• Family Stories

    Hanging Memories

    September 1, 2023 - By 

    For Father’s Day, I made socks for my husband of my children’s hardcore faces. Something unique and fun; even though he doesn’t ever wear them. ha! My husband loved the faces they made, so I turned them into 11×14-inch photos, per his suggestion, and hung them in the living room. He loved that! The first thing you’ll see as you walk into our living room is 11×14 inch photos of my kid’s hardcore faces and I love it! While our middle son played video games, and our youngest finished up school, my eldest and husband hung the pictures. They worked…

  • Dear Diary

    When Life is Hard

    August 28, 2023 - By 

    It’s been a week since something really hard happened with our family. And in some ways, it felt like it was just yesterday, while in other ways I feel like I’ve been walking through this sludge for months. It’s been a weird nightmare, a dream I can’t wake from. We’re in for a long road before life returns to any type of normal, but truth me told, our normal is never going to be the same, It’ll have to be a new normal. I’ve lost a lot of weight just from the stress. Sleep was next to impossible to get…

  • Family Stories

    Adult Children

    August 21, 2023 - By 

    My heart and joy and the reason I smile are my children. All three. But there’s something extra special about newly adult kids, who are making a way in their life, working, schooling, and growing into adults and you get to watch them go from your sweet baby to a man. I love when this one gets home from work and we gather around the kitchen, catching up with his day, making and eating food together. (When he isn’t too tired and just goes straight to his room.) It’s a fine line to walk between parenting like you did when…

  • Dear Diary - faith

    Gratitude in the Sky

    August 15, 2023 - By 

    I don’t think I could be any more grateful for my life, love, family, God, and my fighting body than I am tonight. And I’m a pretty grateful person. I just feel so wrapped in the arms of love tonight. I’ve got so much gratitude in my heart that far exceeds the hardship and pain that I and have experienced in my life. I don’t have all the answers as to why I’m able to live in such a deep place of gratitude and joy and peace even in the middle of tremendous pain and hardship and disabling symptoms in…

  • faith - poetry

    I Wish You Knew

    August 15, 2023 - By 

    I Wish You Knew by Nell Taliercio Knees hit the floor, tears burn cheeks as they drip down to the ground. — The shame is too heavy to carry, The pain is too much to bear. — He is there. Oh, He is there. — I wish you knew, I wish you could see, What I know. What I see. — His name is whispered by the rocks, His true nature sung by the stars, The worlds above, the worlds of the seas, All proclaim His name. — He’s beautiful, wrapped in light, And piercing white, with forgiveness. For you,…

  • Blog - Family Stories - Waco

    Waco Day 4

    July 31, 2021 - By 

    The last day was a travel day. We managed to run into an accident but thankfully we were able to get off the highway and bypass it mostly. By the time we got home, we were all pretty exhausted but not too exhausted for 54th Street for lunch. Over all, it was a nice little spring break trip with the family.

  • Blog - Family Stories - Waco

    Waco Day 3

    July 31, 2021 - By 

    We started out out day at Cracker Barrell, which was right next to the hotel. After a yummy breakfast, we headed to the Texas Ranger Museum. It was actually more interesting than I thought it would be. Although not the most fun activity we may have dreamed of, it was still neat to learn about this part of Texas history. We then closed out of the day playing games in bed.

  • Blog - Family Stories

    The Value of These People

    July 4, 2021 - By 

    To know this dynamic is to love this dynamic. We’re the fab 7 and have always been tight. These two people, my husband’s wonderful parents, have been a solid, stable, giving, and loving force in our lives. From day one, they’ve been the absolute best grandparents and, as we’ve worked out the normal kinks of the in-law relationship throughout the years, have become an incredibly important part of my life as well – and of course, they’re freaking amazing with their sons! They’re the example for Adam and I of how to be with our own boys when they grow…

  • Blog - Family Stories

    Baby Grackle Rescue

    June 18, 2021 - By 

    While walking Charlie, I immediately spotted him, a little bird on the ground by our tree. My heart sunk. It’s triple digits, it wasn’t old enough to fly, it even had a couple ants around it. I approached it after we walked Charlie and it opened its mouth. Poor thing was just a little baby. I couldn’t just let it die. I had to try something. So, at first I moved it to the bushes to be cooler. But, I just knew it was too young to be on the ground. So we brought it into the house and eventually…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Weekend Chat

    Weekend Chat 4/11/21

    April 11, 2021 - By 

    This week has been kind of funky. I didn’t do much at all because of my symptoms overriding my desire to do things. I spent 3 hours at the cardiologist, 24 hours hooked up to a heart monitor, and a weekend without my children (they’re on a short vacation) and a whole lotta time in bed. You feel me? If you know, you know. Let’s chat about my week, shall we? click to enlarge – on a phone? Pinch and zoom in. Wednesday my husband and I spent the better part of 3 and a half hours at the cardiologist…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Weekend Chat

    Weekend Chat 4/4/2021

    April 5, 2021 - By 

    It’s been a bit of a rough week with my health and because of that I’ve not been doing a lot physically. My walks have gone from a few blocks long to literally up to the end of my street and back down, if even that. I am counting down the days until I’m able to go to the cardiologist on Wednesday of this week. But enough of that right now. I’m here and alive and I’m very grateful! click to enlarge – on a phone? Pinch and zoom in. I got my order of prints of my artwork in…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Weekend Chat

    Weekend Chat 3/27/2021

    March 27, 2021 - By 

    Welcome to the second edition of the Weekend Chat series here at Sincerely Nell. How was your week? I’d love to know your highlights. Feel free to leave them in the comments section below! This week has been kind of crazy. Mostly a typical week but the end of it has me being referred to a cardiologist. Me! 42 year old me. There is a lot of heart disease on both sides of my family, I have had Lyme (which can attack the heart) for 13 years, I’m overweight, and although recently my cholesterol numbers were fine, they’ve not always…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Family Stories - Waco

    Waco Trip Day 2

    March 26, 2021 - By 

    Want to read day one of Waco? Click here. I love Waco. It isn’t good for a long trip. One or two days would be good for most people. And one of the things you must do there is go to the Cameron Park zoo. It’s such a unique zoo, with its winding path and tall bamboo. I really like this zoo. It’s small compared to many zoos which is another reason I really enjoy it. Two hours and you’re done. So day two was all about the zoo. Cameron Park Zoo Highlights Click to enlarge (pinch the screen on…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Family Stories - Weekend Chat

    Weekend Chat 3/20/2021

    March 20, 2021 - By 

    I’m ending the week in as much pain as I began it, just as fatigued, and just as tired of being sick as I have been for 13 years but friends, I’m okay with that because here’s the thing, I have so much to be thankful for no matter what challenges I face in this life, I am blessed beyond measure. Truly, I am so grateful. So, while yes I am working toward healing, and hoping against hope that I’ll become functional enough to thoroughly enjoy a more typical lifestyle, I am still grateful for the blessings I do have…

  • Blog - Dear Diary - Family Stories - Waco

    Our Waco Vacation, Day 1

    March 11, 2021 - By 

    We had a great vacation to Waco with the kids on spring break. This post is all about our first day there, driving down, and checking into the hotel. We stopped by my in-laws before we left to drop off a house key so they could get in and collect our mail for us. We stayed for about 30 minutes before taking off for the two hours to Waco. We left about 12 noon on Monday the 8th of March. The two older boys napped much of the way down to Waco while my youngest son played his phone in…

  • apple crochet pattern
    Blog - Uncategorized

    Apple Crochet Pattern

    March 1, 2021 - By 

    Growing up, September always brought apple picking at an orchard in Weston, Missouri. Every year my mom, brother, and I would spend the day picking apples and eating fresh treats. We brought that tradition into my adult years and would go with my brother and mom and my oldest son. And then, we transitioned from that apple orchard to the one across the road, it was more of a pumpkin patch. My point is, I love apple picking season. Sadly, there’s no such thing in this part of Texas, or if any part of Teas – I’m not sure they…

  • Uncategorized

    My “Typical” Day with Lyme Disease

    June 28, 2020 - By 

    Having lived with a chronic illness for 12 of my 41 years on earth, I’ve learned to adapt to the major changes in my routine due to Lyme disease. Life simply isn’t and hasn’t been the same for 12 years. What used to be a healthy body that could literally spring out of bed is now a body that never gets enough sleep for its needs and takes naps daily just to get through the day. So what does a typical day look like for me someone with Lyme? Well, that really does vary person to person as Lyme disease…

  • Uncategorized

    My New Protocol

    June 12, 2020 - By 

    A follow-up to my recent post about my thyroid and inflammation, I wanted to share what I’m taking, per my ND, and my plans for dietary changes to help bring about reduction of pain and inflammation. But first, I’d like to tell you about my encouraging card shop, where you can purchase, and print, special cards for those people in your life that needs a little extra encouragement and love. I JUST launched it, so there’s only one card at this time. But, I am adding more tonight and this weekend. I would recommend joining my newsletter to be notified…

  • Blog - Dear Diary

    Being Grateful for What Your Body Can Do.

    June 10, 2020 - By 

    This morning, I stepped out back to let my dog out and noticed the beautiful temperatures. I checked my phone and found it was only 68 degrees, in JUNE in Texas! Very rare, especially with the dry heat. So, I dragged my aching body out for a walk and I’m so glad I did. It was gorgeous! Birds singing and a nice breeze. Every single step hurt my joints and it did bring some of my focus away from the beauty around me, but, it didn’t ruin my experience. Each step I felt it in my joints, in my back,…

  • Blog - Dear Diary

    My (Lack of) Diagnosis & Finding Eternal Hope

    June 7, 2020 - By 

    Thursday I spoke with my ND (Naturopath) about my thyroid results and it wasn’t as expected, nor as wanted. “Your thyroid seems to be functioning pretty well…” You’d think I’d jump for joy, hurray, my thyroid is healthy! I didn’t celebrate. I quietly listened as he explained all my numbers, how a couple of markers were on the low side, but nothing significant and how he suspects my pain could be from body-wide inflammation caused by an infection, my Lyme infection most likely. My heart sunk. “Lyme-related”. Why was I disappointed that it wasn’t a thyroid issue vs. Lyme related…

  • Family Stories

    Homeschooling 2.0

    April 13, 2020 - By 

    Just like the rest of us, we’ve been thrown into “homeschooling” for the rest of the school year. We’ve not gotten the official word that school is out for the rest of the year but the writings on the wall. And that is okay. We usually get out of school in May so it’s not that big a deal. I do hope we can get back to normal by August for my older boys sake, as they miss school, their friends, a girlfriend, teachers, etc. Homeschooling is going well. The two older boys are doing well with their assignments, zoom…

  • Dear Diary

    When Life Gives You Lemons…

    March 29, 2020 - By 

    We’re now couple-ish weeks into no school, essential shopping only, covid19 experience and frankly, I felt like I was losing my sanity. Today feels like a better day, like maybe I’m finally getting used to this strange new world we’re living in, and maybe my urges to get back to regular life are slowly waning. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m itching to go out to lunch with my husband on a date, or take my kids to the beach park, or make a quick run to the craft store etc but I feel like I am wrapping my brain…

  • Dear Diary

    The World Around You

    March 20, 2020 - By 

    How are you? No, really, how ARE you? I hope you’re ok. And I hope you know my art on your social feeds isn’t me making light of what we are all going through. It’s scary and life-changing right now but there’s also still beauty in the world and I hope you find some level of joy when my art comes across your eyes. I know I appreciate the beauty in my feeds. Just know, we’re literally all in this together and I feel you. I’ve never lived through something like this Covid-19 worldwide crisis. Let’s just say, if there…

  • Dear Diary

    Rest Over Hustle

    February 13, 2020 - By 

    How do you feel about the word hustle? Do you resonate with it or do you recoil when hearing it? You’d think a part-time employee, mother of three actively scheduled boys, wife, daughter, friend – you know, all the things – I’d be all for the word hustle, but let me tell you, I’m not. Hustle for me feels like you’re always on, you’re always running, moving, doing something. To me, hustle means you’re chasing so hard you aren’t actually able to enjoy what is happening in your life. That’s my definition, yours may be different, you may enjoy hustling,…