Happy October! 

I had a birthday this week and I always get especially reflective about my life this time of year. I thank God for all He’s done and all that He’s taught me. Looking back helps me to look to the future with hope.

Birthday gifts are so fun, so I want to give you a little something! Here are some of the things I’ve learned this past year: 

1. Sometimes the solution for a problem is right in front of you: My husband and I used a shared office in our house for almost five years. It caused a lot of frustration between us because we have different work styles: I love to work in the quiet and he’s on the phone a lot and enjoys talking to me as he works. Sometimes we had to kick each other out of the office depending on the work we had for the day, and it would sometimes annoy the other person. Back in March, the solution finally occurred to me! We have a dedicated guest room that gets used maybe 15 days out of the year. We moved my office furniture into the guest room and now we have separate work spaces, hooray! When we have guests, I relocate back to the shared office or to the dining room. Instead of inconveniencing ourselves every day, it’s now just when we have guests. It’s been a game changer! If you’re struggling with a problem, I encourage you to take a step back and think creatively. The solution just might be right in front of you.
2. A waiting season won’t last forever: The past two years had been a waiting season for us with several things, including finances. It was hard because there was no known date when things would get better. We had to wait it out. I learned that the waiting is an opportunity for us to grow our trust in God, to look for the ways that He is working and providing. Our true security is not in our bank account or in what we can see. True security and hope are found in the Lord. If you’re in a waiting season, here is a quote from Pastor Craig Groeschel that I love: “Don’t waste the waiting! A waiting season isn’t a wasted season if you continue to seek and press into God.”
3. It’s okay to pause for a while: I started working full-time at The MomCo a year ago. I love the work I do and am so grateful for how God provided the opportunity! It has been challenging to keep up with all that I was doing before, like Restore Magazine and my podcast, with a full-time job. I’ve also been writing a book for the past year that I turn in on November 4th. I’ve put the magazine on hold for a while, I’d love to get back to it, but I’m not sure when that will happen. (Stay tuned!) I’ve also missed a few regular podcast episodes due to my full schedule. I’m currently doing all elements of the podcast myself and some weeks, it just hasn’t happened. I’m giving myself a lot of grace and the reminder that perfection isn’t the goal, progress is and it’s okay if it’s imperfect.
4. Grief is a unique creature: At the end of last year, my Auntie Gracie passed away. She was the type of person who lit up every room when she walked in with her joy and her laughter. She always made the effort to be close to family. We miss her very much. Some days when I think of her, I smile or laugh at the silly things she would do. Other days, the tears just flow. One day in August, I realized her birthday was exactly one month away. I cried off and on throughout that day, missing her. But on her actual birthday, I didn’t cry at all, but celebrated her in my heart. On my birthday, I remembered that I had a saved voicemail from her from my birthday two years ago. I listened to it in the morning and I started my day off sad that I couldn’t talk to her. We all grieve differently and there’s no easy shortcut out of grief. We have to go through it and allow ourselves to experience it. If you’re grieving something right now, big or small, remember that it’s part of our human experience and that you are not alone.
5. Parenting teenagers is challenging, but also fun! As of this year, I’m the mom of two teenagers and I’m loving this season! I enjoy watching my teens grow in their faith, academics, extra-curriculars and friendships. I love having their friends and teammates over to our house. If you’re the mom of young children, don’t be afraid of these teenage years. There’s a lot of things to love about them.

I’d love to know: What is something you’ve learned in the past year? Hit reply and let me know.