Can We SLOW Down Just A Tad?

I'm sitting here and it's the end of September. The END. How in the world did we get here so fast already? I didn't even get to celebrate or even breathe on the first day of fall. A day I usually do all things pumpkin no matter the weather. Ever since the first week of school, mid-August, which also happened to be the first week of soccer AND the week of my firstborns' 9th birthday, I can barely get a moment to catch my breath and think straight. Schedules and life hit and it hit hard! I don't know why, but this happens every year. I shouldn't be surprised by it, right? It's like the summers in the desert- we know it's coming but we still are shocked at how hot it is and question why we even live(d) there! So I should've been ready for the start of school and sports and the birthdays but it all came so fast, and I thought there was more time. But that's not the case, everrrr. There's never enough time. Even if we magically had more hours in the day there would never be enough time. Not a chance. But I think that's the Lord's way of reminding me to stop and slow down and enjoy each moment as they come. This is something I struggle with day to day. I'm a busy girl {obviously} but I'm also very busy-minded. I am constantly making lists so I don't forget something, but also because I am always thinking of what I need to be doing while I'm already doing something else! It also explains why I "need" to be organized. BUT it's not natural for me to stop and take time in moments, to fully experience it and BE completely present. That is my struggle. So, like many others, I am a work in progress. And I am proud of what progress I have made, but I'm definitely not where I want to be..I'm growing as I go, and my biggest teachers are the littlest ones. My boys. It's so humbling to be learning life's most important lessons from my children... and it resonates so deeply in my heart.

So to catch you up on our life I'll share a little bit of what's been happening on our homestead:

We are halfway through soccer season. The sport that takes up 5 days of the week! Woohoo...yaaaay...is it over yet? 

            

Ok, I am actually really enjoying soccer because my boys are loving it! It's a lot of fun watching them outside the confines of the home, interacting and competing with other kids. My oldest plays in one division, and his team is doing pretty well so far. Mason is a pretty good defender but he is ALL over the field, and he's aggressive! I like to think he gets it from his Mama ;) It's really surreal catching a look at him and seeing so much of myself but in boy version! 

              

Micah and Mitchell play in a younger division together and are having a blast. The coach always get their names mixed up so he nicknamed Micah "Cannon" because he's got a pretty good kick. He plays defense and is also pretty aggressive, but when he gets to kick the ball as hard as he can he gets so excited he'll jump up and do a fist pump..it's quite hilarious and cute coming from my mild child. I love seeing that different side of him. Mitchell, on the other hand is my fighter...he's fast and furious! He usually plays offense and he has scored a couple goals now. This age is a joy to watch because they're still learning the game and it's so innocent still. 

             

Mason joined band! It's pretty foreign to me but I'm glad he wants to learn something new. He signed up for percussion, which means there will be drums in the future...oh Lord help me!

Josh and I won a trip- to Hawaii! Our church was raffling off a trip to Hawaii to raise money for the youth group, so Josh thought "Yes, let's support our youth!" We had unexpected money come in from our house sale so we bought our raffle tickets with that, not planned at all, we wouldn't even have bought tickets if we didn't have that money. And low and behold we won! God is so good, and now we get a vacation, just the two of us for a week in Kauai! I have to tell you, I'm already checking out mentally! We are really looking forward to this :) 

In the beginning of August we started a garden- and it has been A LOT OF WORK! Obviously starting a garden is very laborous- is that a word? It's work. Werk. Hard work that makes your muscles and fingers and bones hurt! And you get dirt in your nails, sunburnt and filthy all over...but something about it is very therapeutic to me! I love working the land, I get time to think, and reflect and it's so satisfying to me. Especially because things are growing! 

                       

                      

            

                      

                     

We have a few small pumpkins, acorn squash that are the size of small cantaloupes and butternut squash galore! I'm shocked at how fast everything has grown out here so far. Oh and I just harvested (haha I love saying that I harvested something) my first beets! 

                      

It's so fulfilling to grow your own food! We've also started carrots and onions, and I just planted seeds for a variety of lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, turnips and cabbage. We had peas, but we had have a gopher. Enough said! We're learning a lot, that's for sure! 

As fall has completely snuck up on me I have to say...it is one of my favorite seasons by far, and I'm super excited to be in a climate that will embrace the season! The cooler weather and changing leaves make my soul happy. But with that comes fires, and snuggles by the fire, children reading books, card games, hot drinks, boots and blankets, soups, sweet smelling spices, apples and pumpkins... and I love all of it! Something I really look forward to though, is a slower pace. To rest. To breathe. To savor the moments in which I am living. I will embrace them as they come, putting aside the distractions and to-do's, to live life fully right where I am... because real life, real living is in the moments.