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.

Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now

I did one of these posts back in May. A post dedicated to a select few things recently that have really stepped in to save my life! Here are my go-to's the last few months.

1-Sudoku - This summer was F.U.L.L. So full that I found it absolutely necessary to quiet as much noise around me as possible. Reading was hard. It's always been hard for me to read when people are around. Voices and movement can be super distracting and that can (not always) lead to frustration because I keep having to re-read things. I was also finding it hard for my brain to stay focused. After coming off of a busy season and stepping into summer, and all that comes with that, I decided I was going to give myself permission to just be. But I also like to be "doing" something and I found the PERFECT thing! 

Solving things + Numbers = Life Giving

Sudoku has been SO fun! I can jump in a game and be interrupted without feeling like I have to spend 20 minutes to get back in the zone. It has nothing to do with technology. I can be present with my family while also keeping my brain active and sharp, and also giving my hands something to do while just hanging out.

2-White Out - We make plans, then the times change, they get cancelled, then rescheduled, then completely moved to another month... I could just write in my calendar with a pencil, but I don't trust that. I could also just cross things out, but when my the little daily white squares on my calendar begin to get cluttered with changed plans being crossed out everywhere my anxiety starts to rise. Enter in this little gem. I can't even count the amount of times I've used this little guy on my homeschool plans or my calendar and IT.MAKES.MY.HEART.SO.HAPPY. It's like a fresh start every times something changes instead of the potential chaotic mess it not only looks like, but actually becomes! Go get you one of these and I promise you won't be disappointed.

3-Juice and Toya - Working out has been sporadic the past few months in between travel and extra littles running around, but I can always count on Juice and Toya to give me a good HIT. Josh and I love to do these workouts together. I mean, we get to work out with another J and T, husband/wife team! Here's the workout I knocked out this morning! Go check them out on YouTube.

4-Puzzles - When we were keeping Josh's sister's kids for a week in August they came with a 300 piece puzzle that the boys would put together, take apart and put together again, over and over. We went to our puzzle arsenal after they left but only had a couple of 1000 piece puzzles, which can be a bit too much for a quick weekend puzzle, so I headed to amazon to pick out a couple 500 and 750 piece puzzles which seemed much more attainable. I love looking over and seeing which of the kids (or adults) gravitate toward the pieces throughout the days.

5-Sabbath Candle - I started using a taper candle on Sabbath. There's just something about finishing the prep of grocery lists, laundry and cleaning chores on Friday morning and then walking over to the table to light the candle to enter into sabbath that is so life-giving to me. As the day goes on I catch myself glancing over at the flickering light, remembering this day as set apart. It also reminds me that I can trust God to still be alive and active even when I am not.

That's it. The things that are saving my life right now. Nothing earth-shattering, just things that keep me centered.

Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now

 I've listened to Emily P. Freeman's Podcast rendition of this idea from Barbara Brown Taylor. The idea is to name the things that are currently life giving. To take notice of the things that you love. It can be however many things you want. Your list can have a product, a food, a routine. Literally anything!

So often we get bogged down in all that isn't and we get stuck in the things that drain us. But taking time to sit and actually document things that are "saving my life right now" is already proving to be a great practice.

So what IS saving my life right now?

1 - Family Charging Station - We have seen these around for years and Josh in particular has always wanted one so I found this one on sale and snagged it up for his birthday and We.Love.It. I love having a central location for all of our tech stuff without the mess of cords and multiple chargers all over the floor taking turns charging. And I must say, I (almost) always know where my phone is now because I find that I keep it on the dock even if it isn't charging. This has helped my screen time decrease which is an added win! And my favorite thing is looking over and seeing it filled up during Sabbath while we put all of our devices away for 24 hours together.

2 - My garden. It isn't super luscious...yet (I've got hope though) and it isn't the most beautiful thing to drive by (it's in the front yard). But it is one of my happy places. I love walking around and watering every area. I love going out and seeing the process, even if it is ever so slow (or minimal). I love the bright pop of color from the flowers and all the green from last year's lettuce that finally decided to bring us its presence. My favorite thing is the little solar fairy lights that Laithy told me would look great out there. And you know what? They do. It's my little fairy garden and it makes me smile every time I see it out my window.

3 - My dry erase calendar I bought at FIVE BELOW. I keep it in the kitchen for my meal matrix (thank you The Lazy Genius). It allows me to look at a whole month for meal planning. There are a few days of the week that are repeat meals every week, like FFY (fend for yourself) Sunday, Taco Tuesday, Pizza Friday and Dad's Yum Saturday (Josh typically cooks on Saturday nights).  Simply filling in those days helps me feel lighter and less overwhelmed about what I'm going to feed this family all day every day. Usually sometime on Thursday I think through the next week and fill in the missing blocks as I begin getting my weekly grocery list together. And one more added bonus...my kids can look at the calendar to see what's for dinner and only ask me about 3 times versus the average 17,000 times what the dinner plan is. Ya'll, this has and is saving my life. 

4 - MudWater - Ok, this stuff does NOT taste great by itself. And I don't like to add sweetener to my coffee, tea and drinks so I usually put a scoop of this in my protein shake in the mornings and it does my body SO good. I can actually feel the grounding and an overall calming inside. My anxiety thanks me when I remember to drink it.

5 - Front porch swing - We lost our carport during our renovation and traded it in for an extra bedroom which we are SO thankful for. But we are outside people and we miss the hours of carport time we've lost sitting and reading or watching thunderstorms or rain fall in the carport. We do have our back porch which is super nice but it isn't covered so rain storm watching out there is out of the question. And the sun takes over right after lunch time and can get pretty sizzle-y. So we have been utilizing our front porch swing so much more lately. After the morning sun moves to the back we can shift out to the front porch and swing to our hearts content. In fact, I'm out there writing this right now.

6 - Thursday Night Date Nights - This is one of the things I most look forward to in the week. After our kids got older and they began staying up later than we did, the "we'll catch up after the kids go to bed" era disappeared for me and Josh. And I'm not quite sure how it morphed into this built-in at-home date night on Thursday nights, but it has stuck and I'm so glad. It's late, since sometimes we don't get home until well after 9pm on Thursday nights because of rehearsal nights at our church, but it doesn't matter because this night brings in our Sabbath so we get to sleep in and it is fabulous.

7 - Blogging again - I don't have much to say about this one except that it brings life to be able to type out my thoughts again. *happy sigh*

8 - Soccer games - It is nearing the end of the soccer seasons which is life-giving because that clears up the calendar, but that's not why I put it on the list. I have thoroughly enjoyed grabbing my camping chair, pulling it up to the field to just sit with my feet in the grass and watch the boys. An hour and a half where I HAVE to sit still outside (sometimes watching the sunset) and not do anything? I'm here for it!

That's it. Those are the things that are saving my life right now.

I invite you to make your own list and then thank God for the glimpses of good that are all around us! 

What is saving YOUR life right now?