Something Loved, Read, Treasured, and Ahead … A First! (For Me!)

Have you ever heard of sharing “Four Somethings”?  A fantastic writer friend, well, fantastic in other ways than writing, but for this occasion, I say writer friend, does a monthly link up article on four somethings for each month.  The “somethings” are always the same, something Loved, Read, Treasured, and Ahead.  I’ve read many through the year that we have known each other, but never really thought I’d be on the sharing end.  I’m excited to share my four somethings for the month of October. Go ahead, hop on over here to view the site, and all of the other lovely posts.

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For my share of Something Loved, hands down, this month it’s gotta be AUTUMN! I am a TOTAL autumn girl! And I don’t mean hand me a pumpkin spice latte and flannel and I’m sharing on Instagram, I mean give me cold nights, brisk mornings and crisp, sunny afternoons; leaves of gold, red, orange and yellow; patches of frost on pumpkins and grass in the morning; sweaters; cozy, heated mattress pad + tons of blankets so I can sleep with a window cracked; crunching on leaves while walking, seeing them swirl when driving, and being tempted to jump into a leaf pile (but not actually doing it, because what kind of critters are even in there, nope) ……… Baking with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, hot chocolate for my kiddos, scarves, hats, BOOTS and yeah, I could really go on forever – SOMEONE STOP ME. Autumn in western NC is fantastic, a total season where trees put on a show before their winter rest, tons of wildlife to enjoy, and it’s just absolutely glorious. So, there, that’s my Something Loved.

My Something Read for October is perhaps the most challenging of the four! The only book I have gotten through, in its entirety this month, is “What’s Eating Your Child?” by Kelly Dorfman … truly gripping reading material, amIright?! The book is about the hidden connections between food, and surprisingly common childhood ailments. I focused most on the PICKY EATING section, as that’s what has been going on in my home. Who’s up for a lunch of peanut butter toast and crackers, hold the toast and crackers, and Carnation Instant Breakfast? My youngest has wound her way into extremely picky eating habits, and I’m pretty sure it’s related to remote only schooling, limited outings, heightened awareness of how different life is since March, and missing out on meaningful connections with family and friends. Which leads me to ….. Something Ahead.

Something Ahead, is seeing MY PARENTS, whom I have not seen in OVER A YEAR! (Insert wild, crazy happy dance like this one) I don’t know when, but it will be perfectly imperfect whenever they make their was west from the coast. We will most likely enjoy seeing each other outside, only, but like I mentioned earlier, autumn in the mountains is glo-RI-ous! Our time together will be nothing short of amazing, even if it’s just a few days of picnics and meals as we gather outside, and enjoy catching up on all the things we haven’t done this year, haHA. Seriously, as much as we can learn and grow from this year …….. 2020, why have you done us this way?!?! ANYHOO, time with my parents, and time for my KIDDOS to see their grandparents will be super, spectacular, splendid and SO, SO SATISFYING. Maybe, something else to look forward to will be a visit from the other set of beloved grandparents?! My something ahead might be better than yours 🙂

Isn’t this a lovely picture of my mom, a couple years back, when we played in the snow like kids? Shortly after this pic, she threw a snowball at me, which was quite unexpected, so much fun.

Thankful to have a close relationship with my Mom, I know so many don’t have this privilege.

Something Treasured, real talk, is quiet. As in early mornings with only dim lights, no tv, and a cup of tea, Ginger at my feet and the cat on my lap; quiet time with Jesus, not talking, really, just listening and being, taking in that peace; walks sans kiddos, and doggo, where I can tame my thoughts without interruption. As with most of us, it’s been a trying 8 months (I don’t even have to insert an “amIright” because yes, yes I am right, and we ALL know it). We’ve gone through the stages of grief, the best we can, and mostly accepted life in these global pandemic times. I’ve uncovered a patience I couldn’t quite grab hold of on a regular basis before, tuned in to my kiddos and learned to back off to let them g r o w, while quietly reassuring that they CAN, and found ways to sneak in yoga and workouts in the middle of the madness that is remote learning with a 7 and 9 year old. I enjoyed quiet prior to March, but now I truly TREASURE moments of finding sunbeams in the woods, and the solitude that pops up unplanned. Life is FULL, HECTIC, NOISY, and so.very.NEEDY, taking a deep breath and embracing the QUIET is essential for me. Quiet is my Something Treasured, for sure.

As we close October, take a deep breath, no, really an even deeper breath, and focus on the wonderful things ahead as we slide into the even more thankful month of November. Wait …… Is it possible to be more thankful? Always.

With Sunbeams and Love,

Racheal Xx

Sunbeam capture from a walk, when a sweet neighbor practically pushed me on the trail, right before I crossed the edge from okayish mom to crazed mom …

Sunbeams are a gift, always, as it feels like my Gram takes my hand, and heart, and squeezes tight.