Caroline TeSelle

my life shared. your dreams encouraged.

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Hi!

I’m so glad you’re here – there are thousands of websites out there & I’m so thankful you clicked over. Here’s a little bit about me:

My name is Caroline TeSelle. Currently, I live in Lemont, IL, a southwest suburb of Chicago.  I say currently,  because in 23 years of marriage to this amazing man, we have called several places home.

Motion Inspired Photography

When anyone asks me “Where are you from?” I always say, “How much time do you have?”  Since we were married in 1997 we have lived in Maryland, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, back to North Carolina & back to Illinois. It has been quite a journey! Add to that the 12 homes we moved in & out of and of course, along the way, we became parents to these amazing kids:

Carrie From Photography

We are a close family & we strive to put the needs of others above our own.

I am a virtual assistant for writers and a dream cheerleader for friends.

Since 2007, I have been writing in this space with the hope of encouraging you in your marriage, home & friendships.

A few random things about me:

  • I’m an ISFJ, Enneagram 9.
  • I’m a hope*writer!
  • My husband and I make a great cooking team – I marinade, he grills.
  • Assistant for Tsh Oxenreider and The Nest Fest
  • I love dark chocolate, especially this one!
  • My first job was at the White House
  • My favorite book as a kid was Watership Down

Favorite Posts:

What to Do When Your Choice to “Miss Out” Was the Right Decision
Restlessness Uncovered
Planting Pom Poms & Cheering on Dreams
Dear Me (a letter to my younger self)
I Love Cemeteries
A Summer Kind of Faith

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Hi! My name is Caroline TeSelle and I'm currently doing life with my husband & 4 kids in our little corner of the world. Read more.

carolineteselle

Caroline TeSelle
#OneDayMay May 19 - I’m proud of myself for…⁣
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…allowing myself to be taken care of the past few years. That’s hard for me to admit 😘 because I am usually the one taking care of others. ⁣
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But my body finally said enough or it was the quiet pride building up in my heart that had finally had enough. My heart was literally enlarged and I could barely make it out of bed most days much less take care of others! ⁣
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The pandemic has been horrible in so many ways but it brought our family closer. ⁣
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Between my health and Eden’s hip reconstruction, the men in our family rallied and have taken such great care of us. And the support from family and friends has been life-giving. 💛⁣
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Here we are, two years later and I’m still advocating for my health (that will never stop!) and allowing others to take care of me (I hope I don’t let my pride get in the way of that either!).⁣
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Another surgery in the morning, friends. This time, a team of doctors and nurses will be closing the PFO (hole in my heart) with a tiny “umbrella”. Amazing, right? I’m so thankful. ☂️❤️‍🩹⁣
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The hope is by closing this hole it will reduce the risk of a future stroke. After all the tests they’ve done the past few months, the doctors believe the cause of my mini-stroke back in December was due to a small clot escaping through that hole and up into my brain.⁣
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I hope to keep up with the #OneDayMay prompts after tomorrow because I have loved this challenge and also have enjoyed reading what others have shared. ⁣
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Until then, much love to each of you and your families 🥰
#OneDayMay May 18 - Someone I admire…⁣ ⁣ Any #OneDayMay May 18 - Someone I admire…⁣
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Anyone who is using their gifts and talents to encourage and cheer on others—especially when it’s done without praise, applause, or behind the scenes. ⁣
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📸: A piano sits in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic waiting for someone to share their gift with us. 🥰
#OneDayMay May 17 - Something I don’t usually ta #OneDayMay May 17 - Something I don’t usually talk about…⁣
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I struggled with this prompt. I sat with it throughout the day, staring at the blinking cursor. ⁣
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I want to share more about this hesitation, but I can’t. ⁣
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Some stories are not mine to share. ⁣
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I  got caught in the backwash of someone else’s story, becoming intimately entangled. It’s impossible to share my story without hurting them and in turn, hurting myself. ⁣
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It is my hope that the relationships at the core of these stories can be redeemed and healed, with time. Maybe one day I can share more, but for now, it’s written in the silent pages of journaling and processed privately on the shoulders of wise counsel. And that’s just as important. ⁣
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📸: Mt Pisgah // September 2021
#OneDayMay May 16 - My mantra is…⁣ ⁣ “I wi #OneDayMay May 16 - My mantra is…⁣
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“I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14⁣
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What do you think it means to take heart? I had to sit with that for a few moments. It requires action—TAKE heart. ⁣
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Every day we face a battle, don’t we? We have a choice each day to choose life or death. I believe it requires COURAGE to choose life. I will CONTINUE to see the GOODNESS of the Lord in the land of the LIVING by making a daily choice to be STRONG and TAKE heart. ⁣
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The waiting is not passive! The waiting is hopeful and active and not at all easy. ⁣
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That’s why we need the reminder to be strong and to take heart. ⁣
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Let’s do that for each other this week, friends. Be strong and take heart, we will see goodness! 💛⁣
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📸: Saco, Maine // October 2021
#OneDayMay May 15 - My body is telling me…⁣
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…to take some deep breaths.⁣
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Today, as we talked about the week ahead during a family meeting, I realized I was involuntarily taking deep breaths. ⁣
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I have some appointments and a surgery scheduled at Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota to fix the patent foramen ovale (PFO) in my heart. ⁣
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It will be a week of deep breaths and prayers. ⁣
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It’s not going to be an easy week. But really, who has had an easy week the past two years?⁣
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I think my body has been involuntarily taking deep breaths for two years. It’s what I’ve learned to do to manage all that has come our way. Maybe it’s the same for you?⁣
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Breathe and pray. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. 😚

📸: Asheville, NC, March 2022
#OneDayMay May 14 - Happiness is…⁣ ⁣ Encoura #OneDayMay May 14 - Happiness is…⁣
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Encouraging family and friends on their journey of what makes them come alive. ⁣
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Realizing I can’t please everyone. ⁣
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A sunset tree silhouette.⁣
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Laughing until I get tears in my eyes. ⁣
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Caring for a seed from planting to harvesting. ⁣
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Driving a car with manual transmission. ⁣
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Peony season. ⁣
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Beach hair. ⁣
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When the Tar Heels win. ⁣
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Noticing the laugh lines @gregteselle and I gain as we grow old together. ⁣
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A bourbon slush on a hot day.
#OneDayMay May 13 - What I’m listening to⁣… #OneDayMay May 13 - What I’m listening to⁣…
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Newsies songs! For the past few months, @stoneteselle and @teselleeden have been preparing for their spring musical. We’ve been listening to the soundtrack and have watched the movie a few times, too! 📸: Stone as “Albert”, Eden as a backstage Newsie. ⁣
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The Next Right Thing podcast, specifically Episode 225: Discerning Your Next Right Thing After High School by @emilypfreeman. Just because we’ve had two boys graduate high school already doesn’t mean we have it all figured out! This was a great episode for us to listen to and learn from as Stone prepares for his senior year. 📸: One of my senior pics from 1990! Gracious. ⁣
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Conversations around the dinner table about current events and life updates. Stuff shared at the table, stays at the table. 📸: Our table centerpiece. ⁣
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The “Unplug” playlist on Apple Music, “Timeless guitar favorites to help block out (unhelpful) noise.” Yes, please. 📸: playlist cover art. ⁣
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I’ll include links in my stories for you 😚
#OneDayMay May 12 - #TBT Throwback version of me⁣
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1986-1987 Freshman year of high school. ⁣
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Blue shirt with a popped collar (of course!), pink tank, braces, and coordinated gold jewelry with a bad hair cut (I was clueless about hair! Still am 🤦🏼‍♀️). I’m pretty sure the blue shirt was tied in the front so the pink tank was visible at my waist. I cannot remember what I wore as bottoms? Probably jeans rolled up tight at the ankles. My shoes were probably white Keds.
#OneDayMay May 11 - What I’m wearing…⁣
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• A new t-shirt from @bookshelftville.⁣ One day I’ll visit in person but for now I’ll support them online. ⁣
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• Compassion Hoops from @windblownjewelry.⁣
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• The heart necklace was a gift from @edenteselle at Christmas. 💛⁣
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• Braids. 👧🏼⁣
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• Not pictured: a black skort from Kohl’s; @oliveandjune nail polish, Yes Please on my fingers and Blueberry Smash on my toes; @archiesfootwear black flip flops.
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