Our Story: Reclaiming the Table and Building a Life That Matters

From the time I was a teenager, all I wanted was to be a mama. Not just a mom—but a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t know exactly how it would happen, but I knew that was my calling.

Now, I’ll admit, I also dreamed of being a rock star (and yes, I still love to grab the mic or jump on a dance floor any chance I get). But deep down, home and family were always the dream that never left me.

I was blessed with four amazing kids, and I couldn’t have lived that dream without Quintin. We were junior high sweethearts, married young, and knew early on that family would be at the center of our lives. When I was only 16, I told him, “If we’re gonna move forward in this relationship, I need to know you’re okay with me being a stay-at-home mom someday.” 

He loved to retell that story, shaking his head with a smile—“She was only 16, already planning it all out loud. But that was Lori. She knew what she wanted. And I knew I wanted to be the one to help make it happen.”

For years, we followed the traditional path—careers, kids, responsibilities. I stayed home with the kids, and Quintin dove into the banking world, working 60+ hours a week to provide for us. We were surviving… but we weren’t really living.

I slowly lost myself in the daily roles of motherhood, and Quintin, though doing what he thought he was “supposed” to do, was exhausted, disconnected, and missing out on the very life he was working so hard to support.

Everything began to shift when I found an opportunity that allowed me to work from home in social media. At first, I didn’t set out to build a business—I just wanted to rediscover myself. But filling my own cup began to overflow into our marriage, our family, and eventually gave Quintin the courage to step away from the grind and come home.

Together, we started something new. Not just a business, but a mission:

Reclaiming the Table.

We realized what we’d been missing all along—time together. Conversations over dinner. Laughter with our kids. Those meaningful, ordinary moments that don’t just happen—you have to choose them.

So, we reclaimed the table.
Dinner became sacred. Family time became a priority. Our work revolved around our life, not the other way around.

That’s the legacy Quintin leaves behind: a father who showed up, a husband who came home, a man who believed that no paycheck was worth more than presence. He used to say, “You don’t have to be a cranky banker. There’s a better way.”And we found it.

We built a life where both of us had our identities, our purpose, and our partnership intact. And we built it around our table—with our four kids at the heart of it all.

But in 2024, right before our 25th wedding anniversary, Quintin went home to be with the Lord. There’s no way to prepare for that kind of loss. Some days it still doesn’t feel real. But what comforts me most is knowing we lived with intention. We chose each other. We built a life that truly mattered.

And that’s why I continue forward with what we began.

Today, Crazy Busy Mama carries our story and our mission into the lives of others. It’s a space where I share recipes, cookbooks, kitchen hacks, and fun merch like mugs and tees. But it’s also where I show up for my “coffee chats”—sharing my heart, my faith, and the lessons God is teaching me as I walk this journey of motherhood and now this journey of grief.

Crazy Busy Mama isn’t just a business. It’s the continuation of what Quintin and I built together: a reminder that love is found in the ordinary, that the table is where connection happens, and that even in the chaos, family is always worth fighting for.

Quintin may no longer be physically here, but his heart is in every meal we share, every bedtime story, every walk with our kids. And through Crazy Busy Mama, his legacy lives on—encouraging other families to slow down, reclaim their tables, and build lives that truly matter.

So this is us. This is our story. And this is why I keep going.
For him. For our kids.
For every family out there longing for more time, more peace, and more connection.

Because there is a better way.

Every morning, I wake up and share a bit of my heart on my socials. If you are not following me on instagram, you can do so HERE and in this season specifically I am sharing my grief journey. Praying that I can share hope in the midst of my pain and how you too can find purpose in the midst of your valley by remembering Whose you are and who holds you! For those who would like to take a listen you can do so below. 

So thankful for your encouragement each day!

your support means the world to me.

Also, I'd love to know how long you have been following our story! Please let me know in the comments below!

Much encouragement and love- Lori ✝️

My hearts passion of how to #ReclaimTheTable – I appreciate each of you who take the time to help me build this blog full of recipes that help you and your family spend more time together as a family!

Grab your mug as a reminder: “ALL GREAT CHANGE BEGINS AT THE DINNER TABLE” HERE

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