Finding Our Way Back to Normal

When life gets a little too crazy, sometimes normal sounds pretty wonderful.

Hello, friend. It's been a little while.

I'm sorry I've been MIA for the last couple of weeks. What started out as a normal day somehow ended with Grandpa in the hospital—and just like that, everything else took a back seat.

Thankfully, he's on the mend now, and things are finally starting to turn around. We're slowly getting back to our normal crazy instead of the I might actually pull my hair out kind of crazy. 😆

It feels like every day lately has brought another hurdle to get over. And somehow, in the middle of all of it, life at home still keeps moving.

The jalapeños don't particularly care that you've had a rough couple of weeks. 😂

I did manage to get them processed and turned into cowboy candy, and I tried my best to make sure nothing else fell through the cracks too badly.

Having the kids and Ron home to pick up some of the slack helped more than they probably realize. Sometimes it takes life getting completely turned upside down to remind you just how much those extra hands matter.

What Else Could Possibly Happen?

Have you ever had one of those moments when you think, Okay... what else could possibly happen today?

That seems to have become the theme around here lately.

Last week, Matt took a pretty hard hit at football practice and got a dead leg. He'd never been hit quite that hard before, so naturally, it hurt.

He was able to finish practice, and afterward we iced it down and I gave him some medicine. I figured we'd wake up the next morning and he'd be sore, but okay.

Well...

The next morning, you would have thought the kid broke something.

He could hardly make it from the car to the sidewalk at school.

So, off to StatCare we went.

Thankfully, everything checked out. He's bruised and sore, but he's okay and finally seems to be bouncing back.

Now, some of you may be thinking, Marsha, you might be just a little overprotective. 😂

But when your child has literally managed to amputate the tip of his toe before, you tend to adopt a pretty firm better-safe-than-sorry policy.

I'm willing to bet a few of you moms understand exactly what I mean.

Sports Season Is Flying By

Despite the bumps and bruises, both boys are still loving their sports.

Soccer season is almost over already, and football has about four weeks left—maybe a little longer depending on playoffs.

I don't know how these seasons manage to feel so long when you're staring at the calendar at the beginning and then disappear in the blink of an eye once you're living them.

And since we're sitting here catching up, I want to know:

What's your favorite sport?

Do you play it now? Did you play growing up? Or are you like me and spend most of your time watching from the sidelines these days?

And Just Like That... It's Fall

Maybe my favorite part about things finally settling down is that the weather is starting to cool off.

Which means it's officially time for bonfires, blankets and hoodies.

And I am HERE for it. 🤎

I think fall will always be my favorite season.

The trees changing colors. Leaves crunching underneath your feet. That cool air in the morning. Sitting around a bonfire. Pulling out your favorite hoodie for the first time.

What's not to love?

It's also some of the best weather for camping, hiking, or simply sitting outside on the porch and taking in everything around you.

After the last couple of weeks, maybe that's exactly what I need.

A little less rushing.

A little more cool air.

And a few quiet moments to appreciate the fact that sometimes getting back to our regular everyday crazy is something worth being grateful for.

So before you leave the porch today, I have one more question for you:

What's your favorite season—and what's the one thing about it you look forward to every year?

I'm so grateful you stopped by today. I've missed our visits, and I can't wait to hear your answers.

Until our next visit,

❤️ I'll save you a seat.