My name is Courtney and I've been married to my husband Brent since 2020. We have a son that the Lord miraculously brought to us through an unplanned adoption in 2022. He is the most incredible surprise we have ever received! I work full-time for an amazing non-profit organization as the director of our child sponsorship program. My family is actively involved in our local church. Some of our hobbies include camping, hiking, going on family mission trips, playing games, working out, and just spending time together at home. Brent introduced Aro to our family in 2023 and it became one of the major highlights of our year. I have no doubt it has helped us grow closer as husband and wife and as a family!

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Do you have a moment when you realized your phone was getting in the way of what's important to you?

When The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer came out, I read it and it was a turning point for me.  That book changed my perspective on phone use and opened my eyes to see what a huge distraction it was.  At that time, I started turning my phone off for the entire day on Sundays and learned to spend time away from it regularly.  Fast forward to 2023, now married and a full-time working mom; I had gotten away from those good habits and was relying on my phone more and more.  My husband heard about Aro in the summer of 2023 through his favorite podcast: Family Goals.  The first time he told me about it, I completely shot him down!  I didn't want one more expense added to our budget!  After a month passed, he brought it up again and we agreed to give Aro a try, realizing we both wanted to spend less time on our phones.  We haven't looked back since and are so grateful to have Aro in our lives!

What has Aro allowed you to accomplish while you were disconnected from your phone?

Aro has allowed our family to spend much-needed quality time together every day.  With my husband and I both working full-time outside the home, our hours together as a family are extremely limited and very precious.  With Aro, we have been able to capitalize on that time, and bond in special ways that wouldn't be possible if our phones were still in hand.  Aro has allowed us to be fully present with one another and with our son.  It has allowed us to experience our son's growth and development in such exciting ways- i.e. taking his first steps; I'm convinced we would have missed many of these moments if our phones were still in hand.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

Practice gratitude always.  No matter your circumstances, there is always something to be grateful for.  Also, own your mistakes and be quick to say "I'm sorry."

What’s been your favorite part about motherhood so far? 

I'm not sure how to choose a favorite!  There are so many wonderful things.  I waited a long time to become a mother, and my heart still melts to the floor when my son smiles at me and tells me he loves me.  The snuggles, hugs, kisses, and giggles are near the top of the list.  But more than that, I love seeing how we are shaping and developing this precious life.  There have been numerous moments where our son copies one of our actions, or inevitably repeats what we say, and it's crystal clear that he is learning from us and imitating much of what we do.  It's an incredible reminder of this responsibility that has been entrusted to us as his parents.  

What is something you haven’t accomplished yet that you aspire to do? 

I want to hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.  I have been fascinated by the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru since I first studied them in the 8th grade.  Ever since that time, I have wanted to see the city and hike the trail its inhabitants took to get there centuries ago.  It's a bucket list accomplishment that I hope to achieve!