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105°F in March. A Dead AC. And Mice With an Appetite. 🐭

🌸Spring showed up to Arizona this week — and it didn't come alone.

I love this season. The blooming flowers, the birds singing, the bunnies roaming my front yard, the warmer weather… just beauty all around! 🌷🐦🐰

But here's the thing — how would we notice all the beautiful things around us if we didn't have opposites?

In every story, every movie, every book — there's always the hero and the arch-enemy.

And spring? It's no different.

• Blooming flowers bring… allergies 🤧

• Birds singing means nests in my patios, which bring big drops of… you know what 😝

• Bunnies roaming means coyotes roaming too 😬

• Nicer weather means warmer weather, which means the AC is running, which means… higher electric bills 💸

Last week here in Arizona, we hit 105°F — in March. Yikes! That's absurdly hot for a spring day.

On Thursday night, the AC on our bedroom side of the house stopped working. The next day, after a $30 capacitor and $300 in labor, it was back up and running. Crisis averted. ✅

The next day, our kids called: "The other side of the house is hot. The AC isn't working."

Not again. 😩

My husband — being the engineer he is — was determined not to pay another $300 for a $30 fix. So with the help of AI (yes, really), he diagnosed the problem himself.

The culprit? Cables had been chewed through.
The villain? Hungry springtime mice. 🐭

Luckily, he had the replacement cables on hand and was able to fix it himself. Resilience and a little creativity for the win. 💪

🧠 My Two Lessons This Week:

1. Look around and appreciate the little things we take for granted. Air conditioning is one of those invisible blessings — until it's not working in 105°F heat. As caregivers and parents, we often run on autopilot. The routines, the therapies, the small wins our kids have every day — they're easy to overlook when we're in survival mode. But they matter. A lot.

2. Sometimes you need to call in the experts. Other times, your own resilience and creativity will get you through. Sound familiar? As autism parents, we live this every single day. We call the specialists, we research, we advocate — and sometimes, we just figure it out ourselves at 10 PM with a YouTube video and sheer determination.

💬 Reflection

What's something in your life right now that you've been taking for granted? A routine that's actually working? A small win your child had this week that you almost missed?

Take a second today to notice it. 🌸

📣 Your Turn!

Hit reply and tell me — what are the "flowers, birds, and bunnies" in your life right now? I'd love to hear what's blooming for you this spring. Your story might even make it into a future newsletter! (With your permission, of course. 😉)

Happy Spring! 🌼

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🧳 Hong Kong: An Unexpected Birthday Adventure

What did you guys do for spring break?

It's the question many asks this time of year. Personally, our family always preferred to avoid the crowds and skip traveling during spring break or summer. But one year, since my birthday is in March, we made an exception, and through a crazy series of events, we ended up in Hong Kong! A beautiful place that had never even been on our bucket list.

A couple of weeks ago, a family member reached out asking for suggestions about what to see and do in Hong Kong. I told her that my favorite memory from our trip was when one of my kids insisted we go see, NOT Hong Kong Disneyland, but the big tall Buddha.

This week, that family member will arrive in Hong Kong and follow my suggestions of places to visit and things to do. I can't wait to hear about their amazing experience there!

📍 My Hong Kong Must-Visit Spots

Here are the places I curated on Google Maps from our trip (you can click on the blue links)

🙏 Tian Tan Buddha — The massive bronze Buddha statue that my kid refused to skip, and honestly, it was worth every step of the climb.

🚡 Ngong Ping 360 — A breathtaking cable car ride with panoramic views that'll make you forget you're afraid of heights, but if you are, you may want to skip the crystal bottom one.

🛍️ Langham Place — A modern shopping mall in the heart of Mongkok with great dining and retail therapy options.

🏮 Man Mo Temple — One of Hong Kong's oldest temples, filled with giant incense coils and rich history.

🌸 Nan Lian Garden — A serene Tang Dynasty-style garden that feels like stepping into another century.

✨ Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery — A hidden gem with a steep hike lined with golden Buddha statues that make the climb totally worth it.

🏖️ Stanley Market — A bustling waterfront market perfect for souvenirs, bargaining, and soaking up the seaside vibe.

🏔️ Victoria Peak — The iconic Hong Kong viewpoint with jaw-dropping skyline views, especially magical at sunset.

🎢 Hong Kong Disneyland — If you must, and you are a fan, Yes! do it!

🗺️ More Hong Kong Tours & Experiences — Check out this list of tours and things to see if you're planning your own Hong Kong adventure.

🌸 Spring Cleaning Beyond the Closet

What comes to your mind when you hear "Spring cleaning time"?

No, not the kind where you scrub your house from top to bottom. Spring cleaning can be so much more than that.

While my garage and my office could definitely use some spring cleaning (along with the top of my kitchen cabinets 😅), I'm trying to reflect on what else in my life needs a good refresh.

As caregivers, even with all the overwhelm, life moves on. And caregiving isn't the only facet of our lives. So here are some Life Spring Cleaning Ideas to consider:

🧹 Life Spring Cleaning Checklist

🎯 Review Your Goals

Are you goal-oriented? Did you set goals back in January? Whether you run a business or run your entire household (which is truly a remarkable and huge responsibility — even bigger than any CEO!), ask yourself: What goals do I need to review, revisit, revamp, or get rid of?

🔄 Review Your Patterns

What are you doing that you'd like to spring clean out of your life? And what patterns do you need to revamp and spruce up? Sometimes the routines we've been running on autopilot need a serious refresh.

🧠 Review Your Thought Patterns

Which thought patterns serve you, and which ones don't? Here's the thing: thoughts are the source of our emotions. What if changing just one thought pattern could change your day? Your week? Your month? Your life?

💬 Review Your Relationships

Okay, this one's tricky. The whole "can't live with them, can't live without them" thing… I get you. It depends on what day we get asked this question, right? 😂

But seriously — who do you need to cut out of your life? A toxic relationship that's draining you? And who do you want to build a relationship with? Remember what Jim Rohn said: "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

🌱 Your Spring Cleaning Challenge

I'm inviting you to do a Spring Cleaning — one thing at a time. Baby steps.

We have a few months until summer, so there's time. But doing a little something every day will bring the results you'd like to see.

💭 Reflection Question

If you could "spring clean" just ONE area of your life right now, what would it be?

Your goals? Your daily routines? A thought pattern that's been holding you back? Or maybe a relationship that needs attention (or closure)?

Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to hear what you're working on — and cheer you on. 💪

Remember: You don't have to do it all at once. Just pick one thing. Start small. You've got this.

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