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    Congratulations to my beautiful niece Katherine Gr Congratulations to my beautiful niece Katherine Grace and her husband Banks, who had the most meaningful and magical wedding yesterday.

Walking up the stairs of that Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Old Town Corfu felt like ascending the steps into heaven as you saw the excitement and joy on the faces of family members and friends celebrating this couple. I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for Katherine Grace as she walked up surrounded by love and with everyone anticipating her arrival as she prepared to marry the love of her life!

Father Gregory from Birmingham helped perform the ceremony, and afterward we celebrated with an unforgettable reception. People traveled from all over to be there, and having our family who lives in Athens join us too made it extra-special. Corfu is where Papou’s family was from, so this island is special to us. 

Katherine Grace is the oldest Kampakis cousin, and as my girls said in their toast, one reason why the Kampakis cousins are so close is because of her. She set the bar of how to love each other (just like her mom Renee did with her 2 younger siblings), and she’s been the glue for this group even now as young adults. Cousins are the best, and I’m thankful for the cousins we have on both the Kampakis and Kubiszyn side.

Lastly, fun fact: When Katherine Grace was in middle school, she was embarrassed about being Greek. None of her friends were Greek, and she didn’t like being different. Her mom told her, “I promise you, one day you’ll love it. My friends think it’s so cool that I’m Greek” and her mom was right. With age and maturity she began to embrace her heritage, and now here she is, married in the motherland. God is writing a beautiful story through her that now includes a new beginning with Banks.

We love you two, and we are so excited about your new life together!
    This past Wednesday, I heard a great conversation This past Wednesday, I heard a great conversation between two longtime friends, Allen Levi and Dicky Barlow.

Allen Levi is the author of “Theo of Golden”, which has sold 3 million copies since October. Dicky Barlow is the superintendent for Mountain Brook Schools. 

For 20+ years they’ve taken an annual guys trip consisting of 6 college friends. Allen was quick to say that only because of this group did “Theo of Golden” see the light of day. 

It’s a fascinating backstory packed with wisdom and truth, and I’ve shared it on my Substack. Comment THEO and I’ll send you the link, and make sure you subscribe to my Substack to get the latest posts🤍
    Ball of Roses for Sophie🌹 A fun weekend of celebra Ball of Roses for Sophie🌹 A fun weekend of celebrations and spending time with her sweet friends!
    Happy 28th anniversary to the love of my life!! I’ Happy 28th anniversary to the love of my life!! I’m a day late posting, but I couldn’t let it pass without giving thanks for Harry and our 30+ years together. Nancy Reagan often said that her life “began” when she met Ronald, and that’s how I feel about Harry too. He’s taught me more about the love of Christ than anyone on the planet, and I thank God for bringing us together and giving us the grace to make it this far despite our fallen nature and many flaws. HK, you’re more than I deserve, and I love you with all my heart. Cheers to us and many more anniversaries together! 🥂
    Moms, my first stop when planning a dorm room has Moms, my first stop when planning a dorm room has been @dormdecor.inc here in Birmingham! 

Whether you’re decorating the entire room or just need a few key pieces, they got you covered. 

From headboards, desk hutches, desk skirts, storage ottomans, bedding, pillows, and curtains to small accessories, they have it all.

Best of all, they can ship - or directly deliver to your room at Alabama, Ole Miss, or Samford. 

They also customize, monogram, and are happy to mix new items with what you’ve bought secondhand. Whatever suits your budget!

@elizabethedwards22 is my go-to, and she did a great episode with me on The Girl Mom Podcast about dorm rooms in 2023. It’s worth a listen!

I also love how Dorm Decor also knows room measurements. They have books filled with specs for many college campuses so you don’t have to guess how long the curtains should be or whether you need the desk hutch (my opinion: worth having for Auburn, not needed at Alabama). 

To schedule an appointment, call Dorm Decor at 1-888-874-8778 or message them on Instagram at @dormdecor.inc. 

Comment DORM and I’ll message you their website.

Start now because the summer rush will come soon, and it’s nice to have it all ready to go well before move-in!!
    Are you planning and decorating your daughter’s co Are you planning and decorating your daughter’s college dorm room?

Comment DORM and I’ll message you my Amazon dorm room link. Link is in my bio too👆🏻 

After moving 3 daughters to college, my working list is a mix of practical + pretty. I choose items they can use throughout college or pass on to little sister. Happy shopping!!🤍
    I wrote this as a young mom because it’s what I ne I wrote this as a young mom because it’s what I needed to hear.

I share it now to encourage young moms  to keep taking their kids to church, even when it feels hard. Because one of my favorite parts of Sunday is watching the parents with babies and toddlers build this habit for their family. 

 Comment CHURCH and I’ll message you the link to this on my Substack🤍

***************************************
“The spiritual seeds my parents planted took root when I was in college. 

The timing was perfect because as much as I enjoyed college, it also triggered my insecurities. Having a church to tether me offered calm in the midst of chaos.
 
As a freshman, I finally had the freedom to choose. Although my parents lived nearby, they never guilted me into going to church, but I knew I’d see them if I did.
 
It started by accident, me attending church on my accord, and largely because of some friends I made. I’d hit it off with someone and soon discover that they, too, were Catholic.
 
They’d ask if I wanted to ride together to Mass, and I’d go because I enjoyed their company and figured that a service would do me good.
 
The campus priest at the time, Father Ray, was a prolific speaker, and his sermons drew me in. Sometimes I’d go to hear him. Sometimes I’d go to pray for my test. Sometimes I’d go for answers or to feel better about my life. While I didn’t go every Sunday, I did go a lot, even after a late Saturday night.
 
I share this to encourage young parents to get the kids to church even when they resist. Even when they hang on you like dead weight, or force you into the cry room, commit to this weekly habit.
 
Our children can’t love something that they don’t know, and the more time they spend in God’s house, the more at home they’ll feel.
 
The more at home they feel, the more likely they are to sustain the habit…and eventually attend church because they want to, not because they have to.
 
We live in a world of quick thrills and fleeting pleasures. We hunger for substance, yet only one thing can fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts.”
    ‘Tis the season for love and walking down memory l ‘Tis the season for love and walking down memory lane as Harry and I approach our 28th wedding anniversary. 

Some thoughts I have for girls today about weddings, marriage, and what I wish I’d known as a young bride🤍
    Summer’s a great time to talk to your kids about t Summer’s a great time to talk to your kids about their gifts - especially gifts that fly under the radar.

Back in my college days, as a psychology minor, I learned there are 8 forms of human intelligence - and school only measures a few of them. School can’t always predict success. 

There are many ways to be smart, and especially when you live in a high-achieving, high-performing community, the kids can’t hear this enough. They need a big-picture perspective that helps them see both their gifts + the gifts of others too. 

On my Substack, for paid subscribers, is “Raising Kids in an Age of Superstars.” Comment SMART and I’ll message you the link 🤍
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