Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now - Fall 2025

***For a recap of where the idea of these posts originated 

you can click HERE to get caught up*** 

1 - The Gift of Noticing - Instead of crafting a list of New Year's resolutions like I used to, or even coming up with a word for the year, over time I have begun having a word that is specifically for a season. I naturally think of life in seasons anyway, so having a word that grounds me in whatever season I am in has been so helpful. My word for the past few months has been, "notice". With my kids growing older and bigger and even sending one far away, I don't want to miss those little things. But in order not to miss them I first have to notice them! So I think this is where my current word originated. But it isn't just with my kids. I want to be present enough to notice the sunlight flickering in the dancing brown pine needles right before they are dry enough to fall off the tree. I want to notice a sound and stop long enough to at least ponder what is making it. To crunch the loudest leaves on the trail or stop to look at the massive bug on the sidewalk. I want to move slowly and deliberately to take in as much as I possibly can. This practice of noticing has a natural way of slowing me down. We live in such a beautiful world. There is no need to rush through it.

2 - Garmin Watch - A few months ago Josh snagged an amazing deal and gifted me a Garmin Watch so we could train together for a race we are doing in November. I had no idea how much of a game changer it would be. I have been able to train with my heart rate in mind and see certain patterns in things that drain me in my day-to-day that have helped make sense of some health issues. It's been fun to track the progress and learn the runner's math that goes along with different training methods.

3 - Magnesium - One of the HUGE things I noticed with my watch is that it was showing me how poorly I was sleeping. My body was not relaxing enough or releasing the stresses of the day (or years!) long enough for me to recharge for the next day. I was just getting more and more depleted. When I was sick a few years ago one of the things I took was Magnesium. I already put magnesium cream on the bottoms of my feet and on my spine to help with the restless legs and body, but felt like maybe a better, internal dose would help my body relax enough to get the deep sleep my body needed. Ya'll, it has been a night and day difference! I am sleeping all night. I am getting through all my sleep cycles. My body isn't nearly as tense. And I am finally giving my body what it needs to recharge for another day. I am SO stoked that it is working!

4 - Friend Time - Before Rainy moved out we would have "friend time". She'd come in late from work, start her bedtime routine, plop on our bed and say "Hey friends". Sometimes she would just be super chatty and silly. Other times she would need some direct questions to get her talking about something that was on her mind. Sometimes she would just lay there until she absolutely HAD to get up and go to bed as Josh and I drifted off to sleep ourselves. But then she moved...*sigh*. Friend time looks different now, but thanks to FaceTime we still get to have it. Those precious calls from Rain have been just what we need as we continue the daily release of our firstborn into the world. 

5 - A Training Plan - Ya'll, I've been working out the same way for YEARS. But then Josh signed me up for this Spartan Beast and emailed me a 12 week plan and it has been so fun to do something different. I haven't felt this good and this motivated in a while and to train with my best friend is my absolute favorite!

6 - Yellow Blanket - I have this autumn-yellow knitted blanket that I bought last year (or maybe two years ago?) at TJMaxx. There is something about how it feels to the touch. And I know this list is heavy on activity/workout information, but after so much jumping and running my bare feet love being wrapped up in this soft blanket. Sometimes I can't wait to get home, get all cleaned up, and wiggle my toes around in the soft yarn. I guess this sixth thing could actually go under my "notice" category.

7 - The "We Do Not Care" Movement - I actually don't follow people I don't really know or have a direct connection with on Instagram. Ok, after looking back through who I follow there are about five. But I could not help myself with this one lady who began the "We Do Not Care" movement. It is HILARIOUS! I introduced Josh to it last night because one came up in my feed and even he thought it was funny (probably because I fit the category that the posts are aimed at and HE has seen this shift first-hand in me, lol). The older I get the less I care about the micro-management of most everything in life and this follow gives me a good laugh.

8 - Open Intersection - Last June, as in the June of 2024, the intersection up the road closed down. It was supposed to be a "quick" 6-8 week closure to get the work done that they needed to. Now, this is the road that makes heading to pretty much EVERYWHERE for us easier. The kid's school is straight up ahead, the grocery store is just around the corner, and the road leading to most of our lives is so much quicker when we can take a right out of our driveway instead of the left, which leads to 25 mph roads for eternity and zig-zagging through tiny neighborhoods, getting blocked in even MORE traffic from MORE construction in every direction we go. Well, two weeks ago, (1 year and 4 months after closing...but who's counting) it FINALLY reopened! And just like that my life just went from a 10 to a 12 overnight!

9- Reading - At the beginning of this summer I gave my girls the task of finding my summer reading. I was all out of my Christmas List books and was in a bit of a reading slump so I wanted something fun and different. Their first pick was Percy Jackson, obviously. And I tried. I really did. I read the first book but I'm just gonna be honest, I just couldn't get into it. So I asked to try something else. They gave me Six of Crows and I'm loving it. Now, I admit to carrying it around ALL SUMMER LONG in hopes of staring it but it wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I cracked it open and started slowly finding the cracks in my day to fill it with the book. It is nice to be reading again. Something light and interesting but not soul-deep which is what I typically go for. It's nice to be reading again.

10 -  Sunsets - This also might fall into the "notice" category. The day after Josh and I got back from our yearly vacation with his family at the lake we were asking ourselves how we can bottle up that energy and bring it back home. How can we still live in the moment while still living our very full lives? So we asked ourselves what that would look like for us. We realized that sunsets are so beautiful on vacation at the lake that most every night we stop what we are doing and go bask in the brilliant colors and peaceful setting.  But those same sunsets are here in Rolesville! I mean, we've got dozens of pictures over our 16 years in this home to prove it! But why don't we bask in it here like we do at the lake? At that moment we decided that we are going to stop whatever we are doing, whenever it is at all possible, head outside, and just take a few minutes to watch the sunset. It doesn't always happen, but I think it is one of my favorite new practices.

Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now - Spring 2025

 ***I have done a couple of these posts, 

so if you are new to this concept make sure you click HERE to 

go back and see where the idea originated.***

Sometimes just the act of listing things that fill you up or bring life are just what a weary soul needs. And May can tend to make one weary as we crawl to the finish line of school and sports and crazy schedules. I thought it was time to share a few of the things saving my life right now on my quest to remain grounded in the crazy.  These are by no means in any kind of order and some of them may seem trivial to you, but to me they are worth noting and acknowledging.

1 - Staying Home - I am acutely aware of the blessing and privilege that I have had to be able to stay home since becoming a mom over 20 years ago. I never imagined being a homeschool mom but here I am teaching Algebra, relearning how to diagram sentences, reading History and implementing life-skills on the daily. I can't say it's all been sunshine and roses (can next May get here already?!), but I am SO grateful for the opportunity. I have found how to hold space for gratitude while simultaneously being completely over it, lol!  I think I've been thinking about it so much because my homeschooling season is coming to a close so soon with Jude tying a bow on this era next year after he completes eighth grade with me. I've caught myself daydreaming about what I want to dedicate my time to after all my kids are either graduated or in public school. Where do I want to work? What does God have next for me? These questions don't bring panic or overwhelm, but excitement about what lays ahead for me. 

2 - Block Out Times - Speaking of homeschool...I found myself getting so frustrated at Jude on mornings that I felt like my attention was divided. Whether it was because I had an early morning appointment with a kid or just a ton of things piling up on my to-do-list. I would be scurrying around doing all the things while Jude, the student I was supposed to be teaching, was left with unanswered questions and an inattentive teacher with her mind elsewhere. As I evaluated the situation I decided first of all that I owed Jude an apology. It wasn't his fault that I had to take Alethia to the orthodontist, or Zeke to the DMV or scheduled too many things in my day. Yes, the orthodontist needed to be a priority, the DMV unfortunately has to happen (I think I will celebrate the last time I have to enter the nightmare called the NC DMV due to teen driving protocols), and the things on my to-do list still need to get done, but NOT during school. I decided that I am going to treat school time as an item on my calendar and I'm not allowed to overbook. That's it. Now, life sometimes doesn't work like that, but overall, for what I can control, I say no to all appointments and outside responsibilities until school is done for the day and it has made a world of difference on our school days.

3 - Off The Socials - I gave up social media for Lent this year and have hardly had a desire to go back. Besides the occasional need to look something or someone up or just to check in I haven't signed on. I find it so freeing not to have to know everything and respond to it all. I talk to my people and stay connected through word of mouth (or text) and that has been so great! No, I haven't deleted my accounts but don't get offended if I don't respond back to a message in any timely manner. If you know my number or address you know where to find me.

4 - Six Month Rule - I am a get-rid-of-stuff kind of girl. I periodically go through bins, drawers, cabinets, dressers and baskets throughout the year, which alone has ALWAYS been something that saves me life, but sometimes it's hard to know whether to get rid of something or not. Years ago I heard about this one hack that truly saves my life, with clothes (or smaller items) especially. If I'm going through my closet or a bin, I for sure have some obvious things for the "keep" pile or "get-rid-of-it" pile. But what about those things that you are on the fence about? What I do is grab a trash bag from the kitchen and unashamedly fill it with those questionable items and stick it in my attic for 6 months. During those six months, if I have wondered where the thing went or I actually wanted to wear or use it I'll take it back out and and keep it. And the rest of the stuff in the bag? It no longer gets to take up precious realty in my home and it finds a new home. 

5 - Garden Door - All I asked for for Mother's Day was a door for my garden. Josh made me one several years about but it grew weary over time and needed to be replaced. So this year, he got me a new one! He went to the antique store up the road and found me an old door and sized it for the garden and it literally makes me smile EVERY time I look out at it. I love it so much!

6 - Tuesday Miles - Tuesdays have become one of my favorite days. We typically go to my parent's house for school and they live in a great neighborhood for walking/jogging. I don't put any expectations on myself except to just move. Some days I fill my head with the latest podcasts in my feed and other days I will walk or jog in silence, with only my own thoughts keeping me company. I will get anywhere from 3-5 miles in. Then Cai has soccer practice near the greenway in the evening. Instead of just dropping him off I'll stick around and walk or jog some more. Last week I tracked a half marathon between the two and I felt so accomplished. It has been slow going to working my way back up to distance since I was sick in 2020, so this has been a great way to stretch myself. Plus I sleep great on Tuesday nights!

7 - 1825 - Josh and I took over our college ministry a few months ago and I have really loved getting to know these young adults. They are eager to dig deep and not afraid to ask questions. I just remember those years in my own life and the people God placed in my life to help me navigate life as I began adulting and I am so honored to be able to fill that gap for these kids.

8 - Save For Later - A few years ago I started taking advantage of the "save for later" Amazon feature. Actually, I used to just have a paper titled "Want But Not Yet" before Amazon's save for later. Instead of just thinking I need something right when I hear about it I can find it and stick it in the "save for later" cart. Not only does it help me not spend so much money, it is an automatic, ongoing Christmas or birthday list. It specifically makes my "saving my life" list because once I find it and put it on the list I can mentally release it. I don't have to feel like I need to keep it in the front of my mind anymore, especially if it is something I need after we get paid again or budget for it. Once I've put it on that list I know it will just sit there waiting for me if and when the time is appropriate to get it.