I was recently invited to Germany for IFA, the leading trade show for consumer electronics and appliances, as a brand ambassador for Samsung Home Appliances. I was excited at the idea of escaping the moving boxes for a trip abroad—I haven’t been to Germany in years and would have loved to return—but in the end, I didn’t go.
I’m grateful to have a creative outlet built around my passion for home and family. The work I do not only helps others but provides for our family so we can invest in what matters most to us, like our children and our church. I truly love what I get to do every day.
Still, the jobs we do to provide or the everyday housekeeping tasks we complete aren’t the legacy we leave. What endures is our presence and the love we invest in our people.
This event would have taken me away from home during the first week of school for my son. He was starting at a brand new school where he knew no one, and, I’m sure other parents will understand, my heart was already in a million little pieces.
Even though my son is 15 and doesn’t need me to pack lunches or pick his clothes anymore—he doesn’t even want me to walk him into class or take a first-day photo at his desk—I’m still his mama. Being near him on the first day of a new school meant a lot to me. Even when kids are old enough to be independent, being present still matters.
Being present sometimes requires sacrifices, like saying no to great opportunities elsewhere. For me, there was no place I’d rather have been than at home that week. I feel fortunate to have been able to stay home with my kids, but making the right choices isn’t always easy. Moms balance what they must do to provide with the desire to be there for their children.
I appreciate Samsung for inviting me and for understanding when I needed to prioritize family over the trip. Their flexibility meant a lot.
I’ve been writing about home for over eight years because I’m passionate about how family and home life intersect. Although I missed the trip, I was intrigued by the innovations Samsung showcased. Few things frustrate me more than an appliance that doesn’t work efficiently when you need it. These days we rely on appliances to do their job so we can focus on what matters most.
Which brings me to a frustrating appliance situation that happened this week. When we moved to Seattle we sold our reliable six-year-old Samsung washer and dryer to avoid moving them. The new house had a gas hookup and a washer and dryer were already left in the laundry room, so selling our old set made sense—until the dryer in the new house stopped working. We’d only been here a couple of weeks.
Now we’re spending hours researching repair options and checking whether the dryer can be fixed or needs replacement. This setback wasn’t in our plans, and in the meantime laundry piles up across the room, towels draped everywhere hoping to air dry. I’m reminded how time-consuming and frustrating inefficient appliances can be.
Samsung’s goal is to create appliances that enhance life by working effortlessly behind the scenes. That’s exactly what busy households need.
When appliances don’t perform as expected, it limits our ability to be present for what matters. A home that functions well helps us feel efficient, calm, and focused on family priorities.
We are the heartbeat of the home, so the home’s function affects how we function.
At IFA, Samsung discussed how the Internet of Things will reshape everyday living. The Samsung SmartThings hub, for example, lets you monitor, control, and secure your home from your phone. That kind of connected technology gives me peace of mind as a parent—I can check on home and family from wherever I am.
These innovations help make life easier and safer. The ability to keep an eye on things remotely helps reduce stress and lets us focus on being present with our families.
Samsung also unveiled a practical washer, the WW8500 AddWash, which includes a small extra door so you can add items mid-cycle without spilling water. I love simple solutions like that—who hasn’t tried to sneak one more item in at the last minute?
Another interesting device is SLEEPsense, a thin circular sensor that slides under the mattress. It tracks heart rate, breathing, and movement while you sleep, then provides a sleep score and suggestions in the morning. Better sleep matters when you’re balancing home and family responsibilities.
No one wants to be a sleep-deprived parent dealing with a broken dryer. It’s the little conveniences that keep homes happy, healthy, and safe.
I’m honored to be a brand ambassador for Samsung Home Appliances; this post is part of that partnership, but my experiences and opinions are my own.
What have you changed about the way your home functions, or what have you said “no” to, in order to be more present in what really matters?