Hi friend. I am waking up this morning feeling a bit like I have an emotional hangover. Yesterday afternoon I was busy in the kitchen and watched the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. I am sure snippets will be circulated to make it look however people want it to, but as someone who watched the whole thing without commentary, I can tell you the worship music was beautiful, the message of forgiveness was powerful, and the respect for a man that wanted to be best remembered for his faith was inspiring.

I’ve never really gotten into talking about my faith journey in a public way because I think it feels so deeply vulnerable and I don’t feel very equipped to lead anyone else in those conversations. I feel there is so much I’m still exploring and learning myself. However, I have experienced firsthand the peace that Jesus can bring to our hearts and I believe there is true good in the world that we must cling to over evil. Most of that ministry for me is within my four walls and being a wife and mom, getting to serve my family in those capacities, is the honor of my life.

That’s all I really have to share at the moment as the emotional hangover is sincere, and I also have something of a stuffy left ear. I think I need a trip to the chiropractor. And that feels like the perfect transition to acknowledge that I’m 42 now!

We celebrated my birthday this weekend with the one thing I’ve had on my list to do since we moved here last November- bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail! The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a scenic 28+ mile multi-use greenway that follows an old railroad line through downtown Greenville, Furman University, and up to Travelers Rest. It’s popular for walking, biking, and running and features parks, cafes, and beautiful views along it.

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Friday afternoon we drove to our starting point in TR, mounted our bikes, and started our journey into town. We rode by cute homes, the famous Swamp Rabbit Grocery, the Commons and Unity Park, and ended 9 miles down the trail right in downtown Greenville. Biking over the bridge at Reedy Creek Falls with my fam was a birthday dream come true! We sat outside at Camp and had a couple small plates, got ice cream from Jeni’s next door, then loaded back up and biked the 9 miles back to the truck.

It. Was. Awesome. We biked close to 20 miles and the kids did great. In fact, at the end they wanted to go a little further, so the girls and I biked through Traveler’s Rest and David picked us up on the other side. Our bottoms were sore but our hearts were happy; both kids have already asked when we can do it again. Not counting stops, it took took us between 60-75 minutes on each 9 mile stretch; it’s mostly flat. I highly recommend the experience!

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Saturday was my actual birthday and I spent it cheering on my girls in their soccer games, cheering on Georgia Tech to a victory (Georgia didn’t have a game this week), and enjoying an afternoon and evening with my in-laws who came over to help celebrate. Being close to family is such treat that we’ve never gotten to experience before. Wish I could convince my mom to move closer, too (mom, hint hint ;)).

David sous-vided some steaks, Hailey made a Caesar salad, Kaitlyn baked a cookie cake, and we all enjoyed chatting and being together. My favorite part of any birthday is the cards and I got some special, homemade cards with loving words that I’ll keep on my dresser. Truly, the best.

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And now another treat- it’s officially fall! I hope to bake some pumpkin muffins to celebrate and snap a few pictures of my fall decor to take you on a fall home tour. I still very much feel like my home is a work in progress, but it’s fun to share the journey.

I hope your first day of fall is a good one. Join me in romanticizing one thing about it. Light the candle or crank up the AC and enjoy a bowl of soup or notice how the tips of a few trees are starting to turn red. I also highly recommend searching for “cozy fall jazz” on your music app of choice. I’ve been playing it as often as I can and it creates an instant feeling of cozy.

Thanks so much for stopping by <3