What I’m Loving + Learning

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a new blog and I wanted to give a little update on life these days.

I may not be hitting post as frequently, but I am writing more than I ever have. The truth is, for the last three years I have been working on a personal project. In the Fall of 2021, after spending a good chunk of the year writing, compiling old posts, and designing layout, my laptop crashed and the coffee table book I was nearly 90 pages into vanished. These past couple of years I have been sitting on this project, trying to muster up the motivation to remake it. And this year, I finally bunkered down and started setting aside time each day to write. I’m really excited about the new direction this book is taking and I can’t wait to prayerfully share it with you all in the not-too-distant future.

Between book writing, photography gigs, and attempting to homeschool my first grader, I am just trying to find a sense of balance and rhythm.

So I thought I’d share a little bit of what I’m loving + what I’m learning in this season.

What I’m loving—

I’m loving any chance I can to get the boys outside—be it stomping in mud puddles or basking in sunshine. I have this deep conviction that humans thrive most in nature, barefoot and free, soaking up that Vitamin D.

I’m loving getting to love on and empower women with my photography. Most of the time, I enjoy coming up with posts and curating content, but I’d be lying if I told you I never felt conflicted in how to harness social media for good and not harm.

I’m loving leading the high school girls at our youth group, and the college/young adult ministry my husband and I started last summer. Community is such a lifeline, and I want everyone to be a part of one.

I’m loving our home, Friday night movie nights with the boys, and messy charcuterie picnics on the living room floor. I’m loving weekly home date nights with Matt and our goal to do something whimsical and fun every month. (So far we’ve been roller skating, thrifting, rock climbing, and to a couple of pub trivia nights). I’m loving the time I get writing, when the words flow freely before the sun has risen and the boys have woken. Come to think of it, there’s a lot I’m loving, and that makes me very very grateful for this season.

As for what I’m learning…so so much—

I’m learning that there is fine line between fostering inspiration and discontentment in our own souls where social media is concerned. I’m learning that listening to the voice of God feels sometimes like a tight rope walk—a little bit wobbly and uncertain, but the only way across is forward. I’m learning that growth takes time and the speed of that growth is not always dependent upon our success or our worthiness. Some things just take more time to cultivate than others, and that’s ok.

I’m learning that homeschooling a child is not for the faint of heart, but I see the immense possibilities when I surrender the pieces. We’re still finding our rhythm and what works and what doesn’t, and I’m learning that there is no timeline on getting all my ducks in a row.

I’m learning that perspective is so much of what makes up a healthy mind, and choosing to dwell on things I cannot control only leads me deeper down that spiral. Anxiety still tries to sneak in and linger long after it’s outworn its welcome, but I am learning not to let it completely derail me. Progress is progress and even if we cannot see the fruit, the roots are going deeper.

Overall, I’m grateful to a God who gives us much to be thankful for and always gently ushers us forward.

And I’d love to know what you are loving and learning these days.