When asked how we’ve been, I truly dislike answering that we’ve been busy. There is no glory in busy, no medal for who has done the most, no award for exhaustion. And yet I found myself saying that we’ve been busy on more than one occasion recently, each time with the caveat that I really hate saying it. The response is accurate, however, and it more than explains my absence in this space.

These past six months have marked the final push in our most major efforts to live the simple life we desire. We are in a solid, dependable, forever home. We have spent time exploring and getting to know our land, sketching out ideas and making tentative plans – but not diving into projects willy-nilly. The time for that has passed. Instead, we are carefully choosing and researching what will come next.

J is taking final exams today, and will spend a weekend with some like-minded gentlemen to unwind a bit before entering his final ten-week term of nursing school. He will emerge with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing the week after Thanksgiving, and go on to sit his NCLEX exam shortly after. Another calculated choice for our family and our homestead, this time in terms of career. Nursing offers job security, a solid income, and practical skills that will be invaluable should the shit ever actually hit the fan. We are coming out of the most grueling term of his entire experience – perhaps not in terms of academic content, because he’s excelling and his brain is working better than ever, but certainly with scheduling. It’s been incredibly difficult to juggle and maintain everything on the homefront so that he can focus and be present in class and in clinical.

Our girls focused hard this summer on learning to swim. We all have our fears as parents – J worries about burns; I hyperventilate over the risk of drowning. And living in a lakes region, we really see the importance of being strong swimmers. We spent four mornings a week on our town beach with a YMCA swim instructor and lifeguard, plus time swimming and kayaking as a family. They have worked so. hard. And it shows. They have made huge strides since last year! I feel much calmer in the water with them now – still anxious, but better.

And me? I’ve been attempting to hold it all together, and not very graciously at times, I’ll admit. Maintaining multiple calendars has my head spinning, and I have thrown several tantrums out of sheer frustration. I have neglected friendships – the old, hardy ones that I’m trusting will survive, and the tender new ones that still needed to be nurtured, that I’m hoping will hang in there. It’s been a tough season.

I mentioned on Instagram last week that the cooler temps had me feeling a sense of renewal, a desire to tidy and organize – not just my belongings but my schedule, my goals, myself. With the light guiding me from the end of the tunnel, I’ve got some new ideas to execute – and I’d love input from others – friends, family, readers: what would you like to see or know?

Signing off for now. Here is to the end of the busy season, and to the cooler, slower days of fall…