Carrie Talbott Carrie Talbott

Jesus Follower | Word Stringer | Avocado Eater

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  • Faith,  Mexico,  Missionary Shenanigans,  South of the Border

    Finishing Well. Sort Of: Moving to Another Country When You’d Rather Not

    July 1, 2017 /

      Did you know you’re never supposed to start a sentence with a number in the shape of a number? 11 years ago we had recently moved to Porvenir. We felt rather pale. And tall. 9 months ago we thought we might move back to the States. I didn’t want to. 7 weeks ago I stopped packing for our move and celebrated my last Mother’s Day in Mexico. 5 days ago Doug moved our fridge and beds into our new rental. Weird. 3 hours ago our real estate agent moved through our home with his tripod, clickety-clicking his way from the calle to the bodega to the baño. 1 minute ago…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    September Fire, Welcome Rain: The Disaster in SoCal This Week and How Your Family Can Help

    September 9, 2022

    Do It Afraid: Public Speaking Through Anxiety, Fear and Nerves

    April 12, 2018

    Carols In The Closet

    February 20, 2016
  • Missionary Shenanigans,  Parenting,  Stress

    Stress: Top 5 Factors for Kids and Adults

    June 10, 2017 /

      Psychologists say the most stressful changes for children are (in no particular order) moving, divorce, losing a pet, death of a parent and death of a sibling. And for adults? According to Health Status, the top five include moving, divorce, major illness, job loss and death of a loved one. Since moving is one of the highest stressors no matter your age, we know our whole family sits on the brink of needing to breathe into paper bags while counting to nine in Danish. Not really. But maybe. Even if you’re only moving down the street, you still need to empty cupboards, pack boxes, and then unpack in a new, unfamiliar…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Kicked Out of the Bank: When Rejection Suddenly Strikes You and Your Family

    October 24, 2020

    Not Your Typical Pediatrician (Weight While You Wait)

    February 6, 2016

    Easter Fail

    March 26, 2016
  • Honesty,  Humility,  Pride

    Adjusting the Scales of Honesty: Do White Lies Count?

    May 27, 2017 /

      “Hey, boys—throw this blanket on top of the sacks. And make sure you get the corners.” I cringed in opposition. Did he just involve our children in a hidden importation? I turned my head to the west and spaced out while he drove. Lest you feel the urge to judge, think about this: if you were taking a twenty-dollar item across the border, would you be willing to pull over and pay a six-hundred-dollar fee for it? Behold, one of my most humbling posts ever. Thoughts of a corrupt government, two years of paying 16% taxes, border agents who charge whatever they’re feeling like that day, and insane importation…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Reclaiming Minutes & Health: 5 Things I Stopped Doing & 5 Things I Started

    April 27, 2019

    No Longer a Reflection: How My Adult Children Helped Me Ditch Legalism & Embrace Freedom

    August 30, 2024

    Dealing with Disappointment: 5 Things I Learned from a Rough Family Vacation Last Week

    August 5, 2022
  • Character,  Gossip,  Honesty,  Humility,  Pride

    Gossip: Loose Lipps Sink Ships

    May 13, 2017 /

    “Some say our national pastime is baseball. Not me. It’s gossip.” ~ Erma Bombeck When he welcomed us into his rad classroom, we eighth graders knew we finally made it to the top. To be in Mr. Lipps’ class meant we got the cool English teacher. Of all my junior high classes, this particular one simultaneously thrilled and unnerved me. The middle-aged, borderline hippie spoke with authority and sauntered between our desks with an abundance of confidence. His “Loose Lipps Sink Ships” poster spanned the width of one wall and sat higher than our heads when we stood. It struck me as deep… forward-thinking… high school-ish. And I had no idea…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    8 Things I’m Teaching My American Pre-Adults in Mexico

    November 12, 2016
  • Clutter,  Organizing,  Spring Cleaning

    I Decluttered and Broke Up With 500 Things. You Can Do It Too!

    April 29, 2017 /

    Feeling skeptical? Yep—I get it. I didn’t think I had 500 unwanted things I could find either. I wanted to move toward a minimalist lifestyle though so I knew it would be a solid challenge. An impending international move sealed the deal. Let’s be clear: my husband loves pitching clutter but has zero desire to become a minimalist or live in a tiny house, so I was on my own. Suggesting he only keep one coat, two shoes and three books would probably make him shake his head and mutter about hipster millennials and their vintage cameras. Paring down doesn’t mean you have to become an official minimalist though. Don’t think…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Quickly Saving Drowning Memories, One Wet Photo at a Time

    April 30, 2021

    Creating an Organized New Year: The 3 Best Places in Your Home & How to Start

    January 7, 2022

    Fantastic Fall Fling: How to Get Rid of Excess Items Before the Holidays!

    October 13, 2023
  • Attitude,  Humility,  Parenting,  Pride

    Dave’s Daughter, Corky’s Chica, Micah’s Mom: Finding My Identity in My 40s

    April 15, 2017 /

      He leaned sideways against our crummy lockers, tilted his head and flashed his crooked, pearly whites. “So when are you gonna sleep with me, girl?” His casual offer made me blush, but inside I hid my shock. And then a speck of pride crossed my heart. He wanted me. He wanted me? The tall black jock pursuing the tall white jock in the middle of a normal school day made for such great gossip and bragging rights. Good grief, Carrie, snap out of it. You don’t want to be wanted like that.  Well, duh. He had no idea who I truly was or where I came from. Never mind…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    Dealing with Disappointment: 5 Things I Learned from a Rough Family Vacation Last Week

    August 5, 2022

    8 Things I’m Teaching My American Pre-Adults in Mexico

    November 12, 2016
  • Chores,  Parenting

    Because You Live Here, That’s Why: Kids and the Battle of Chores

    March 18, 2017 /

    I crafted a plan. I felt prepared. I started with the basics when he started walking and talking. My voice sounded cheery and I easily herded the little man into my camp. “Can you please put Finding Nemo back in the movie cupboard?” “Where does your stuffed orca go? No… not there, silly.” “You want to clean the kitchen with mommy? Sure!” Chore time with one toddler felt easy because he actually wanted to help. And the jobs were like him—short and sweet. Then we moved to Baja, birthed another baby and adjusted to living in the land of dust and mud. The harder chores required more direction, but my…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Start Peeling Away: How to Not Helicopter Parent & What to do Instead ~ Part 2

    January 23, 2016

    8 Simple Things We Can All Declutter and Donate Before Spring Cleaning Our Homes This Year

    February 24, 2023

    Stop Hulling Their Strawberries: 5 Things I Did to Not be a Helicopter Parent ~ Part 1

    January 16, 2016
  • Attitude,  Judging,  Parenting

    Your Grass Looks Greener: Stay at Home Moms vs Working Moms

    February 4, 2017 /

      Two Moms, Two Letters, Two Countries   Dear Missionary Mom, I see you down here, with your hair pulled up and your patience falling down. Doin’ that missionary thing can drain, I know. It all looked so quaint from a distance, didn’t it? Needy people, corner sweet bread shops, hammocks in palms. Did you move for the life the promo video promised? I’m glad I’ve been your neighbor. Living in Baja has felt attractive, mostly. It’s been a place where those old roots I planted could get some fresh air and be replanted. Our kids probably won’t be graduating with yours though.     We’re all scattered around and therefore…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    Dumbing Down Our Kids: 11 Rules of Life to Challenge the Teens in Your Life

    September 21, 2019

    Working Moms: Killin’ It or Barely Makin’ It?

    February 16, 2019
  • Easter,  Faith,  Missionary Shenanigans,  Missions,  Parenting

    Easter Fail

    March 26, 2016 /

    I knew he was familiar with the Easter story, but I had never heard our seven-year-old try to re-tell it on his own. We only read the full account of Jesus’ death and resurrection once a year; I expected him to get a couple details wrong. Pride welled when he began. Then perfectionism kicked in and disappointment welled when he continued. Not disappointment in my boy—in me and my parenting skills. We use a visual aid called Resurrection Eggs and the carton contains a dozen plastic eggs, each one containing an object to help convey the meaning of Easter. For example, in the orange egg you’ll find praying hands, and the…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    8 Sweet Easter Ideas: Fun Gifts for Kids, Teens & Adults

    March 17, 2018

    New Media to Buy for Yourself and Give Away: 4 Books and 2 Songs by My Talented Author Friends

    March 17, 2023
  • Friends,  Generosity,  Writing

    “Your Hard Drive Is Shot”

    March 12, 2016 /

    Writing to you live from the other computer…. Our laptop crashed last week. Took a corner too fast and bam—head on with an innocent user. The low-pitched incessant beep was enough to make me want to smother it in the night, but I still had high hopes it could be restored. After a phone date with a lovely lady from the Apple Genius Bar, she deduced it needed an in-person appointment. So Doug took it to nerd (compliment) number two, who delivered the sad news. “Your hard drive is shot. We can fix it for $425, but in nine months your laptop will be obsolete anyway.” Obsolete? It’s only six…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    5 Ways to Untangle Your Tinsel: Tackling Christmas Without Tackling Your Family

    December 3, 2022

    Carols In The Closet

    February 20, 2016

    3 Surprising Life Edits I Learned at a Writers’ Conference (Even If You’re Not a Writer)

    May 6, 2025
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Welcome!

You’re here! And I’m Carrie. From full-time camp kid to unconventional missionary for 12 años in a 3rd-world country, I’m now a profesh organizer and writer who loves plants and guac. Life is short, so I’m smiling while I have all my teeth, but I still have issues. Always remember… when life hands you lemons, give them back. You deserve avocados.

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