy Meeds most from His Mom” (my forever most-popular post!)
  What Middle Children Need Most from their parents. (I ❤️ talking birth-order!)
  When your Kid argues about everything (5 Tips)
• 🎧The podcast episode that rocked my world (and inspired my next book)
  And a Proverbs printable + links to 3 podcast episodes with my sons talking about WISDOM!
  
  AGAIN — many more links every week in my email! (sign up here!)

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I am thrilled to be teaming up with my friend Meg, founder of GOOD BEAUTY for a giveaway!

Good Beauty is 100% organic, and so wonderful on your skin. It is unique from anything I’ve ever tried, and makes me feel like I’m visiting the spa every morning and evening!

GOOD NEWS: Use THIS LINK and code: MONICA for 20% off everything at the Good Beauty website!.

And then leave a comment below to be entered to win a GOOD BEAUTY BUNDLE!

Simply comment below responding to ANY-or ALL of these questions:

1. Share a movie/book/product you love and think everyone should experience!

2. Share a happy memory from the last season (year?) that you never want to forget.

3. Share what you’re looking forward to/trusting God with in the season ahead!

I can’t wait to read your comments! And I’ll choose a winner and announce on Wednesday, October 7th! 🍁

Thank you so much for being along for the journey here! I thank God for all of you and I pray that my work and the resources I share support your family in a special way. I always love to hear from you. I can’t reply to every message, but I read every one — on social media, email, and in comments here. Thank you!

With hugs and love….