Ease

My one word for 2020 was Ease.
Who would have know what we would be up against when that word came to me.

January and February we watched a lot of archery and it was so much fun to watch little girl get better and better every time she competed.  We mingled, connected, had fun.

then we all know were March took us. half way through the month, days of quarantine with what seemed like no end in sight.
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And then 65 days we finally saw some signs of an end, but maybe not. 

Even though I had come to realize that things change, all.the.time. You'd think that after 2 months of constant change, I'd have adapted. NOPE! In all honesty, it probably took me till November to actually settle into and feel ok with ever changing circumstances.

I still can't say that I am 100% at ease. The unrest of our country and the educating of our kids, the tug and pull of all the feelings about seeing people or not, has made this word even more important for 2020. It has made me really think about easing into things, being easy with life, the ease of our pace, being at ease with me.

When I think about the word ease, I don't think easy or simple. I think of it as the opposite of unsettled. I want to settle into am ease, maybe a peace, a relaxing of thing. If 2020 taught me anything, I think it taught me to be ok with sighs of relief, with the realization that He is ultimately in control.

While this has been a wildly unsettling year, there was been many moments of ease that would have never happened if not for the craziness of 2020.

Things I Learned This Fall

I usually do better about jotting things down throughout the season for Emily P Freemans Things I've Learned practice.

This season has been different. I didn't even think about how we are at the end of one season and time to reflect back on this one that has passed. Here are a few things from this time:

One last trip to the Lake is bitter sweet

My parents bought this place when my oldest was a toddler. there has been 10 years of memories made here. We are sad to see it go but know that there will still be memories made on their next adventure, wherever that may take them

Starting something 3/4ths of the way into a year still works

I have seen these before and honestly wish that i had stated this at the beginning of 2020. What in unusual time to look back on in 5 years. I started it late but what matters is that i decided to start. get you one and get started.

Holding a baby is still my favorite and kinda makes me want another

 (but that ship has sailed) This is my co-workers little guy who we have prayed for, after coming early and spending months in the NICU. He is just precious and i just know that God has great things for his life.

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brews are my new most favorite Starbucks drink

I usually get the Pumpkin spice latte during this time but started seeing people sharing about the cold brew, which i had never tried. oh my goodness it was the best. this was one of maybe 6 that i had during this season. I even attempted to make one at home that came out pretty good.

October will hold a special place in my heart for more reasons that, "I LOVE FALL"

My little sister is has been cancer free for 2 years and this October, i decided to wear pink every day of the month for her. She is  one incredible lady.  

She continues to amaze me

my 10 year old was asked to recite the Lords Prayer in one of our church services. She was way more nervous than the last time she walked onto that stage but she still did it and i am so proud of her.

She also had a dress up day at school during red ribbon week and she went to bed the night before saying that she was going to dress up as her teacher from 2nd and 3rd grade. She knew exactly what she was going to wear too.  Yall, when a teacher inspires and deeply loves your kid, there are sometimes no words but a thank you. We have been so very blessed by the love and care that this teacher poured and pours into the kids she teaches.

Traveling with him is the best 

at the beginning of fall break we stole away for 2 nights to walk a lot of stairs (jk, hiking, but it was a lot of stairs on these hikes) it was so fun and just what we needed.

Books I read this Fall:

September: 

Becoming Mrs Lewis - Patti Callahan

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue - Karina Yan Glaser

Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid

October:

A Place for Us - Fatima Farheen Mirza

Always and Forever Lara Jean - Jenny Han

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forrest - Melanie Dickerson

The Beautiful Pretender - Melanie Dickerson

The Nobel Servant - Melanie Dickerson

The Healers Apprentice - Melanie Dickerson

The Crossover - Kawame Alexander

November:

The Merchants Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

Secrets - Robin Jones Gunn

The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate

Windows of the Soul - Ken Gire

When Women Were Birds - Terry Tempest Williams

I'd Give Anything - Maria de los Santos

Raymie Nightengale - Kate DiCamillo