First, I want to apologize for the quietness around here lately. I had every intention of posting more regularly, but life has been moving at a pace that has left very little room for sitting down at the computer.
The past few weeks have been full in every sense of the word. Three weeks ago, my oldest headed off to Boy Scout camp for a week of adventure, learning, and making memories. Not long after he returned, our church hosted Vacation Bible School. Our entire family jumped in to help, and while it was such a blessing to serve alongside our church family, it also made for some very busy days.
Then last week, my oldest packed his bags again and headed off to youth camp. While he was away, I decided to tackle a project that had been on my heart for quite a while: giving his bedroom a makeover.
As hard as it is for me to admit, my little boy is becoming a teenager. He’s been asking for a bigger bed and a room that feels a little less like a child’s room and a little more like a space that reflects who he’s becoming. Thanks to the generosity of my future sister-in-law, we were given a beautiful bedroom suite. The only catch? It was sparkly silver and definitely not my son’s style.
So while he was away at camp, I got to work.
I spent several days sanding, painting, and transforming the bed frame and side tables into something that fit the vision he had for his room. Before camp, he had already been helping me sort through and reorganize his belongings, so this felt like the perfect time to finish the project. There were moments when I wondered if I had taken on more than I could handle, but seeing the room come together made every late night worthwhile.
In the middle of all of that, I also received some disappointing news.
I found out that I missed passing the Art Praxis exam—the test I need in order to teach Art next year—by just one point.
One point.
To be honest, that stung.
I had worked hard preparing for the test, and seeing that score was discouraging. For a day or two, I allowed myself to feel disappointed. Then I reminded myself that one test score does not determine God’s plans for my future.
So I’ve been studying. A lot.
Tomorrow, I’ll be retaking the exam, and I’ve spent the past several weeks reviewing material, taking practice tests, and doing everything I can to be better prepared this time around. I’d appreciate your prayers as I walk into that testing room again.
This season has reminded me that life rarely slows down when we think it should. There are seasons filled with camp schedules, church events, home projects, disappointments, responsibilities, and countless little moments that demand our attention. Sometimes it feels like we’re simply trying to keep up.
But even in the middle of the busy, God has been faithful.
He has been present in the paint-covered afternoons, the church hallways filled with excited children, the late-night study sessions, and even the disappointment of coming up short. He has reminded me again and again that my circumstances do not change His goodness.
Life has been a lot lately, but we’re still worshipping through it.
We’re still gathering around the table. We’re still praying together. We’re still showing up to serve. We’re still trusting God with the things that don’t go according to plan. And we’re still finding reasons to praise Him in the middle of ordinary days.
Sometimes faith isn’t about having everything perfectly organized or all the answers figured out. Sometimes faith looks like taking the next step, trusting God with the outcome, and continuing to worship even when life feels overwhelming.
Thank you for your patience while things have been a little quieter here. I’m looking forward to getting back into a regular rhythm of sharing life, faith, homemaking, gardening, and all the little things that make up this beautiful, messy season.
For now, I’m taking a deep breath, finishing my study notes, and trusting God with tomorrow.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
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