Amber Dawkins
Amber loves jellybeans, morning snuggles, and new adventures. Personality tests peg her as 93% extroverted. She loves to write, but most of the time, you’ll find her behind her camera lens. Amber left her teaching position in 2016 to turn her passion into a full time photography career. She now spends time photographing homes for real estate agents, updating headshots, freelancing for local magazines, and creating branding imagery for businesses by capturing their spaces, products, people, and processes. She also does portrait sessions for families, children, and high school seniors. Amber recently got married in a small pandemic friendly wedding. As mama to one and stepmama to four, she thrives on the happy chaos of a large, blended family. Amber lives with both Cystic Fibrosis and CF Related Diabetes and thanks God daily for His blessings and the medical advances that continue to keep her as healthy as possible.
Theme Dates: Going Beyond Dinner and A Movie
I have nothing against dinner and a movie. It’s a solid plan for a night out and has earned its reputation as the go-to...
I Might Be Pepa: Encanto Inspired Self-Reflection
Encanto has been a popular topic of conversation around our house lately. Most of us have seen the movie multiple times. We watch Encanto...
American Ninja Warrior Mom
When was the last time you heard unexpected good news? 2020 has been the year of the unexpected, but unfortunately, most of it hasn’t...
The Playground Workout
Oliver was no more than six months old when I took him to his first playground. He sat like a sack of potatoes in...
Beat the Heat at Superkidz Club
Seriously… a heat index of 107 degrees with 99% humidity for the fourth day in a row!? Not that long ago, Wednesdays were synonymous...
It’s Fun to Sweat at the YMCA
I've never been the kind to get super excited about walking on a treadmill to stay fit. However, if I were to be enticed...
To the People I Pray Will Never Raise My Child
We've been thinking about guardianship for our sweet son, should anything ever happen us. We have discussed our family options, but our parents are...
For the Child Who Loves Music (and the Mom Who Loves Alone Time)
The Birdhouse Song
By Oliver, age 3.5
Accompanied by some beautiful guitar strumming
The trees are falling
And I don’t know why we can’t go home
The light...
My Wedding Ring: The Indentation is Gone, but the Impact Remains
It’s been 530 days since I took my wedding ring off, closed it in the nightstand drawer, and cried myself to sleep. That white...
Strength in My Socks
When my husband left, my friends and family surrounded me with a level of love and support that still brings tears to my eyes....
LULA: Smarter Home Services (and Bringers of Baseboard Bliss)
I was 8 months into a very high-risk pregnancy, awkwardly sitting on my couch as my sister-in-law cleaned my entire house, top to bottom....
To the Mom Whose Husband Just Walked Out
You are reeling; your future just shattered right before your eyes. It’s OK to cry. Cry hard. Sob on the kitchen floor until no...
Therapy Isn’t a Bad Word
“Would you like to schedule another session?” The words caught me off-guard. The change was almost imperceptible, but it was there. A key word...
Strong as Steel
I can do a pull up. A full, real deal, no-cheats pull up. It took me 32 years, one Amazon Prime pull up bar...
For the Mamas on Adults-Only Vacations
I left my four year old son for six nights last spring. It was the longest we’d ever been apart, and as much as...
