Green Pastures & Still Waters
October 24' Reflections: On Moving & Seeking Steadiness During Transitions & Busy Seasons + Monthly Roundup
October was such a jam-packed month. Towards the beginning of the month, we celebrated my son's and my birthdays, and that same week, we were hit with seasonal sickness. If that wasn’t enough, on its own, we squeezed in as many fall activities and crafts as we could while I packed and prepared for our accelerated move. For the last few months, we had been planning and anticipating our regional move while praying and searching for the right place.
A month into my husband’s new contract and managing the home alone with the kids, I was getting weary, questioning whether we made the right decision. Was it worth the added stress and these long stretches apart?
So much of this transition has been a leap of faith, leaping into a new endeavor, in a new city, into the unknown. With so much at stake and such high costs, we found ourselves vacillating back and forth, taking baby steps, trying to hold onto the comfortable and familiar.
With every day and with every step, we braced and readied ourselves for what we hoped to come, not knowing, but believing that better days were ahead. And then we got the message that change was surely on the way.
No one is ever fully prepared for the monumental shifts and minuscule moments that can alter one’s life. You can anticipate, plan, and prepare, but sometimes, nothing prepares you better than the change itself. With every new development, you shift and accommodate with flexibility and agility that’s found in taking things moment by moment and day by day. You take unsteady steps, hoping that as you move forward, you will find the stability you seek.
We are on that path, walking in faith, navigating change and transition, step by step, praying that the road we will travel will be even more promising than the beautiful path we leave behind.
As we prepare to wrap up the last few months of the year, I know that many of us are also navigating change and seeking steadiness in what will be a busy season. I pray that we will find a deep-rooted peace, knowing that even as seasons shift and the days grow full, we are being led to green pastures and still waters as we take each unsteady step in faith.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
Psalms 23:1-3 CSB
Books 📚
Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair. I started reading the Sweater Weather series last fall and didn’t get a chance to finish it, so this year I’m picking back up where I left off with the first book in the series (you can read them out of order). If you’re looking for a clean romance, you’ll enjoy this one! I’m a sucker for good banter in a romance novel, and this one has it, and although it’s not spicey, things still definitely heat up!
Ruthless Vows by Rebbeca Ross. It is rare for an author to write a sequel that is better than the first, but Rebecca Ross did just that. The writing in this book is breathtaking, and the audio does every bit of it justice. I devoured this on audio due to the phenomenal narrator and British accents. This is the perfect cozy, fall romantasy.
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston. This was my first time reading Ashley Poston, and this book was such a delight. I rarely annotate a fiction book, but there were so many highlights and quotes that all book lovers will understand and cherish.
These were just some of my favorites. I read 10 books this month. For a full list of what I read, check out my October reading recap or my Goodreads.
October 24' Reading Recap
October was a hectic one. With my husband on the road for work, I managed to keep the little ones (and myself) together while I packed up the house in preparation for our move. Because of that, October was a lighter reading month. I capped off the month with 10 books, the least amount of books I’ve read since spring. I also dove into fall reading, so th…
Podcasts 🎧
I really enjoyed listening to this conversation between Hunter Beless and Jill Atogwe on discontentment. In this episode, Jill shares her journey of what it was like feeling “othered” as a minority in the midst of the majority and how God can use our deficiencies to remedy our discontentment
More than making the perfect sourdough or keeping your home management on a perfect schedule, homemaking is about stewarding the ministry that God is calling you to right where you are. In this episode, Jenna shares four truths every homemaker needs to hear, whether you work inside or outside the home.
In this podcast episode, Emily and Laura walk you through the CFRC (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation) framework and how you can use it to apply a gospel lens to all of your parenting, motherhood, and really all decisions.
October Snapshots 📸
Tried the TikTok layered cookies // Brought in my 31st birthday with a free PSL // Celebrated my son’s fourth birthday the next day // Nothing like a fall Kindle refresh // Did a fun apple stamping activity with the kids // Attempted the TikTok layered brownies for a family fall movie day
Throughout the month, I love to post notes, reflections, or other resources that I find encouraging or helpful. Make sure you download the Substack app so you don’t miss out on new notes, chats, and threads.
Catch up on October Posts
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That scripture is a much needed reminder. Thank you for this. I still find it amazing how through every season you’re able to fill your cup by reading or listening. You’re doing great Mama, and this is not me being patronizing you really are.❤️