Wait, What the Heck Just Happened?

November 24' Reflections: Finding Peace Amid the Whirlwind, Joy in the Chaos, and Clarity in the Stretch + Monthly Round Up

Reflecting on November, I’m struck by how it feels like three months crammed into one. Between moving from Atlanta to Brunswick, hosting the second annual Get After Grateful Gratitude Challenge, and trying to unpack both boxes and my emotions, this month has been nothing short of a whirlwind. It’s as though life decided to pile on all at once, leaving me staring at my laptop blinking and wondering, What the heck just happened?

The regional move has been a mix of emotions—grief for what we left behind, hope for what lies ahead, and the overwhelming reality of settling into a new space. Amidst the chaos, I’ve been making an effort to explore and get familiar with our new community. Whether it was finding a special ornament at our local Mistletoe Market, braving unfamiliar streets with the kids, or pushing myself out of the house when all I wanted to do was collapse, these little moments have been a reminder of resilience and grace.

November was also marked by gratitude. Hosting the Get After Grateful Gratitude Challenge was a grounding point, offering a rhythm of reflection in the midst of uncertainty. Gratitude became a life raft—a way to steady myself when everything else felt unmoored.

And yet, as much as this month has been full, it has also left me stretched thin. Solo parenting during a transition like this is no small feat. I’ve felt stretched between tending to the kids, unpacking our lives, and wishing I had the capacity to process everything, write more deeply, and lean into my creativity. Instead, I’ve spent much of this month just doing my best to stay afloat.

Even so, this season has brought comfort in its own messy way. It’s reminded me to embrace the process, to lean into God’s strength when mine is nowhere to be found, and to trust that He’s weaving something beautiful, even if I can’t see it yet.

As the holidays draw near, I’m hopeful for more moments of stillness, more grace to settle in, and maybe even a chance to look back and say, Okay, Lord, I see what You’re doing here.

Here’s to finding peace amid the whirlwind, joy in the chaos, and clarity in the stretch. ✨

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Books 📚

• Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews. This was the perfect holiday novella. My only complaint is that I wished it was longer. Mary Kay Andrews is at her best with Christmas.

• You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh. This is my favorite out of the three Toni Shiloh books I’ve read. It gave me all the Christmas vibes, and I loved watching Starr and Waylon’s relationship develop over all the Christmasy dates they had. This gives Christian Hallmark but in ALL the right ways. This is one I can definitely see myself rereading at the start of the next Christmas season.

• The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox. This was a super cozy holiday read about twins who swapped their lives during Christmas time, and of course ended up falling in love. If you love Hallmark movies and holiday baking shows, then you will enjoy this one.

I didn’t have the capacity to record a reading recap this month. Hopefully, I will be able to include it in December’s reading recap. These were just some of my favorites from the month. For a full list and reviews of what I read, check out my Goodreads.

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Podcasts 🎧

I listened to a couple of good podcast episodes while prepping Thanksgiving dinner. I enjoyed this conversation with Hunter Beless and Megan Hill on establishing rhythms of prayers, some as simple as breath prayers to gird our hearts and quell our anxiety and fears in the moment.

I know there is a lot of pressure to make the holidays special and maintain a healthy budget. The key to enjoying the holidays without blowing the bank is to know your values and goals. Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni share how you can leverage values-based spending to have an enjoyable and memorable holiday season.

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November Snapshots 📸

Trying a new local coffee shop // Discovering a playground on the ocean front outside of St. Simon’s library // Pursuing our local holiday market // Donning my coziest set to decorate the Christmas tree // TikTok layered cookies but holiday edition // Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my littles // Attending downtown Brunswick’s annual Christmas tree lighting // Adding the cutest ornament I found at St. Simons Mistletoe Market to our tree // Attending our first First Friday downtown

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 November Posts

Growing in Gratitude

Even Though

Deepening Your Gratitude Practice

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