Carrie Talbott Carrie Talbott

Jesus Follower | Word Stringer | Avocado Eater

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  • Faith,  Grief,  Neighbors

    A Neighborhood Divided: Years of Friends, Months of Loss, Weeks of Grief

    September 24, 2021 /

    When we moved out of Baja and back to Cali, I wasn’t what you’d call… excited. Besides the whole experience feeling anti-climactic (we already lived in SoCal once), track houses aren’t really my jam. Apparently, the neighborhood cookie-cutter fairy put all of our floor plans on a blueprint and the creativity stopped after five. Five similar shapes, five coordinating paint schemes, and that was it.  Match-y match-y ain’t my style. Plus, I didn’t see a whole lot of ministry taking place between getting the mail and pulling in trashcans. I don’t mean to sound like a whiner. I’m truly grateful for Model #3 to call home and know millions around…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Easter Fail

    March 26, 2016

    Faithful Goodness Lyrics Meaning: How a Deep Dive Into the Song’s Message Can Change You

    June 13, 2025

    When it’s Finally Time to Launch Your Business Idea. Small Starts are Better Than No Starts, Right?

    February 27, 2021
  • Honesty,  Humility,  Neighbors,  Parenting

    Trust, but Verify

    November 3, 2018 /

      Dude #1: “I am so glad I checked.” Dude #2: “I would do anything to be able to go back and check.” Where do you fall when it comes to verifying information that could tip the scales toward relief or disaster? As a mom, it’s my job, my right, and my responsibility to ask my kids questions about their outings, friends, whereabouts, etc. Sometimes (ahem—like this morning) I get major pushback, but I press on. Why? Because regrets carry weight and guilt, and teens actually want boundaries.   Prudence: Careful, wise discernment; the good management of talents and resources and the showing of tact and wisdom in relationships with other…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Mental Fitness: Decluttering Your Mind Today so You Can Organize Your Thoughts Tomorrow

    August 2, 2024

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

    September 21, 2019

    The Day I Deleted Her Info: Saying Goodbye to a Lifelong Friend

    June 18, 2018
  • Attitude,  Faith,  Gratitude,  Humility,  Missionary Shenanigans,  Neighbors

    When You Don’t Wanna Bloom Where You’re Planted

    July 21, 2018 /

      When the Mary Englebreit craze invaded 1996, I joined millions of other fans and hung her calendar on my wall. I liked her one-two faith punch: “Everything is a risk. What if it doesn’t work out?”  “Oh—but what if it does?” Over the years my floral style changed, but I now see that she produces black and white art, and her sayings/phrases are clever with a side of sass. For example, you’ll find these on some of her recent cards: “When you thought everything would be easy peasy lemon squeezy, but it’s actually difficult, difficult, lemon difficult.” “When life shuts a door, open it again. It’s a door. That’s how…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    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

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

    September 21, 2019
  • Attitude,  Humility,  Judging,  Neighbors

    I Moved Into Our New House and Met 19 New Neighbors on Our Street! It Was Weird.

    July 7, 2018 /

      It started five months ago with the people who share our fence. They were nice and we were new, so the conversation revolved around our dogs, mail for the former owner, and if the HOA is strict about paint colors. They are.  Handshakes and names quickly moved to swim invites and baked goods, with a walk for the ladies and a beer for the guys.  Southern California fence culture says, “That side’s yours, this side’s mine. Keep your tree limbs trimmed.” But since I’m not originally from here, Carrie culture says, “Let’s knock the fence down and have a BBQ!” The first thing we noticed about our new neighborhood…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

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

    February 16, 2019

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

    September 21, 2019

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

    November 12, 2016

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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