Welcome to the Life, Love & Family Blog

If you’re looking for a place where life isn’t always perfect—but it’s always real—you’ve found it.

Welcome to the Life, Love & Family Blog, a space where the chaos, the joy, the heartbreak, and the healing all have a seat at the table.

My name is Deborah Ann Martin, and I’m the proud mom of four amazing kids—three boys and one girl—and the even prouder grandmother of four beautiful grandchildren. Are they perfect, NOPE. But they are mine. They are perfect to me. I’ve been a single mom, a wife for 24 years, and a woman who has known both love and loss.

But more than anything, I’ve lived. And through all the highs and lows, one thing has always brought us together: family, food, and finding joy—even in the mess.

Where love began—and where our stories still live.

Why I Started Life, Love & Family

I started the Life, Love & Family Blog not because I have all the answers, but because I believe that every part of life—the good, the bad, and the in-between-is worth talking about.

There are a lot of places online that show the polished version of life. Perfect meals. Perfect relationships. Perfect parenting moments.

But that’s not real life.

Real life is messy. It’s full of days where the dishes are still in the sink, the kids are yelling, you’re barely holding it together... and then someone says something funny and suddenly—there’s laughter in the middle of the mess.

That’s the kind of beauty I want to write about. The kind that lives in the middle of real life.

What You’ll Find Here

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what this blog will become—and I like it that way. This space will grow and change, just like we do.

But here’s what I do know:

You’ll find stories about:

• The sweet and sometimes sticky parts of family life

• Learning to rebuild trust in yourself after heartache or failure

• The joy of holiday traditions, food, and fun

• The hard stuff and healing

• And the little things that hold us together on the days we feel like falling apart

  
  

Some days will be light. Some will go deep. And some will just be about finding a way to laugh again when life has knocked the wind out of you.

Who This Blog is For

This blog is for the mom doing her best. For the single parent starting over. For the adult child trying to untangle the past. For the person figuring out who they are, again.

It’s for anyone who believes there is hope in healing, strength in struggle, and beauty in the broken places.

Whether you’re here for comfort, guidance, or just someone who gets it... Welcome home.

Why Food is My Love Language

I can’t talk about life, love, or family without talking about food. My mom was Italian, and even when we had very little, she always found a way to bring people together at the table.

We grew gardens, picked fruit, canned vegetables, and froze what we could to make it stretch. I remember snapping string beans with my great-grandmother, canning food, and making candy at Christmas time with my grandma. I remember all the freshly-baked pies during the holidays, a reward for all our hard work in the summer days.

We weren’t rich in money, but we had each other. The good, the bad, and the in-between.

Today, I carry that same love into every meal I make for my family and friends. Food isn’t just fuel—it’s how I say “I love you,” “I see you,” and “You matter.”

You’ll see stories, reflections, and maybe even a few recipes sprinkled in here, because love often tastes like something warm on a plate shared around the table.

My One Big Belief: There’s Always Something Good

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all these years of living, it’s this—even in the worst days, there’s usually something good if you look for it.

A laugh from a child. A quiet cup of coffee before the world wakes up. A memory that catches you off guard and makes you smile. There is always something to be grateful for. When my life is at its worst, I open my eyes to the real world. The one where people go hungry, people have disabilities, homelessness, and more. When I compare myself to the rest of the world, I don't look at the fake happy people trying to buy expensive stuff to impress the world.

I compare myself to the real world and thank God that I am blessed. I have gratitude for the things I worked hard to earn. I have even more gratitude for health and love. If I can find one thing to be grateful for, then it can change my attitude for the rest of the day.

You don’t have to wait for perfect days to have a good life. You just have to keep showing up.

Sometimes, the best moments are hidden in the messiest ones. And sometimes, the thing you didn’t want to do turns into the memory you never want to forget.

Stick Around—There’s More to Come

This is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more personal stories, healing tools, journal prompts, and heart-to-heart posts.

We’ll talk about rebuilding trust in ourselves, setting healthy emotional boundaries, navigating relationships, and learning how to keep moving forward—even when it’s hard.

So, make yourself at home. Bookmark this blog. Share it with someone who needs it. Subscribe to the newsletter if you want updates and encouragement delivered to your inbox.

Because you’re not alone in this. We’re doing life, love, and family together.

Thanks for being here. You’re always considered family.

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